British women of a certain age are more likely to be a certain shape than European.
With that often goes a loss of confidence.
The UK is much more prone to fashion trends which are difficult because thats what the shops have in. European clothes shopping is a different experience because it's less fast. The emphasis is on classic styles and fashions that don't move as fast so it's much easier to find things that work for you and have 'go to' styles. In the same sense UK fashion is geared up to younger women with older women viewed almost as past it in a way that doesn't exist in Europe.
I genuinely find shopping in Europe easier than in the UK. Even if going to chains we have here (and have some of the same lines. I think it must owe something to store layout too for this reason and choice of lines that work in multiple countries whilst others don't). It's less fussy and has less features that will date quickly.
Clothing in Europe is bought to last for longer than in the UK. That's not universal but as a rule of thumb it is. European fashion is more down to earth and practical in many respects too. It's plainer - less awful aging patterns are available. It's tailored and collections chosen to be elegant/timeless rather than favouring showing skin where it doesn't need to be and having the trim / pattern/ in fashion pattern.
This is just about everywhere across Europe too.
The UK can be more daring and that has it's benefits but this tends to go off an age cliff.
So I think British women have heads that understand this hypersexualised youth look and then they age out and go to frump because they don't know where else to go. Flowers patterns are an absolute killer for that.
It's a pet hate. I hate the UK fashion industry. It's awful. I spend my time going 'oh that would be nice if it didn't have that bit on, or was simpler'.
I think it lets women down.
So actually I do think British women get a rough time with it. They could be served so much better.