I am almost 40. Should I just give in and become 'White Stuff woman'?

[MrsSeanBean]

All my contemporaries seem to be clad head to toe in the stuff (no pun intended).

The annoying thing is, it actually seems to suit them with their happy days skirts, lacy tights and cobweb knits.

Whenever I buy/wear it I just look like a crumpled mess. The shape of the skirts especially seems odd and makes me look like a barrell or something - not a good look anyway.

Sometimes it's all too much effort (sigh) and I think I should just join the hordes and become 'safe, rural, middle aged woman'.

The only woman who keeps me going is Mary Portas. She would not be seen dead in White Stuff items.

< Disclaimer: I am sure there are MNers who wear White Stuff and look lovely and not middle aged etc. >

Help me!

well surely it depends on how you spend your days? and your shape.

White Stuff would be hopeless for the office or any corporate setting- might be uniform for primary school teachers but that's about it IMO.

I am much older than 40 though am told Ilook mid 40s.

I don't define my outfits by my age.
I have very few clothes but because of the work i do, can get away with "smart casual".

For me this means:

skinny jeans and cords- Uniqlo
Various tops- cropped cardis over camis, longer boyfriend cardis. tank tops over long sleeved Ts, a few (yes) plain tunics from WS
A smartish knitted tunic from the White Company
Leggings with knee length boots, and a long tunic
A just above the knee plain skirt (Boden,Kew, Jigsaw)
Flat chunky riding boots
Some smarter wool trousers

I am pretty good with knowing which colours suit me now, so I wear beads, earrings, scarves etc to tone with outfit.

Not saying I have got it right but most of my clothes come from
Boden ( plain not patterned basics)
Kew
Jigsaw
White Company
White Stuff ( plain)
Mint Velvet

Also have bits from Top Shop and Monsoon

If you can get to the stores, don't forget

Banana Republic- a more grown up Gap
Comptoir de Contoniers (sp)
Cos

good point cabbage. I'm with students 20 - 23 years younger than me. oh my lord. I don't want to look like mutton, but tbh they all dress so terribly that I would never be tempted to copy them (even sub consciously). I dress so much better than they do even though I don't spend much more. They might spend a fortune on a Bench zip up cardigan for example.

Was in Cos yesterday and there were lots of lovely things

Was in Cos last week, and it was shit! I looked because someone on here had raved about it (might have been you Noddy). It looked cheap and nasty. Cheap fabric, weird cuts and very over priced. I picked up a quite nice cotton skirt, with a sort of ticking stripe, expecting it to be about £30. It was £55, and not even lined. Forget it.

Most of it looks like it was run up by a drunk seamstress on her dining room table from patterns cut out of the Daily Mail.

i am going to read this with interest as have just turned 30 and no idea where to shop any more, never mind 40...

hang on...

Well I have never raved about it but there are some lovely things in the one here and quality definitely not what you are describing. Not sure about the daily mail reference don't read that crap let alone look to it for fashion tips

Love zara too! Lovely charcoal and white striped 3/4 loose trousers in cos which would look great with flats and a lovely pink canvas dress which ties under the bust Not sure they have a website or would link.

Me too everlong I was also in a rush but loved all the pink and grey. I think it is well priced for the quality.

See I never can get anything in Zara,and always come out disappointed.
Like Cos,but live in the North West so have no stores near me and they don't do online.
Have had a couple of plain cowl neck tops from Jigsaw this year which are great,also like
Mint Velvet
Phase Eight,sometimes
Boden,only plain stuff
Autograph
Monsoon for trousers
Great Plains
Noa Noa
Nougat
Kew
I have a couple of skirts and dresses from White Stuff,plus a cardigan I think.
Again,as is said on all these threads,ant head to toe label,be it Boden,White Stuff,Joules,anything,looks off.IMO.