Am 45 and need to reinvent my daily "uniform" of jeans !

[shineybright]

have worn jeans daily since around 1979 - feel that now I'm mid 40s need to adapt my dress sense a little , appropriate to my age. Am 5 ft 4 , size 12 , small boobs , pot belly , childbearing hips. Have been told I have pretty face though, and am young at heart! Help me find a new flattering look please ( without feeling like I'm past it!). Thanks!

What's wrong with jeans exactly? Why do you need to change it?

Doesn't age appropriateness depend on what sort of jeans you wear and what you were them with?

It's a serious question I'm 42 and really only wear jeans and can't imagine that changing any time soon.

I've found that at 44 the biggest change in my style made a drastic change of my haircut, it is quite short now, took off at least 57 years from my face - then finding clothes tot accessorise younger look was much easier :)

Am just thinking jeans may not be particularly flattering anymore due to ahem.... muffin top issues

I wear three hole dresses in jersey in a block colour, with a white or coloured shirt / longsleeved top underneath, and some thick tights and knee length boots.

Seems to work?
Also, long coat hides a multiple. I sometimes wear a hat, most days I wear sunnies to keep my hair back.

Am also pearshaped (obv), but with the added stone or so of massive G cup boobs. I'm 5.3"
Sometimes my tummy is quite flat - sometimes I look 6 months preggo - hence the jersey material dresses for a bit of give.

Scarves and a big necklace draw the eye up - I think anyway.... grasping at straws sometimes though.

I always wear makeup (not too much and never shimmery stuff - too disco) and have blowdried hair - apart when I'm slobbing round, doing my (?futile power walking)/ doing DIY fixing the boiler..

If I wear jeans I tuck them into my knee length boots, or wear really high boots with them.

Ooh Totallypearshaped, I had to google 3 hole dresses, they look interesting. Do you make your own?

Thanks totally I would love to make the transition to dresses . Like you say, they're more forgiving! Need courage to take the plunge though...

Also intrigued by 3 hole dresses. Tell us more Totally!

To be honest, it's hard not to have a muffin top with jeans unless you are either super toned or wearing high waisters. I think the key is what you wear on top to make sure the muffin top is well and truly hidden.

I really rate Whistles t-shirts for spring/summer. I am the same height as you and the length and cut are perfect for jeans and my muffin top. [top]

They are a bit more than you'd expect to pay for a t-shirt, but they are so flattering and more like a top.

totallypearshaped more about the 3 hole dresses please. Do you make them or buy them?

Example please not sure I found the right thing on google.

Yes, more info on the three hole dress please!

Yy have googled but am no further forward re three hole dresses.

47 here. I hardly ever wear jeans, /mostly wear:

• Denim/cord skirts just above knee, thick tights, boots, nice cardi or jumper
• Jeans (skinny) only with long stretchy tops and cardigans, never show bum!
• Dresses, thick tights, boots. Dresses are knit dresses, wrap dresses or shirt dresses.
• Wide legged trousers with stretchy long sleeve tops

AS you can see, dresses, boots and thick tights feature a lot! They are more comfy than jeans and easier too, you don't have to worry about whether they match! And knit dresses don't need ironing! There is life after jeans!

Re three hole dresses - these links go a bit further to explaining, (though as they are the first two google results apologies if already seen):

dress patterns - look at the diagrams on third row down

blog

Looks like you just grab an old sheet, snip snip snip and voila. Prob not that simple though.

Some good ideas ladies. Am also intrigued by the 3 hole dress - am also googling to see what it's all about. Really want to take the plunge to wear dresses/tights /boots. Which leads me to next question - which style of boots for short chunky legs with fat knees and thick calves? Flat/ bit of a heal? I sound really attractive don't I

Chunky legs need chunky boots

those dress patterns took me right back to needlework classes!

I stopped wearing jeans a few years ago (when I was 41) - I was just fed up with the struggle of finding a good fitting pair, and was feeling like I just wanted to move on from that look. Like the other posters here, I wear:

• Dresses (I have a million styles and variations from tea dress to dropped waist, knitted, and wrap), with boots and thick tights or patterned/fine tights "mary jane" shoes (bare legs in summer).
• Very thick leggings (think jodhpurs), with bum-covering jumpers or long shirts, and flat boots.
• Also, pretty skirts and cotton tops (NOT T-shirts) in summer.

Trousers-wise:

• Wide leg trousers with a vest top and little cardi (for work sometimes).
• In warmer weather if I feel the need for a leg-covering garment, I have a pair of cotton combat trousers.

and that's it in that department - no other jeans/cords/or trouser type things of any variety (and to be honest, my clothes and I are a lot more comfortable).

In agreement with totallypeashaped, I always wear a bit of make-up (no shimmer or sparkle for me anymore, looks crap), and I since I've reached this great age, I really make the effort to have a good, regular haircut (seems to make all the difference).

For those who wear a lot of dresses / skirts in the summer, what do you wear on your feet?

I do prefer knee-length dresses - although my thighs are pretty chunky it doesn't seem to matter so much when you have leggings and boots on as the flesh is covered and the boots balance the thighs.

But in summer I don't feel I can wear shorter skirts so easily - I tend to end up with much longer skirts and flip flops, but it would be nice to have something a bit smarter sometimes.

Am 45 and adore clothes. Agree that jeans are tricky but I think it is a fit rather than age thing.also so unoriginal and boring because,like you shineybright, you just get used to wear them all the time. I hated that bloody fashion on an evening of " jeans and a sparkly top" made me come out in a cold sweat!

I agree with everything the posters have written. Dresses for day are lovely, with boots in winter and wedge sandals in summer bobbinRobin
( I like pretty dresses with fly chunkier boots and a longline cardi...slightly more trendy)

I have said on many posts , and speak from experience, that a good hair cut can take years off you and suddenly make you look more funky.

Blimey didn't mean to get you all on tenterhooks..... A three hole dress is... rather a boring way of saying a dress with no sleeves and a round or simple neckline. Literally three holes: neck and arms - and the bottom bit of course, it's not a grobag after all .

A bit structured at the waist with seams and darts. Sometimes with a more A-line bottom.

And knee length.

Really a boring shaped dress. I wear them made out of jersey material and in one block colour. They're most forgiving. Have a look at this pattern, or this one for a more forgiving waist, if you want to see what I'm on about: make them with jersey, and you won't need the zip
This is a rather nice one from Zara if you don't want the faff of making your own.

I wear charcoal and navy a lot, and then use shirts, tops underneath, scarves and accessories to brighten them up.
Haven't gone for the bright tights yet - might do that soon, keeping the rest dark, with a bright scarf.

I'ts just handy to throw on a dress - you feel more put together.

Thanks all for the tips. Have actually ordered a dress (from fatface - would link but can't). Am going to get some long boots - hoping this will be the start of the new improved me.totallypearenjoyed the 3 hole dress frenzy , glad I know what it is now

Those sites for dressmaking make it all sound very easy - might be tempted to dust off my Singer, and join in the frenzy...

Enjoy your new improved you!

I'm 45 with a size 10 figure but re clothes just can't get over the idea that there's no point in wearing anything other than jeans because no one is looking anymore. I feel that however I dress myself up I'm still middle aged. Anyone else struggling with this?

Yes, I think I know what you mean. For me it's not a worry that noone is looking, but a worry that I'll look too try hard, or muttony- like who does she think she is! So "mum" uniform- jeans boots sweatshirt- is easier, and somehow less embarass sing, than trying and failing. Iyswim.

I'm with you on that