Well dressed, but casual, women in your 40s - tell me what you're wearing today.

[Santastic]

I think I am in a bit of a style rut. Not badly dressed - just a bit boring/safe/. Always seem to live in shirt/t shirt, cardigan, skinny jeans and boots. Quite like my look but want to be just a little more...... "together" I guess!! Tell me what you're wearing that is more together than me. Thank you.

From feet up: metallic loafers, petrol blue tights, tweed plus-fours, a navy long-sleeved t-shirt and a grey cardigan with (lots of) different coloured "golfing" diamonds plus a large, blue cocktail ring. I like to think of it as a modern take on Edward VIII .

tuxedo pants by helena christiansen for monsoon, black gap T shirt under black Armani shirt with a big chunky silver necklace, like a massive chain with an acorn on it, lace up ankle boots from Jones Bootmaker which were the most expensive item at £30, a long black fake fur coat and a gent's trilby

damn Ifancyashandy you have kicked my 29-year-old butt with that outfit. CUTE jumper.

oh yeah I have a big blue ring on too
we should step out together lalalong legs

Oooh, yes, ninah, apart from my cocktail ring I don't really wear jewellery - I could use your advice. I'm loving the coat and trilby combination.

thanks I love your Edwardian combo, I am channelling George Melly
I don't wear a lot of jewellery but I love big rings - my blue one was made in Guatemala and I got it from a friend, I have one with a round red stone I got from ebay too, the necklace was 10p from school xmas bazaar
I like cufflinks too sometimes

Thanks Curtsy! Currently in black and white tartan pjs. Not quite so hot!

Alas my search for a jewellery adviser continues but a feminine take on George Melly - genius! He is a copper-bottomed style icon.

sorry!
maybe you just don't needa da bling? Some nice rings on silver bubble
Edward prob had a nice watch chain?
you're right, spank my copper bottom, I'm useless on jewels!

I wore..... (Because I fit your thread criteria perfectly)

Black leggings that look like 100 denier opaques
Black top shop ankle boots
A line blck / navy patterned mini skirt
Uniqlo spotty blue heat tech long sleeved top
Short sleeved chunky navy jumper o'er top

I am 52 and have a managerial job. Am not trendy - more neat and tidy but don't much like suits. Today I wore a black phase 8 skirt and a Phase 8 black and white wrap top with a cami underneath. Glittery black tights and flat black suede pumps. Probably not high style but agree with the good haircut, the good colour to ease out the grey, good make-up and a nice perfume, etc..

I live in skinnies if I'm on my own time. Or warm woolly trousers. But I was on work's time today (and indeed on work's premises rather than working frm home or overseas) so I had to wear grown up clothes. So I wore an above the knee faux Bloomsbury print dress over a very long sleeved black top, John Lewisfleece lined tights (basically, civilisation has peaked. These are the greatest invention mankind will ever...invent) and faux biker boots (faux because (a) pleather and (b) child sized. I have v small feet. )

I would agree with the expensive haircut advice except for the fact that my hair is very curly and basically bombproof in both the good and the bad way - it can't be ruined by a haircut but it can't be improved by one either. No matter what anyone does to it, it looks the same. Just different lengths. And it's alright. Not bad. Not great. Just curly. And ginger. Ahem, sorry, that was titian I rarely wear makeup. And when I do it's only the smallest amount of BB cream. I like expensive perfume though. Expensive strong perfume. I have a super sensitive sense of smell and it's a curse not a blessing and strong perfume makes life more bearable.

Also - Cory I am 45 and I do not have and have never had facial hair. I'm not blind, I'm not a liar and I've not been struck by lightening. I don't actually know any ginges with facial hair, either. I think maybe we just don't get it.

My freckles are fading though. I always thought I'd be delighted if they vanished but I'm actually a bit sad they seem to be giving up the ghost. It's almost as if I am starting to fade myself.

It's almost as if I am starting to fade myself.

Ooh how poetic. You're not you know. You're really not :)

I am probably out on a limb alone here, but I am in my late 30s and have more or less given up wearing black. I think it can be a bit dull, samey and, dare I say it, ageing. Tonal shades, neutrals or contrasting colours all the way for me!

There are a few black items still hanging around in my wardrobe and the only thing that stops me from throwing them out is a feeling that I shouldn't - yet I don't wear them.

I went to a dressy do a few weeks ago and the room was almost entirely a sea of black. Just something too uniform about it, even though every woman there had probably thought carefully about her appearance and how to look special for the occasion.

I don't know if you are alone on your limb but I'm certainly not there with you.

I like black. And grey.

But whenever I wear a red top to work I get a zillion positive comments, so I suppose that means I should really consider more colour in my life.

But I like black.

...and grey.

Make sure you know if silver or gold is better for you: that can make a massive difference to how black looks.

I agree with Branching on the black. While I like it and think it can look very cool, I have reached the age where I think it's very uninspiring and dull, and definitely ageing on me. Does me no favours. Makes me look tired. I have a (very) few black things in the wardrobe that I wear, but I see they have a bit of sparkle or texture, and if they don't I have to wear something (jewelry or a scarf) with them.

OTOH, I love grey, almost any shade of it. Love it.

And navy. Esp a greyed navy. (There's a theme!) Almost as good as black. but more flattering.

Am at work. Have a blue, ever so slightly too short, fitted dress on, metal fronted silver belt on the waist, black opaques, black(!) short angora cardi, blush and blue scarf.

Today I am wearing a short black empire line woollen dress with long sleeves and a daringly open back, fleece lined tights and my faux biker boots. And a great big green cardigan because the office is a bit chilly this morning.

Maybe black doesn't work for some complexions/hair colours as you get older. Me, I'm too blooming colourful as it is with the hair so it works for me.

Mordion, tell me more about fleece-lined tights please! I've never heard of them but they sound like the dog's bollocks.

I got mine in Waitrose last week but they are branded as John Lewis. They are just standard black opaque tights but line with fleece They are wonderful. So warm and lovely. They don't look any thicker than normal opaques either but they feel VERY much warmer.

I bought these ones for my mum....

Thanks both!

('bought them for my mum' comment notwithstanding )

Oh yeah, realise how that sounds now!

Primark do the fleece-lined tights too. And M&S. I live in them in winter.
Though today I am wearing a snakeskin print knee-length shirt dress over charcoal leggings and biker boots.

Mordion - you are dead right re gingers not getting facial hair. I would have put that it in but it ruined my line, see.

But explain this, Titian Lovely: I am not ginger (dyed yellow, was mouse) but my facial hair rivals that in quantity, texture and shade that of David Bellamy.