Nice clothes for old ladies.

[hellymelly]

My Mum is 82, rather bent over from osteoporosis, and has done that thing of getting thinner by the year in old age, so none of her older clothes fit anymore. She is in a care home at the moment which may or may not be permanent depending on how she gets on (recovering from very bad fall 10 months ago). So she needs clothes that can cope with being washed by the home as I don't have a drier so only do some of her washing. I have bought some nice things from the Marks and Spencer "classic" range, which seem to fit her and look pretty, but any other places I could look? She is roughly a size 10, but I sometimes buy a 12 to allow for ease. She only wears trousers now, as she would struggle with tights and her broken leg is still very swollen.

Bonmarche or Damart.
Bonmarche is on the high, so you could easily select her clothes or if she still takes an interest in her clothes you could get a Damart brochure and she could pick out her outfits.

I've never heard of Bonmarche, but maybe just haven't noticed it? I live in the back of beyond so only venture to a city occasionally. She did have some Damart things but they were all a bit too synthetic and so didn't wear very well. Will have another glance at the catalogue though.

Any other ideas? Where do elegant old ladies shop?

Eastex, Windsmoor, Jacques Vert, Viyella but all a bit pricey. Cheaper options at BHS or maybe even John Lewis? I think M&S are probably the best option as they need to withstand tumble drying.

Edinburgh Woolen Mill? They have some nice stuff.

I think there is an Edinburgh woollen mill in a town about an hour away, so I could have a look in there. Will have a look at Eastex, Windsmoor etc. John Lewis a good idea too as I can browse online. It is sometimes hard to tell what things are cut for an older body shape, but maybe John Lewis have a classic range like M+S.

My MIL used to get clothes from various catalogues aimed at older people - the only one I can remember at the moment was James Meade.

Bought a couple of "machine-washable" jumpers from Edinburgh wool Mill and they leaked die into everything even when washed on a low temperature. I've not risked them since.

Also, it might be worth asking someone at the care home if there's any brands they find work particularly well.

Hmm... Your original query was "where do elegant old ladies shop" but I'm not sure if you're looking for usual clothes or something different.

In my experience (it is experience, not theory,) elegant old ladies may have grown up having their clothes made for them and, finances aside, don't like having to lower their standards in old age. If they like dressing it's even more imperative - when they're not fully fit - that they have lovely clothes to keep up their morale.

You don't have to find specifically "old lady" brands.

Toast, Hobbs, Jigsaw, Cos, The White Company are all in the wardrobe I'm thinking of. (Plus odd bits of Helmut Lang - which you probably wouldn't want to let the care home launder...) Any of the above brands are good with reduced mobility - things that are easier to get on and off but still look stylish. None of them are cheap but they won't fall apart either.

Hope your DM is able to get out and about soon.

Helly, my DM is much the same shape due to osteoporosis. Sometimes I look at her and am shocked by how much height (not to mention weight) she has lost. She is also havng the same struggle with clothes so I will be looking at some of the retailers listed to see whether I can find skirts for her. There's a Scottish firm called Braur that keep sending catalgues - I think there are trousers as well as lovely knits. It's really hard buying clothes for eldery ladies online ... I've returned more things than I care to think about!

Hope your DM's leg will continue to heal and that she might be able to manage at home before too long.

hellymelly - there is indeed an EWM in Aber (I'm presuming that's where you meant?). There's an M&Co across the road and they often have some nice bits. We did have a Bon Marche but it closed last year. Failing that, there's a couple of independent shops for ladies of a certain age - Capricorn Gowns, Cardigan House that my 74yo DM shops at. DM also keeps getting sent catalogues by Cotswold Collections, Peter Hahn (I think) and Orvis. Some nice stuff in there (though some of it pretty pricey). Lands End also an option - lots of classic stuff there.

my mother also has osteoporosis and has shrunk from 5'4" to about 4'10", being bent over also causes problems with clothes. We get most of her clothes from M&S, knitwear from Woolovers and best things are usually Eastex or M & Co. Trousers are good because her legs haven't shrunk, just her back, so they don't have to be shortened. She is taller in the mornings because she can see in her bathroom mirror then to put her make up on, she can't see in the mirror in the evening though!

something- my Mum likes to look "smart" (ish) but would probably not wear toast or Helmut Lang. (sadly!) She is really conservative. My very stylish MIL is 78 and she would wear all those labels,so actually helpful for me to think about Christmas things for her, but says she finds that her shape has changed so that many of them (e.g.Toast) don't often fit her well anymore. She gets lucky every now and again in the Toast sale shop. She would look good in Helmut Lang.
I think the problem with mainstream brands is the body shape issue, as elderly women are rather wider around the middle and yet thinner in other places, with a lower bust line. Some lucky oldies like my Mum's friend still look much the same as they did at 60 but not many. Also for my Mum as she is in a home, things need to be more casual and practical. She just needs to be comfy now really, but I like her to look cared about and not to be in a sea of acrylic.
Anyway all very helpful, thanks for the responses.
mrs McGregor- I think that is House of Bruar? I have just got the catalogue, the knits look nice for my own Mum. It all looks good quality but I haven't ordered yet.

Helly - yes, that's the one. Mum has picked out a skirt to order but you've just inspired me to have a look at what John Lewis have and there is quite a bit of choice. Also, don't know how practical unless you can bring home to wash - but cashmere jumpers are so soft, warm and comfy?

And you are so right about the change in shape - my own Mum has shrunk but is thicker around the waist - which makes things more difficult.

It's scary. One frankly feels the "sea of acrylic" engulfing the generation above us and rushing on to sweep us up too. How to make a stand against it? I rant on S&B about how 40 year olds are allowed to wear nice clothes, but it's hard to watch one's 80 year old relatives shrinking and bent. No-one ever thinks it will happen to them.

Your poor mother. I hope it's not too miserable for her - or you.

Mejon, I was thinking of Carmarthen, but Aber is much the same distance, maybe ten minutes more. So I could go shopping there. Do go to Cardiff but not often and am busy bulk buying Mac as I live so far from decent makeup!

Saw lots of dolphins jumping a couple of weeks back, (out on the Bay to Remember boat, if anyone is visiting us) so there are consolations to the Back of Beyond!!

MrsMcG, am getting her a cashmere cardi, as I have a good machine and can bring anything home to wash here as her home is only 15 minutes away. My mother has been a tricky critical parent but she must have done something right as now she is so frail I do feel the desire to wrap her in cashmere!!

I can't offer that much in the way of suggestions but I just wanted to say that you sound like a lovely daughter. I also wondered about colourful scarves and nice jewelry? My mum wore them a lot when she was in a similar situation.

Thank you Flo. What a nice thing to say. We lost my darling Dad exactly a year ago, so that has made me more nurturing I think. My Mum doesn't wear any jewelry aside from her plain wedding ring, and she doesn't do accessories either. She never has. Its a shame really as lovely beads or a beautiful scarf can cheer any outfit up. And I like old ladies in big bold jewelry, it looks fab.

Ah if you're talking Carmarthen then it's positively a metropolis compared to Aber . Can't think where I've seen the EWM there but there's definitely an East and possibly a Phase 8 (almost next door?) I think. Debenhams may have some of the more classic labels too but I don't get there very often so can't remember. Pure do some nice cashmere and I'm constantly getting catalogues with 20 or 25p/c off.

That has made me laugh. After about six months here, back in the Mother country after years in London, we went to Debenhams in Carmarthen with my dds. Older dd then 3 looked about her and with radiant happines said "Is this Selfridges?"

I have ordered a few bits for her from suggestions here, so it has been v. helpful, thanks everyone.