Follow on from how to look expensive, wizened, busy, skint and over 50

[Monty27]

I have always been admired for my clothes, but the wardrobe has diminished and I'm tiny, 8st 5' 2", work full time, always shattered at weekends and I'm skint.

I've lost that loving feeling with myself

Cos use good quality heavy fabrics. Even the synthetics are ok. This is what makes it so wearable I think

Hey gang, great to see new posts, us 50 plus trying to still look good. That's positive.

I had a meeting today again and made an effort. A woman who has only known me for a couple of years commented that I looked 'really gorge'. She is older than me and not bad herself, but nonetheless I was a bit heartbroken because I was thinking, you should have seen me a couple of years ago .

However, I'll take it as another kick up the posterior :)

orange I get what you mean about Coast, Hobbs and Phase 8. They're kind of "old before their time", imho.

I don't live near a Cos, and I suspect their stuff looks better irl than online.

Monty I get you. There's gorge (ie "good for your age"); then there's "gorge" in the "phwoarr" sense.

I know which category I'm in...

I really like Cos. As someone else has commented, they use good quality fabrics, cotton, merino etc. Good quality and comparable in price to other stores bot imo better quality. I would say that you need to try the pieces on in store. Pity there are not more Cos stores up north. Are there any?

As far as I know, the only stores north of Birmingham are a concession in Manchester Selfridges and Glasgow. So despite my recent Cosversion, if the fit is as random as everyone says, I won't be purchasing a lot online either. Shame.

Phase 8 and Hobbs never look right on me. The hemlines are too long (admittedly I'm barely 5'3) the tops always end at the fattest point of my thighs or their pencil skirts are never pencill-y enough. It all looks a bit dated. I may be getting on a bit but I still like to look modern.

This is why I'm quite into H&M at the moment - not the stuff in the window but their basics which are very wearable but still up to date.

I have a couple of Phase 8 jumpers (fine knit) and I've worn them to death. They were a great buy, but the exception to the Phase 8 rule of baggy, slash neck, ending on the wrong place on body.

What's wrong with tailored, forgiving, skimming, decent fabric, nice flattering colours? (looking at you, MandS).

Totally Abs. All back to the drawing board I feel. Trousers are out of the question right now. I found a Karen Millen black skirt in a charity shop today. I haven't tried it on yet but here's hoping.

I feel your painperpetual I had it nailed when working-expensive but not boring suits(usually sales buys). Indeed (even younger) colleagues would admire my outfits .
But I retired 5 years ago and realised I couldn't hack smart casual.It's taken me a while but I think I'm getting there ,at least for winter Though my hair is still dark and I do have it cut and coloured regularly ,I have very fair skin and black and other very dark colours do nothing for me on my top half . So I tend to go for bright but not 'shouty' colours e.g today I went out in a Sea Salt teal fine wool, loose-ish but not baggy sweater with a Liberty wool scarf (inherited from MIL) which picked out shades of thesame colour, along with purple, black skinny jeans tucked into (hideously expensive 3 years) ago flat black boots which I live in in winter (can't walk in heels except car to bar any more ) And,now after following the other thread, I keep them highly polished. . Small diamond studs, interesting silver necklace bought in NZ and silver bracelet . I never leave the house without discreet makeup and have just bought new and rather more stylish glasses. Fal on he nails front as mine break very easily. Topped with an M and S lilac coloured casual mac .And a Radley teal coloured bag .Hopefully not too match matchy I think I looked a( bit more than)OK . Previous posters are right though .It's so easy to look boring in the ubiquitous jeans/sweater/ scarf. I'm working on variations of this look and have bought five new sweaters in the sales .
I tend to wear cut- offs in bright colours in summer-my legs are still quite good , despite the fact I am about 1.5 stone overweight(though people are usually kind enough to express surprise when I tell them this) . But I do have a weakness for printed tops and have a huge collection(32 at last count) though managed to have a cull the other day .I find T shirts,which do look more 'expensive' are either too baggy or cling in the wrong places, unless they actually are very expensive . I rarely wear dresses or skirts any more . I think I might save 'classy' for the colder months ... not a problem in UK .

PS was in Regents St branch of Cos the other day and didnt like the clothes But maybe I should have tried something on ?