53 year old student

[Ilovelearning]

I start University in September and will be studying textiles. I've always dressed in a classical style when I was at work and feel like I have lost my way in the last couple of years. I'ld like to be a bit more adventurous and am not sure where to start. I'm 5'", size 18/20 and have worn flat shoes for the last 10 years due to back and knee pain. When working I used to wear black trousers and top, but then put a colourful jacket with it as I felt this 'streamlined' me. I like to look smart and have loved wearing ethnic style cotton trousers over the summer

Wow, op! Good for you, I'd love to do something like this, so jealous!
I think just wear whatever you feel comfortable in, sorry not helpful at all.

Yep, no advice, just wanted to say how jealous I am too. Good luck.

BTW the trousers sound great, I'd carry on with something like that.

One of my former bosses was around your height/size and she had great style. It was quite tailored and groomed e.g. fitted shift dresses with a cardi and everything fitted really well. I think she probably bought high street and then had things altered.

She wore a lot of strong, block colours, often black but never in a 'don't look at me' way - she'd mix it with something like orange or mustard or lime green.

My favourite outfit of hers was wide, floppy trousers with a very long, silky shirt. By long, I means almost knee length, kind of a western take on a Shalwar Kameez. It made her look really streamlined and 'put together'.

Hope you enjoy uni - I'm very jealous.

Sorry I've remembered that wrong. The trousers were narrow leg. She told me that tried the outfit with wide legs first but decided she was too short to carry it off.

Remembered a couple more things: she always made sure she showed off her best features e.g. she had lovely hair and it was always immaculately cut and glossy, also very delicate wrists and fingers so she'd wear interesting bracelets or rings to show them off. She loved her lipstick too.

And cool specs. She was one of the people who inspired me to ditch the contact lenses and 'own' my glasses.

Very funny lady too and a great boss.

When I was a mature PGCE student, I wore exactly the same as the younger ones (think jeans and shirts, or trousers and jackets for actually teaching) but in a grown up style. So the jeans would be the same shape as the kids, but in dark indigo undistressed denim, with a tailored shirt replacing the T-shirt, but with lots of textured accessories and jewelry. And it was occasionally complimented, by the art students mainly. For a textiles course... choose comfortable, interesting in a style that you know flatters you.

I have recently been given a Lithuanian linen pinafore smock, in a turmeric orange, that goes over anything to protect whatever you're wearing, with four large pockets. It is the best thing ever and totally practical for layering.

Thanks everyone. Floisme your former boss sounds fab and probably more in line with what I would like to wear. I think I need to seriously look at what I'm going to take with me and then plan to buy more 'impact' garments/accessories to fill the gaps. cressetmama I absolutely love that linen pinafore smock, that's definitely going on the list of things to buy! Thanks for all the good wishes.