"You are dressed like a 50 year old" (I'm a young 37)

[MorelloKisses]

A little bit of guidance needed I think. Thank you in advance.

I am a young looking 37, 5ft 6, slim, I've just had another little push with clothes and beauty routine, got a pretty great haircut and colour (dark brown, graduated bob). I work in a very corporate environment and like to wear really classic things to work.

Today I had the plum coloured Hobbs Coleta dress on, with some black LK benet Stila shoes and some grey opaque tights. Just one necklace to accessorise and this is probably where it went wrong, I had this looped round 3 times, so not worn long.

In my head I was channeling my inner Diane Lockhart (who admittedly is 50 plus), but this comment this morning had really thrown me off, and I just felt a bit shit.

Can you point me to some accessories that will look impeccable, not granny?

Ok, She clearly wasn't saying it to make you feel good. Which is shit of her. Dress is lovely, maybe a longer pendant rather than the pearls.

Great dress, but would look better with bare leg tights and a long sliver pendant with enough weight to bring it to deep 'V' around your waistline. Or no necklace.

I imagine the grey tights might have not set the dress off as well as it could have been, but I bet you still looked lovely OP.

I wonder what a 50 year old dresses like 'cos I'm about to turn 50 and would like to try and avoid dressing like one! Can you ask for me! Bit worried now.
Seriously, op, ignore. I expect you looked lovely. And a necklace looped around several times, is convenient. Stops you getting caught up in your keyboard or knocking your coffee over.

WTF? You sound like you were dressed totally appropriately for your job - corporate and conservative-with-a-small-c.

I'd have thought classic / ageless was exactly what was needed and your colleague can fuck right off.

I would go for a statement necklace or earrings in a contrasting shade like turquoise. Then black opaques and black shoe boots

minstrel well now yo know the EXACT outfit to avoid.

Glad to be of service

Wore these yesterday, with a purple top. I'm 58.
Ignore and dress in the manner in which you feel comfortable.

OP I've just Googled those shoes, they are fabulous!

Your outfit is extremely classy and 'grown up'. Somewhere in that (surely instantly regrettable) comment I'd take as a compliment. She obviously sees you as looking very young and very much able to carry off 'younger' styles. I too think it's all in the necklace. Everything else sounds good.

Is the rest of your work wardrobe similar?

I'm sure you looked lovely OP although I work in the media and in the spirit of honesty I don't know any people in their 30s who would wear an outfit like that. That screams Teresa May. To me it is very old fashioned and ageing. However I totally get that your office probably commands a more conservative dress code. Smartly dressed people in their late 30s who I know wear things more along the lines of tailored skinny leg cigarette trousers with a tucked in chiffon blouse and loafers, or a looser fit dress with black tights and ankle boots.

Trying to be honest not mean

Op. Sounds a perfect outfit for a 30+ year old! Some people are such idiots and say silly things!

The dress is lovely, as are the pearls but I think the pearls are too delicate for that dress. The combination of subtle necklace and coloured tights might have detracted from the dress and that might have been what your colleague meant.
I agree with PPs that the dress needs something bolder than the pearls (if you want to wear jewellery with it at all) and that coloured tights can easily look dated.

She was super rude, but throw out the grey tights. High quality nude only. Dress is a little old for you, but nude sheers with heels would save it.

Don't wear the necklace again - also too old for you. Get something tiny and modern. Try Whistles, or this one, which I REALLY want right now.

I agree, I think it probably was the pearls which brought your outfit down a couple of notches.

I really like Cos jewellery at the moment - very modern-looking, sleek necklaces

I'm sorry but I think this dress is great for a corporate environment look, I'm not sure about the grey tights though, I only wear black tights. I agree with the poster who says a longer pendant.If you are slim and tall I bet the fit is perfect, for me the image of you in my head is the height of sophistication, a look I could never achieve.Your colleague needs to keep their comments to themselves.As for saying you look like a 50 year old, well we will all be there one day, if we're lucky.

I don't like the necklace. I love pearls but I do think they are aging. The dress is perfect for a corporate environment imo and would be lovely with heels. I wouldn't worry about that element

It's the necklace, it's just got no edge. Maybe accessorise with a simple silver cuff and nothing else.

Also a slash of dark lippy would lift that outfit from safe to stylish.

Grey tights, I think are fine but I do prefer black.

Could you get away with ankle boots at work? Some pointy toed little pixie boots would look cool too, but the stilletos sound great too.

The heels are lovely, btw. LK Bennett heels are fabulous and soooo comfortable for their height.

In general though, you are too young for Hobbs. Try Whistles instead, and I agree with sickofthissnow - "Smartly dressed people in their late 30s who I know wear things more along the lines of tailored skinny leg cigarette trousers with a tucked in chiffon blouse and loafers, or a looser fit dress with black tights and ankle boots."

I am mid 50s and wouldn't wear that dress. Far too old for me.

Dawn I wear similar boots.

Love diane Lockhart too.

It's crappy that in a "traditional" office environment where looking "smart" and conservative is expected, women are worrying about "dressing too old", being "funky" or "stylish" (yet conservative), and wearing high heels, which are terrible for health (joints, back, core stability) and increase risk of accidents.

The men aren't worrying about it!

I'm 49 and I don't dress any different to either the 43 or32 yo I work with. That dress is lovely. It's office smart and I wouldn't say for any particular age.

I am 50 and look clothes and don't think I am considered a 50ish dresser in a bad way. I would never wear grey tights and wouldn't mess around with long necklaces. I think necklaces over the top of an outfit rather than at the neckline are a bit like scarves.

love clothes is what I meant to say.

Hmm, I think she was rude, but I am 51 and that's exactly how I dress.........

Except for the grey tights - wouldn't wear them.

Grey Tights. That could be the issue.....

The dress is very nice though.