"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?

Sadly it's true...or not quite. I'd remembers 80% but it's 63% for women 40 - 60. I suspect if it were over 50 though the 63 might be closer to 80% as menopause is a big factor in weight gain.

Dec 2016 figures
"The proportion of 40 to 60 year old men who are overweight or obese has increased from 66.7% in 1991 to 1993 to 76.8% in 2011 to 2013, and for females the figure has risen from 54.8% to 63.4%."

www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-in-the-behaviour-and-health-of-40-to-60-year-olds/changes-in-the-behaviour-and-health-of-40-to-60-year-olds-between-1991-to-1993-and-2011-to-2013

Just because someone is fat dos not make their opinion any the less relevant.

That dress looks like something you would get from M&S the is what grannies wear section. Which fails as most grannies don't wear that sort if thing hence why M&S are doing so badly in fashion side of things.

I dress my 17 year old daughter because she hasn't a clue.

There is a short fat male designer (cant remember his name) are his clothes any the less relevant because he is short and fat

No, you'd remembered wrong. What with 80 per cent being a hell of a lot more than 63 per cent. Flailing around saying 'ah but I'm right really' might cut it in the White House but isn't really accurate.

I do hope you're a little more accurate in the statistics you cite at work...

Sorry should have added

I dress my 17 year old daughter because she hasn't a clue. If it was up to her she would wear jeans and crop top to a black tie event. Or just pointing out that if she is doing a mini skirt and ankle boots are not going to cut it.

I think your outfit sounds the bollocks, Morello. I love Diane too, she's amazing.

I reckon your colleague is jealous.

Can someone tell me what exactly is wrong with grey tights?

Well to stick to The Good Wife Julianna Margulies is the one who is 50 and not Christina Baranski. I don't work in a conservative corporate environment and am a lot closer to 50 than you, I'm also short and curvy. Yesterday I wore navy brogues, opaques and ruched mini with a green jumper from Cos. Only jewellery was my wedding and engagement rings.

I think maybe what she was saying in a rather rude way is that when you are very young (under 30 probably) in a corporate environment then you can dress very classically and still look fab and trendy. As you get past a certain age (35-40ish probably but will vary a bit depending on height, weight and wrinkles/hair) you need to start dressing in a more fashionable way to still appear current. I dress in much 'younger' clothes in my 40s than I did at 30 (where I was desperately trying to look older).

Personally I don't like the pearls and agree something like a silver cuff would be better.

Ah yes as ever I don't remember things wrongly at all! This is the article I read and accurately remembered and reported.

"Health curse of the middle aged: 80% are now 'overweight, lazy or drink too much' as they worry about their children, ageing parents or work" "Some 83 per cent have poor lifestyle habits, a major analysis by Public Health England and Oxford University academics has found" It goes up that bit of a % if you add in those other factors. Dreadful statistics.

So anyone managing to wear that dress at over 50 well done. Very few could at that age.

I could "manage" that dress but it wouldn't flatter me.

So 80% are EITHER overweight OR 'lazy' OR drink too much. Even according to your standards, only the first one would allegedly stop you wearing the dress.

i dunno, that shade of purple/red with a hangover would be difficult to pull off :)

The dress goes up to a 16. So even lazy overweight drinkers could 'manage' it.

I still wouldn't wear it, mind.

I'm 50something and have never dressed like that in my life - it's very staid/conservative imo. But I'm not offended, I'd just rather dress like Rayna James than Diane Lockhart!

Though I quite yearn for a silver miniskirt now!

'that shade of purple/red with a hangover would be difficult to pull off '

Would match my eyes.....

Black leggings long black top and doc martinesque boots. Are my go to outfit

What a horribly rude comment. Even if I thought that I would not say it. I always find a positive comment - lovely colour, great fit, or some such. I don't mind too much looking 50 but I am mid 60s would rather look 40

Your outfit sounds lovely OP and your colleague sounds very rude Not that there's anything wrong with being 50, obviously, but she clearly didn't mean it as a compliment.

I'm always quite surprised by some of the things people suggest others wear to work. I too work in a more conservative environment and leopard print stilettos would not go down well...! Same with ankle boots.

A well cut dress which flatters your figure but is in a strong colour is the holy grail of office attire, as far as I'm concerned. Very Joan Holloway.

To be brutally honest OP, the dress is ageing and so are the shoes!

I'd probably go more Cos or whistles for workwear.

But for a sleeved dress (presume due to weather?) it's ok. Just not mad keen on the colour.

"Not that there's anything wrong with being 50, obviously, but she clearly didn't mean it as a compliment. "

An ageist insult shows an unenlightened attitude to equalities in society, and I wouldn't pay any attention to someone who is happy to display their bigotry.

I'd wear that outfit (albeit with black tights or none at all) and I am 23... I might change the necklace, but it's fine really, just not to my taste exactly!

I think she is just fine, and smart and good to be around. I only meant that she frequent,y comments negatively on her age/looks, as though she is very self conscious

It's the grey tights and necklace. Black tights and a bracelet or ring would have been better I think. Not that it's not nice anyway just to make it a bit younger/more modern.

I think what let it down was the necklace. Definetly something more alternative would have given that outfit the edge. The other necklace was too pearly. pearls always make me think of my gran.

..and it is a horrible comment to make. I am 49, so not far from 50 and had on at work just the other day my lovely hush tunic/dress and dark grey denim skinny jeans and ankle boots. I rarely think about my age when i am wearing clothes unless its to do with skirt length.