Sali Hughes on high street fashion for women over 35

[elotrolado]

Just read this - so true.

www.the-pool.com/fashion/fashion-honestly/2017/20/sali-hughes-on-the-british-high-street-dressing-women-over-35

I too long for those 'flattering frocks, neat at the shoulders, sleeves and neck, but with enough fabric around the middle to invisibly accommodate a bottle of red and more than 19 calories ...'

I like most of that m&s stuff tbh but I'd be surprised if it fits me and I'd need more ideas for £125 boots than wearing with one dress. Obviously not that yellow suit!

That cos stuff is awful. It's all so boring.

It's interesting thinking about men's clothes. Maybe we should start buying them and altering them to fit nicely!

Last year I thought I was on to something when I bought a few nice pieces from Hush but this year all I've seen are shapeless sacks and overpriced tops which are completely see-through.

@Ollivander84 thanks for your Polish links, am looking through with interest.

Can you tell me though, what's the fabric like? I like some of the styles there but just wondering if the fabric is going to be clingy round my ample midriff.

I bought a linen/wool blend jumper in the men's section of M&S. It was all natural material, a lovely colour and only £29. It's like a slouchy jumper on me but has washed very well. Tried the women's section and could find nothing at all!

Buckingham - most are fairly thick or jersey type fabric, under the description of each it should tell you what the fabric is
I also tend to google the name of each item + review to see if any bloggers have reviewed it

@Niminy sounds lovely, what pattern did you use?

I've been sewing for years, but more quilts and cushions however now seriously considering clothes for all the reasons mentioned already!

Thanks Olivander, it did say what the mix was, 92% cotton and ... viscose maybe? But it's hard to know what that means in c section tummy real terms. That is an excellent tip about googling the dress, thanks.

TheEmoji I did get my money back in WS for that twisted linen top after arguing with them. But only because I've had a lot of better quality linen things in the past and knew as soon as I washed it that it had shrunk that it was because it had been made poorly and there was no shrinkage allowed in it. The assistant told me no one else had complained about it so clearly other people do put up with clothes changing shape after 1 wash. Moral of the story - avoid WS because they will try and wriggle out of refunds for crap garments.

I also get the wide foot problem at Clarks and need a 6.5 wide due to feet that are square shaped at the front but with narrow heels. I do mainly buy from Clarks just because their efforts are better than anywhere else but tbh it is rare that I find shoes that don't rub somewhere.

As a 60 year-old who loves clothes and who likes to look modern, I really do have to tell you that there is infinitely more choice on the high street now, compared to 30 years ago. That's even allowing for the fact that they're all owned by the same few companies. Back then, unless you lived in a very big city, the grown up woman's high street was bossed by M&S. I feel bad saying this as I hate fast fashion ethics, but I'd rather be a middle aged shopper in 2017 than 1987.

But I agree we've lost the quality. I can still find good stuff if I rummage enough but I take the point that, as an empty nester with no current care responsibilities, I have more time than a lot of you. Plus I treat it as a hobby. But we seem to be a tipping point. I think Emoji's posts a couple of pages back about the UK clothing industry are bang on. We gave up manufacturing our own clothes and now it's coming to bite us on the bum but I can't see any way back.

Off now to look at some of those independent links, Danish labels and the M&S autumn collection - thanks all.

I've just sent this thread to Drapers Record which is the trade paper for all the British fashion and retail industry.

Good one, Prince.

@PotPlantAddict I used this one but I modified it quite a lot - made it midi length and added large square packets at the hip, put the split at the back, sewed on the straps at the front rather than using fasteners. It's a really good pattern though.

If you sew already then definitely try dressmaking. There are loads of fantastic independent pattern designers out there now and things for every skill level. Before the apron dress my previous projects were an asymmetric wrap skirt and a silver duster coat.

I completely agree with her.

I desperately need some new stuff for work. I don't have a huge budget, but I don't want rufflely, backless, see through, cheap & clingy shite. Although even the more expensive items are increasingly cheap and nasty in appearance.

Some of my favourite work dresses are at least five years old and I can't find anything to replace them. Some are synthetic, but thick material and lined. With sleeves and slight draping so I can eat more than 19 calories. Bugger all out there though.

Don't all be so moaning!
I'm late 30 size 10/12 but lumpy intoned and live all clothes out now
I am considered to be well dressed elegant and glam because of my job
It's fine to not like current fashion but don't assume we all want sensible long term garments because of our age. I want to be dressed differently to my (stylish) 65 year old mother!

And as I no doubt out self, I know about the industry.
The issue behind fabric change is sustainability, sourcing ethically and exchange rate. That £65 garment is made in same place as the £30 one, on same fabric. It's brand marketing...

Sensible? Is being able to wear a bra with a top now classed as sensible, AKA frumpy?

Who said anything about sensible? As a PP said, 'I don't want rufflely, backless, see through, cheap & clingy shite'. What's wrong with that?

It's not that I want to be sensible, it's that strapless bras don't exist in my bra size. So a dress has to cover a full bra. And I'm only 33! But I've had this issue since being in my 20s

I think you are seeing sensible as a pejorative when it was not meant to be.

The reality is that I'm edging towards 40 and juggling 3 kids ages 5 and under. I need sensible clothing that isn't frumpy.

I'm not going to every pick out something to wear during the day that is strapless. I'm a 36DD easily and off the shoulder is never going to flatter me. I will most probably look like mutton dressed as lamb.

DH bought me some really nice tops from Victoria Beckham. Not cheap but very flattering, not frumpy.

Emoji", I am delighted that you've sent this thread to DR. Until the UK industry gets its act together, I think I'll learn to sew.

It's not the cost of clothes, which being middle-aged, I can afford. It's being shown something I want to buy, that fits, and flatters.

Want2be, clarks sometimes do that to me too. The wider fit is often still very almond at the toe. A true wide foot (eg a foot that isn't wide because it is a bit podgy, but would be wide even if you were very thin) is usually wider at the toe joint and needs a less pointed toe. I can't buy my dd shoes from Clarks for this reason. She's a size 5 and a half, wide, but with a thin heel as she is v skinny. There is nothing that fits, because Clarks tend to be wide at the heel but narrow at the toe. The suede wallabies etc do fit me because they are soft.

I am exactly the same. Rieker used to cater for us duck feet, but they seem to have largely abandoned that particular last - as well as going over to mostly plastic, which ensures that a not quite perfect shoe or boot never ever gives until it falls apart completely. For Trainers, I've had a lot of luck with Nike - their dart and free ranges have a nice wide toes box and snug ankle. Boots - not easy to get hold of but camel active. Lovely and roomy with the same fly London stylised biker boot aesthetic but not the pinchy toes.

Shiny, what's with all the swimwear that bobs on anyone over the age of 25 or bigger than a proper (not M&S) C cup are guaranteed to fall out of?!!!!!

How the hell can you do anything but stand still and pose in a deep plunge swimsuit?

boobs. Not bobs!

'm 47 and definitely dont want to dress the same as my 27 year old self!

Actually, my 27 year old self, while having a less knackered figure, would have found this item a bit too "modern" and edgy. I absolutely love it and get loads of complements about how different it is. it probably fits my narrow, soft 5'4 frame like Cos would fit someone taller and more angular. I just wear it with skinny jeans.
www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/women/clothing/dresses-and-tunics/soft-cotton-aline-tunic-unique-print_stormy_seas_fathom.htm