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 ...'

There have been a few threads this year on this very topic and I always find it strange that nobody who works as a designer/retailer/buyer/etc. comes on to put their view point forward.

I don't get it either. They are strangely silent.

I don't have masses of time for fashion designers who, with the whole world and the whole of time at their fingertips, can still only manage to mash up the 60-80s again and again and again. But on this occasion, I think it's the buyers who've blundered. Back in January, there were quite a few other looks featured in the fashion mags. I particularly remember some interesting shapes and some utilitarian stuff. Presumably it was the buyers who singled out the ruffles and bows. I'd love to know why.

Late to this thread, but my goodness, I have found me people!!!!

I work outside a lot and have work-uniform-issue cargo pants, polo shirt etc. On the rare occasions I was in the office, chinos with a jumper or Breton type top would do. We've just been told of a tightening up of office wear to "smart casual" and I need to be in the office more. I'd like some jersey dresses (not keen on tailoring, hate wearing shirts) but can't find anything that I like at all. What's with all the synthetic body-con? I've 46 and size 14/16 fgs!

Ithink ruffles and bow and statement sleeves are popular with high street buyers because they are cheap to produce - you don't have to expensively recut your patterns, you can simply add onto them.

Yes I see what you mean. And the utilitarian look presumably depends on cut and fabric so can't be done cheaply?

Was looking at Tu for summer holiday clothing.

it's fine and decent prices too.

Cos is the place that consistently produces excellent quality -I have two 'old faithful' work dresses which wash well and are three years old.

Great article!

I've only managed to find two wearable things for this summer, accidental finds in John Lewis and Next, both navy cotton.

Luckily I have a tonne of cotton stuff some dating back to the 1990s already.

Has anybody successfully learnt how to sew in middle age? How difficult is it?

I'd like to learn but remember failing miserably at school when we had to make something on a sewing machine

I'm going to learn when I retire style. I refused to learn in school as a matter of principle because it was a 'girls' subject. It wasn't my finest life choice.

There have been a few threads this year on this very topic and I always find it strange that nobody who works as a designer/retailer/buyer/etc. comes on to put their view point forward.

NewsBallsPlease00came on tell us she is "well dressed elegant and glam". And that you can't expect to be stylish if you wear a bra, or something. Handily illustrating the contempt in which the fashion industry holds its customers.

I have found my people!

I have lost over a stone recently and so wanted some new lighter weight cotton trousers and tops for summer. Can I find any locally? Nope. MnS a total disaster area. I'm in my 50's, large of boobage and not very tall. I'm really not ready for their awful dowdy classic collection but too grown up for a lot of their other crap. Anything that looked vaguely OK, when touched was in vile fabric. Tried on a pair of their roll hem chinos. Size 10 was too big and they didn't have a single size 8. I'm not stealth boasting honest, but no way even when I was 10lbs lighter than I am now in my yoof, was I ever a size 8. Their vanity sizing must have got ridiculous.

I live in a smallish county town, so limited choice. I ended up buying on line from Land's End. I'd really like something a bit more stylish but I know their quality is good and the petite trousers will fit me without altering.

It's just depressing.

I'm only just discovering Land's End (via charity shop) and I'm quite impressed and feeling rather foolish for never looking before. No I wouldn't wear it head to toe but the basics are perfectly decent. I'm older than you and I've recently found cotton trousers in Uniqlo and H&M if that's any help? I still rate M&S Autograph although I agree the fabrics aren't great this season (apart from some heavy-ish linen shirts).

I was think about what I have been wearing to work and realised almost everything I have bought this year is American, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Hilfinger etc and then I was teaching a group of students in their early 20s and realised all the girls looked very preppy. Seems to be the default look for work at the moment if you don't want frills and cheap fabric. I need to give Cos another try but I feel it is more a look I could wear in winter.

Read the Sali article - so, so true. Am 44 and size 10/12. I need clothes that suit my lifestyle, getting kids out of the house, getting to work, being in a classroom, sometimes a hot, sweaty classroom.

Have read the whole thread too. So interesting that so many of us feel the same way, personally I now find most things on eBay, I love TOAST, the odd bit of Zara, Whistles, Cos.

Like someone else said on here, good quality second hand so much better than high street crap.

The high street have pretty much lost me.

I too have recently been trying to get my style together after 2 children. Working full time in a fairly corporate environment is providing interesting as there aren't many women (that is another topic for a different thread) and we all seem to now be buying from the same few places as there isn't much choice for those of us over 40) the fold/whistles/cos). This become embarrassing when you are both wearing the same distinctive skirt/dress at a meeting or conference.

I get most of my basics ( trousers, tops and t-shirts, jumpers, etc.) from Esprit online (they are German, I think). Not too expensive, good quality, reliable sizing.

I agree about Esprit being fairly reliable. I've also just ordered a couple of nice looking tops from Seasalt.

Home dressmaking is having a resurgence. See for example The Thrifty stitcher for classes. Patterns etc are very good now. Having discovered a like minded colleague with a seemingly endless wardrobe of well cut arm covering dresses, I'm going to give it a go over the summer.

High-street clothes retailers, listen up!

@styledilemma I started sewing a couple of years ago in my early fifties. It hasn't been that hard. There are loads of classes around and a plethora of indie pattern designers making patterns from absolute beginner onwards. Many of these designers have blogs which give detailed instructions and tops and YouTube has millions of videos on different techniques.

I started with very simple shapes and by and large that's where I still am - I know my limitations! - but this way I can make clothes in lovely fabric that fit and have sleeves. So, for instance I made this very simple dress based on the shape of a sweatshirt in this material with stripes going in different ways. It's very satisfying to have something completely unique.

Cyrillus has some simple things in natural fabrics too.

I think if I had the money, I would check out Agnes b. In my real life, I've never even tried it on but I always think it manages to look both classic and modern, which is rare. It looks well cut too (as it should be for the price) and it's not all navy and black. Mind you, even they're prone to the occasional floral trousers.

Has anyone bought from Emily & Fin? This top looks nice and is 100% cotton. It is a bit of an effort to find nice stuff that fits. I am really put off online retailers using tall and slender models as I have no idea how the clothes will fit on my 5ft post baby/c section body.

Snitchelvonkrum (good name) I don't have contempt, I have a significant need for a bra so get it, but there is also some reverse snobbery here!
If you hate trawling shops stick to brands or stores you know for you well, and do online
There is so much cotton around now, more than usual, yes it's often blended but that's to support on for or shape. Viscose is sometimes better than cotton, poly is always sweaty but some people love that's it's easy care, and so it depends on what you like
If you want classic shapes in standard fits rather than fashion you will always get great basics at gap, uniqlo or toast, even Boden.
For more trend (and less consistent sizing) Zara, whistles,
In between the two mint velvet, or French connection
No one brand usually caters for everyone hence the success of john Lewis etc
whayvis it you feel is specifically missing you're after?