Mature student needs a new (practical but not dreadful) wardrobe

[duriandurian]

Very excited to be starting a masters at UCL in September.
I want to look nice but be comfy. But not old person practical. Am pushing 40 and may be oldest person there. I have been mostly in my activewear for last eight child rearing years and most recently living in the tropics so don't really have anything suitable atm.
I will be commuting in once a week with a long train journey and half an hour walk in London.
So I need nice but weatherproof clothes. That are walking and carrying a study rucksack compatible.
I mostly buy online but am near big towns and can shop. I have a fab Merrell Wakefield from the bum-covering threads but think I need a full length coat. My Ma had a drizabone back in the day.
I am 5'7, 10st7. Long body, short legs, big thighs and big wide feet. Very defined waist and good upper half. But nice frock and heels- which would suit my shape- just wouldn't cut it for walking and rain etc..and I don't want to lug a change with me.
I love my wide Hudson jeans and just bought a similar RL polo pair from TKMaxx.
I fancied needlecord wide trousers the same-is this still even around in shops? It was when I started uni 20 years ago-, then maybe tight fitting v neck knitwear or I used to wear Zara cotton boat neck 3/4 sleeve t shirts. What kind of shoes? I wear a 42 and have orthotics. Hamble Oaks get a good press on here.
Budget is fairly flexible. I still wear clothes from teen years if they will stretch to fit me in, so get my value from clothes.
Thank you for any advice!

I was a mature student in my late thirties. Nobody wore smart clothes, sorry. Especially not Laura Ashley! I never saw a pastel floral the whole time!

I found it absolutely liberating. I wore skinny jeans or mini skirts and opaques with either Chelsea boots or Stan Smiths the whole time. Both are comfy and waterproof. On top I wore the same cheap stuff the others wore, Primark and New Look and ASOS. Lots of colour. I never cared I was old enough to be their Mum, I just loved being able to break out of my style box and try something new. I figured I'd be decades to come wearing "classic" clothes and it was a brilliant chance to wear cool clothes again. It gave me so much confidence!

this backpack or if budget allows this bad boy

Tbf my smart is probably most people's scruffy. I take your point re: being a bit more playful. I am just trying not to rock up in varieties of the same gym kit I have worn since 2009. Comfy and suits me but I want to have a new sartorial start.
I do love a rummage around Primark so will have a look when child free some time (maybe after lectures!).
Most of our stuff is still in storage or stowed away at our parents'. We are moving into a tiny new house as a stop gap so I guess I just want a good capsule wardrobe in which I feel nice. And my body shape means some casual stuff like skinny jeans looks and feels dreadful.
Lots of votes for Chelsea boots so I shall have a good look for a nice pair. Laura Ashley does have some nice stuff, I ducked in out of the rain yesterday and was some lovely charcoal grey tops, not all floral!

this website has loads of stylish backpacks

Tho' am unsure that these LA cropped cord culottes will win me over to the joys of wide cropped trews.

Look at Knomo if you need more techy bags/backpacks. Good luck!

I'm a mature postgrad (older than you but I'd snigger if I had to say I was mature), and uniqlo is your friend. Plenty of acceptable/cheap/vaguely smart stuff there.

Although having said that, I just wear jeans and whatever random black top I scrape off the floor that doesn't obviously feature toothpaste/cat/small child detritus.

I'd like a better bag than the shit rucksack I've got though, so I'm looking at the links :).

Enjoy!

Yes I agree that the rucksack links above are v good. I am catching the train into Birmingham for first time in a decade or so.
Turns out it has no Uniqlo but I can shop online for that. Does have a primark and a JL for bras and personal shopping advice too possibly.

There was a little group of mature students on my degree course. They were a hoot. They used to pay us young 'uns to babysit while they went out to the BYOB restaurant up the road.
Occasionally they hosted Ann Summers parties (it was the 90s when such things were a laugh).
Now I'm the age they were I can totally relate and reckon they had an absolute blast at uni.

Cos is really nice. Hadn't seen it before. Shopping with a purpose is definitely more fun.
I did have a choice of a local uni but have gone for UCL as better rep. So no BYOB babysitting but husband will be around so we will just be able to fit around each other- big novelty to have him around and not at work 24/7.

I'm glad you started this thread OP as I'm also going back to uni in September as a mature student and wanted to update my wardrobe a bit.

I've got a smart looking rucksack from ikea of all places! It's a very dark green and nicely padded with a section for my laptop.

As you'll be doing a long train journey maybe get some nice trainers for when it's too warm for boots.

Ooh good luck camomila !
From where would you source nice trainers? I mostly knock about in old Brooks running trainers but have seen the young and the beautiful in nice silver leather ones and things

Converse, @duriandurian - or dunlop volleys if you can find them!

I did a Masters in my mid 50s and was far from being the oldest student. I completely get using it to kick start your wardrobe but I don't think you have anything to fear, style-wise. I was hoping to pick up all kinds of sartorial tips from young students and they were great company but they uniformly wore black ultra skinnies and denim jackets over either sweat shirts or plaid shirts. I don't think a single one had a coat which used to bring out my inner mother hen.

I agree about using a rucksack - messenger bags wrecked my shoulders. At the moment I'm using a tough nylon backpack (leather is too heavy) with a very small nylon cross body bag for cash, phone etc, both from the city market. It was an emergency fix but I've grown strangely attached to their ugliness. Maybe we were a low tech group (humanities) or perhaps things have already moved on but nearly everyone took notes the old fashioned way and it never occurred to me to take in my laptop. I also find it much easier to understand and absorb information if I write by hand although that might be because I didn't grow up with the technology.

I also love tweed but even if it becomes fashionable again (and there are rumours for autumn) I wouldn't buy from the high street because it'll be shite. If I was in London, I'd take myself off to Brick Lane (if that's still the place to go - check with Londoners) and rummage in the second hand shops. With any luck, you'll find Harris Tweed which is the queen of them all.

I hope you have a brilliant time. I'd love to do it all again but doubt whether I could ever afford it and anyway it's my son's turn now.

I like tk maxx for trainers as there's always something a bit different and a lot of choice in small sizes. They are a bit 'young' but I really like the brand 'rocketdogs', comfy and last ages.

I'm young for mature student (29) but I much prefer taking notes with a paper and pen...am looking forward to being nice stationary and an academic diary.

Yes I've seen it there too Pirate - lovely fitted, tailored jackets. And probably in other old fashioned mill shops too. Also in some of the big fair trade shops. I think it's great stuff, very subtle colours, warm, indestructable and while it's not marketed as shower proof, the rain doesn't soak in like it does with wool jackets. Vivienne Westwood is also a big fan which is good enough for me.

As a non mature student all I wore was activewear for my postgrad 😂 and the oldest student I knew was 65 so I doubt you'll be the oldest!

EWM claims jacket is bang on trend.

Not on topic but can I ask... who did you use as referees if you've been a SAHM for 8 years? I like the idea of studying again but not sure who I'd ask to write a reference.

Mature student here but part time at a different uni.

Getting an I pad was the best decision I could make. I take that and a note book with me in a large satchels style handbag. Personally I like the cath kidston box bags for uni but then I only walk 20 mins and don't fill it so it's not any heavier than carrying a handbag.

Dress wise, I tend to be casual but not scruffy. Skinny jeans or leggings with neutral tops. I swear by my nike free trainers for walking days.

cloud I actually asked my last boss (tracked him down after eight years and asked if he would "support" my application. I gave an outline of what I had been doing, where I was living, what my goals were. And he did it straight away surprisingly.
My tutor I again tracked down- after 17 years- with similar outline and she was really kind and supportive. Asked me to tell her basically who I was and what good stuff I had done so I highlighted my strengths and any awards I had won. She was really kind too.
I was super worried about asking for refs and did ask on an expats FB group. Lots of academics on there said that they expect to be asked as part of their job. So I felt better about asking them.
Good luck!!

Wow - I'm impressed. I think, if I do decide to study again, I may sign up to a one year OU course and be very 'involved' in tutorials so I could ask the tutor to be a ref if needed.
Good luck with your course - and your wardrobe (you sound like you'd be a more stylish student than me!)

My DH did OU first to bulk up his refs. He had kept in touch with old college tutor too tho'.
He actually emailed and then met up with tutor of new course to chat about it so felt more confident upon applying.
maisypops I was in an Apple Store after my clothes shopping (bit of a fail: one navy whistles merino fit and flare dress at 1/4 price from JL is all I found) and was admiring all the iPad airs/MacBook pros and different teeny tiny laptops.
think at least if I slump into activewear I won't be alone!
Actually my Ma (who had me early and didn't get to uni) has just completed a degree and is also starting her Masters aged 61. But she has already found her slim person style (desigual tastic).
And camomila I have just ordered three pairs of TKMaxx leather trainers to try on!

Just an update now that I am a month in and an essay down.
I found nice (boot cut, I know, I know, but they suit me) navy cords in Gap and bought some more Hudson wide leg jeans. I now have a couple of lovely but surprisingly expensive t shirts from Hush and Mint Velvet with stars on them (grey and navy). Also a grey Hobbs merino v neck. Then found an Oliver Bonas glittery tshirt dress eBay bargain, ditto a grey gap fair isle lambswool jumper and a charcoal wool/cashmere ted baker poncho. And a huge Aigle navy duvet coat with furry trim hood. Plus some lovely grey and neon fingerless gloves and am debating a Fantàstic Beasts style hat.
Only let down has been shoes: ended up buying more of my favourite running shoes and so I have neon pink and jade trainers.
Had a shockingly bad JL bra fitting but then a good one this weekend and have bought lots of Uniqlo airism pants (no silly lace trim).
I love all my new clothes. Rucksack is still a work in progress (am eBay trawling) and I need a laptop. I am even putting on all my MAC on a Monday before I catch the train (tho' no competing with glowing skin of the early 20s on course).
Thanks so much for all the advice. It is really amazing to be back at uni. Appreciating all the Knowledge and Info and even e.g. access to fantastic UCL library so much. And even walking around London is just brilliant.