. Nearly 50 and a bit podgy...where do you find nice clothes?

[paradoxicalInterruption]

I've looked at blogs for 40/50 something fashion and it's all very well if you are nice and slender and would look good in anything.

Where's the advice for size 14 with a size 16 menopausal tummy? Just want to look smarter and more put together!

It's a horrible age, fashion ways, isn't it? I'm 48 and live in stripy tops and jeans. I don't want to dress like a 20/30 something but feel too young to wear the horrible clothes suggested by the shop assistants. 😕 I think prints and flowers are really aging on women over the age of 40.

I think the problem is there's either trendy clothes or frumpy stuff. I'm slim but that doesn't mean I want to dress like a twenty-something as its going to look ridiculous with my battered face!

Well, I'm 48 and currently dressed in a pair of red, high shine vinyl trousers, a white and black Addidas t-shirt and Ash trainers.

Wear what you want, not what you think you should.

Single I bet you're really slim though, in which case you probably look fabulous I'm short and, having always been very slim, I've suddenly put on 10kg over the last couple of menopausal years and now look very dumpy

I think if you're slim you can get away with all sorts, regardless of age.

Well, I'm a size 12 at 5'8 so not skinny.

I'm the same 49 nearly 50...put on 2 stone over the last couple of years and struggle to shift it now hoovering between a 14-16. I really really like Mint Velvet ...it a spin off from All Saints for the older shopper . Beautiful clothes that arent frumpy . I like White Stuff as well . Watching with interest

Age 49, size 14 and big norks. sigh.

I have found that the best thing to do is: find the shape/style/outfit you feel best about yourself in and suits your shape and just wear that all the bloody time in various colours

I'm bored with myself, but i'm often complimented so ... ... what to do?

I look longingly around the shops at the lovely round neck shift dresses, chunky jumpers, floaty frills, grown up trouser shapes, chic polo necks, boxy jackets ect. It's useless. If i deviate from 'my' style i look about a stone heavier and as if i've run through a jumble sale naked and grabbed whatever came to hand.

So ... I stick to fairly body con tops as they show that i have a (quite small) rib cage and a waist beneath those GGs. I stick to deep V necks or deep cowl necks as they elongate my neck and reduce the matronly boob shelf. Bottoms - i look best in clingy jeans (lucky with good bum and legs) or a shortish skirt with opaques and boots. Heels of some sort most of the time. Or ballet pumps. No hoodies or trainers. I've looked odd in trainers and lumpy in a hoodie all my life and at 49 i've accepted that's not going to change! In summer i'll do an A line cotton skirt or a clingy tube skirt or dress. Darkish colour vest tops only unless i'm at home, otherwise it's tit central again. Has to be long line or spaghetti strap though. Wider straps, short length or cap sleeves with my boobs give the 'top heavy' look again. sigh.

I guess i'll still be in variations of the above until i peg out?

Laiste good advice. I think unfortunately my body shape has changed in the last couple of years - so I'm struggling to find a look that works.

Probably need to book in for another John Lewis Personal Shopper experience and let them do the running around the shop.

I like Mint Velvet as it has tops/dresses that are a bit floaty and disguise problem areas. Our John Lewis has a concession in it as well as us having a store in the local town.

miracle it's sad isn't it? Sometimes when i walk round the shops, or browse online after a while i start to kid myself that maybe some of the lovely things might look as good on me as they look on the lovely models Once in a while i'll take an item into the changing room (or order it) and get a horrible reality check when i put it on.

paradox yes go in and have a good try on somewhere. I worry sometimes that i'm wrong about 'my' style. I feel comfy in it though, and honestly look pretty hideous in much else. I have to get a fair bit online when short and wide is all that's in the shops. I've done a lot of sending back :)

Love Mint Velvet too. Love their shoes! My nearest is Lemington spa. Last autumn i saw a lovely grey knitted dress in there (with obligatory deep V). Wish i'd bought it now. Remember hankering after one of their knitted bobble hats IIRC. Navy i think.

I'm only 30 but my mums 50odd and really into Gudrun sjoden at the moment

www.gudrunsjoden.com/uk/m

I'm 52.
Current labels are Cos, Therapy, & other stories, Phase 8, And/or, modern rarity, Joanie and Kin.
I really need to lose some weight though!

www.lookingstylish.co.uk is a blog with lots of ideas for a 40/50 woman who is not stick thin.

I turned 50 six months ago.
I have struggled with fashion for most of my life but between age of 40 and 50 there seems to be a real drought
So as others have said I find what suits me and stick to variations thereof.
I love TU from Sainsbury's skinny jeans.
Breton tops.I favour a boat neck or v neck line.
Some fabulous glitzy runners about. I saw a few nice pairs in TK Max today but unfortunately my bunions got in the way of me buying them
Finding the right bra though is a nightmare.
Underarm skin tends to get loose and flabby as we age and it's impossible to find a bra that supports you with a firm hold without making you look matronly.
I also set myself a target weight loss and have managed to lose 4 stone in 12 months however I am still a size 18 and am fine with that.

Oh the gudren stuff - as my mum would have said on me it looks like a dog blanket.

Other people wear it and look wonderful!

I need a fairly clean line and boat or v necks. Otherwise I look like, as a Previous Poster said "I've run through a jumble sale naked and grabbed whatever came to hand."

I do find a good coat makes the world of difference - and hides a lot in a good way - but at some point you always have to take it off.

Good bras - I treated myself to a Rigby and Peller session a wee while back - and that hoiked everything back up in a rather lovely (and eye wateringly expensive) manner.

Frankly - I need to lose weight.

I'm 50
I wear lots from anthropologie. I like Hush at the moment. I also like the odd bit of Jigsaw & Karen Milllen.
Today I'm wearing lulu Lemon leggings, a long sleeve sweaty Betty top & a jigsaw boyfriend cardi (have been keeping fit) I have some vans on my feet.
I think it is a mix of confidence & attitude that we need at our age.
Confidence to stand up tall (as much as we can) and an attitude that says 'I can wear whatever I want'

White Company and Phase Eight are good as are Pure Collection and Modern Rarity. Jigsaw has some flattering things too.

I think the asymmetric or rectangular silhouette jumper /top or slightly oversized and slouchy works best.

Also thick jeggings/pull on denim leggings so they don't bulk you out under clothes creates a more flattering line.

What doesn't suit is that empire line with gathers when your middle is a bit shot.

This sort of thing with a longline vest underneath