Effortlessly eccentric dressing at 50 plus. How to look quirky not completely daft?

[SureIusedtobetaller]

I saw a woman when I was on hols, harem pants, flowy fabrics, grey hair, clearly didn’t give a damn. Looked gorgeous. Must’ve been at least 60 or over. I often see older women looking fabulous but not classic. But sometimes I see older women just look like they got dressed blindfold in the dark and didn’t brush their hair.
How can I achieve this? I like hippy stuff, Dr martens, pretty colours. But I just feel stupid when I try and end up in jeans and a t shirt.
Help me. Where to shop? What to get? What’s the key? I suspect good skin and hair helps? I don’t want to look classy I want to look odd but lovely!!

I love the lagenlook stuff. Slightly concerned that it’s not for short not-skinny people. I think a trying on mission is on the cards.

Slightly concerned that it’s not for short not-skinny people.

I know a lot of my Mum's friends who rock the look. I think it's actually a style that can be kinder to the older body. I can't wear it though but I think that's personality as much as anything. Mum's friends who wear it are all women who are quite creative and chilled. I'm not chilled at all, I'm all spiky and awkward and need clothes that do that a little bit as well.

So firstly: Toast. Secondly: Frankie from Grace and Frankie.

Loving all the new inspiration On this thread - thanks

You may find this website interesting, it has advice to help you find both the styles and colours that will suit you. Personally I think as you get older it's useful to know the right colours for you as it can really make a difference and to know what styles work with your own body shape. Have a look!

www.truth-is-beauty.com/style-analysis.html

I’m not chilled or creative really. I’m stressy and spiky. But I’d like to look chilled!!

Just marking place. I am so booooored with looking boring.

I'm a bit fascinated by Lagenlook, but don't like the bagginess of the clothes. I would want something to fit somewhere, so would ideally choose a loose top with fitted bottoms or vice versa. I don't want to look bigger than I am, unnecessarily.
I also wouldn't like to look as if I'd piled on the whole laundry basket.
So, what I need is Lagenlook, but elegant. At the moment I either look invisible or "bag lady".

I don't see why you have to be tall and slim and agree with Count that it can be very forgiving if done well. Layers can be great for tricking the eye - if I wear a longer T shirt under a jumper, my stomach instantly looks flatter. I think the trick is to figure out what works for your body e.g. where the hemlines should be, where you want things to skim and where you want a closer fit etc. There's probably a lot of trial and error involved.

I also think the fabrics are important and my big beef with Lagenlook is that there always seems to be linen involved. That's fine if you can afford high end linen or find vintage but the cheap high street stuff that looses its shape after half an hour is useless. I don't need my clothes saggy and droopy, thank you; my body can do that all by itself.

I’m mourning my waist. I used to have a small one but it’s hidden under a swimming ring. I know it’s in there somewhere.

When you think that a style is for tall skinny people - what styles do you think are for short not-skinny people?

This kind of thinking is because we've been absorbed the idea that people who are short and/or not-skinny should fade into the background and so shouldn't be wearing any "style" at all.

It's all about the silhouette and the fabrics with lagenlook. I agree about linen and have nearly sworn off it, as it adds a lot of bulk and doesn't seem to flow. Some things in a good weight jersey or that fab cotton viscose mix that Hampstead Bazaar and Zarabesque use work really well.

Trills you are right! I need to own my short arseness and wear what I want!
And ugh linen. I don’t iron so if it even hints of linen it’s out!

It's just difficult enough as a short arse to find things that actually fit, never mind anything else.

Re plain base layers - I can't find the cowl neck cotton or viscose tops that I want to wear under things. Any suggestions?

Hello Sure. I saw this documentary on Channel 4 a few years ago and it really inspired me! Sadly, it's no longer available on the 4OD catch up site, but I managed to find a brief clip on You Tube:

Enjoy!

ilove, that's fascinating to watch, especially the use of strong colours. They really work with grey/white hair as a contrast.
A lot of those clothes are oversized and forgiving, as with Lagenlook, but are paired with more fitted clothes.

Thanks Ilovecardigans, glad I watched that.

ilovecardigans. Thanks for that, really interesting, I would have loved to have seen the whole documentary.

I watched the documentary when it was on originally - it was incredibly inspiring.

helzapoppin2, Footle & ThisYear - so glad you liked the clip. Hopefully it will be shown again at some point. The two women who really stood out for me, were Bridget Soujorner and Jean Woods. Jean has her own Instagram!

www.instagram.com/jeanwoods7/?hl=en

boldlygoingsomewhere - it is one of the most incredibly upcheering pieces of television I've ever watched. I think I watched it at least a dozen times.

Footle - would either of these be any good?

www.lkbennett.com/product/5050923610225~Roslyn-Cowl-Neck-Top-Marl-M

www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350079688.aspx

Interesting thread. Have noted some ideas and will be researching (buying) on eBay tomorrow

Wow!
I keep saying to people that you don’t have to be 25 to be gorgeous and that just proves it.
The most beautiful older women are not the botoxed and lifted to extremes women, they are the ones who own it and wear whatever the fuck they want to.
Shopping time....

Never thought style and beauty would be for me (lacking in either) but had exactly the same question so thank you for all the tips would be a complete change for me but am very drawn to it. Now, a) can fat ladies wear this style and b) can a mother of the groom?