The 'old' lady style and beauty thread

[thisenglishlife]

With 'old lady' not being an offensive term, but rather referring to women with knowledge, refined taste and other positive qualities

Show off your pretty things and link to dresses, slips, twinsets, pearls, stockings, big knickers, cross your heart bras, prestige scents, retro style makeup, soap and everything else in between

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Thanks for looking. I want short sleeves, and not jersey. Basically I want a proper gothic horror/Lady Macbeth nightie, but in black or grey, rather than white. It doesn't exist!

I'm the same, I never wear white( I got married in red) I have looked at dyeing a white pure cotton nightie from Powell craft or similar but always chickened out. I've dyed lots of clothes. If they are pure cotton it should be fine. The problem I've encountered before is if the cotton used to sew them is polyester mix then it doesn't take the dye and you end up with contrasting stitching.

I wanted to know what a pearl dress would look like... Here is a Calvin Klein one with over 6000 (presumably faux pearls) worn by Lupita Nyong'o.

Sorry, that cut part of her face out

thisenglishlife She wears it well (but some people look good in a bin bag -mutter mutter).

That dress is stunning (and so is she) but it must be so heavy to wear!

Imagine sitting in it (at a hours long Oscars ceremony no less), it couldn't have been comfortable!

Lupit Nyong'o is so stunning.

That dress is also amazing, but yes, I don't imagine it was comfortable!

One good 'OL thing' is a pressed powder compact, does anyone have a recommendation? I don't mind spending more on a good one.

I like the look of the Nars light reflecting one, By Terry (probably the travel sized hydra one) and Laura Mercier.

This one is super glam - www.escentual.com/guerlain/guerlainmakeup271/

I always use a Clarins one english. It's:

https://www.johnlewis.com/clarins-ever-matte-mineral-powder-compact/p315045?sppc=1dxDSA-BEAUTY39700020053400474&tmad=c&tmcampid=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk7bfvNLA6gIVArDtCh0hTg9bEAAYAiAAEgK0LvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have the Nars light reflective compact - it is very good. Not 100% in preventing the weird colouring in photos, but I only use a light touch so not very noticeable.

I’ve just read the whole of the last thread and absolutely loved it. When I met my DH he used to jokingly refer to me as a twenty something old lady. I’m now 34 and thoroughly embracing my old lady side.

I love:

Being cosy. Always have to have a blanket on my legs on the sofa, cosy socks, love my dressing gown from Joules, it’s jersey material on the outside and fleecy material on the inside. Have just visited the Pashley website and got 2 merino vests. They look brilliant!

• Knitting and cross stitch. Thinking of learning crochet too.

• Baking

• A good murder mystery. I’ve been reading Agatha Christie since I was a teenager.

• Anything lavender or Rose scented. Love the soaps in tins from TKMaxx. I bought my grandmother who lives in France some Yardley toiletries and realised I couldn’t send one of the body sprays in the post as it’s an aerosol and I kept it and love the smell! Have also purchased some Badedas thanks to the last thread and looking forward to using it.

• A nice cup of tea and a biscuit.

• A trip to a garden centre.

@thisenglishlife your mention of pressed powder compact reminded me that I have a very old one. I can't even remember where I got it from, I think my mum may have given it to me but she never used powder. It is so small that I've not found anywhere that does refills small enough. It needs a good clean, it was at bottom of my cosmetics drawer.

Thread caught my eye so thought I’d pop in.

@thisenglishlife I have the guerlain compact you mention and also the new by Terry in both full and travel size. All unused so far.

The pressed powder compact I mentioned upthread is not pretty like Nanny Ogg's But it works well for my face, to help stop sunburn and it gives a sunkissed look. (there are choices of skin type too). Much easier to apply than foundation type stuff.

Though going out now in the sun with a mask on it doesn't seem worth putting it on, apart from the nose and forehead. I always wear sunglasses and a decent hat (I must look weird!!).

Pashley parcel has arrived!

@NannyOgg66

that compact is beautiful and has inspired me to dig out an old one that belonged to my Aunt. The compact is designed to take loose powder- that's what the mesh thing is for- to keep the powder in

I would be overjoyed to receive that Pashley parcel in the post

Just received this in the post. I think I've reached peak old lady, and am very happy arriving there!

That's beautiful

Welcome @Minai , @flouncymcflouncerson and any other newcomers

Lovely compact @NannyOgg66

What did you order @AnneKipanki ?

I have had a Agatha Christie book order arrive today. I have only just started reading AC (I borrowed and read The Moving Finger and And Then There Were None from the library) earlier this year.

I bought a Pashley bike off eBay a couple of years ago. I found that my style suddenly changed to match the bike. I went all vintagey and old-lady, big knickers and everything. I think I rode the bike to work about five or six times before I realised that I hate cycling and sold it again. Turns out, I just liked the way it looked. And the enormous pants.

A blush pink merino vest and t-shirt@thisenglishlife .

I have found my tribe! Finding this thread is such a lovely surprise

I also have a very old powder compact like the one up thread.

I took delivery of six bars of Nesti Dante soap on Friday ....

@Gatekeeper thank you, that is a very old mystery solved for me ! My mum who is in her 80s never wore powder not as long as I could remember, she used pan stick then liquid foundation in 1970s /80s as she liked a glowy look. I might give it a try with some mineral powder.