If you're 50ish, what do you wear on a night out?

[MissLucyEyelesbarrow]

I seem to have lost my going-out mojo. I aim (with varying success 😉) for understated glam - anything too bold or glitzy looks ridiculous on me, though I love fierce looks on other people. I used always to have a couple of tops that I put with good jeans or a leather skirt, to look a bit dressy, but I feel they''re too young on me now. Looking for inspiration.

Have you tried jumpsuits?

A "young" night out in the pub, jeans t-shirt and trainers.

Middle aged dinner, a dress and flat sandals or boots.

These days everything starts with the shoes. If it can't be worn with comfy shoes I'm not wearing it

Inspiration here

warningcurvesahead.com/2016/06/04/24-things-women-over-30-should-wear/

I just west things that made me feel terrific, same as I've always done

@Reduceddutiesboredom

Have you tried jumpsuits?

Love them on other people but they don't work on me because I have a very long body, and it's like being sawn it two 😬

@AuntieStella

Inspiration here

warningcurvesahead.com/2016/06/04/24-things-women-over-30-should-wear/

I just west things that made me feel terrific, same as I've always done

Oh god, spare me the 'wear whatever you want' twaddle. It's just added pressure on women. Not only do we have to contend with an inner judge, but we have to pretend that we aren't critiquing ourselves for being too young/fat/short.

I don't know a single woman over 40 who doesn't give some thought to whether clothes are age-appropriate. I bet you do too, if you're over that age.

@AuntieStella

Inspiration here

warningcurvesahead.com/2016/06/04/24-things-women-over-30-should-wear/

I just west things that made me feel terrific, same as I've always done

Perfection

I'm 50 in November and last time I went out out I wore khaki silky combats, high strappy sandals, black blazer and a black long sleeve top (all Zara I think). A more casual night would be culottes, white trainers, leather jacket. In summer I wore a lot of wide legged jumpsuits from Cos with either Birkenstocks or trainers. Cos and Zara are my go to shops (and maybe Reiss if I'm feeling flush)

Hi OP, don't worry about what anyone else wears or thinks! Wear whatever makes you feel good - someone who feels comfortable looks better, feels better and is always going to have a better time than someone who wears "what they should "! You do you and have a fabulous time!

Depends on your shape I guess. I'm tall and pear shaped. I'd wear skinny black jeans with extra stretch to suck everything in. Loose fitting top that tapers in slightly at the waist and sits nicely over the tummy. Ankle boots.

I think the op is actually asking for help finding things to make her feel terrific… so stop making twatty comments and perhaps give examples of what makes you feel great???
MIDI dresses and trainers here… along with jumpsuits it less so as going to loo is a drag. High waist mom jeans with a more fitted top. Order loads of stuff online for home trying?

Btw, I'm over 50, have killer legs and still wear mini skirts because they look good, feel good...age is just a number!!!

I don't know a single woman over 40 who doesn't give some thought to whether clothes are age-appropriate.

Well you don't know me so that's fair comment, but I can honestly say 'age appropriate' (and what a revolting term it is) is not something that has EVER crossed my mind when deciding what to wear, and I'm just shy of 49.

Do I like it? Does it suit me? Does it fit properly? Is it comfortable? Will I be warm/cool enough? Yes to all of those :).

Sorry to derail a bit, but why do people like jumpsuits? Aren't they a massive pain when you need to go to the loo? Especially on a night out and possibly a bit tipsy?

@7catsisnotenough

Btw, I'm over 50, have killer legs and still wear mini skirts because they look good, feel good...age is just a number!!!

So do I. I think mini skirts flatter most people provided they're the right shape and length; the legwear matters too (I can't wait to get my black opaques back out after a false start last week when I nearly boiled to death).

Ditto dresses. I do have some Wildfang overalls, but I agree that jumpsuits/all in ones aren't that practical if you're going to be out of the house for long

Sorry to derail a bit, but why do people like jumpsuits? Aren't they a massive pain when you need to go to the loo? Especially on a night out and possibly a bit tipsy

I'm after an outfit to wear at the Evening Reception for a Wedding. The absolute last thing I'll be wearing is a jumpsuit. One drink abs I will not be able to manage going to the loo abs end up in some kind of embarrassing situation where I have to ask for help

@7catsisnotenough

Hi OP, don't worry about what anyone else wears or thinks! Wear whatever makes you feel good - someone who feels comfortable looks better, feels better and is always going to have a better time than someone who wears "what they should "! You do you and have a fabulous time!

Thanks @7catsisnotenough. That’s my aim but the problem is I don’t feel good in the outfits I currently have. I’ve got big boobs at the best of times and I’ve put on weight during the menopause, so the tops I used to wear now make me feel like Hattie Jaques (wonderful woman, but not my style role model). Posters telling me off for feeling self-conscious about my age and current body shape really aren’t helping.

I like @badgerread’s idea of silky combats and a blazer. Will definitely have a go at a similar look.

I have images of the body part of a jump suit draping all over a wet toilet floor as I fail to hold it all up while I drunkenly wee. Too big a risk

@badgerread tell me more about the combats, please. They sound like my favourite pair of trousers from years back that I have longed to own again and have searched for many times over the years and never found.

I know what you mean OP. I'm definitely struggling a bit with going out clothes - I do think you grow out of a look, a make up style or whatever. Not necessarily age related per se but fashions change, you look different, something that suited for ages just stops looking quite right etc.

But anyway, while I too am looking for inspiration I do like a nice shirt that drapes well tucked in with trousers or jeans and ankle boots. With some simple but nice jewellery. Mint velvet is sometimes good for this but I haven't looked at their autumn collection yet. I have a lot of drapey t-shirts - mix of prints or dark plain colours that are my emergency go-to's. Probably a bit boring - I love bold looks on other people, but understated tends to work best for me!

Last weekend I went to the pub then for pizza. I wore harem pants, DMs, a vest, an off the shoulder jumper and a long cardigan. I'm going out out in a few weeks and will wear a Kin dress and my DMs.

I have a kind of uniform I guess, I tend to wear round neck silk sleeveless blouses, in a variety of block colours ,,Ie black, navy, green, russet etc and good jeans, either dark indigo, or vintage or black , either relaxed skinny or straight, with some heeled ankle suede boots or strapped sandals depending on time of the year.

Basically this look. I’m 52. Hair and make up done, it’s pretty much dress down enough for bars and dress up enough for a decent restaurant.

I absolutely agree that women with great legs (I haven’t) should wear minis at any age. But I see very few women in their 40s or 50s dressed like teenagers. If older (relatively speaking) women wear a mini, they style and accessorise it differently to how a young woman would. So, actually, they are conscious of what is age appropriate. Same with the “I just wear what suits me” brigade. I bet that what suits them just happens to be what other women a similar age wear, not what their teenage daughter would choose.

Either way, if you’re so happy with your body that you never give a thought to your age and dress exactly as a teenager would, then well done you. I’m not judging anyone else’s choices. I’m just saying I’m struggling.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

I absolutely agree that women with great legs (I haven’t) should wear minis at any age. But I see very few women in their 40s or 50s dressed like teenagers. If older (relatively speaking) women wear a mini, they style and accessorise it differently to how a young woman would. So, actually, they are conscious of what is age appropriate. Same with the “I just wear what suits me” brigade. I bet that what suits them just happens to be what other women a similar age wear, not what their teenage daughter would choose.

Either way, if you’re so happy with your body that you never give a thought to your age and dress exactly as a teenager would, then well done you. I’m not judging anyone else’s choices. I’m just saying I’m struggling.

I agree with you totally op. I would wear a short skirt on hols, or maybe a short summer dress in the summer, but I wouldn’t deliberately wear a mini skirt out in my fifties either. I prefer to aim for elegant. But I respect others choices, but anywhere I go I really don’t see many middle aged women in mini skirts.

40s here and I tend to wear midi dress/trainers. I have a meal coming up at a steak place (not my choice!) and plan to wear a leather a-line mini-ish skirt with opaque tights, and a cashmere jumper. I am not a dressy-uppy person really though so probably not much help!

Ah, whoops - I didn’t see @Bluntness100’s comment before posting. Consider me unelegantly chastened.

By mini-ish I mean above the knee, not pant skimming, and it is a beautiful skirt from Jigsaw. I wear it with 100 denier opaques and flat ankle boots or black leather trainers.