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.

Of course you need to take your body size and shape into account, and what sort of things suit you best but not age as a specific thing. I've just turned 65, I'n not in bad nick, size 10 with a waist and OK legs. I know that as I'm short fitted dresses look best but I can wear whatever I want on my feet and this year for my new boots it will be some chunky chelsea boots, a bit longer than my old ones. I buy from lots of different places including ASOS, Native youth, Monki, Anthropologie plus a bit of Woolovers and Toast.
One idea I've seen on here is to think of someone who has the same body shape as you who is quite famous, and maybe around the same age(if that matters to you.) If you google their name and "streetstyle" for images. I just tried it again with Olivia Coleman. You can get some good ideas this way.

I wear dresses with a good drape over the areas I'm not so keen on.
I always wear block colours, preferring a simple style, and then use one item of statement jewellery to draw the eye.
I try to think chic. No idea if I achieve that though.

@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 think teenagers also give a massive amount of thought to what they wear..... I think as you get older you start having flashbacks to the last time (30 years ago) you wore high waist jeans and a baggy top and you shudder at the thought!

So it is not so much that you don't want to be seen as dressing 'young' more the thought that the last time you were wearing it you were at school and it wasn't a good look then and certainly isn't now. I rarely look at young people now and think what they are wearing is fabulous. They all look like clones of each other and very few stand out from the crowd. They could also take a leaf out of the 'wear what the fuck you want' book, but of course they won't because at that age you are even more self-conscious. I feel that as I get older I'm giving less of a fuck about what I should and shouldn't be wearing and enjoying experimenting a bit more.

The best dressed women I know in their 40s wear DMs with loose trousers and more fitted tops in good quality fabrics, maxi/midi skirts & boots with good knitwear, silky tops and loose jeans with vans or good clean trainers. Shiny hair, nice makeup, good bag.

The worst dressed (aka me) wears leggings, tunic tops, scruffy dirty trainers and a raggy ponytail

I have the DMs and a raggy ponytail #livingmybestlife

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues

Novel shape/construction, interesting pattern/texture, compelling back story, enjoyable references, that sort of thing. Selecting them on their own merits, on the basis of their design value

I’ve spent half a century dressing like this! So it’s pretty easy to continue.

Yes, I was very slow to catch on .

Think our generation has absorbed decades of lifestyle telly which has treated clothing as a means for women to rectify or camouflage bodily 'deficits', rather than things with design merit, to enjoy in their own right.

@inthekitchensink

The best dressed women I know in their 40s wear DMs with loose trousers and more fitted tops in good quality fabrics, maxi/midi skirts & boots with good knitwear, silky tops and loose jeans with vans or good clean trainers. Shiny hair, nice makeup, good bag.

The worst dressed (aka me) wears leggings, tunic tops, scruffy dirty trainers and a raggy ponytail

But that’s a style preference for you. Personally I find the look you describe as shapeless and clunky and do not feel it Is that well dressed. For me it’s about good quality well fitting clothes. Loose jeans look appalling on everyone and coupled with doc martens takes me back to the eighties.

The worst I agree with, not because of the leggings and tunic, as that can look good, but if you’re scruffy and dirty then you’ll never look anything but scruffy and dirty.

@agedmother

Think our generation has absorbed decades of lifestyle telly which has treated clothing as a means for women to rectify or camouflage bodily 'deficits', rather than things with design merit, to enjoy in their own right.

Thats an interesting perspective on it. To me clothes have always been about enhancement of me, do I look good in them, rather than do they look good on me. But yes, that's mainly about camaflaging the 'unacceptable' and all that implies. Interesting.

D’you spend much time in art galleries, 5128gap? It’s possible that alongside the example of my mother, and Vogue from my early teens, my understanding of the purpose of clothes comes from a lifelong observation of a thousand years of portraiture. Most people who wear clothes are not supermodels - the subjects of portraits are often elderly or fat or be-wigged - whatever. But their clothes give them presence, the garments make the person more themselves. To me it’s really important to remember this.

Depends on your body. I have a friend who is 60, a size 8, and can and does still wear hotpants (with a bit of self tan on the legs) on a night out with her long grey hair curled. She looks awesome and elegant but she always pairs hot pants with a long sleeved and high necked blouse. So never shows tits / arms and legs together.

I’m only 41 but varicose veins mean I really struggle to wear short things even though my legs are fairly toned if chunky. Planning to sort that out soon though.

@SocksAndTheCity

I suspect women over 40 don't often wear short shorts because they're bloody uncomfortable! Although thinking about it I do have a couple of pairs of those too (one jewelled denim and one gold embroidered, again to be worn with black opaques) 😂

My point is that I don't believe most people's main criteria when deciding what to wear is some unwritten arbitrary rule about age (as opposed to fit, comfort, quality and of course whether they love how it looks!) If it is and I'm wrong then I stand corrected, but I sincerely hope not.

But also.....I have never worn them (I'm 42) and they were never the fashion when and where I was growing up. I think that kind of stays with you. If anyone was wearing those kind of shorts back then they'd have had the piss taken out of them. So sometimes it's not the fact that they look don't appeal as you get older....sometimes it is that they never appealed.

I'm 49, average height, slim but busty with not much waist, best feature is legs. I tend to stick to quite a "samey" look when I go out as I like it and feel I've found what flatters me and what I think "yes, I like how this looks" if I see photos or catch myself in any mirrors.

My main look is to have a mixture of plainer stuff with more fussy/embellished/ interesting items. So not all "fancy", not ready for the Captains Table

Would normally wear either some skinny-ish/slim jeans/trousers with details, so I have one pair with side zips, another with satin side strips and another pair that are ankle grazer skinny-ish combats, usually wear these with a drapey/silky top of some kind, black if trousers are fussy, patterned if trousers more plain. Interesting footwear like leopard print boots/trainers (winter) or silver jewelled sandals or shoes (summer). Black jacket (linen in warmer days/quilted biker in colder). Plenty jewellery (necklace, rings, chunky bracelet, nice watch), slightly boho/alternative style.

@badgerread outfits sound good.

I like Jo Whileys style, also Claudia Winkleman.

What sort of place are you going to? When I last went out I wore a navy Diane van Fustemburg wrap dress and cowboy boots. Central London, casual dinner and bars. I'm 50.
Have fun x

A limo

Never flashed arse in shorts at 20, not starting now, but that did make me laugh…actually wear similar to what I wore then tho, high waisted jeans, fitted or floaty top and fitted jacket. Or midi/maxi dress. Heels or boots. No halter necks, handkerchief hems, glitter or trainers (especially not white). Can you start with a couple of new tops OP?

OP I know what you mean! I’m 38 but I’ve recently started feeling “too old” for most of my wardrobe. I’m quite fond of flowery/boho/lace/embroidery type of clothes and I still love the look of them, just not on me.
For going out, I’ve invested in a few silky tops, block colours, all v-necks because I hate crew neck and a couple of blazers. Good pair of jeans, nice shoes and I’m good to go. I can still get away with my statement jewellery but everything else needs to be quite understated or I feel like a clown…

@SocksAndTheCity

I suspect women over 40 don't often wear short shorts because they're bloody uncomfortable! Although thinking about it I do have a couple of pairs of those too (one jewelled denim and one gold embroidered, again to be worn with black opaques) 😂

My point is that I don't believe most people's main criteria when deciding what to wear is some unwritten arbitrary rule about age (as opposed to fit, comfort, quality and of course whether they love how it looks!) If it is and I'm wrong then I stand corrected, but I sincerely hope not.

Hells bells! All of the above may be true BUT this poster says she is finding it hard to get clothes to suit her due to weight gain, meno and a few other things. Focus on that not on how marvelous you are!

@Floisme

I am nearer to 70 than 50 but, for what it's worth, I was out for a meal last night and wore my ex karate trousers with a fine-knit silk-cotton jumper, white patent Oxford (flat lace up) shoes, a vintage Burberry raincoat and a men's silk paisley scarf.

I find a loose fitting silk shirt with trousers works for all but the fanciest events. At the moment I like wide leg or barrel leg best, preferably high waisted because I still have a waist and want to show it off, and top of the ankle length because they're the best part of my legs.

I like to wear at least one fancy thing - last night it was the shoes - even if the rest out there outfit is low-key.

I think it's delusional to deny your body changes with age and, if you're early 50s, I advise you to hold onto your hat because it's not about to slow down any time soon. But for me, the principle remains the same: show off the best parts, downplay the dodgy bits (arms in my case) and also seek out clothes that give me a swagger when I walk, whether they fit the rules / suit my shape or not. I think 'age appropriate' is a joyless, mimsy, pursed mouth of an expression.

FLO I would LOVE to see you walk into a restaurant! That age at the end of Peri and into Meno is a very tricky time for women - clothing wise. Mainly because your mind changes, your body changes, and nothing is quite right. Later, when things settle it becomes easier. I find it tricky to find things I like, look good, feel good, accommodate fluctuating body temps and fluid retention.

I’m 52, I will be wearing my new Hobbs black leather biker jacket over blouses with 501 jeans or a pencil skirt with heeled ankle boots. I also like wearing my black tuxedo jacket with a leather pencil skirt and a blouse - again, heeled ankle boots.

@MerryGoRoundBrain

OP I know what you mean! I’m 38 but I’ve recently started feeling “too old” for most of my wardrobe. I’m quite fond of flowery/boho/lace/embroidery type of clothes and I still love the look of them, just not on me. For going out, I’ve invested in a few silky tops, block colours, all v-necks because I hate crew neck and a couple of blazers. Good pair of jeans, nice shoes and I’m good to go. I can still get away with my statement jewellery but everything else needs to be quite understated or I feel like a clown…

38 and you feel too old?

Madness.

Bonkers.

It really is. I'm 49 and just getting going really when it comes to style.

I wore interesting shapes in my youth, I wear really interesting clothes now.

I can afford better things. I don't look to teens for inspiration. Teens look rubbish, they have no idea. They are without. All they have is youth.

Don't try to be appropriate @MissLucyEyelesbarrow, think about what you actually like. Look at women that you admire and extrapolate.

Who would YOU like to be???

I wear black jeans and mix and match with ruffle tops. They may not be trendy but I think they are flattering

Big boobs and menopause have left me feeling round and fat...or "stout" as ds unhelpfully put it! I have a posh do next week and have gone for black wide leg trousers and a loose sparkly top.

Nice pub or wine bar in London - jeans, vest top, structured blazer in a pale-ish colour, maybe a stole type thing, have a lovely pale pink one
Party, winter - tight velvet trousers and boots, see through chiffony wrap black shirt, gold necklace/earrings
If I could afford it would be fabulous black leather trousers!
Wish I could find nice dresses - nothing works as well on me. Also only really do understated.