Clothes like these old ladies are wearing!

[WeirdArchitecture]

I was just reminded on another thread about attitudes to ageing that I had recently seen a documentary about centenarians in Okinawa, Japan.

I have this photo, sadly not a very detailed one, from the film and I love what these two ladies are wearing. I'm oddly drawn to how older people dress, especially in Japan for some reason, the fabrics look natural, the shapes are slightly loose, comfortable but not massive or trend focused.

As someone who loathes jersey and stretchy stuff, I would love a modestly patterned dress like the lady on the left, as well as those wonderfully patterned pyjama style togs the lady on the right wears.

Any tips where or how to source such lovely things with decent prints and fabrics?

If anyone is interested, the doc is called 'centenarians - a new age without limits' on youtube.

more piccies

This looks similar, have seen them in Japan, not sure where you would buy in the UK.

Here

Garments like that are a doddle to run up on a sewing machine, OP.

Google Jinbei

It's kind of like Kariyushi shirts - the dress looks quite similar to a 'sack' dress, just with a light fabric like cotton.

I think you might be better off considering making something yourself - that way, you could pick the fabric you wanted; the trousers in particular look to be an extremely simple pattern - pretty much straight lines and gathered at the waist.

www.sariska.co.uk/womens-clothing-c1/dresses-c38/grizas-rose-print-linen-dress-p4473

Look for Japanese sewing patterns - they aren't quite like UK ones
There are a few authors that have books written or translated to english
www.japanesesewingbooks.com/tag/japanese-sewing-books-in-english-2/
Muji do some japanese style clothes

www.sewinlove.com.au/2016/07/10-japanese-sewing-patterns-fabric/

Have a look at Gudrun's Sjoden- not cheap but lovely colours and natural fabrics, very loose fitting www.gudrunsjoden.com/en-gb/clothes/trousers-leggings

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-marimekko-linen-blend-short-sleeved-kaftan-dress-437802.html?dwvar_437802_color=COL30&cgid=IDw-dresses-jumpsuits
www.museumselection.co.uk/clothing/cotton-sundour-dress/
www.museumselection.co.uk/all-clothing/lotus-cotton-reversible-jacket/

Thanks a lot everyone! I really can't sew and havent the room at the moment to try!
I thought of toast pyjamas and that was all i could think of!
I do like the more subtle, block print patterns, quite unlike our typical animal/loud florals trends. Might have a look on ebay, too.

Will check out links, much appreciated :)

You could find a dressmaker

Maybe look at Indian clothing shops online. They have beautiful block printed cotton.

Uniqlo do a range of oversized tee shirts which you could pair with their three-quarter shorts, or seersucker easy trousers, or gaucho pants, for that simple pull up/slip on comfortable sort of look.

Look at haori style jackets

Am trying Etsy, not a member of the site so don't know how simple it is to order?

I did see a lovely shop on holiday in Cheshire once, full of indian block print clothing, wish i could recall it or find online.

Have a look at Toast and Plumo, they usually have a few pieces along those lines.

Woven Riches on Etsy has Indian block print cotton clothing, you could try there.

Actually Toast is a good idea - their pyjamas and nightdresses are lovely and could actually be worn as daywear (only Toast aficionados will notice!).

They have the same styles in different prints each season. And are ideally best bought during the sale...

www.toa.st/collections/womens-nightwear/products/ukiyo-print-cotton-pyjamas-dusty-orange

www.toa.st/collections/womens-nightwear/products/ukiyo-print-cotton-dhuggie-dusty-orange

www.toa.st/collections/womens-nightwear/products/ginkgo-print-organic-cotton-nightie-ecru-multi

Toast?

My grandma used to dress like this. Mumu chic.

Plumo has a Japanese collection at the moment

@IvorCutler

Toast?

My grandma used to dress like this. Mumu chic.

i dont see 'grandma' as a negative. You may not have meant that but many people do, sadly. A mumu is a LOT more specific and voluminous and has associations with what I would call American beach or Mama Cass style. Not my thing.

Toast is ok, but often a bit too oversized. These ladies in the photo dont look drowned by the clothes. It isnt uber stylish, it's never going to be, but I like it!

Not much help to you, OP, but DH and I have been to Japan a few times and this kind of clothing is absolutely everywhere on ladies of a certain age; there are streets of shops where you can buy them - the famous one is Jizu-Dori in Tokyo which is known as 'Grandma's Harajuku' (Harajuku's where all the kids hang out). The shops full of bright red underwear (said to be very lucky) are amazing to see

If you could find someone who'd be willing to make them for you, some of the shapes in this Nani Iro Japanese pattern book look similar?

I wasn’t saying grandma was a negative op! I loved the way she dressed. She was my grandma, simple as that.