White trainers and maxi dresses...

[MintyCedricRidesAgain]

...is this look still a thing? Or will I look like a bit of a dinosaur?

Dd turns 18 in a few months and we have a weekend away planned some of which will involve a lot of walking but still want to look a bit glam from the ankles up!

I'm mid/late 40s and considerably overweight (but working on it!) and having given up work 18 months ago to care for my Olds my wardrobe currently consists of uber smart office wear and heels or jeans, tatty tops and cheap pumps, so any additional fashion tips would be gratefully received!

@MintyCedricRidesAgain I certainly don't iron on holiday. I hang things up in the bathroom whilst having a shower. As there is generally no window in hotel bathrooms it gets steamy and sorts out creases in trousers or dresses.

Good thinking!

Yes - good point. If walking lots, defo get some chub rub shorts. Game changer.

It’s fine, still quite fashionable. And comfortable which is the main thing. If you wanted to update it you could go for platform converse or even converse hi tops which seem to be coming back in again. Or chunky sandals - Dr Marten type ones. But they won’t be as comfortable as trainers obviously!

I wear midi dresses and trainers of various different colours to wear with them. I’ve got chunky white ones from M+S, several New Balance pairs in different styles and colours to wear with wide leg cropped trousers and a couple of adidas white ones to wear with long wrap skirts.
I’m 62, size 16 and have spent far too many years giving a shit about what anyone else thinks! In my new job, I’m surrounded by 20 - 30 yr old hipsters who frequently admire my outfits (although they could be secretly laughing at me behind my back 😂)
OP, for an upcoming holiday in Amsterdam I will be wearing summer dresses with trainers, cardigans if cool at night and cycle shorts underneath to prevent the dreaded chub rub. I’ll feel fab, look fab and will no doubt have a great time not giving a damn about what people think of me.

It’s fine imo. Everyone seems to be wearing those vegan trainers with a v on.
i’m n white Nike internationalists mostly as they are comfortable and I walk a lot.

God no to linen for schlepping around Shoreditch!

@MintyCedricRidesAgain

I used to live in Spitalfields in the early 2000s when it was warehouses, prostitutes, and Spitalfields market was massive and proper. The shop assistants who will serve you probably were babies in arms then, they won't judge you as they won't even 'see' you as at 51 you are officially invisible to them 😁

Really don't worry about it. You will look thousands of other women in London that weekend I promise.

What I notice the stark difference to is what I wear to what the kids wear - and I'm not going to try to dress like the kids as I'm too old and impoverished as I give all my disposable income to the children!

These are what you need - they’re fab! Lightweight, slinky so dresses don’t cling and can be worn under loose pants too.
www.marksandspencer.com/anti-chafing-shorts-with-cool-comfort/p/clp60165135?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

I don't care if it's the height of fashion, it's such a practical and comfortable combination that I'm so pleased to see women wearing it in all sorts of settings.

I don't buy into this 'yeah, it's a bit passé now, go for x y or z instead'. Nobody is ever going to look at someone happily wearing a dress and trainers and think 'Well SHE didn't take the advice given on Mumsnet about getting some sandals from Millets instead of those perfectly decent trainers.'

It's a "mum" uniform, in the same way as skinnies and Bretons were a few years ago... and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You'll look like every other mum in their 40s in London. Which is absolutely fine. I'm sure you will look lovely and have a great weekend.

(Fwiw, I wear this uniform to work every day, because I look smartish while having something comfy on my feet!)

Where we are SC its still very much a thing! Never thought of it as a "fashion" as such anyway ! Very practical and smart

Live and work in London no one will eye roll and enough of a thing to make you feel like you fit in. Look probably ages me as a 35 plus mum but that's who I am tbh

This is true. My dd is 19 and the “uniform” for her age group seems to be flared jeans as low waisted as can be without being obscene, coupled with a cropped tight cardigan or very short cropped top, with a pierced belly button and loads of 90s style jewellery and chunky trainers or huge platform dr martens. I’m 41 and a size 18, if I went out like that I think I’d cause a few stares. Which is fine, but I’m just making the point that there are different “looks” for different age groups despite what everyone wants to think and that’s fine!

I'm still wearing maxi/midi dresses with white trainers, and yes, on occasion a denim jacket, shock horror, it works, you'll look lovely, feel comfortable and it'll show in your face.

To shake it up how about about wide leg trousers from M & S, with a skimming white t shirt and denim or leather jacket? Cross body bag.

I'm a massive fan of magic trousers too, navy or stone, rolled up with your white trainers and a white shirt?

Live your choice of trainer, I've got the Fitflop Rally in white leather, they're the most comfortable trainer I've ever owned.

MintyCedricRidesAgain I love "harassed bag lady"! Excellent description! I think in a city, walking around it would look good and be comfortable. Just make sure to get the trainers beforehand and wear them around a bit to make sure they don't rub (I always find those leather and canvas trainers can be stiff at the back).

@Bagelsandbrie please don't encourage me to buy more Converse...I was once shoe shopping for my best mate's wedding and ended up wearing my office heels as I blew my budget on a pair of limited edition pop art Converse instead! Thank God they've stopped making the Roy Lichtenstein and Warhol designs otherwise I'd be bankrupt by now.

@Soontobe60 Love your attitude which is spot on and thanks for the chub rub shorts link!

@actiongirl1978 I was born in London but we moved away when I was 3...still have fond memories of those markets and high streets way before they became fashionable when we visited family. DD also wants to go to a proper chicken shop although I did give her a bit of a look when she said she'd probably have nuggets!

You are of course correct that I will be invisible to trendy shop assistants. My problem is that while I'm a tubby, menopausal mum in her late forties, I still identify as the slinky 19 year old I used to be!

I’m in London and yes everyone still wears maxis and trainers along with other combinations. You will look fine and be comfortable. If you want to try other looks
hi tops and cropped wide leg with slouchy jumper
hi tops and midi dress or midi skirt with over sized jumper

I wouldn’t try and dress like a teen unless you want to wear cropped tight tops and massive chunky footwear as a pp said above, doesn’t look that comfortable for a day out walking

Slim Chickens in Soho is good!

Here's the Fitflops...

@MintyCedricRidesAgain don't get me started on perimenopause symptoms!
I love long dresses as they hide my rugby player calves 😆
I also wear boyfriend jeans and Breton tops. Loves me a stripe! Am a happy cliche of late 40s womanhood I guess! You'll look amazing and feel comfortable, hope you have a great time

I think this look could go either way, "classic" or "dated". I've never been able to do it without looking like I'm wearing orthopaedics, but lots of people look fresh in that style and I envy them for the ease of it. On a holiday recently I took my white trainers for comfort, knowing full well the look doesn't suit me. For dresses day to day I do wear trainers, but I have a range that are not white. My favourite are platform leopard print suede trainers from Shoe The Bear a few years back.

Bollocks!

@MintyCedricRidesAgain wear whatever you like, when you like!

My favourite are platform leopard print suede trainers from Shoe The Bear a few years back.

They sound amazing!

I have my Warhol and Lichtenstein Converse, Rose gold Converse and rainbow striped rocket dogs but just thought something plain would be a good addition.

Might break the rainbow RDs for my black maxi dress though!

@Gherkingreen I just started HRT a few days ago and have woken up feeling pretty ropey. Suspect it might be a day on the sofa researching chub rub shorts, footwear and chicken shops 😁.

Converse too flat for several days of pavement pounding.

Actually this is true...I wore them for a break in Barcelona a few years ago, with additional arch supports as I had mild plantar faciitis at the time.

Admittedly I overdid it trying to cram stuff into a 3 day visit, but I couldvarely walk by the time I got off the plane at Gatwick.

I also have slightly wider than average feet so wearing them all day squishes my little toes.

I do love them though.