If you are in your forties/ fifties, what outfits make you feel good?

[SnoopLabbyLab]

I’m in my forties, and the outfits that made me look and feel good ten years ago, just don’t any more. I’m a little rounder ( size 12), a little tireder looking, a little more clueless about nowadays styles, a little less confident about my body and style.

There seem to be loads of women of my age who have nailed their style and look great, and I would love some ideas of looks and shops to try. Can’t bear Instagram or similar, as it makes me feel even less confident.

What types of outfits make you feel great? Any shops you’d recommend?

I'm in my 40s. I hate wide legged trousers on me as I'm not very tall and they make me look dumpy, especially given that clothes are manufactured for giants and need to be taken up most of the time, losing the cut. I love my denim dungarees though and feel best in my summer uniform of harem pants and primark T shirts. I have my hair cut really short and dyed dark purple. For work in bad weather I wear my doc Martens, suitable trousers and a shirt or long sleeved top and waistcoat. It's really hard to find winter clothes that aren't frumpy and unflattering so I stick to what I feel works for me now.

Right now, cuffed Manuka yoga pants and a DKNY pull over hoodie with Shepherd slippers.
Earlier at work; dowdy Boden dress (beloved of colleagues and school parents -I always get compliments when I wear it), nice dainty Pied A Terre brogues and an oversized Hobbs jacket.
At home I feel comfortable in clothes with elasticated everything.
At work, I like to feel like I can join in with a game of hop-skotch or basketball in the playground one minute, chase after a run-away four year old, and still look fine to meet a local authority auditor the next.
Hair always, invariably, too stubborn, too wild, too messy.

Two things I’ll be experimenting with over the next few months:

A huge puffy Camiel Fortgens quilted coat in a pale colour with a raggedy, unfinished cotton lining. I adore the look of it and it’s wonderfully warm. Also superior pocket provision. But I was late to the quilted coat thing and find it more effortful than a simple woollen coat. It takes up so much room! And doesn’t work with a scarf. And cannot be worn with any other unfinished edge garment (which means most of my wardrobe) because that confuses people. I’m realising a sleek balaclava and jumper / trousers or dress in a single colour is the only way I can proceed.

Fortunately I think I now have the right dress - a floor length cream knitted thing from Co (sic) with a grown-on neck and long tight sleeves. (Why did I buy a floor length dress when my life is singularly lacking in chauffeur driven Bentleys? I honestly don’t know. I liked it and felt my life would be incomplete without it. Now I’m contemplating my social life and occupation …) It’s cut away from the body, unlike most knitted dresses, so presents an interesting conundrum. I think what I’ll need is cotton t shirts to throw over it. More wool would be too much. And some The Row type layering. (Photos.) But I don’t think I can face flatform or heeled footwear in winter, so I’ll just have to trust to the universe that said frock isn’t shredded within a month.

Tumbleweed …

Vinted dark blue m & s wide leg crop jeans, dark blue Cos vest, vinted green Hobbs short jacket and blue flatform gabor sneakers.

This sounds like a great outfit @akabluebell cam we see a pic pls?

I like the wide (ish) legged trouser look too but as a short-waisted hourglass, I struggle with tucking in, even French tuck as it leaves me with a couple centimetres from boobs to waistline 😫I have recently found batwing shaped tops to be surprisingly flattering and they are more fitted/skimming over the waist area. I confess to sticking with my black skinny jeans with slightly chunky flat ankle boots. Oh, and a striking deep red lipstick (pale skinned, dark haired)

I have ordered these in two sizes thanks to this thread

www.marksandspencer.com/side-stripe-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60571689?color=BLACK

I too have lost my style mojo post-pandemic at 47 so am loving this thread. I usually consider myself too cool for Boden (yes I know that sounds awful) but have some excellent wide leg trousers from there that I wear all the time now and love: www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/hampshire-jersey-trousers-black/sty-t0266-blk

I also love a cashmere tank top (are tank tops called vests these days?) but apart from them, am a bit stuck on tops these days.

I'm 52. 5ft 7" and a size 12. I had a tummy tuck + liposuction last year which got rid of my bloated, boxy abdomen (thanks, 2 c-sections + peri menopause). And, I have new boobs, gone from a saggy 34G to a pert 34D (thanks, early stage breast cancer).

My figure is better now than when I was 35! I'm narrow hipped and long legged so I always feel good in jeans, mini skirts and shorter dresses.

My favourite outfit at the moment is my black, Commando faux leather leggings (the best leggings on the planet, don't care if they're £110) worn with a boxy, cashmere sweater & chunky Chelsea boots from Zara.

I also like to wear long sleeved, a-line dresses with Wolford black opaque tights & long, glossy black boots with a chunky sole. I find that '60s retro silhouette very flattering. I also own 3 pinafore dresses which I wear with a thin knit jumper, Wolford opaques and chunky, black patent brogues from H&M. I don't care if I look like the world's tallest toddler, I feel good in them.

Just keep a very close eye on those boobs @peaceandove mine encapsulated and when I have them removed the surgeon found cancer and was able to remove it another six months and it would’ve been riddled throughout my body.

Your outfits sound fabulous @peaceandove.

So true, your health is so precious, I'm grateful for just getting older and still being alive. We may as well just enjoy dressing for ourselves.
Invisible or otherwise.

The M&S wide stripey trousers came!

Such a shock but I am wearing them and they feel good. Had to tuck them into my wellies this morning to take the dog out and my DH is a bit at them, but, what the heck.

Glad I went for the shorter length.
I am 5'4 size 12 and 61

Thanks lovely people on the style tips. Interesting to try new things.

Also had two avalon tops from hush last week, in pink and navy, and they are lovely. As someone said upthread, batwing stuff can be quite flattering.

What a hoot

I'm 57 and almost exclusively wear Lady V London or similar. With trainers/ canvas shoes frilly socks or long boots

And I don't care I have no 'style'

Love those dresses @Oldraver!

Community clothing cropped jeans are great- keep their colour really well

communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womenswear/products/womensshortpjtrousers-indigo-denim?variant=20442659553334

I didn't have a boob job! I had to have a therapeutic breast reduction and lift because of early stage breast cancer.

@TheLassWiADelicateAir and @quirkychick , another Lilith fan! I haven't bought anything from the range recently but my, they were good in about 2008/9. Sadly the stockist retired and closed her shop last month. I haven't bought anything yet for AW22. Two polonecks went back to Celtic this week, which annoyed me because the navy one that I bought last year is perfect.

@peaceandove Snap! I love my new improved breasts too. Same reason. Stay well x.

For me it’s a faux leather mini skirt, Breton top , patterned tights and ankle boots at the minute. I’m not normally a jewellery person but I’ve bought a few long necklaces to accessorise.

I am loving this thread. I’m 56 and have lost my style through lockdown and wfh.

I don’t socialise a lot, so when I do go out I’m a bit lost. When I go into the office I’m a bit lost too!
I have ditched my skinnies as they are not comfortable any more ( menopause weight around the middle)
I love the wide leg trousers look and I like a shirt under a sleeveless knit for casual wear. Or a tucked in fine knit high neck jumper.
I like a column style dress in midi length and had a few from next previously but nothing out there atm.

my biggest issues are

1. shoes and boots - I never seem to have the right ‘shoe’ for what I’m wearing, I’d like some winter style leather trainers so any suggestions? I struggle with shoes with dresses, as I prefer flats and have size 6 feet sometimes flat shoes look massive!
2. underwear ! I used the love the M&S French knicker/no vpl style but recently the quality is really poor. I like cotton mix in my underwear so many shops just do man made fibres/polyester which I hate.

I have enjoyed looking up some of the brands I have never heard of - that’s opened my eyes a bit , so thanks all.

I’m 57 size 18 5’4” and still in skinny jeans /leggings. Just bought a cashmere hoodie in lavish size … love the size name ..from Teacup and Tova which is gorgeous (small independent).

teacupandtova.co.uk/collections/the-pure-cashmere-boyfriend-hoodie

They have a discount code … just looked now ( might look at another colour).

Going to look at some of the trouser suggestions to move away from skinny’s into wide leg. I love Jigsaw but they are a bit small sized.

Time for new boots too ! but don’t want to spend anymore than £150 ideally !

@Waterfallgirl your post immediately made me think of Christian Wijnants, though more for inspiration than actual buying, as Brexit has scuppered shopping from Europe.

Have you already thoroughly browsed all of Matches Fashion, Net-a-Porter and SSense UK? 😂 Together they give a pretty good overview of what’s contemporary and available for grown ups in the UK. (Browns does too, but the website is crap on my phone.) You don’t have to actually buy the Gucci - you could just note down some more approachable brands and follow them up. Everywhere has regular sales. And it’s much more fun than trudging around a shopping mall.

@Newname1022 I have a cashmere hoodie & wear it loads - it’s been a great investment

@Waterfallgirl I also used to swear by the M&S knickers but the last few I bought were dreadful quality. I’ve tried Sainsburys & Tesco but again awful quality. Most recently I’ve tried Stripe & Stare - seem to be the best so far but I’m not overwhelmed for the price. They are quite flimsy, I would like them to feel a bit more supportive

@Waterfallgirl have you looked at Gabor or Reiker flatforms? They give a nod to fashion trends but are subtle. I have these and they're very comfy.
www.next.co.uk/style/st868307/m38010#m38010

I also have some Reiker boots I bought from vinted for the winter.

@XingMing 😁

@Waterfallgirl I have some cotton knickers from John Lewis that are good. Disappointing about Sainsbury's, they used to do good cotton pants.

@Gruelle thank you for the link, I love that style. I’ve started a list of the recommended websites, thanks, I cannot get on with Matches Fashion I think that the sheer volume is overwhelming but I’ll persevere!

@WinneyWasherWoman thank you for the tip, i think that’s it - a cotton material to be more supportive is what I’m looking for I think quality seems to be getting worse! I will have a look at Stripe and Stare and today have ordered some from Victorias Secret we will see .

thanks @akabluebell for the link, I like those. I’ll have a look at Gabor, I have some Reiker boots myself, very comfy.

Try going straight to their house brand Raey. It’s perhaps not quite as good as it was pre-lockdown, but they do at least use models who are out of their teens.

Don’t look at the prices, just click on stuff and look through all the photos.