Can we talk about clothing brands and target demographics?

[CrkdLttrCrkdLttr]

Because I’m thinking about the brands that form the core of my ‘going out to meet other grown ups’ wardrobe, and laughing at the Margaret Howell mail shot I’ve just opened. (Socks and sandals photo.) Beautiful young model, and each garment will be wonderfully well made - but I know no one under fifty who wears MH. That’s fine - but I wish the marketing acknowledged the fact.

When a brand does make an effort to engage with the real buyers of its clothes I’m full of awe and gratitude - Raey at Matches is usually great at this.

Studio Nicholson hovers somewhere in between. Again, everyone I know (in the UK) who wears their clothes is older and richer than me, probably in a creative profession. Not a wispy 20 year old.

I never used to care. But I’m wondering if marketing is the reason 99% of the middle aged and older women on MN exclaim that there are no decent clothes for them. There are - but not every brand tells you so.

I want to see Egg clothes in the flesh when I'm next in London. I'd never heard of them.

In general, I've enjoyed this thread possibly more than most of the threads I've been on. Lots of links to brands and sites I wasn't aware of.
Usually, when I find a thread I think I'll like, I go 'Ugh!' at a few of the links, but on this I thought I had found like minded dressers, even if the budgets were wildly different.
I love it when I find something that is just right.

I'd love to see the Egg clothes too. They look a bit 'wrong' on the web sites, but maybe they are fabulous when you actually see them and try them on.

The japanese-style clothes thread today is an example of the 'ugh!' links. I love the YaccoMaricard look and the Yuko Katayama, Nani Iro etc style

As someone who bought Egg in the 1990s, how fucking much?

Before the thread ends it seems only fair to add this.

Meet the Margaret Howell superfans
https://on.ft.com/2N9bHHc

A timely article in today's Guardian.

Just spotted that too @botemp Has Viv G been lurking on this thread?

I considered that too but I suspect this article had a bit of work into it unlike most of things that are lifted off of MN. Sometimes these things just hang in the air and get picked up by multiple people.

I did find it a bit dissatisfying in the end though, it just rehashes a lot of things that constantly get said (buy better quality, spend more, find what you love, narrow down to what you actually wear, etc.).

I feel, as this thread has demonstrated, is something people are happy and know to do but the offerings to cater to this demand are hard to find and/or don't communicate this more overtly to the relevant demographic. She does briefly acknowledge this tbf, but rantey-me would have shaped the entire article about that. But that probably explains why she gets paid for this and I rant on MN for free 🤦

I found the accompanying photos a bit underwhelming. The article was wear what you love, the photos seem to say as long as the only skin you show is your face and hands.

I was underwhelmed by it but loved the FT MH one.
Probably not helped by the mention of brands like Me+Em, Wyse and Boden, and talking of sagging shoulders.

I'd like to like Wyse but I don't 'get' it
Boden seems to have lost it's way
Me+Em and Baukjen - the clothes seem strangely heavy to me

I can see that they would appeal to some women, and they seem like grown up clothes but they aren't 'me'.

I have a Ines de la Fressange book said it was a faux pas to wear african batik tunics over 50, or scrunchies and backpacks. I don't care.

I can safely add that there isn't a hope of me ever looking stylish, never mind looking as elegant as IdlF.

I'm wearing a scrunchie as we speak. (Have piled the prostitute hair up).

It's a weird one. I'm the same age as the writer and have never once considered my age when choosing clothes. I don't lob anything onto the 'sartorially unacceptable pile', because it doesn't exist really.

I always think I look brilliant. Even when I probably don't. I prance around in front of the mirror naked and think 'fucking hell, you look great'

And even though, to the outside world I might look mad, or over-confident or just plain annoying.

I quite like myself so I will generally be the most 'dressed' woman in the room.

I don't worry about being over or under or appropriately dressed.

I'm just going to wear what I fancied that day.

And I bloody love seeing another 'dressed' woman.

Love it. It nourishes me.

I dislike the word scrunchie, but I was persuaded to wear them by a SATC episode.

Me too, it was like a kick back at their sometimes total pettiness.

I am Carrie Bradshaw.

I fail to believe you if you wear a scrunchie.

Apart from the Reay dress- it was totally underwhelming.

The advice is "Don't wear anything to scare the horses or anything that will make anyone give you a second glance"

Today I wore this dress with a thermal vest under it, purpley pink opaque tights, raspberry pink pointy toe ballet flats and a short boxy cashmere cardigan.

I've no idea if this is good for "my colours" or shape- it's a very pretty, vibrant dress and it fits me. The dress gets lots of compliments because the colours are lovely.

Are you me?

Possibly @NatashaDancing. I think I might be a bit more ferral.

I'm not polite.

That's me.

Wow ! (In a good way)

That Guardian article really has nothing to tell you.

No!

It didn't @NatashaDancing.

I hate those articles about 'women' at an 'age'

Bugger off.

Women can be as fabulous as can be.

I've always super-loved myself @NatashaDancing.

I just think I'm brilliant.

I'm into being 50.

I love it.

And I want other women to be into it.

I hate the idea that it's shit.

It's fucking brilliant.

There's been so many posts about, hating yourself because you're getting older.

Fuck that noise.

I could not like more.