My DH suggesting I'm "getting old" because I've ordered from Seasalt

[WoofWoofBeachLife]

I saw a lovely wee dress last night on Seasalt, I have some money saved for a clothes makeover and decided to go for it. My DH said last night it was nice but isn't Seasalt for older women 😆 I'm 51 in July and I don't think it looks like an OAP website. Now I'm thinking, shit should I send it back?
I just want a few quality pieces I can add to, I've not bought myself anything in a long long time due to illness. We are going shopping to a shopping centre on Sunday and I'm reluctant to browse with him hovering now x

I agree with this.
I am 44 and used to wear Seasalt in my 20's and 30's. I don't now but it definitely filled a gap in my wardrobe when I was younger and a lot of my friends also shopped there when our kids were small and we were in our early 30's. Same with Boden and Joules and ai have shopped in any of those places since turning 40. My 75 year old Mum loves Seasalt and absolutely rocks it, if I look as stylish as her when I'm 75 then I'll be very happy.
Style has absolutely nothing to do with age IMO.

@RosesAndHellebores I would suspect said woman engages in outdoor pursuits and keeps active.

What was your mother’s job/lifestyle throughout life.

Respectfully - leather trousers, blazers and frilly frocks are not going to help me do land surveys, work with livestock or walk through national parks….

If we go with the mantra that women have to wear the sort of garments you listed for your mother. Then we are saying that only a slim selection of “ladies who lunch” that have certain jobs and a cleaner are acceptable.

Doesn’t seem very progressive.

Did Laura Ashley repurpose their curtain material?

@AntiStuff I'm with you on the shoes- currently wearing a definitely off trend -- but massively comfortable pair of sandals!!

@amoretti

Where do suggest shopping as alternative?

What is/was your job?

Well that's decided it, then.

Two men have decided Seasalt is frumpy. Best never to buy from then again.

Thank goodness they've told us.

Don't hold back.
Where do you shop that makes you the arbiter of fashion?

Come on guys. This is Style and Beauty. No one expected Seasalt, Boden, Joules and Fat Face to be lauded, did they?

Did they?!

@AntiStuff I quite like these, I've never had a pair. Are they kind to osteoarthritis feet and joints? Xx

I have a couple of dresses from there, lovely quality and nice retro prints, plus the style I chose, nipped in waist and full skirt suits my shape. I am old so not the best person to ask! I truly believe in wearing what you want, I see women my age in what I would call "young" fashions and I just think good for them. Clothing and fashion is so individual, of you like it wear it. Just out of interest where does your husband shop and what is his style like?

Lol 37 and buy from Seasalt 😎

You see just to give you an example that it's about items and not brands - here's a (what I think is rather nice) dress/top on sea salt and one on Cos. Personally I think the cos one looks far frumpier than the sea salt one .

www.seasaltcornwall.com/wave-wing-v-neck-jersey-dress?color=35123

www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.voluminous-v-neck-dress-green.1199474003.html

@AntiStuff

I’m not boo-hoo sad. It’s how you said you “completely understand” women who wear a certain brand of clothing… and described them as - don't want to be noticed… not particularly interested in clothes, trends or fashion… invisible, following which you speculated on what they might be doing in their spare time….

Just because a woman likes to garden, keep fit or whatever doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in fashion.

For me I love fashion but I put most of my money towards practical pieces because chiffon doesn’t work particularly well trudging through barns and going through national trust properties.

It doesn’t make me invisible, it means I am not a numpty and have engaged my brain.

Errrrm Birkenstocks, trainers and DMs are all staid and sensible footwear; welcome to the sensible footwear club!! I really love them too… it’s not quite hotter and Ecco but definitely up there.

I think people should just buy what makes them happy and what works for their lifestyle overall. But I still don’t like seeing 50year olds in bright pink new look hot pants… There is a line to be drawn somewhere.

My thinking exactly.

"it's clothing for women who don't want to be noticed.…. women of all ages who are not particularly interested in clothes, trends or fashion, but want to look presentable and feel comfortable. They quite possibly enjoy gardening and outdoor swimming."

No it is not ! I am not like this at all, apart from the gardening and the outdoor swimming that is

This thread got weird.

Ha ha @Crikeyalmighty you linked to the exact Cos dress that I linked to as an example of ugliness. I agree it's about items because there are other Cos dresses I love.

‘Mutton dressed as lamb’ is a really awful thing to say. I understand you may have been piqued by some of the more robust comments on this thread but come on, let’s leave the misogynistic spew out of it.

the expression 'mutton dressed as lamb' is vile. I have never shopped in Primark, and probably not in New Look since the 90s. I abhor fast fashion. I embrace who I am at 49 just fine thank you very much 😂I just don't believe it's necessary to wear a pair of dull cotton chinos and a linen smock to do that.

What @AntiStuff said. I don't wear cheap fast fashion (unless it's second hand) and nor do I wear this sort of 'tasteful', practical high street stuff because it doesn't suit me or my lifestyle. The same was true when I was 30 and 40, and it still is now I'm 50.

I also don't shop at Boden, Cos, Hush or any of the others which pop up over and over. I'm starting to wonder how my wardrobes got so full 🤔

@Robinni

Just because a woman likes to garden, keep fit or whatever doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in fashion.

Well we agree on something then. I was being a bit lazy using those activities as a shorthand for Seasalt woman, as I'm actually extremely invested in how my allotment is doing and I swim year round in my local river AND I'm still interested in fashion.

My gardening/dog walking clothes are distinct from my work/going out wardrobe though.

@WoofWoofBeachLife I find birkenstocks are great because the footbed is nice and supportive, but I think some people find ones without backs a bit troublesome.

I’d say generally 50 plus for Seasalt. Some of their stuff is lovely (my Mum looks fab in it as does MIL) but they are 60’s/70’s. If it looks good and you feel happy with it, then perfect. My DH would have no clue if I was wearing a Seasalt or Primark top (or any other shop in between for that matter!) 😆

Exactly- I really love Joules, they do some gorgeous blouses that go fab with skinny jeans and heels/boots for a night out. Even better if you get them in the outlet store for £20! I would say im the opposite of frumpy and love Joules and Fat Face. The boho/flowery blouses and dresses look is definately in where we live. Everyone I see is in a long floaty flowery dress at the moment.

Like anything, it's how you wear it.
My 20 year old daughter told me recently that a few of her friends at Art School were asking where she got her lovely shirts. They were from Seasalt.
No one brand confers ' youth' nor condemns you to - the horror- looking ' old'.

Is it really aimed at women because no where does the website say the word women. Plenty of adverts for mens wear but womenswear comes under the title Clothing

Strange

and the one half in the sand looks like she is ready to be stoned for crimes against fashion.