Nowhere to wear nice clothes?

[BansheeofInisherin]

Have recently lost weight, and am very proud of myself because I am 51, and it's involved super human self-control. I have a decent enough figure now, so bought myself some nice clothes and funky jewellery.

Then I realised I only ever wear leggings these days because I
WFH most days. V occ go into the office but everyone is in jeans
Go for a long jog/walk most days and sit on park benches
Live in London Zone 3 where no one ever dresses up
Take public transport only
I go out often with Dh or friends, but with the CoL rarely to posh restaurants, mostly to cafes, local theatre, free museums, and galleries where everyone is in jeans and sweats
DH is the most dressed down man I know. Will not wear anything but jeans and a very old polo shirt.

If you have a similar life, where do you wear nice clothes? Do you just put on your Max Mara to go to the shops? ( Not that I have bought any Max Mara).

Also, if you only ever wear stretchy elasticated waist stuff that looks awful anyway and expands with you, it’s all too easy to pretend you aren’t putting weight on and build up a much bigger problem to shift than if you’re forced to deal with it as soon as your clothes get a bit tight.

Thanks all. I can't afford super expensive clothes, but I do come from a country where tailoring is cheap and with gorgeous fabrics, so I have some nice silk shirts dresses and accessories. And some vintage finds. Think I am just going to wear them to out and about. I also like the idea of wearing more luxe jeans, jumpers and trousers to the pub!

I always try to be smart when I go somewhere, just different colour jeans, blouse etc. went out to our favourite local restaurant last night - always like to look smart, although others, especially men don’t always bother. Older men are usually smarter

I create events to get dressed up for

that seems to work .
for example st Patrick day . A fab green dress.
i had a party at my house.
went to theatre.
tomorrow am going out for cocktails

The group of friends I know love occasions.. even if tongue in cheek.. Its for fun

( ps older than you op)

Ps i wear true vintage a great deal . .. but with tennis shoes so the dress is dressy but the shoes are not .

everyone now and again I just decide to make an effort regardless of it fits the scene or not. If you feel comfortable then put whatever you want

i bet your be surprised how many other people also want to dress up more

I wear “nice” clothes but not necessarily smart/dressy every day, unless I am knocking about at home in loungewear like right now! Agree with pp about buying the best versions of what you wear regularly. For me I spend more on things like jeans and knitwear as I know I wear these a lot and they will last a long time, plus I have a big arse so cheap jeans tend not to cut it!

It's often said on here that "no one in London dresses up / only out of towners dress up. I was at The Royal Opera House last night - it must have been heaving with "out of towners". In fact every time I go it must be heaving with "out of towners" You do of course get people wearing casual/ jeans but more are dressed up than not.

As others have said, all my clothes are nice. I wear dresses most of the time, occasionally skirts. I don't own jeans, trainers, tracksuits, leggings, lounge wear, etc.

I am usually a bit overdressed for the occasion but I don’t think other people notice or care! For example when I’m at a school event most of the mums seem to be in leggings or jeans but I will wear a dress. I would definitely wear a nice outfit to go to a restaurant even though it’s acceptable to go casual these days.

It’s true that everything is a bit more dressed down since covid but I also think there’s a more “anything goes” vibe.

I WFH 2-3 days a week and I do wear comfier clothes on those days but never leggings. Maybe try maxi dresses/skirts instead?

I love to wear a dress everyday. Some are expensive and some are not but I do often get complimented. I’m a Gran with a few extra pounds and my clothes are all bright - I will not be invisible 😂

This takes me back to lockdown, when we had nowhere to go. Every Friday lunchtime was my "posh frock walk". I'd get dressed up and go for a walk. And when I got back home I'd felt much better for it.

I’m happy with what I wear at the moment. I don’t work, so I don’t need dressy stuff, I wear what works for me. So always things that look good with flat shoes and always washable fabrics. I don’t go out loads in the evenings so it’s school run, shopping, coffees type stuff.

My ‘uniform’ at the moment is a midi cotton dress/midi skirt and t-shirt tucked in, sandals and a jacket if I need one. Or a loose shirt and jeans/jeggings. Cross body leather or straw bag or a fabric shoulder bag.

I don’t look cutting edge by any stretch, and I could do with losing a stone and a half, but my clothes work well for me. They’re always ironed, colours look good one me and fairly co-ordinated.

M&S has been fantastic for wearable dresses this year, for me.

I’m just in my 50’s & probably overdressed for most things but I’m happy that way. My friends are usually in jeans & tees so might well think I’m OTT but have never said anything to me.

I always dress smart. Im a stay at home mum and always wear a nice dress and shoes/boots. Or jeans and shirt, nice coat. Im not into fast fashion so wear stuff that doesn't necessarily go into or out of fashion, just stuff that looks good on me. I don't wear make up or do much with my hair, but as long as my clothes are clean and smart I feel good and confident.

Always in scruffs at home though.

It’s true that everything is a bit more dressed down since covid but I also think there’s a more “anything goes” vibe
^^
I think that's very true. I know that I now wear dresses to work which pre-Covid I might have thought were too eccentric for the office but if others can wear scruffy jeans with no comment then I can wear what I want to as well.

I guess it’s about how far you want to ‘fit in’. Personally for me, late forties, I’m still very aware of how people are dressing and take my cue from them. I’ve always been someone who wants to blend in rather than stand out. It’s a real shame that everything’s got so casual as now when I go out I have to be v careful about not being overdressed. Footwear is particularly important I think.

I’m in London where mostly people do not dress up and anyone who does can quickly look a bit out of place or try too hard. Even at the theatre it tends to be pretty dressed down. Last time I went I wore a t shirt and beige chinos and was still one of the smartest there. I’ve always been on the more casual side but even I’m thinking more about what wear I’ll get out of things. I seem to need less clothing these days. I bought some gold court shoes just before the pandemic and I love them but rarely have anywhere to wear them.

Really dressed up seems to be reserved for occasions like weddings now. It’s good people don’t feel forced into uncomfortable clothes like work suits or tight stuff but overall we are a much scruffier society that seems to take much less pride.

Even at the theatre it tends to be pretty dressed down. Last time I went I wore a t shirt and beige chinos and was still one of the smartest there

I'm in London around maybe half a dozen times per year for opera, ballet, concerts or theatre.

I was in London on Friday and Saturday.
Because S & B has recently been full of "no one dresses up in London" ( Although a poster from Brixton, I think, said that was nonsense and it depends where you are in London and what you're doing) I was particularly paying attention and tbh the answer to "what do people wear in London ?" seemed to be "much the same as everywhere else". Of course it's possible that I was only in areas full of "out of towners"

I don't even own a t-shirt and beige chinos. Obviously I wouldn't wear full black tie evening dress just to go to the theatre but equally I'm not going to dress down to fit in.

Just wear the nice clothes. I love dresses and bright colours, so I just wear them everywhere. It cheers me up to look nice. I work in a very casual environment but always wear my nice dresses and stuff. Perks up the day and I always get complimented.

I agree with the idea that dressing nicely and dressing up aren't the same

I decided life's too short to keep things for 'best' so started using my nicer items in daily life.

Like someone else said, I've shifted to buying nicer basics for casual dressing. I think I look put together most days, but not dressed up. I've got a lovely Poetry jumper that is versatile day to day and want to upgrade all my wardrobe eventually.

I’m not a dressy dresser, but I dress nicely and with care every day, don’t own leggings and have 1 pair of jeans that I rarely wear. It takes the same length of time to put on a pair of trousers as it does jeans, and a dress is even quicker.

Oh, I definitely could not do without jeans or leggings. But nicer basics is a good idea.

I go to the theatre and ballet in London fairly often, and I am usually the most dressed up person there, even in just wide-leg trousers and a nice shirt! A dress requires a little more thought , because I am in trainers all the time in London. But I will try to give it a little more thought. I just realised I have this beautiful tailored silk dress that I haven't worn since the pandemic. I am going to wear it to the theatre next time.