What is your style at 50?

[Crispsandchocolatebar]

I keep planning to look more stylish - and then I forget. Last week I went out wearing a band t-shirt very bright midi skirt and trainers (not fashionable ladylike white trainers) and was with someone who looked very chic.
I never seem to manage chic/grown up.

I don't subscribe to age related dressing but nor do I believe that sticking to the same style all your life is some kind of badge of honour. I take DelphiniumBlue's point that your body changes with age, especially after the menopause, and it seems futile not to acknowledge that.

So for what it's worth, my view is that the time to think about changing your style is when you no longer enjoy getting dressed, and I don't think it matters whether you're 20 or 50 when it happens. So if you relate to that feeling op - and it does sound like you've been thinking about it for a while - then just do it. Life is too short to cling to clothes that no longer give you any pleasure.

When I was younger I loved victorian and edwardian styles and a bit of boho but find that as I've got older it looks less footloose and fancy free and more bag lady. SO my style has moved more to an architecty vibe with more uniqlo and cos at the basic end and Jil Sandler etc at the top. I wear a lot of Me & Em style clothes in navy and black. Today is a slobbing at home day so I'm wearing wide legged black cargo trousers by Oysho with a sleeveless linen top over a white long sleeved t shirt and pale grey Stan SMiths

50 also a memory here sadly. My shape has changed - I was always a pear but
have gained weight on my top half - my bottom half has stayed the same.

I tend towards very plain and simple these days - jeans or wide legged trousers and shirt or Tshirt with various trainers. I love jumpers more than anything so I’m happiest in winter.

Currently wearing dark indigo jeans, oversized white shirt and gold Birkenstocks. I have a weakness for metallic shoes. They may be naff but I indulge myself these days.

@DelphiniumBlue , are you sure you look ‘rubbish’ in all skirts and wide legged trousers? I doubt I’m many days younger than you and I’ve been living in these (now enticingly reduced) in a couple of colours for the past two or three years.

https://www.matchesfashion.com/products/Raey-Wide-leg-organic-cotton-button-hem-chino-trousers-1521381

Obviously don’t know your budget but they’re accommodatingly roomy, can sit on the hips if preferred, and seem to suit all sorts of figures. I find a daintier type of ankle boot works best for me with them, but that’s not universal.

(I’m short so they reach my ankles.)

I'm recently retired age 56 and have lost a bit of weight , for the first time I am in love with clothes but they are all preloved either Vinted or charity shops. I've pretty much gone back to what I wore in the 80,s . I love long skirts , wool jumpers , slouchy cardigans . My jeans are barrel leg from M&S . I guess I'm a mixture of boho and Dark Academia . I must be doing something right I've had loads of compliments . I'm still chubby btw just have more confidence!

Thank you for the link. The problem with wide trousers is that I feel they need a more fitted or short top. I really need a top that is crotch length or longer so as not to show off my belly, but if then if I have a long loose top and loose trousers it just looks wide all the way down!
The only trousers I've found that look OK are Saint& Sofia Apartment trousers, which are straight leg, worn with a long t-shirt and and an open shirt. Wider trousers seem to require more definition around the waist and tummy area, areas I like to hide rather than highlight.
The trousers you have linked to would make me look like a very fat sack of potatoes, sadly.

Ah, well! Probably a good thing we’re all different.

I recently found out that my style is naturally Dark Academia and has been since I was about 18. It’s sort of Hogwarts meets Victorian meets Meat Loaf - lots of tweed and velvet in rich colours, chunky shoes and boots, long satin skirts, blouses with hints of frill or lace, maybe a knee length kilt if I’m feeling exotic. In the summer I live in linen shorts and tops (that’s probably not DA but I’m not a purist. My legs are my best feature and shorts are the most comfortable item of clothing on the planet).

I’m very nearly 47 and going through perimenopause and yep, it’s the middle part of my body that’s definitely causing issues!!

The middle part of my body has always been an issue - no difference after menopause to before 😀

I love the sound of your style, @CapEBarra, though it's not me at all!

I like plain, neutrals and always admire the architect style, lagenlook layering etc, but the cut of those kinds of clothes don't suit me. Anything loose or unstructured on the top hangs off my boobs and makes me look like a marquee!

My current most flattering thing is a dark navy maxi dress with a floral pattern (not my usual style) with a kind of crossover v-neck, gathered at a high waist. I like it, but it's not really the style I'd most love to wear!

Always slim or skinny jeans/jeggings blue (black skinny jeans for nights out only as they are kept nice, can’t hear faded black anything ) or black leggings. Always with a long cami vest to cover bum even though I’m slim. Variety of different tops. Will wear a black top but only ever with blue jeans. Boots or trainers always black or sandals ballet pumps. Black jacket. Long hair straight or waved. Always make up and earrings. No I do not have any style I’m well aware lol but I just like to be safe and blend in …

Work wise (I'm 59) I'm tending to go a bit more classic - block colour top and bottom but maybe patterned top. I do have a couple of flowery dresses though.

A French friend once gave me some advice which seems to work for all ages:

1. No more than 3 colours at once
2. Patterned top / plain scarf
3. Plain top / patterned scarf
4. Always wear matching underwear - v important!

That said, casually, I live in my running gear at weekends so I'm always ready to go when the opportunity arises. Plain tops and whacky bottoms from Tikiboo or flanci. Post-run, jeans and anything goes up top.

Frankly - do what your personality says is comfortable for you and never forget that any fashion trend was usually invented by us the first time around!

I never seem to manage chic/grown up.

Why does it matter?

I love a band (or motorcycle) T-shirt with a skirt.
I can do chic but it has to be a bit edgy/rock chicky for example or it doesn't feel like me.
Biker boots, jacket, faux leather jeans and skirts feature heavily or I might wear a fairly plain classic dress but with biker jacket/ studded belt .
I do like to tweak and update my wardrobe every so often. Age is not a barrier I'm mid 50's I just buy what I like as long as it's my style and suits/fits me.

Exactly! Life’s too short (especially when you’re hitting 70!) to worry about being chic or anything else imo.
I’m size 16/18, 5’6”, I’ve started wearing brighter colours, chunky necklaces and bracelets, tunic/trousers or jeans/ long skirts and tee shirts, and I’ve had more compliments than for years of dressing smartly for work.
Get your hair done, subtle (or not) nail polish, makeup if you like and enjoy not giving a toss what anyone else thinks.
Today I’m wearing a boatneck three quarter sleeve navy tee shirt, navy and white striped chinos with the hems turned up (muddy dog walk wearing clogs), bright green gilet and lovely coloured clay earrings. Three people have said they liked what I was wearing 😃

I ended up being really busy but have been reading. Its good to hear other thoughts. I don't why it matters. I have picked up an expectation from somewhere about how I would be by this age. Standing next to the elegant lady (she looked lovely in navy draped top/white trousers, grown up jewellery) I felt like Edina from AbFab.
As I get older I have been feeling less need to dress in a certain way but maybe I'm settling into that and will adjust. I used to always dress in clothes that officially flattered me which I care a lot less about now.

I aim for a more sexily upholstered Kate Moss vibe.

I'm 51 and have spent money on quality items from Me & Em etc (sale) and good quality every day items as well as dressy stuff.
Because it's well cut and quality fabric everything looks better and more dressy but is still really comfortable.
Anything that was tired or not worn I got rid of and now my wardrobe is smaller but so much easier to wear and look good in.
I bought matching underwear and good socks etc too and feel put together and well dressed even if I'm just in jeans and a sweatshirt.
My confidence has improved massively as I feel so much more put together!
I keep on top of my hair colour and cut too as that makes me feel so much better.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft - I hear you on the difficulty of architect chic with boobs. I have a tiny head so a very simple aesthetic is the only thing that works. I've found architecty bottoms paired with a sports luxey top seems to work. I've been picking up older Me & Em pieces with zip necks in charity shops and ebay and find that buying them a size down so they fit under the bust and then opening the zip to provide "give" over the bust works well. I usually put a tight fitting vest on underneath to provide decency/avoid looking too Bet Lynch.....

This summer I've been looking for fine knit linen tops that have a little bit of cling under the bust to give the same effect. So today I'm wearing black wide legged cargo pants with a tight fit long sleeved whit t shirt under a black sleeveless fine knit with a wide cowl neck and pale grey stan smiths.

That all sounds right up my street, @londonmummy1966 and with some good practical, flattering tweaks to that look!

This summer I have mainly been wearing sparkly leggings, black slouchy long tops and gold flat sandals - accessorised with a Danish hip length waterproof with hood!!

I'm 59 & I go thru' phases of wearing a different 'uniform'. The current is cropped straight jeans with an oversized Muslin shirt knotted at the front & loafers/wedge flipflops. Plus the ever trusty Protected Species/ linen jacket.
I've become much more minimalist/monochrome as I'm nearing 60. Plus I'm buying far less clothes.