Here are some going out tops if that's still a thing

[Raggammuffin]

I've spent my whole life trying not to look scruffy as I'm only 5'1''. The photo attached was like my outfit last night, black jeans though. Bit uptight and dark compared to the floaty whites I saw around me.

Last night I had the slight sense of my outfit being wrong. I'm not usually conscious of that, hello 50s. I was in a bar with a restaurant, a casual place but in an expensive villagey location.. I did notice that a lot of the mostly younger women were wearing cropped tops under oversized clothes it seemed to me. Huge shirts over tanned bodies. I'm 5'1'' though, I'm not fat but not skinny. Anything over sized does nothing for me. Anyway, do any of these tops look good? Put it this way, my daughter never pinches anything.

green shimmery fine knit top

royal blue satin finish v neck top

I like both of these and could imagine reaching for them both a lot when I go out but are they a bit dated? I don't mind looking classic but I don't want to look dated. I never worried about looking dated before, i just trusted that my eye would be turned off, but not so sure now. Btw, it's not like I think all the 30 year old women were dressed in the most flattering way. A lot of them don't look their 'best' imo but there was definitely a look and I felt too dark, too 'fitted'. I don't know, I'm bound to be moving in to the Gerry Webber stage of my life.

I also think being short means a lot of clothes don’t fit well. Too long on sleeves, waist too low, too long on waist … that it’s far easier to look scruffy because clothes just don’t fit as well as they should.
Plus the whole oversized = tent thing means scruffy for short arses, myself included!

@Ahnobother I'm the same, wide legged trousers just don't suit me. I look at myself in the mirror and I look like I'm standing in a trench wishing I were as tall as 5'1''

I ordered a pair of flares from mint velvet yesterday though, they are quite fitted up top, high waisted and he flare is gentle from the knee. Gently bell bottomed. They have a seam running down the middle of the leg which I like (wouldn't be for everybody though) and I am hoping that they look ok. I'll send them back instantly if they don't.

@Farmageddon Yeh, I can see the work clothes thing. I wouldn't feel right in that bright shade of red. I'm kind of sand hair colour with hazel eyes and pale but not tppex pale, just pale.

I don't wear trousers or jeans. I'm 99% in dresses, occasionally skirts. I don't particularly distinguish between what I wear every day and what I would wear to go out in the evening (unless it required to be very dressed up) so probably not helpful for what you're looking for. E.g I wore this dress to work on Friday and I wore it to the theatre and early dinner in a casual restaurant a couple of weeks ago.

I don't understand the idea that once you hit 50 you have to start wearing stuff like Garry Webber.

Sort of thing I wear

lol at you have to kiss a lot of frogs shopping in m&s, so true but yes, I have also found a few things that I should have bought two of them.

Are you short as I think that dress would drown someone 5ft1? It is gorgeous though … I wish I was taller!

I don't like the first one at all. It gives me, 'Woman who shops at Hobbs and yearns for some sparkle in her life' vibes (not being a bitch - I am sometimes that woman).

The second one is just a boring but useful work top.

They are both very expensive too.

I find 'Going out tops' really difficult too. I quite like a fitted vest top with a broderie or lace shirt or even a sequin jacket worn open over it.

Fashion at the moment has a really basic, minimal aesthetic. It can give a vibe of not really caring what you look like, in conjunction with the body positive movement where younger people today seem less concerned about trying to hide their ‘flaws’ like I was trained into in the 90s. They prioritise comfort as well. Heels are rare where I live (north/east London).

But it can also be quite a classy look, where you aim for effortlessly undone. Clothes skim the body, nothing is too fitted but you make sure your wrists or ankles or waist are on show or defined so you don’t look like a sack of potatoes. Proportions are played with so for example the other night my friend was wearing a tight roll neck and baggier jeans. Anything that looks a bit neat or twee or samey through the figure, such as a tight top with skinny jeans, feels a bit dated. Jewellery is equally minimal.

Everything is quite casual too and it’s quite easy to look quite try hard. Out out outfits are particularly difficult as you want to acknowledge it’s an evening out but not necessarily drip in sequins. Imo it’s harder to make loose clothes look dressy.

I agree with pps that an oversized shirt (in your case could just be a normal shirt) worn open over something more fitted is a great look. You can do nods to the trends without going full giant white T-shirt and cycling shorts.

The other option, which many would swear by, is to ignore current fashions and everything I’ve said above, and wear whatever the hell you like. By 50ish most people have an idea what suits them and what they like. That way the clothes you buy will transcend trends and potentially give a lot more longevity.

I'm 5'4 and look awful in oversized clothes, they just hang off me and make me look bigger. I'm actually buying vintage clothes more and more, full midi skirts with a black top or v neck blouse and wedges or flats.

Bought some balloon style trousers which go in at the ankle. Can't do long trousers.

Midi or maxi dresses with a denim jacket and wedges.

I think 'going out' tops are a bit of a thing of the past. Cropped t shirts can look good with a vest under as others have said.

Totally agree with fitted clothes being much more flattering if you're short / small. I look fantastic in slim fit / tailored / stretchy clothes, sleeveless slim fit t-shirts etc. Oversize clothes used to make me look like I'd been playing dress-up in my mum's wardrobe, these days (in my 50s) I just tend to look swamped. Even worse I've found many shops that I used to like have increased their sizing so the smallest sizes are now useless if you're short.

Can't bear a cold draft around my kidneys so absolutely no to the crop top look regardless of middle aged tum or no

I can get away with straight / wide-ish leg trousers picked with care, & at the moment I mostly go for interesting asymmetric things that aren't fashionable as such but hopefully aren't dated either. I've got this psylo top for example which is good for informal evening out type things (& comes up small).

Sorry, can't really offer advice but sympathise with the difficulty of finding clothes - I'm also 5'1. Oversize things don't look cool and casual - but you can wear wide leg trousers for example, with a fitted top.

You know, this thread has just made me realise something. I’ve always been very dismissive of ‘jeans and a nice top’ threads - and thinking about my own wardrobe I don’t actually own any.

I have completely plain cotton or linen vests and t shirts; plain or striped cotton or linen or silk long sleeved shirts; and knitwear. Not a single ‘fancy’ top in any other shape or fabric. If I examine my thoughts on the matter () I think they’ve always seemed needlessly fussy and prissy to me and completely unnecessary as part of my wardrobe.

Clearly that’s why I’m useless on this sort of thread … (Sorry, OP!)

I don't understand fashion at all these days. I went to COS, H and M, and Massimo Dutti the other day and found nothing. Ended up buying more bras in M and S. Going out tops which are either not huge oversized floral sacks or shiny polyester Shein type stuff seem almost impossible to find.

I am 50ish and am now wearing what the hell I like. I went to the theatre this week and I wore a black Uniqlo tshirt dress ( suits me better than all those floral sister wife dresses) with a statement colourful necklace, orange sandals and a trench over the top for the evening. Half the people there were dressed in basic tshirts and jeans, like my companion. The other half were wearing floral viscose tops. So it doesnt seem to matter what I wear.

As a fellow short person, I don’t agree, tbh-I think it’s more about body shape, confidence, cut of clothes etc than height.

I am 5'7 by the way, and still look awful in oversized tops and dresses, so my conclusion is they suit no one except teenagers. Prefer semi-fitted.

Well, I would agree with pp that your height has nothing. at all to do with looking scruffy. Nothing.
I'm the same height as you, and never look scruffy. I'm also 63, so never want to look as if I'm pretending to be 19 again!
I think you have to check out petite ranges where the proportions are good. I also think you have to work out what colours and shapes suit you. Looser silhouettes are more fashionable, but the clothes don't need to swamp you. I've got some nice clothes from the new season at French Connection, just size down if it looks baggy. I also favour straight legged trousers rather than wide leg, as I think they don't look good on my frame. You just have to do a lot of trying on, imo.

I'm 5'4. It doesn't drown me.

Maybe I need to try on more non petite clothes but I used to get so frustrated at trying clothes I loved on and them just looking completely misfitting.

I'm a similar age to you. I like the blue one but think it's expensive. The burgundy is something I'd wear to school.

I've been layering vests and shirts for the last ten years and thought they looked dated this year - what do I know?

I'm also 63, so never want to look as if I'm pretending to be 19 again!I'm also 63, so never want to look as if I'm pretending to be 19 again!

There's a vast difference between not pretending you're 19 and not wanting to wear Garry Webber stuff.

Just for starters here are 2 local independent shops - no reason why anyone 19 or 59 or 69 should not buy from them.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.biscuit.clothing/frontiers-woman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Frontiers
Biscuit

No, the going out tops on that Biscuit clothing site are not to my taste at all, and overpriced as well.

The maroon shirt outfit is ruined by the too short trousers.
The shimmery top is horrible, the v-neck top is ok.

I'm in my 50s. My mum wouldn't want to borrow any of those, other than the trousers but she is a couple of inches shorter than me

I do think the 'jeans and a nice top' outfit is largely quite dated (especially when paired with ankle boots!) the tops in your pic also look quite dated.

I'd usually wear a jumpsuit or a dress but if was to wear jeans I'd go for a cotton or linen shirt or a good quality white t shirt paired with some nice jewellery.

Otherwise, perhaps a vintage shirt or I'd look in shops I like (cos, whistles) and see what tops they have in.

@NatashaDancing
I've never bought anything from Gerry Weber.. I would not wear what 19 year olds here wear, which is nude leggings and a nude crop top.
You may look amazing in that, I don't want my abdomen on display. Personal choice.

@NatashaDancingI don't understand the idea that once you hit 50 you have to start wearing stuff like Garry Webber. It's Gerry Weber

Sort of thing I wear
There is no way I'd wear that. Not only would it drown me, It would make me look very short and wide. I'm neither. I'm 5'4" and a size 8 jeans, size 10 top.

Edited typo.