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 agree. What awful colours and patterns.

OP, I've bought some nice separates from Wolf and Badger - well worth a browse.

I’m about 5’3, @sheeplikessleep, and have never considered petite clothes. It’s true I mostly avoid the sort of dress that features a huge amount of material flaring out from the waist to some indeterminate point on the shins (not my favourite style anyway) but mostly I buy what I like and have it tailored to fit, if really necessary. The only time it’s impossible is with long knitted dresses where the hem can’t reasonably be turned up.

However - I genuinely like being swamped by my clothes. I don’t buy garments to ‘show off my waist’ or flatter any other body part. I like to look interesting, extravagant and … imperfect, possibly. That’s also possibly why the ‘age appropriate’ discourse is completely alien to me - I expect clothes to convey something about my inner self, not my outer self.

Same here. Agree it's a concept that is needlessly fussy and prissy.

OP, I think jumpsuits may be a good idea. I am on the lookout for some for autumn. Hard to find one that fits well though.

Are you me? I agree with/ could have written every word of that. (Apart from avoiding dresses with huge amounts of material, although a recent purchase in that category has got compliments from random strangers from age 20s to looked older than me every time I've worn it)

If you don't wear jeans or trousers, then maybe the concept of a going out top seems fussy to you, just like wearing a huge foufy dress on the grimy Tube in pissing rain seems fussy and unnecessary to me!

I also work hard for my figure, so I definitely want to show it off a bit.

I agree, @Lentilweaver - I hate those big foufy dresses like tents. I also think that jumpsuits may be a good solution for the OP. Fit can be tricky, though.

I also work hard for my figure, so I definitely want to show it off a bit.

I work hard for my brain, so definitely want to show it off a bit though my clothes.

(Kidding. Sort of.)

To be fair it's years since I consciously wore a jeans and going out top combo, I think there's actually a tiktokker making videos about them and that made me all nostalgic.

But equally I'm a bit over dresses, having lived in them for a few years, plus it's been a shit summer, so the idea of having something that's a bit beyond jeans and a T-shirt is quite appealing as the season changes.

That's not what I said. There's a huge difference between pretending to be 19 and being stuck in "jeans and a nice top"

I don't know why you think the options are crop top and nude leggings and "jeans and a nice top"

@NatashaDancing what do you wear when u go out? Not many people look ready for dinner in a t shirt

Can confirm that jumpsuits do not come sized for us five footers, especially if you're short in the body (as I am, my 'height' (lol) is in my legs).

I think you can look good whatever, your age, shape and colouring, you just have to find what works for you. If you're aiming for a sleeker, neater look then go for slightly more fitted outfits, avoid fussy patterns and details like bows, frills and too many layers. Maybe a monochrome look?

This is so odd. You think women who want to show off their figures in fitted clothes don't have brains? Or conversely women who wear tent like shapeless dresses are more intelligent?

I know you said you are kidding, but still...it's a bit odd.

Oh me too! I'm short waisted as well. My daughter got a fantastic one from JL, but has slightly better proportions! I needed a bit more length in the legs than the body! Not a good look 😔

The Klements dress I posted is an example of what I would wear, but I wear that and similar as everyday and work dresses. If it's very dressy dinner I've got dresses from Eponine I might wear.

I don't own any t-shirts. I don't wear jeans and tops at all.

I'm sure RandomersAssociation is pulling the thread's collective leg but I think what she means is that she looks at the dress/ top/ trousers/ coat/ jacket and thinks "do I like the look of that"?

It's looking at the piece of clothing like a piece of art. If it fits, then good. I'm not interested in whether an item is "flattering" if I like the item from that point of view.

I really like this. Balloon Sleeve Wrap Top In Blush | PAISIE | Wolf & Badger (wolfandbadger.com) no idea if it is dated or not. Probably is, because I like it! ( has nylon though so itchy).

Judging from the many threads we’ve both been on, @NatashaDancing, I’d say we certainly have a similar attitude to dressing. And I’ve actually taken more notice of dresses recently, partly because your enthusiasm for them is hard to ignore. Also partly because I’m really bored with having to think about separates when I’m packing for a trip.

@Lentilweaver - I’m perfectly sure @NatashaDancing never needs to descend to the Tube () but I have honestly found a light dress much, much more comfortable in a boiling tube train than a top and skirt / trousers. (I once had to give a presentation in absolutely sweltering London weather and found the perfect thing to wear to be a close fitting, long sleeved mesh dress from Top Shop (). I daresay the designer imagined it would be worn by someone in their 20s; I was incontrovertibly middle aged, and it looked pretty fabulous on me.

It's slightly better than the OP's sparkly polyester one but is spoilt by the strap across the back. The strap looks as if the designer and the wearer lost their nerve that it would be too low cut and sewed a random strap in.

I don't wear jeans and a top. Ever.
I never said those were the only options.
I've given quite a few suggestions to the OP, as have others. My main point (see above) is that age, shape and colouring should not be a barrier to looking stylish. However, I wouldn't want to dress the same as my 6th form students eg leggings and a crop top.

I spend what feels like hours on the tube every time I'm in London - agreed that wearing as little as possible would be the sensible option there.

I prefer the Gerry Weber clothes to the Biscuit ones, but I'd probably only buy classic items from GW, if anything..

I’m thinking of going back to a vest underneath a fitted, open necked shirt. It gives me a better shape then tops in shops these days.