Style for the older lady

[Keynote1]

I think I am probably older than most on here, 58, retired with grandchildren but lots of interests.

I am in a total fix with clothes, buy too much because I end up thinking it is too young for me and I should be dressing like a 60 year old granny (not saying all 60 year old grannies even dress like grannies or even how grannies look)

My style has pretty much been the same for 35 years, frilly collar blouses, jumpers, jeans, ankle grazer trousers and pumps. I do wear dresses occasionally. I have never been one for tight clothes or short dresses as they never looked right .
Now I am the age I am and bigger than I was I am worried that what I thought was a classic style in my younger years is too young for me.

Any older ladies out there who could let me know what they feel comfortable in, indeed any advice welcome.

Well again I don't want to derail the thread but I'm certainly not young and it feels like a stretch to carry on calling myself middle aged so, if someone wants to describe my age group - and I do agree 100% that it's often irrelevant - then 'older' sounds ok to me.

Anyway op I think you need to come back again and help us out before we get so carried away arguing that we forget you're here!
How would you like to look?
Just give us a clue - a person, a book, a film, a colour, even an adjective will do as a starting point!

I was expecting this to be for/about a 90 year old, not 58!!! 😆

Ok I give up

@me if you come back op.

I don't think age is relevant here. I think there was a period where clothes for different ages mattered. I was born in 1959 and I think it existed then- primarily in relation to jeans and trousers. My mother's and grandmother's generation didn't wear them. Much as I dislike jeans the universal acceptability of jeans for everyone probably helped break down the idea of clothes for older people.

Obviously there are clothes targeted at teenagers which can be disregarded but once you hit your twenties or perhaps the age when you get the first proper job after graduating your age in relation to clothes is irrelevant.

I'm puzzled however by OP's explanation that her style model was Lady Diana Spencer before she became Princess Di but she's worried that look is now too young. Even if the OP hasn't conciously updated the individual pieces in that style , the style itself will have updated simply by virtue of what's for sale, but it's not "too young" for anyone.

What's your style OP? if you like simplicity and minimalism, take a look at https://www.instagram.com/buttonsandblazers/. Perfect for your age, and for younger and for older BTW... and she models high street brands so affordable too.

I'm 58 next month.
The last few years I have tended to shop in Cos and Arket. Wide bottoms, fitted tops and vice versa.

I don't do neutrals so would describe my style as Dark Academia and Danish Architect's wayward lovechild.

I'm the same age as you and wear whatever I like, mostly jeans (skinny) and a hoodie. I can't see myself ever dressing 'like a granny'. Though I did buy a cropped top and some cut off jeans shorts this year which I feel were a mistake as they feel too young for me. But it doesn't sound like you would have even looked at such stuff, so whatever you are wearing and feel comfortable in is surely fine.

JFC

I don't mean older in a bad way, just not 20s/30s

How did you mean it then?

I am in a total fix with clothes, buy too much because I end up thinking it is too young for me and I should be dressing like a 60 year old granny (not saying all 60 year old grannies even dress like grannies or even how grannies look)

WTAF does this mean? You say it's not supposed to be derogatory, but it's clear that you see older women in a negative light.

Wear what the fuck you like, regardless of your age. Who says you have to dress a certain way?

I call myself old because I am. I'm not middle aged because I'm unlikely to live until I'm over 120. But I don't think being old is a negative thing, it's just descriptive.

Love all
those links .. great stuff.. only palava in a lot of people’s price range? Any other ideas/ web sites?

But it's not a descriptive thing which has much, if any, relevance to selecting clothes.

OP, please read Warning by Jenny Joseph!

It starts like this:

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
...

They were just examples of what this "older lady" wears.

The OP hasn't given us information beyond she is 58 and wears frilly collar blouses, jumpers, jeans, ankle grazer trousers and pumps. No size, height, preferences or budget. Where to start? There's literally hundreds of sites selling that, none of which come with age restrictions.

Someone mentioned Cos. Good call. Cos trousers match some of OP's likes and some of them are even worn with jumpers.

Cos trousers

These Cos jeans come in lots of colours and are very nice. I don't see how anyone could look at them and think "I'm too old to wear that"

Cos Arch tapered jeans

We’ve (probably) all been to school, @Stravaig. Why would you think the OP wouldn’t be familiar with such a very well known poem?

I am similar age to you. I now dress to suit my shape not what is necessary in fashion.
I wear a lot of dresses. I think they flatter me better with my menopausal middle. Thick tights and boots for winter

I love this! It’s what I aspire to be …( I’m 57 and love clothes and fashion)

OP do you use Pinterest ? I find it useful to browse and look for styles with a description you are comfortable with so to take @TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon as an example you could just put ‘Dark Academia fashion’ into the search, if I am looking I’d put something like ‘wide leg casual’…… either way - generate ideas for you to pin and start to build.
Also look up capsule wardrobes that allow you to think about how to put a small number of core items together. Also colours - what do you like ?

if you can tell us a bit more about what you are looking for I am sure we can all come up with some great links for you.

Me too - I love dresses esp for work - as you can dress up or down, plus don’t have to match a top and skirt or trousers getting ready. In winter ( or in uk all year around ) I often wear a tank over the top or jumper, or a jersey jacket with boots, in summer trainers or sandals with the same dress.

I’M in my mid fifties and did a style analysis a few years ago. It confirmed my body shape and gave me ideas what to wear. Also informed me of what colours suit me.

Since then, my wardrobe has been transformed. I now wear clothes that suit me, rather than other people.

Also a section covered ‘personality’. It made me realise that I’ll never achieve that chic, sophisticated look, ‘cause it’s not me. Give me a boho top anyday.

So dress how you want.

I know you’ve posted since, @Keynote1, but I’m still puzzling over this in your OP:

Any older ladies out there who could let me know what they feel comfortable in

because I can’t imagine how it would be helpful to read countless responses - none of which might accord with how you see yourself.

I don’t know if I’m wrong in interpreting your request as a reflection of not being comfortable with who you are … Perhaps something has happened recently that has disrupted your equilibrium?

Older lady? 58 and should be dressing like Granny?
You need to reset your thinking. I’m 56, kids in 20s, no grandchildren.
Your post made me feel sad. I know I’m not 25 any more but I still count as a person and valid member of society. I worried more when I was younger what to wear but now nowhere near as much.
I’m not on a large budget and buy from New Look, DP, Next, Quiz, even Primark. Asda had some nice dresses in this summer.
Im 5ft 9 and have issues with dresses being too short, as have a short body but longer legs. Sometimes I just buy it anyway and have worn them in the hot weather or on holiday anyway! Legs still okay I think!
I would -

• avoid the trap,of buying black or neutrals for safety. Find a colour that suits your skin tone or eyes. I hardly ever wear blue as have olive skin and brown eyes and always think it won’t suit me.
• don’t buy anything fashionable if it doesn’t suit or really is too young.
• shape of clothes will make a difference. I have large shoulders but a small head so don’t buy puffed sleeves or square/boat neck tops or I look like an oblong.
• nothing wrong with the floral dress, white trainer look in my opinion (runs for cover)😂
• Good luck 🤞🏼

My first post here btw.

I'm 53. Kids in teens.
Definitely don't consider myself older!
Currently wearing lucy and yak shorts, birkies, and a slash neckHowies t shirt that is about a decade old. My style hant changed much for 20 years. In winter tge birkies turn into Solovair boots.

I'm 58 and shop in COS, Zara, Reiss, All Saints on the high street with a few designer pieces here and there. I prefer a more simple on trend style
I stay away from Boden, Jigsaw, Whistles, Seasalt and the likes as I find them too frilly and too many patterns going on.

You might like Mint Velvet which is kind of in between
.

Come back OP !

I don't think age is relevant here. I think there was a period where clothes for different ages mattered. I was born in 1959 and I think it existed then- primarily in relation to jeans and trousers. My mother's and grandmother's generation didn't wear them. Much as I dislike jeans the universal acceptability of jeans for everyone probably helped break down the idea of clothes for older people.

I was born in 1959, and in my bedroom is a photo of my mother and I when I was a toddler - she is wearing trousers. Surely women were wearing trousers in the 1940s - I've seen plenty of photos of them. I do understand what you mean, but there have always been people who weren't dictated to by the mores of the times.

Of course there were always some people who ignored mores and during WWII land girls and munitions workers wore trousers but women did not routinely wear jeans or trousers in the 50s and 60s or even the 70s the way they do now.

You must surely have seen threads on MN about women not being allowed to wear trousers to work? I left school in 1977 - none of the female teachers wore trousers. None of the female solicitors in the local authority legal department I did my training in in the early 80s wore trousers. I still to this day remember the discussions amongst us when one of the most senior solicitors broke that "rule".