Help! I'm done with trousers and jeans.

[GenuineRocks]

So I have mostly worn trousers and jeans throughout my life, but for about 5 yrs now I can't get on with any of the new styles or the quality issues and such. Every year I shop around and spend ages searching for a new pair and eventually give up.

I am outdoors a lot, so spend a lot of time in hiking leggings and outdoor stuff (which I like) but want something more casual for everyday stuff (cafe's, meeting friends, etc) so am wondering if I might like some sort of casual dress???

I have one simple floaty jersey dress from seasalt which has long sleeves and is the easiest thing to wear in the world, but unfortunately I can never find patters that I like. I do love the ease though and think they can be dressed up with other things to make them more 'me' and interesting.

I don't like the trend dresses in most shops, at any pricepoint. I don't like the large dull colours of Toast, nor the interestingly cut £400 stuff either. I just want something simple and casual. I hate the high street generally and not a fan of the prairie or midi trend as I prefer knee or above.

Has anyone else ever moved over in a big switch like this? How did it go? Is it even possible to get used to dresses if I am so long in the tooth (50), lol?

For ref I am 5'5, slim, average proportions. I have low contrast features, so fair eyes, hair and skin. All of the dark large patterns would drown my face, i think. I am thinking Seasalt as I don't like bulk and they do a small selection of shorter, slip on dresses that might appeal to me. Don't want to fork out for a few and then regret it, but have located some on ebay that I could try.

For reference, I am done with trousers and jeans because I hate the wide flapping fabric styles but most of all the super high waists. I walked the length and breadth of two cities in the past week and every damn shop had long baggy gussets, with inches of space below the fly. I just cant wear that stuff and it doesn't seem to be on it's way out!

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/gorgeous-geo-jersey-dress-wf064www.joebrowns.co.uk/vintage-vibes-jersey-dress-wf068www.joebrowns.co.uk/joes-favourite-denim-dress-wf099

Some ideas from Joe Brown's.

I wear lots of dresses and boots in the winter. Sometimes with a jumper on top; sometimes a full length cardigan. Really cosy and comfortable.

I do also wear soft stretchy skinny jeans/leggings with long jumpers for a bit of a change.

I'm the same as you OP - my jean days are long gone!! I sometimes wear loose, elasticated trousers but it's hard to find some good quality ones that don't look like pajamas!!

I've started incorporating more skirts and dresses. Some brands I like are:

• Uniqlo (depends on the cut of the dress)
• Oliver Bonas (some of their floral stuff, but also some of the plain is fantastic)
• M&S - some brilliant gems
• Nobody's Child - fantastic sales and always fits me really well.

Sorry haven’t read the full thread but skirts are great as well as dresses. I love an A line cord skirt above the knee with opaque tights and boots- loads in the shops (try newlook for inexpensive ones). Lots of nice cord pinafore style dresses in too - try nobody’s child. Can layer with polo necks under neath and then a chunky jumper over the top for warmth. Definitely second vinted too especially once you have a brand and style you like.

Skirts? Well, yes!

Skirts are probably my favourite thing (after a good thick Harris Tweed jacket). All the swishy-ness and elegance of a dress but with room to experiment with different things above.

And I’d have said a denim skirt would be the easiest transition from jeans? I miss Raey @ Matches for their variety in this area, but, swerving interestingly cut £400 stuff, have you looked at Community Clothing, @GenuineRocks? They have a small but delightful collection of denim skirts at high street prices. I can’t vouch for the height of the waists but they boast exemplary ethics:

Community Clothing

Oh this is absolutely what I want to do too. I live in jeans and t-shirts (work from home) and as I'm approaching 50 I realise I look like an absolute scruff - or, even worse if I do have to go out somewhere I've lost all sense of what looks nice or is tidy.
How do you break the mental habit of skirts and dresses being for 'best', are you dress and skirt wearers warm enough etc? I've never been 'good' at clothes to be honest jeans and a white T have just allowed me to opt out of it, but I'd like to opt in!

I never thought of Weird Fish for dresses, but they have a great selection!

I wear dresses almost all the time. I started after I’d had my last baby as it was more comfy and never really went back.
I have loads from all over. I don’t worry about looking dressy. I’d always rather be over dressed and feel nice than under dressed.

M&S, joules, next, white stuff, fat face and crew all do beautiful stuff. Boden too although the quality isn’t as good as it was and the prices are going up and up. I find what I’m looking for changes too. Sometimes I’m into a jumper dress, sometimes a wrap style. I’ve finally embraced the big sleeve, tiered dresses too and actually really love them.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you love dresses, do it. Most people probably won’t notice at all so it won’t feel as big a style change as it does in your mind.

Happy shopping!

I stopped wearing jeans and trousers about six or seven years ago. It's not the waist that bothers me though, it's the material around my legs. I hate how restrictive jeans are in particular.

I do wear some dresses and skirts but mainly I'm in shorts and tights. I don't know if you feel it would suit you, but you could try some short loose culottes with tights to keep warm. It could work as a way to make the transition to skirts and dresses.

Like this kind of look:

I find dresses (often with leggings beneath) to be the comfiest option. But often struggle with what to wear over the top. Coats often finish at just the wrong place, jackets cover up my last vestiges of waist, etc...

Some great thoughts here, thanks everyone.

A few answers to questions - Even if my measurements appear to allow me to wear what I want, life often isn't that simple. I have IBS and hate anything thick or restrictive around my gut, so skinny jeans and high waist jeans are uncomfortable.
I disagree that I can find anything on the current market though, as almost everything I look at has a very high waist and low crotch, which does nothing for my shorter torso and aggravates my midsection when seated.
Also when seated the excess fabric forms a bulge at the crotch which I just find unattractive.
I would be happy in mid rise, but most are not, whether advertised as mid or not.

I don't suit cropped or short tops either, so wide and short jumpers, cardigans and tees make me look awful. It is just an unlucky trend phase for me, I think.

I am intrigued by the PP's who mention getting bored with dresses, I can see this happening to me!

Edit, double post.

Yes, this was the post I referred to.
I really do relate to this, in some way, as do feel a bit forced into dresses due to nothing out there working for me right now. It doesn't help when people assume that we are being difficult because we don't feel comfortable in every new shape that materialises.
In my fantasies I can find slimish fit trousers or cargos that aren't wide legged or swallow me whole, with mid rise waists that don't reach my boobs. I would be able to find smooth lines and fine knits which covered my bum, which is a look that I suit most of all. I miss the 90's shapes of slip dresses and fine drapey knits, and miss the quality so much! I really loved delicate, well constructed clothing, so it has been a pain traversing through chunky, homogenous, boxy trends!

I did try ebay for the past 2 years and had a small amount of success, but feel like too much time and energy has gone on it. I think the idea of slipping into an easy jersey dress is somewhat liberating - but like you, I suspect I could easily grow bored with that.

I started wearing more dresses when I crossed 50 two years ago, and jeans become uncomfortable. Unhappily this coincided with the rise of Little House on the Prairie fashions, so I really need to look around for simple non-frilly dresses. Like you I am in walking clothes most days as I WFH and walk a lot.

Last year I bought two skirts from Albaray which I plan to wear this winter. Both have soft waistbands so very comfortable.

I really like Brakeburn. The quality is generally very good.

I mostly wear dresses, some tunic type, some knee length, and others long / midi.

I've probably got more Seasalt than anything else (mostly plain, I'm not keen on some of their patterned stuff) but also Weird Fish, White Stuff, Brakeburn, Lily and Me and John Lewis 'Kin'.

I'm short-waisted with wide(ish) hips and I struggle to find flattering jeans / trousers. I do have a couple of skirts but generally always gravitate towards dresses, despite living rurally and wearing wellies most days throughout the winter!

hasnt Kin gone now?

I re-discovered dresses 3 summer seasons ago, and after prompting from a BF also stopped wearing opaques, he thought my legs were quite good enough to go on show. I really feel good about my look. One or two other changes as well.
JoeBrowns have a lot of colours and leafy or flowery dresses. I know you are wary of darker shades.

Also I have skirts that look like tweed but are lighter fabric.

Sadly yes - I got some bits on Vinted.

*Yes, this was the post I referred to.
I really do relate to this, in some way, as do feel a bit forced into dresses due to nothing out there working for me right now. It doesn't help when people assume that we are being difficult because we don't feel comfortable in every new shape that materialises.
In my fantasies I can find slimish fit trousers or cargos that aren't wide legged or swallow me whole, with mid rise waists that don't reach my boobs. I would be able to find smooth lines and fine knits which covered my bum, which is a look that I suit most of all. I miss the 90's shapes of slip dresses and fine drapey knits, and miss the quality so much! I really loved delicate, well constructed clothing, so it has been a pain traversing through chunky, homogenous, boxy trends!

I did try ebay for the past 2 years and had a small amount of success, but feel like too much time and energy has gone on it. I think the idea of slipping into an easy jersey dress is somewhat liberating - but like you, I suspect I could easily grow bored with that.*

Sorry for the long copy n' paste, I couldn't get the quote function to work.

Yeah I did get bored with jersey dresses and then struggled to find other styles that fitted properly and just got fed up. My body isn't that unusual but shoulders and hips aren't in proportion and so separates work better for me even if the word sounds like something out of Grace Brothers.

But I did enjoy dresses while it lasted and I wouldn't like that to put you off having a go. I'm very much in favour of shaking up your style every so often.

Sorry the bold function didn't work either and neither does Edit!

The first 3 paragraphs, from 'Yes, this was the post I referred to' to 'bored with that'
are quoting the op.

No fear, Flo! I absolutely relate, even though we have different reasons for the change.
Interesting to see it that way, too, that we need a change now and again. On a deeper level I wonder if this coincides with alterations in our lives in general, our feelings and personality...

I can see me growing bored with dresses, as there are so few that I like, and it could eventually feel prescriptive. However, I experience irritating fit issues with separates as well and feel at my best in slightly too large pyjamas and an oversized men's plain tshirt

Yes I do believe in a change of style every so often and I agree it can coincide with life events - and that includes birthdays ending in a zero. In most areas of my life I can be quite risk averse but with clothes I always think, well what have I got to lose!

Have a look at Vila! Lots of lovely simple dresses, of all lengths.

I used to live in jeans but I'm moving to dresses most of year time now because I'm so round these days that I don't look good in anything with a waist.

On a functional level, if you're used to wearing clothes with pockets, aim for dresses with pockets too (luckily there are more around these days). Suddenly not having pockets if you're used to them is really annoying!

Do you like wearing dungarees? I had a few years wearing mainly dungarees and pinafore dresses and it felt great not to have a waistband around my stomach. For work I mainly wore jersey dresses.

Now I have flipped back to wearing trousers and jeans! There are plenty of midrise and low rise jeans around now.