This older lady on the train..

[KibbeMe]

I loved what she wore, and she looked so comfortable!
I wouldn't call it a style, or remotely fashion conscious, but she was obviously interested in clothes, if that makes sense?

She was 65+ or thereabouts, medium height, slim, with bushy hair in a lovely twist. She was wearing a long tweed, flecked coat, with a sort of jersey tunic under it with a modest pattern. She wore dark wool tights with socks and clumpy brown boots, with a cotton tote and gorgeous mustard coloured wool scarf.

I remember thinking that I rarely saw older women in shorter skirts/tunics, and she looked fantastic. What struck me most was how at ease this all looked, so kind of interesting but comfy. It did not scream money, but wasn't cheap at all, it is hard to describe it, as it wasn't on trend for any age group, but reminded me a little of a dance tutor I had in my 20's who was vaguely bohemian in a neater, relaxed sort of way (not trendy or frilly).

If any of this makes sense, I would love some recommendations. It all looked great quality but not in popular styles. The tunic looked like basic jersey with a scoop neck, wasn't baggy or tight. Colours were mixed but not obvious.
This was in March this year and I still haven't forgotten her!

I haven't gone through all replies, but a search using one of your pictures landed me on Toast. I'm in the statew, and they do have a UK site. I'm in my 60s and have started wearing what I like and am comfortable in. A bit eclectic, but I don't care anymore!

And the other half are sold by Roman Originals.

Another one who is bemused that anyone seeing me is seeing 'an older lady'!

It sounds like the sort of clothes I also wear, minus the tunic.

Older (former) lecturer type here. I’m short and wear tunics as knee length dresses over opaques or leggings with boots. It’s comfortable but fits my body and makes it look proportionate. I love a jumper dress too. As others have said White Stuff, Weird Fish, Seasalt & Fatface are all good places to start for this look.

Mistral do tunics like you describe

Sounds like the kind of clothes I buy, not that I necessarily put them together brilliantly.

I'm 54 and petite/slim and you'd probably call me a left leaning arty intellectual type.

I used to wear a lot of patterned tunics with leggings from about 2011-17. I went off them, partly because I stopped wearing cotton tops with a preference for merino, even in Summer.

I do still have one raspberry red wool/silk blend short tunic type dress that I wear with leggings.

In winter I often wear short wool dresses with wool tights and boots, or short skirts with wool tights. I have lots of different colours of Falke merino tights, which are the only winter tights I wear.

And I love mustard, raspberry, olive or moss green.

I'm not interested in fashion, just in natural fabrics, being comfortable and what suits my petite frame. I don't wear make up or dye my hair. And I don't buy anything that I need to dry clean or iron.

How about St Michael? Now, that was made to last!

I'm 60, I've always been slim/athletic build but have never worn sporty clothes or overly dressy things. I have long greying hair and I'm usually described as 'Arty'.

I did wear patterned jersey or cord tunics with dark jeans or cords for many years, then during the menopause I switched to linen tunics or dresses for comfort. My preference is ankle length for dresses and I tend to wear a lot of pinafores with plain or striped long sleeved tops underneath, layered with leggings, boots and cardi during the colder months. I never wear heels, always flat lace up leather boots, generally have a big slouchy bag of some sort and a scarf or hand knitted shawl is always wrapped around my neck/shoulders. I love long coats, be they wool, cotton velvet or waxed cotton.

Everything in my wardrobe falls into a dark muted palette of black, grey, green, purple, brown, though I will add mustard, moss or burgundy for scarves. My colouring is celtic so I look like death in anything pale or pastel and I'm not fond of primaries.

I love Toast but can only afford an odd sale item. The bulk of my basic wardrobe is Seasalt, Fat Face and Mistral dresses or tunics plus M&S for trousers, White Stuff for thick cotton tights and Oxygen for boots. I see my clothing as an investment and do still wear items from 30 plus years ago.

I've had the same issue with Fat Face, although occasionally I find a gem.

It feels like they've lost who their customers are and gone are the practical, well made jumpers, hoodies and jackets replaced by Little House on the Prairie dresses that suit no one over the age of 10. Also, controversial I know, they stopped making their puffers and gilets with feather and down filling but hiked the prices up(I will hold on to my puffer for dear life as it is so warm) and their slippers now don't last the winter either.

The word " slim" keeps appearing.

How about "lumpy"

Hi, I am forever complimenting women I see on the colours and styles they have chosen. I find people will often tell me where they got things from. With google etc if you want to know info about clothes just put in a stand out feature and you will probably find you can find what you are looking for.

Sorry, I used the word slim but then I also mentioned my age... I suppose it was just to give a picture... It wasn't a stealth boast.

Your shape shouldn't matter. You can still dress well and be stylish and ageless in your choices of clothing.

If the

Just now on Broadcasting House (BBC Radio 4) they’ve been discussing an article in The Mail on Sunday which apparently says there are no clothes for women over 60 in the shops.

Haven’t seen the article (prefer the FT for reflections on style). But I did spend an hour in bed this morning browsing the new season MiuMiu collection. Everything is breathtakingly pretty - though disfigured by insistent logo-ing. (The sunglasses I had from them about eight years ago, and still wear pretty much every time I leave the house, predate the logo obsession.) But the old school craft, the quality of fabrics, and the styling are as entrancing as ever - and really help in thinking about and planning how I’ll wear my own (not MiuMiu) clothes this winter.

So I don’t understand the (unread) article - there has never in the whole history of the world been a greater choice of ready made clothes for women of any age. I suspect the difficulty right now is in finding the time to make informed choices amongst a million new sources - rather than throwing up one’s hands and running into the same places you shopped from in the 70s.

Oh gosh, didn't mean to be implying a stealth boast! My body is made up of parts of other peoples. Bit of it don't belong together!

For that you want:

Skims

which can either conceal and contain or celebrate with 21st century body positivity. Either is good. (Link to main US site for completeness, selection available at Selfridges.)

St Michael via eBay makes up an ever increasing proportion of my wardrobe. Keep an eye on the fabric content and there's some cracking stuff.

Just now on Broadcasting House (BBC Radio 4) they’ve been discussing an article in The Mail on Sunday which apparently says there are no clothes for women over 60 in the shops.

I think there must be a special school for so-called journalists to churn out rubbish like this. Heaven forbid those of us over 60 wear the sort of clothes worn by younger women.

I'm 60 and I find the problem isn't finding styles to suit it's finding clothes of good enough quality and cut to look good, last and seem worth the price.

LOL we're even then, I swear I have someone else's legs... it's why I cover them up with long frocks 😜

the "no clothes for women over xxx age" thing really annoys me. Why should women of any age not wear what they want?

I am a "lumpy" and shop at Simply Be. You need to dig around a bit but they have some nice affordable stuff

Mine has changed. It started getting less conservative from 35 onwards. I don't mean in the sense of starting to wear short/ tight fitting/ low cut- quite the opposite- but clothes that stand out.

My bank balance and pension fund would be delighted if there were nothing for over 60s.

I have short limbs, big bust and ass and small waist, thin wrists. Go figure!