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've just been having a wardbrobe clear out and am getting rid of old White Stuff tunics bought around 2011-14. Some are very faded after a lot of wear, others I just haven't worn for years, so they're going. But some of the prints were nice, I used to like their designs. These days I think the quality and style are dreadful and I wouldn't buy anything from there.

Helen Masters in Wycliffe had a pullover (tank? never know what to call them) on in one episode the other day that would be on trend now. Something like this. This is going to be my look this winter!

https://www.next.co.uk/style/SU360135/E36693

Photo here.

Most of the dresses from these places are viscose too, I hate viscose! And I agree, nothing inspiring in the prints or styles.

That's why I mentioned taking inspiration from Rowan Knitting magazines; they're full of fairisles like this.

She had the best knitwear full stop. Just dreamy.
Watching the Inspector Lynley Mysteries just now, and though they're 'only' 20 years old (and my preference is usually older fashion wise) some of the characters do have pleasing costumes. Mainly Lynley's posh family.

Bright sunshine today and quite warm. Even the thought of a jumper makes me feel hot. I've gone to work in satin blouse, black cotton trousers, pumps and leather jacket and was so hot when I'd walked 15 minutes to the station.

Oh no! I’ve just taken out a La Fetiche jumper to wear with a Margaret Howell skirt and big clumpy brown Grenson boots.

Can’t be bothered to iron anything else so will have to rely on the temperature going down.

@KibbeMe Very nice look!

That sounds like a gorgeous look!

I'm enjoying this thread.

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Seasalt. I have several plain linen / linen mix dresses and love them and I tend to look there before anywhere else these days (agree White Stuff and Fat Face have rather lost their way). But I really don't like their prints and I'm not keen on their waisted dresses. I generally opt for A line as it suits my shape.

I think you can dramatically alter the look by adding unusual jewellery or (most often for me) chunky shoes or boots.......what I call 'shoes with attitude.'

I'm early 60s and very few women of my age where I live dress like me (mainly tunics or dresses with thick tights and boots) and I occasionally feel a bit out of place when we all get together. But I have had compliments about my choices in the past and on the whole I feel happy with my look. I got someone to help me with my colours a few years ago - sort of confirmed what I already knew but helpful nonetheless - and she described my style as 'creative-arty' which is what I think the OP is describing, though I am certain no one would remember what I had worn months later or describe with such admiration, sadly!

Seasalt have great fair isle stuff. I had a lovely cardi there last year.

Oh gosh I loved his mother,'s character Lady Lynley - played so beautifully by Nick Drake's sister, Gabrielle.

Likewise, I love the Seasalt A-line linen dresses but I wear the sleeveless one (Cresting Waves) as a pinafore over Seasalt Easel long sleeved t-shirt or a striped sailor top. They're really meant to be a sundress (ditto the Fat Face Lola A line linen dress) but I find that wearing as a pinafore over leggings and chunky lace up boots gets endless compliments! I look and feel dreadful in busy prints.

I'm 60 and I'm usually described as arty by those who know me. I seem to get compliments far more often now than I did when I was young so I presume I've grown into my style as I've aged.

Seasalt does tend to pop up if anyone mentions tunics

But there's far more to the look of my train lady than a single brand. She didn't look like a Seasalt shopper, exactly.
The tunic she wore functioned as a short dress, and it is a look I used to see often in the Lake District when someone wasn't hiking or out with their dogs. Natural fabrics, not very fashionable, prepared for the weather.

What I often see now with women my age and upwards is usually high street trends or sport/leisurewear. Women are enjoying clothes more than previously, although much of it appears to be led by influencers and celebs. So the lady on the train stood out to me, not because she looked unusual, but because she didn't conform to current cuts, or 'shapes'.
She wasn't trying to hide her bushy hair. If she popped onto mumsnet and took a photo of her hair as it is, she would have been given twenty ways to 'fix; it or have it re-styled. Many people might have told her it made her look old :(

To me, she had comfort in herself. And that stood out a mile. She didn't look stunning, wealthy, current or enviable. Nor did she look dated, old, untidy or down at heel. She looked lovely, at ease, and so interesting.

The look was more toned down than Cabbages and Roses, not quite as flouncy. Nothing was baggy but nothing was tight. The coat wasn't oversized. Her hair was natural and wavy but in good condition, with a touch of natural frizz. Her posture was fantastic and she seemed very active. She certainly didn't have the tv presenter look as nothing about her was childish. Just someone comfortable with their own choices and probably knew it worked well.

After a search I could see some of it from Follyology, scarf could be Plumo, tunic could be Mistral, boots could have been from Toast. They were also a touch muddy so probably didn't drive.
The look was slightly alternative but in a 'cottage full of books and a pet goat' kind of way as opposed to goth or rockabilly.

You're very good at assessing a look / style KibbeMe, and you clearly have an eye for detail. Ever thought about being a personal stylist-shopper?!

Love " pet goat kind of way ". 😁

Agree completely about elasticated waists....hideous!
I tried on a pair of Gabi trousers, couldn't work out why I looked so dreadful......then realised the waist. Bunching, unflattering, ill made, frumpy horrors. I like the reference to 'disgraced trousers'!

Elasticated waists are the new shoulder cut-outs. They totally ruin a garment.

Must be bloody marvelous to have a great figure, unlimited funds, shed loads of confidence.
Some of us just existing day to day.Including elasticated waists.

I'm sorry but I don't feel guilty about this thread, nor does it suppress your humanity for me to admire a lady on a train and her lovely, inexpensive clothes. Same goes for badly made garments with hideous waist elastic..

The Gabi Toast trousers with elasticated waist are £125. So avalilability or lack of funds isn't the issue

I have neither unlimited funds nor shed loads of confidence and I do wear linen trousers with elastication at the back but a flat front.
But I also like to dress well and invest in good quality clothing.

As to what constitutes a "great figure" - do you just mean being slim or are you including bosomy women with ample derriere? Great figure can mean anything.

I should hope that mumsnet is inclusive, which means support and chat for people of every body type. No one should be making anyone else feel guilty or ashamed of discussing a slim lady's clothes.
There is a plentiful supply of threads in S&B where women discuss larger bodies, happily sharing advice and ideas. Let's allow slim people, tall people, petite and muscular people to do that, too.

Must be bloody marvelous to have a great figure,

There's no need to have a great figure to be interested in clothes or to wear interesting clothes.

I hate the MN response to , well it feels like almost everything, "that will only look good if you're tall, thin and young"

It's nonsense. Even if I weren't confident about myself I trust the design teams behind the brands I love. I'm a 14 on a good day or a 16 on a bad. If they make their clothes in a 14 or a 16 or an 18 or a 20, they're not creating stock to languish unsold.