Googled ‘outfits for a 50 year old woman’ and it did not end well. Lost weight and my way- intervention needed

[Donewiththisshit]

I’ve lost nearly 3 stone and can finally wear all the things I never had the confidence to do before. Only thing is my previous style (wide leg trousers, long trench, classic thin jumper), that took years to work out no longer suits me. I googled outfits for a 50 year old woman and good lord.
I’m nearly 50, size 12, want to be on trend but classy.
Where do I shop, who do I follow, what is even in fashion?
What are you all wearing?

Find people to follow on Instagram. I'm early 50s and my favourite is thesilverkat. I love absolutely everything she wears. I'd also need to lose a bit of weight to look good in most of it though!

I like Nerys on Tiktok. She is more into advising women not to dress too old for 50's and over.

I agree with this. Wear what you want to. There’s a local clothes boutique to me where the owner makes her own clothes as well as sells brands, such as Object, Second Female, Selected and YAS which I sometimes buy but her own clothes are very Japanese or Vivienne Westwood in style which isn’t really me - nice fabric and designs.

I must admit things I’ve bought recently have been a thick plain French navy jumper, or v neck black jumper (the moths got that) or a black, ecru, brown end green horizontal wide striped slightly cropped roll neck mohair mix jumper (Object) and a black and white polka dot blouse/shirt.

Congratulations on the weight loss and associated health benefits. Good for you!

Finding your style:

• Use Pinterest to make up inspiration boards of stuff you like. See what comes up again and again - you will visually see the colours/styles/combos that you are drawn to.
• Find quality influencers that you feel an affinity with. Midlifechic and WearsMyMoney are both quality blogs with authenticity and integrity. Both are women in their 50s with different styles and approaches but inspiring and interesting. Midlife chic has step-by-step guides to building a capsule wardrobe.
• Personal stylist service is free at John Lewis. Worth booking to try on lots of different looks. Or take a trusted, stylish friend with you to a big store and try on lots of things.
• Book an appointment at Bobbi Brown, Mac or Charlotte Tilbury to get a refresh on your make up. You don’t have to buy anything from them but a professional’s fresh take on what works for you now will be iusedul

Shops to look at:

• Everywhere. You will find good pieces in most places.That said though…
• As I have aged I found better quality and fewer purchases work better for me. This season I have purchased two cashmere jumpers in Navy and Oatmeal from M&S and a bomber jacket from Baukjen.
• Don’t forget good underwear. Bravissimo - both fitting and product - is excellent.
• Especially recommended and in no particular order: Baukjen, M&S, Me+Em, Hush, John Lewis, Whistles, Mint Velvet, Office, Next, River Island. Think cost per wear. Keep an eye on sales and sign up for newsletters to get the best savings and access to sales/special offers first. Tu from Sainsbury’s do incredible leggings and good quality basic T shirts. New Look do surprisingly good cheap jeans. Small, independent brands and boutiques are worth browsing too.

Enjoy finding new clothes you love, don’t save anything “for best”, and dress for YOU, not your age.

How about going to a real bricks and mortar shop? Ideally somewhere that does lots of different brands and styles. Pick up anything that takes your fancy and either try them on there or take them home to try on.

You can look online forever but until you see something on your body you won't know what looks good AND what is comfortable for you. Once you've got an idea of this, then you'll know what to focus on when you search online.

Enjoy finding new clothes you love, don’t save anything “for best”, and dress for YOU, not your age.

I agree with that. I disagree with the advice about finding your body shape/ finding your colours.

I don't follow influencers but of the influencers mentioned thesilvercat is good. She is punting this linen skirt which I've got my eye on.
Kindred of Ireland

It's all subjective but I'm 65 and I wouldn't wear any of Midlifechic's dreary suggestions.

I’m really grateful for all the responses. I’m not sure why wide legged trousers don’t look right anymore but I feel like they drown me and no longer suit my shape- perhaps I’ll try again in my new size.
It has been really helpful having recommendations for people to follow- I’m not good in insta and couldn’t find any of these people myself. Keep them coming!

Unless wide leg trousers are cut really well, they can really swamp you. Having lost a lot of weight I am much more intolerant of swathes of fabric now, whereas I used to embrace that. Now I need much more tight fitting things otherwise they look like they are wearing me.

I think it’s probably just that you need a couple of new pairs in smaller sizes oP.

A 12 is a lovely size to be at your stage of life ( and well done!); but it doesn’t cry out for short skirts or tight tops or trousers- even though some may look great.

ETA bootleg can be a reslkg houd compromise, especially if fitted through the thigh. Would that be worth trying?

If thr

I googled and got this 👀👀👀😬😬😬 but my FB suggests Vivienne Westwood for me 😂😂😂

Google outfits for 40 year old women instead, much better ideas there

Wow, I just tried Googling and......yikes! 😬
Lots of shapeless jeans, 'sensible' jackets and those really layered haircuts that are touted as youthful but really just make you look middle aged.
Best case scenario plain classic bottoms, plain classic tops and plain classic coats.

Personally I'm 52 , size 8/10 after losing tons of weight and I love quirky patterns, bright colours, retro, vintage, goth, boho depending on the day!
I find Vinted really helpful for finding your style. Not even buying things, just window shopping, favouriting things and letting it pick things i might like. I've come across some interesting brands that way!

I'm 63 and I would never buy anything from toast. I'd look like a bag lady. I need more close fitting structured clothes. Anything baggy is a disaster.
You tend to see toast clothing on older people here in Glastonbury to hide weight gain along with a straw hat and birkenstocks. It's not a good look.
It's the Glastonbury equivalent of the flowery dress, denim jacket and white trainers combo in other counties.
I like summer blazers, straight leg trousers, casual tees or breton tops, loafers, wigh nice accessories. I only ever wear things that suit my shape. I can't do wide leg trousers sadly. I like them, my legs don't.

I’m now wearing barrel legged jeans - a Breton having changed from work.
Today at work I had meetings in Parliament so wore olive green wide legged trousers, a black silk camisole top (high necked and ‘sturdy’ and a black blazer with bright orange / purple / blue NB trainers.
my casual clothes are barrel legged trousers / jeans sometimes cropped, tees (always cropped and boxy) or a vest/ cami / Breton. I have a few sweatshirts, big oversized linen or silk shirts and very few ‘jumpers’ as they don’t look nice on me.
I have a few interesting silk jackets (Sophie darling is my favourite - but was $$)
I wear trainers / docs / Birkenstocks.
I am 52, 5’9 and in ok shape.

How tall are you and what body shape? If you liked your old 'uniform' you might just need to tweak the style a bit to suit your new shape - e.g. tapered instead of wide leg trousers. Tell us and we can have fun styling you!

@aysat_official on insta!

I've lost 17 kg & generally wear very similar clothes as I wore before, but in smaller sizes. The main exception is I'm wearing shorter jackets, instead of a longer trench. And trousers that fit my hips better.

I follow Melissa Murrell & Invest In Style & occasionally buy their recommendations. Recent successes have been Zara khaki joggers in linen & cotton from Melissa Murrell. They fit really well, as I'm getting a little bored with wide leg linen pants.

Silver Kat is also naturally a very stylish & cool dresser. I've bought on her recommendation a Zara cotton lace edged vest as a useful pretty basic..

I can’t take style advice from a woman with a haircut and colour like that. Desolee.

Nasty and uncalled for, we should be celebrating and empowering older women

By telling them how not to be frumpy? Is this empowering to older women? Hm. I don’t think so.

Haha just looked her up and I love her!

My mother st 85 rocks any .modern wide leg trousers because she is rake slim with small hips and she's 6 foot tall.
I,m slim but 5 foot 5 and look awful in them, I'm too short and too pear shaped which doesn't suit these trousers. Straight legged trousers look great. Wear what suits your shape.

My God! Some of these suggestions are throughly depressing!

I'm mid 50s, 5ft 9" size 12 & i buy my clothes from:

Me+em
Ba&sh
Maje
Sandro
Sezane
Wolf & Badger
M&s (super selective here)
Italian boutiques (visit annually)
The Kooples
COS (puffa coat & cashmere hat & gloves)
The VERY odd thing from Zara as quality not great

I buy in sales & vinted & in outlets on occasion

I wear limited edition Hoff trainers, boots from ba&sh & maje, loafers from Toast, heels from Che Mihari & Mara Bini

I used to buy a lot from Whistles but haven't in years now as they've really lost their way & it's all very staid now.

I buy expensive things (for me, I know there's far more expensive out there!) & I know what suits my body type & I keep things for years.

There's a WORLD of beautiful clothes out there & I would not limit myself to a uniform of stretchy wide legged trousers.

I would never wear that uniqulo outfit either but appreciate that we all have our own styles

Vinted is a cost effective way to experiment.
i have a wardrobe app where I post screenshots of outfits I like.
i know what colours suit me and I’m leaning to a more classic but edgy style. I’ve also started to wear more of a uniform, trousers, top, jacket which helps.
embrace your new clothing freedom!