Style advice over 60

[quixote12]

Really struggling to get a style for the warmer months. I'm a casual person and jeans are my staple usually.
Am struggling to find my place with clothes more and more.
Anyone felt like this and how did you get your head around it?

I began to find jeans uncomfortable, too hot in summer and cold in winter. I still like jeans but prefer above the knee skirts, thick tights and boots in colder weather, so that's my new winter staple. Then in summer, I ditch the tights and boots wear thinner skirts Also, I'm at an age where I don't care if I'm trendy or what others think, which makes things much easier!

I'm very casual.
Mid 60s and 6 feet tall. I like wide leg trousers and a fitted top. Never wear skirts or dresses but quite like jumpsuits.
I've just bought some M and S wide leg cropped jeans in a couple of colours. I live in trainers.
I go nowhere that requires dressing up!!

I go for wide leg linen trousers in the summer and tend to wear alot more dresses.

I did a style analysis a few years ago and established I was a pear shape, and autumn. Think I always knew I was a pear since Trinny and Suzanne days, but it gave me more suggestions as to what suited me (and what to avoid), plus the autumn told me what colours to wear. (I filled in questionnaire with measurements, answered lots of questions, sent photos off etc).

Yes I would so love not to care!

Yes I'm thinking this too, need to keep legs covered really as they are not great! Wouldn't mind wide ish but some are too wide and not a good look on me

Have had my colours done which was just the best thing! A style analysis sounds good

I love a maxi dress in the summer. I don’t have good legs either, so they cover that up. Easy to wear, and you can dress them up or down. Especially good if you’re going for a meal, and don’t know quite what the dress code is!

It does get difficult as your body changes and personally I’m much more covered up than I used to be. Also heavier which doesn’t help, and now struggling with swollen ankles which is really annoying!
I do have several pairs of trainers in current shapes and colours, and working from the ground upwards, jeans and trousers in current and flattering shapes.
Short or tucked in tops don’t work for me any more, so I wear longer, looser jumpers and oversize shirts. I recently bought a leopard print shacket/ shirt and a dark denim boxy jacket which both look quite cool. I do always wear light makeup for definition and silver jewellery. Grooming is more important than it used to be- the slightly grungey look I used to wear just looks lame and dull on me now, and I’m finding slightly more minimalist styles work better. Colour is also more important to make sure I don’t look too washed out.
I am sad not to be able to look nice in short dresses and bare arms , but also grateful that there is such a huge choice if comfortable flat footwear available!

Style by Susie
https://styledbysusie.co.uk

Emily Innes
https://www.stylemehappy.co.uk

instragram -sites I follow

lisegilbertstylist

carolinestylehacks

fifty_and fab

I can’t cope with anything tight across my stomach since I hit 60. I wear a lot of plain COS poplin dresses with Birkenstocks or wedges (never gone out of fashion here 😉) and concentrate on jewellery/accessories.

also, the ubiquitous wide legged linen trousers.

I’m 60 I pretty much wear what I’ve always worn in summer. Loose floaty dresses and linen separates . I still wear shorts and a tee too . The only thing I don’t do now is vests / sleeveless as my arms aren’t great . There are so many nice oversized things around at the moment . Slouchy trousers with a T-shirt. Add an open linen shirt over if you want to . Natural fabrics . Simple Birkenstocks or a light trainer .

Thanks so much all! This is great 😊

Not sure I have any advice …

For myself I’ve always liked clothes that lend presence, and that hasn’t changed. I’m inclined to a high low approach - mostly buying the best I can afford or access, often via sales / pre-owned, and mixing with more ephemeral cheap things. (One of my most successful outfits was a Gembalies jacket from Vestiaire, Cos vest, and Primark joggers bought in a hurry away from home, worn with some handmade white clumpy sandals.)

I’m happy in trousers or a perfect dress but find skirts most exciting and am always on the lookout for designers that hit the mark. Currently love Margiela, Sofie D’Hoore, Zara, Margaret Howell. Since I ceased to require expensive black or grey suits for work I’ve become a bit obsessed with knitwear, so have too many colourful jumpers and not enough lightweight coats or jackets.

I’ve struggled a bit with the increasing casual-isation of dressing; I love wearing old rags at home but ‘smart casual’ is really not my natural position - so I do have to make a conscious effort to avoid dressing too formally in everyday life.

The thing that’s changed since I became 60 is that I’m much more conscious of building up a store of really beautiful clothes - against a day when I may have less ability to choose what I wear. Because MN has shown me exactly what people think is appropriate clothing for old people - and it’s extremely nasty.

I’m 55, so not quite in the right bracket for the thread, but in spring I like rolled up jeans with a leather jacket or khaki cotton jacket. Broderie blouses. Slouchy striped T-shirts from Cos or Arket. Bias cut skirts (I make these myself) with boxy Cos T-shirts. Or a vest (I like Arket ones) with a linen shirt (also Arket) worn open. On the warmest summer days, I have a couple of long loose cotton dresses (Zara and Marks). I’ve got a washed black denim jacket that I like with midi dresses (increasingly making these myself too).

Because MN has shown me exactly what people think is appropriate clothing for old people - and it’s extremely nasty.

Some of MN

MN introduced me to, amongst others, Klements, Casey Casey, Egg and Palava.

since I became 60 is that I’m much more conscious of building up a store of really beautiful clothes - against a day when I may have less ability to choose what I wear.

I'm 65 - I'm doing the same. Although unlike the OP I gave up jeans decades ago and I don't ever recall finding it difficult, at any age, to find clothes I love.

Trust me - no one on MN (except me) will be recommending your carers order Casey Casey or Klements clothes for you when you’re 95! It would all be Damart.

Ok almost all of MN !

As to where to shop/ what to buy- here's a starter
Frontiers

BlossomBlossomBlossom

I had my eye on this skirt and it sold out in days
Beams Boys denim skirt

And I want this

Beams Boys shirt

It has shocked me, actually, that even on S&B posters under maybe 45 assume that the elderly should only have access to actual rubbish to wear - because apparently formerly stylish and well dressed individuals lose all taste and discernment once past maybe 75 or 80. The things, the brands, posters recommend to people shopping for elderly relatives are utterly appalling. To me it would seem such a betrayal to put your parent in ugly cheap clothes simply because they’re not in a position to refuse. (And very old people look so wondrously grand in good clothes.)

Great skirt! I have something similar from a different source, also sold out long ago. The Beams shirt is pure Droopy & Browns!

As to where to shop … I still have screen shots of the many pages long list of sources helpful posters compiled from my ‘Demographics’ thread a few years ago. It’s pages long - and the memory of it always makes me scratch my head when OPs (particularly if mature) are invariably directed to the same half dozen High St brands no matter what their budget or tastes may be.

To be honest, a majority of the clothing recommended on here for people aged 20-45 is pretty awful too. Unimaginative and poor quality. Very often anything remotely interesting is derided as 'unfashionable' because it's not currently in M&S.

Am struggling to find my place with clothes more and more.
Anyone felt like this and how did you get your head around it?
I thought I'd focus on this part of your op rather than on what kind of things I wear or where I shop (although happy to do this later if you want).

So far (I'm 68) I've found it to be largely about my mindset. At times I've had to remind myself that I still matter, and that it's still worth my while hunting for clothes that make me actively want to get dressed as opposed to settling for, 'that'll do'.

It means I spend more time than I ever imagined possible just browsing the Internet. It means continuing to experiment. Sometimes it means trusting my own instincts and ignoring those who claim to know better. Sometimes it also means making mistakes, which is annoying as I don't have as much spare cash as before, but I choose to do that rather than stick to what's supposed to suit me (whatever that even means).

It helps that I'm just as obsessed with clothes as I ever was and still find the whole business fascinating and tremendous fun. And by the way, if you're no longer finding it fun then there's nothing at all wrong with stopping and doing something else with your time. Lots of my friends are perfectly happy with, 'That'll do', lead rich and fulfilling lives and probably think I'm a bit mad.

I'm 64 and now finding jeans uncomfortable, maybe my waist have thickened over the winter, I took early retirement, so my days are dog walking and gardening, if we go out ,its meals in a pub, but I do like to look nice, I spent years in retail so looking smart, I don't really do casual as I always feel scruffy when I try, so it was mainly jeans but now they feel uncomfortable I need to buy some trousers, I have summer midi dresses and midi skirts. And I don't mind short skirts in winter with tights.

I’m 60 and having lost a couple of stone I thought I would be wearing different clothes for summer but have found it really difficult to find anything I like so will probably spend the summer in cropped jeans and linen shirts as always. I’m not fond of dresses as I have big boobs which dresses just hang off, I don’t own any skirts so that’s it for me. Let’s just wear the same look I’ve worn for the last decade.

I find winter dressing much easier. Summer is definitely a challenge and wide legs don't suit me, I prefer straight leg. I recently discovered these and bought two pairs; beige and navy Linen-blend joggers - Regular waist - Long - Light beige - Ladies | H&M GB and wore them on a city break in Spain last month. I rolled them up slightly and wore with flat sandals and a shirt with vest top underneath