Help! Sudden realisation that I am frumpy!

[EnfysDilys]

Oh Lord, I need some style advice!
I was waiting at the checkout in Next earlier, and had this sudden realisation that I’m 50 and frumpy!
I seem to be wearing the ‘slightly overweight in my 50’s’ uniform of a seasalt type jersey top and trousers.
I haven’t changed my hair or make up in years (shoulder length with a fringe) and I just look tired and worried all the time!
What can I do Style Gurus! I’m not ready to be frumpy!

Last time I looked in Next I was disappointed. Loads of massive floral dresses and not much else

Same! 👵🏻 At 55 I realised I had dozens of Seasalt tunics in lots of lovely colours and prints but all the same style / length worn with skinny jeans and boots/pumps for colder or warmer weather! Got sick of the sight of myself! It’s now all under the bed as I discovered M&S palazzo jeans with a shirt / jumper tucked in at the front as my typical go to style and I love it! People have said I look 15 yesrs younger! 😍 so now it’s wide leg jeans and a nice brightly coloured top or T-shirt / jumper for day to day and black or indigo palazzo jeans with a pretty top for going out - for example M&S do a fab metallic knit in khaki or cream worn with a cami under and chunky jewellery, and Horizons Lountains a French brand do some gorgeous knits at really fab prices that are a bit unusual, and love Oliver Bonas knits too. I’m excited about shopping and getting dressed up again. Nice bags, jewellery and coloured pumps - Marco Tozzi do a bright pink for example. I’m a 10/12 and 5’3” so not long limbed in the slightest and often prone to frumpiness, but a change in jeans and tucking in at the front with a nice belt has boosted me more than I could have imagined. Hair done, make up done, I was exactly the same as you OP and loved Seasalt but feel so much better in myself for ditching the tunics. Good luck! Xx

I'm eyeing the printed tops in my wardrobe up with some suspicion now....I need a refresh.

I had a throwout of tops and replaced them with a couple of boyfriend shirts and three more I haven't worn yet. Bought new leggings, trousers can stay.

I didn't spend a lot was a big change for me so tried temu clothes for the first time.

I’m in my 60s and just wear basics really .
I am maybe a bit plain but not usually 😆frumpy .
i tend to veer towards Bretons / stripe tops and wide but not too wide leg linen trousers and a pair of sneakers 👟.
i also have some nice woven cotton tops and taper leg linen trousers too which are way more flattering than you’d think .
I have things in my wardrobe like a navy and a camel trenchcoat , really nice camel and navy cardigans for layering if needed .
I get my brows tidied when i get my hair cut and coloured which is every 6/8 weeks , I have it a bit shorter than shoulders and a few layers as it’s wavy plus a sort of long side swept fringe not a full fringe as the styling and upkeep is a bit much .
I wear sunscreen daily and a hat on sunny spring and summer days if I’m going to be out for long

i don’t do Botox , fillers, any tweakments at all I can’t afford them and I’m not sure I want that aesthetic in any case .
yes I do have a few frumpy poorly chosen items too which I thought were a good idea at the time 😉

I think Pilates will help. And a good hair cut. Skechers are fine, honestly, it’s all about context.. if you love Skechers, wear them. But with some clarity of colour and shape in your clothing, good posture, perfume, and a nice handbag.( Whatever you do don’t go tacky and get false nails and drawn on eyebrows. )

My hairdresser does nails so I get a simple manicure and pedicure in the winter, just nail protector polish. But I am splashing out on gel toenails in the summer. Coral shade last week.

I've always worn big straw hats in the summer for shade but like a bit of vitamin D on my body. Supposed to be good for us.

I think a light tan does look healthily attractive. Bought some Dove gradual tan which was nice before this lovely weather set in.

I'm 62 and feel and look like a dumpy mess. It doesn't help that I have huge boobs so can't wear anything very fitted or drawn in at the waist.
My uniform was jeans but now they won't do up and I'm not going to go up a size.
Everything I wear comes from H and M or Next.

Diet starts today!

I think it’s possible to wear printed tops within certain limitations. They usually look best when fitted or semi-fitted and with a limited colour palette including a neutral shade to match the rest of the outfit. My personal guide is two colours fine, three probably OK, more than three best avoided.

So for example, a black and white top with a black jacket & white bottoms is a classic combination that works in different styles. A floral top with no neutral colour is much, much harder to style well.

I've noticed a huge difference since turning 60 a few years ago. I'd always thought I'd breeze through my 60s, as I had my 50s. Facially that's pretty much the case, but not bodily! Little issues with feet, joints and circulation that I've had all my life have worsened, meaning I have to be really careful with footcare and shoes or I can't walk for a week. Hence the trainers.

My colouring, which was dark hair/pale skin, isn't so high contrast any more, so intense colours can look garish rather than cheerful or dramatic. Softer colours, which I might previously have dismissed as boring, now look much better on me.

As the smoothing effect of collagen recedes, my body shape (long legs, small bum, not much waist, big chest) has kind of exaggerated - legs thinner, butt disappeared, middle thicker, boobs bigger. It takes a lot of work with exercise and diet to maintain some kind of visual balance. And tbh if I hadn't married a younger man, I probably wouldn't try so hard to do so😅

So I'd just say, enjoy your 50s while you can OP, cos biology catches up with us all sooner or later! I think @J23 has some good suggestions.