My clothes are aging me - please help?

[Nifty50something]

The other day someone mistook me for being over 60 when I'm actually in my early 50s. I asked a good friend about it and she said it's because my clothes are aging me. I've never followed fashion and tend to just wear what's comfortable, shop second hand or from m&s, etc. But I'd like to try to update my look.

I've been wearing:

1. Cropped jeans with zips to make them tapered
2. Black cigarette trousers tapered at the ankle
3. Midi dresses with nice patterns (not flower patterns but more aztec or palm print).

Are any of the above items still ok or are they all frumpy? Any links to things you've bought and love? What are the trends now (I think barrel leg trousers, denim jackets or cropped trench jackets, pink...also waistcoats without a top underneath which I wouldnt wear but could wear one over a top if that would work)?

Nothing wrong with looking 60 but I'm just not there yet and would prefer to look my age!

Like the last outfit,
the blue dress is frumpy
Jeans in first outfit are ok but top is very old fashioned, wear a T-shirt or shirt tucked in instead, I would also get rid of the blue nail polish, it’a not flattering, wear something like an orangey red colour to add a bit of a pop

You look lovely! But I liked the palm print dress so what do I know.

Im 45 and stuck in skinny jeans and Breton tops so should probably be shot on sight.

I suspect you should probably have tried a size down in those jeans ...

(God, we are sounding brutal here, sorry LOL - but you do seem to embrace it)

And the jumper with the jeans is another candidate for the charity bag, I'm afraid.

@Nifty50something Smart casual trousers- look at Boden and their Richmond trousers. Straight leg. Or their Westbourne ones- wider.

I'm 53 and I wear a waistcoat like that buttoned up with just underwear paired with wide leg trousers or jeans.

You see this is the problem asking a bunch of strangers… the blue dress is not frumpy but to look modern it needs the right shoe. I’d think a flat sandal rather than a wedge.

As for other trousers I quite like M&S although you need to steer clear of the really cheap ones. £39 and above and the quality is better. Not sure if you’re a linen person or not but these were the first ones that came up. They’re not too wide but they have a little bit of slouch.

www.marksandspencer.com/linen-blend-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60728601#intid=pid_pg1pip48g2r10c2

I’ve been following the thread with interest.

Re. jeans and particularly the M&S wide leg ones recommended on here, is there a particular colour that is aging? I tend to go for dark, indigo but maybe that is aging 🤔 (my teenagers wouldn’t dream of wearing that colour!).

Have a look at The White Company.
Lots of trousers, tops, knitwear.

You are sticking to ridgidly to ‘your colours’ surely there must be others brighter more lively colours that suit you, stay away from brown especially the ones you are leaning towards as they are not attractive

Get some basic striped t shirts / tops as they would be good options to wear with jeans and skirts, when wearing them with jeans do the half tuck where they are tucked in at the front and out at the back

Get some delicate strappy flat sandals in gold or tan to wear for the summer

The dress shows you have a waist!

The problem with your other clothes is that they hide your figure.

That jumper with the jeans is doing you no favours. It's not a nice fabric (sorry) and hides your waist so your whole shape just looks like a rectangle.
And it makes you look overweight and dumpy.

The dress makes you look slim.

Why not try a white fitted T shirt tucked in? And a belt on the jeans?

Or at least a top that sits above your hips and has some shape to it?

The new jeans are a 10 short and pretty tight at the waist. I really don't think I could have squeezed into an 8 without a serious muffin top.

I'll change my nail polish later today. I love Essie Rock the Runway and I feel like it would probably be approved of.

In terms of the brutality it's absolutely fine. Some of the comments are slightly "ouch" but more than made up for by the amount of help I'm receiving and the nice compliments about my figure. I really can't thank everyone enough.

I do think dark indigo in jeans can be dull and aging, much lighter jeans are in, especially for summer with t shirts / shirts

I love this thread, MN at its best!

Can I be really brutal? Your photos make you look as if you have quite chunky , short legs. That's fine, but you might look better in a jean that is tighter on the thigh and then flares below the knee. The ones you're wearing make your legs look quite hefty all the way down (but I know it's a photo and not real life.)

I'd re-think the 'brown' - it rarely flatters anyone and you might look much fresher in brighter colours or tone on tone other shades - like blues, greens, purple, black with grey and white.

Another thing that is worth thinking about @Nifty50something is that finding a local person who does great alterations (ask for recommendations on a local forum) can make a huge difference to clothes.

A little nip here, a tuck there, so something fits you perfectly can transform something that you liked the fabric/colour/general shape of but felt it was a bit frumpy.

Love the new jeans on you op, and you've influenced me to get some tomorrow.

As for the blue dress, honestly if you love it and feel good in it, wear it. You can update it as pp have said with accessories and the right shoes.

I'm loving this thread so much 😁

Did you try the jeans in a larger size? I think maybe they would hang better as wide leg jeans that way. Although in M&S there is no consistency in sizing at all, and you did well to find a short length!

In the photo of the blue dress, you can clearly see where your little waist nips in. You do have a really lovely figure. In the photo with the jumper and jeans, the jumper is quite loose fitting and goes straight down over that lovely little waist and ends right where the jeans widen, which completely hides your figure and just makes you look like everything is a bit baggy and ill fitting. I can't actually tell how well the jeans fit (are they still slightly big maybe??) but if you had a jumper that cut off just below the waistband of the jeans it would completely change your shape and show off your waist. If the jumper also had longer sleeves it would look more current.

I hope this makes sense - it's meant very kindly :)

Let's have a look at your new jeans with a fitted top, @Nifty50something ... front and back views.

Also must just say that you sound like a lovely person OP and I think you have a fab attitude, I hope by the end of this thread you have the wardrobe of your dreams and tons of options for how to style it!

Thats a cool outfit. Im trying to find a really oversized double breasted blazer like you. Ive got the tight fitted tops and the high waisted wide legs trousers and gazelles - just need the blazer. But im a 10, but 5'10' and nothing has that 'wearing a blokes blazer' look Im going for. I want it really big boxy and below my arse and actually fitting my arms for a change. Maybe I should get a mans.

Try some slim-fitting, lower necked T shirts and tops.

You would suit scoop necked T shirts that fit your body like the top half of the blue dress.

Have you ever been into Mint Velvet shops?

They are some lovely things there at the moment and very different to what you wear. Lots of cream, black, some bright pink and orange.
Take a look at their website.

Lovely figure OP and great improvement 👏.

The shoes aren't great, maybe something softer would help, or even just lighter colours than the black.

The palm dress is fine as on the model, (pic pending) but looks busy and clunky on you because of the waistcoat and shoes. Might need taking up too.

Love the jeans and the blue dress shows off your figure.

Mutton dressed as lamb has more fun that mutton dressed as mutton though! You should be able to wear what you like at any age.