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!

Op you were asking about clothes for work. I had seperate work clothes on rotation which worked for me.I'm 5ft 4 and 9.4 stone.
Black M&S barrel trousers and a pair of their wide legged black trousers
Striped navy and white /red and white knits (Mine are Cos, Zara), or plain oversized shirt.
Black M&S flat ballerinas/Mary Janes in summer.
3 simple dresses longer -all from sainsburys, hush (vinted), zara (vinted).Worn with black boots in winter/ballet flats summer.
Black oversized blazer chucked over if cold.
Small gold hoops in ears
In winter shorter skater style dresses (mine are asda and sainsburys so cheap and cheerful), black opaque tights and DMs -you already have the shoes for this.
Having these just for work meant I didn't have to think about what to wear and felt put together with little effort.

I’m your age and I’m mostly wearing wide leg trousers and jeans with preppy shirts, tank/vest tops and camis. My colour scheme has shifted to neutrals and pinks (although my ‘season’ says I should be wearing bright colours I’ve ditched these and moved to mainly cream and navy).
I’m shopping in Ba&Sh, Me and Em, Rixo, Sezanne,Ganni, Joseph, Zara. I’ve got some Gucci/Prada/Celine/max mara pieces from vinted and yesterday got some lovely linen bits in H and M.
my 18 year old daughter frequently steals my clothes and I’m getting a lot of compliments lately so I think I’m getting it a bit right.

Adding to my previous posts...I will never stop wearing my Levis denim jacket.I am 52 and ditching that is a step too far to try and stay current!

OP you look a million times better.. try a top with those jeans that you can tuck in at least at the front to show your waist a little. A stripy baggy shirt might look good!

5 ft 9

You look gorgeous in that palm print dress! You have a lovely figure.
I love Toast linen. Just bought a pair of trousers from there. I'm early 50s.

This sounds exciting! What sort of things are you choosing?

I'm also early 50s and just wear a version of what I've always worn tbh but with tweaks for my age.
Summer - shorts either denim or cotton (usually below knee as my legs aren't great) with t-shirts/tops from various places: John Lewis, Next, White Stuff etc. In cooler weather I'll wear jeans or thin cords with the above with a cardi or jacket if needed.
Or long patterned thin trousers with smarter tops from work.
Shoes - trainers or simple sandals. I don't really do heels at all.
I very rarely wear a dress or skirt, I don't think I own a skirt, but I do wear tunics and leggings in the colder months and I will wear a dress if it's hot/to go to a function.
Your outfit of dress, waistcoat and the shoes is aging to be honest. I'd drop the waistcoat and get more fashionable shoes.

If you like comfy shoes try Vibae. They look great with trousers/jeans and are so nice to wear.

I love the DM Mary Jane’s and wear them often, but only in winter with thick black tights and short cord pinafore dresses or similar.

The green dress is awful, sorry. The blue one looks fab on you, and the new jeans are a big improvement, but the cream jumper you have paired them with is ageing you by about 20 years.

I am 60 and wear no patterns at all aside from some vertical stripes. I wear navy, black, blue, white, burgundy and cherry red. Plus a camel coat and raincoat. Shoes are boots and DMs in winter, Birkenstocks in summer, and trainers, loafers or ballerinas in between. Absolutely no heels. I suspect I look fairly similar to @CoubousAndTourmalet

I agree with PP that you need a capsule wardrobe, and less is more. I would get all my old clothes on Vinted and sell them to help finance some new choices. Some things just don’t date. Levi’s 501s, a black leather jacket, plain t shirt or collared cotton shirt. DM boots. I don’t wear midi dresses, they look frumpy on me.

I suit a more tailored look, and suspect you might too.

Have fun with your new look!!

I quite like the brown skirt with the trainers but that blue jacket doesn't go with it colour wise. Tbh I'm not sure what would.
I wouldn't worry about sticking to 'your colours' it seems a bit drab. My colours are the ones that make me feel good, sometimes bright red, green or pink, other days pure black and white.... Who cares what some chart has told me!
I would suggest a couple of black and white striped t shirts in your wardrobe, they go with anything. Tuck in your t shirts or buy waist length ones. Also barrel/balloon leg trousers are excellent, on trend and give a slim looking waist.
Definite no to anyone that has suggested a wedge heel, it's instantly ageing I think.
Birkenstock Arizonas are fashionable at the mo for a casual look. I think colour blocking or wearing all the same bold colour or monochrome looks good but pastels do not.
I also see you wear glasses, perhaps go for something a bit more statement if you want to look more put together. Cubitts do a great range, bold but not crazy!
I'd like to add Oliver Bonas and Anthropologie to the list of shops others have mentioned too.
Good luck... It's a journey finding out who you are clothes wise but I'm sure you'll get there in the end 🙂

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1278036004.html

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1217576018.html

Go for a line dresses with a waist to give you more definition. H&M is good for inexpensive, current dresses in lots of different prints. You can still wear your beloved palm print but in a more modern cut! 😀

https://www.fitflop.com/uk/en/

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su414534/aa0938#aa0938

Perfect for work with a jacket

https://www.next.co.uk/shop/brand-theset-0?p=1#834.8444213867188

All of these are designed to go together perfectly, they're all neutral basics.

The waistcoat is too long and the dress is too short. I would wear ankle socks with those shoes. The neckline and sleeves are quite masculine and I think a more feminine style would work better. The palm print itself I think is ok, it’s more the style of the dress that isn’t the greatest.

I agree try some wide leg trousers maybe, keep the shoes

@Jumpingsausage

its only your opinion. Lots of people care about fashion and it doesn’t make them stupid. So you’re wrong.

I wouldn't hold out too much hope of getting good advice in John Lewis. I saw a personal shopping person last year with the simple request to find me a nice summer dress for an informal lunch with old school friends. The items she came back with were what Hyacinth Bucket would have chosen for one of her soirees.
Eventually I found a very nice blue French Connection dress for myself and asked her what she would suggest as a jacket. She was adamant I needed a white leather jacket with it. Eventually l found an ecru denim style cropped jacket in Next which looked exactly right. I arrived to see her in clothes from Hush, seh wanted me in Hobbs and Jacques Vert! I felt insulted.

By popular demand...

I tried it without the scarf but it was kinda dull!

So, you're quite long in the body vs. leg length ... getting to 'general principles', I would be avoiding high necks and going for a deep scoop or v-neck to break that top half up a bit.

Also ... bra shopping needed. (No judgement, desperately needed here too LOL.)

Well I've heard of her but not really took much notice. Never watched her films.
So no non the wiser I'm afraid.
I suppose Grease was more a movie for my generation - I haven't seen that either!

I think those jeans are billed as high waisted, if they're the ones linked earlier, but they don't look it?

They dont look high waisted there and have the same issues as the others- they look to hang too low.

The scarf is not needed.

Agree re bra intervention required. You might be wearing too large a banding?

OP, can you see the sleeves on that striped top are the same frumpy length as the cream jumper? Just above Elbow length is really ageing.

Jeans really are a matter of trying loads on, so individual, but I'm not convinced those are quite right for you.

They're high waisted. I probably just needed to pull them up a little bit.

Very well observed about leg/torso proportions @WinWhenTheyreSinging!
I learned that when shopping for a bicycle - I was advised to buy a men's bike for that reason!