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!

They do look better in that second photo.

Jeans look so much better pulled up! But I see you have found yet another just above elbow length cardi 😍

Definitely an improvement but I would pull the top out a bit ( still tucked in) so it is a bit baggier around the waist area ( or else but a looser striped top) and put a light tan thinner belt with it to lighten up the look

Op whatever you did with the jeans they look much better in the 2nd photo.I really like them.Look much better with the belt and tucked in t shirt too. Nice nails too.Would you try your jeans with the white broderie anglais (sic?) shirt you own too?I'd chuck an oversized black blazer over your stripey t shirt if you needed to smarten it up.
Like this one : https://www.marksandspencer.com/relaxed-single-breasted-blazer/p/clp60715714?color=BLACK&extid=psps-pla-pmax_gglwwch-UK--CrossBUStores&gclsrc=aw.ds&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=22492993877&gclid=CjwKCAjwpDBBhBMEiwAmY02NrY5y2QbRvCeFq848b6nnq6cddYT6Y4N2T31TBCnruH5SZtR05TDyRoCg-MQAvDBwE
Edited to add link.

Cardigan and belt are very old fashioned looking, and too dark, lighter colours are more youthful, in general cardigans are not in fashion anymore except for a few exceptions

OP, regarding smart trousers for workwear, I got these from Uniqlo and they are so comfortable and really smart in a low key way. Unbelievable quality for the price!

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E460311-000/00

You look great in your new jeans, by the way!

Agree with the nails, the red is much better
A couple of slim gold fitted bangles would also add a bit of oomph if the OP has the budget at the moment, they are handy as they can be worn with all outfits so a good investment

@Nifty50something yes pull your jeans up! They look so much better in the second recent photo (but lose the cardi)

Can I suggest you go back and look at the photo of the blue dress on it's own again? Can you see how tiny your waist is at the slimmest part? You have a lovely figure, try to pull the eye to that waist point, even if it feels like yer trews are too high!

Loads better OP, The blue dress is brilliant screaming older to me though, I think its how it flares at the bottom but if you love it then keep it. For work I tend to nice jeans or trousers (both wide fit) with smart blouses

I like those trousers very very much!

Today on this glorious sunny day I’m wearing wide white linen trousers, a contrasting linen top and a pale green denim jacket that I’ve pimped on the back with appliqué flowers. On my feet I’m wearing espadrilles because the trousers are too long for my usual trainers. I’ve had several compliments which is nice. I’m 72.

Love the high waisted jeans OP.
It's also how you carry yourself, so remember to wear them high and walk with confidence.

I think anything with fussy prints is quite aging (as informed by my son!).

Stripes are okay I find.

Try to find your most flattering colours if you can - hold up some clothing items or material to your face and check for a ‘glow’!
You’ll know immediately if a colour looks really bad on you!
If you do love the colour (but it doesn’t love you!), try wearing a T-shirt underneath in a colour that does flatter you.

If you’re autumn colouring OP, and you like dark rich colours, you’re in luck because ‘bitter chocolate’ shades are everywhere. Chocolate brown looks great with light blue (inc denim), pink as well as creams and beiges (also everywhere)!

Jeans are so much better hoiked up.
Belt would be better in brown.
Cardigan is a big no-no, sorry.

They aren’t - sorry.

they’re still not fitting / paired right but are for the most park ok as separates.

apart from the top with the brown trousers. That’s very outdated.

The only sort of cardigan that works well with those jeans has a v neck, quite low, possibly fluffy, short ish, worn done up as a top.

There seem to be several different Insta accounts called The Style Edit. Could you show which one you mean please?

I think your clothes look fine @Nifty50something . The camera angle is off.
You need a better bra. I'd bin the breton top.

Can anyone recommend wide trousers that aren’t linen or denim? I’m up for giving them a go but my legs are really short and chubby. Linen ones stretch at the knees and denim stands out too much.

I'm 4' 9". Sorry, but why can't you wear linen or denim?

Linen ones stretch at the knees and denim stands out too much. Like the legs are too stiff and bulky.

Looking back at your pics, I’d ditch all the elbow length things-they really don’t do you justice. There is a lot of broderie around in the shops but that blouse is elbow plus those horrid scallops on the sleeves. Longer sleeves would be better in a blouse/shirt-just roll up the sleeves to bracelet length if you don’t want full length.

The jeans look far better in the second picture-but I think theyre not quite the right cut-when you hoik them up, they look too short. Go into all the shops and try on until you find a proper high waist that fits without any hoiking and hang properly on your feet. Also, the belt looks like an old biker’s belt from the seventies. Lighter and thinner would suit you better I liked that skirt and trainers on you, suits your shape.

This photo is better. It would be even better if you ditched the knitted jacket - the sleeve length is really ageing - go for 3/4 sleeves or long and push back a bit. The top would look better if it were V neck or scoop neck.

One way to disguise an imbalance in proportions is to have your top and trousers in the same or similar colours - avoid too much contrast between the two. Then add an unbuttoned jacket in a different colour - 3/4 or long sleeves and no shorter than hip length.

I don’t think those jeans are high rise enough. As you’ve just mentioned and others have observed, you have shorter legs in relation to your body length. The way to elongate your legs is to have super high rise. Check out the ribcage Levi’s, they come in a variety of cuts and colours with a 12 inch rise meaning that these should hopefully finish at the thinnest part of your waist. https://www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/clothing/women/jeans/loose-jeans/ribcage-wide-leg-jeans/p/A60810020. Idk if these are too pricey but that’s the sort of rise I’d be looking for.