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!

That's handy! You must love Cotton Traders.

I’m in my early 30ies and wear midi dresses. I’ve worn a few of them over these last two weeks. Some with stripes, one with flowers, a plain pink one and dresses with various other patterns.

I don’t think they’re necessarily frumpy.

edit: I have mistakenly assumed that I am wearing midi dresses. Apparently most of mine are “knee-covering” but not “midi” yet. Who would have thought 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I am mid 50’s, quite tall.
I wore wide leg jeans in the 90’s, absolutely loved them. When boot cuts came out I was not happy, but did wear them.
Just can’t wear them this time around, they make me feel like a battle ship.
Wear dark straight-legged ones these days.
Just because something is fashionable doesn’t mean it will suit you. Of course, it’s great to update things but your shape really matters.
(For interest, I watched an old episode of Waterloo Road recently - circa 2010. The clothes looked awful! Tank tops over silky blouses, tent dresses over leggings, long chunky plastic necklaces. Lest we forget 😂)

You must be tall. I'm 5ft 4 and midi dresses hit just at 'granny has a basket of eggs for you' height

Drop the aztec and palm prints - keep them plain. Avoid florals and big prints generally. stripes are better. Polka dots are also ok depending on the style of the top - nothing too flouncy.

The cig trousers are quite aging - go for a a straighter leg or a wider, flowing leg (not trendy level wide, mind). Avoid black - try navy instead. Its less harsh and anonymising. Joggers/pants with a side stripe are good. e.g. https://www.boden.com/products/kew-side-stripe-trousers-navy-red-stripe

Have you thought about getting your colours done? It makes a huge difference. Also I think blue/green type of colour nail polishes are very aging. Go for a clean girl look either some length.

I also agree with the jeans. H&m has some lovely wide legs brown and black jeans which are super flattering.

These comments are so depressing… has everyone been infected by the same virus? “ Flattering” is not a style and our bodies are not problems needing to be fixed. These Trinny & Susannah era “rules” don’t help anyone find their own style it just helps them assimilate with the rest of the clones.

I'm late replying and I know this may be hurtful but those jeans don't really fit well IMO.

It's hard to say why but they are not flattering.

The legs look wide but not in a good way and they make you look dumpy.

EDITED- the jeans look better when they are pulled up in the next photo.

Otherwise they look like builders' jeans that are slung on the hips but not in a good way.

You don't need a fancy scarf with a stripy Breton T shirt.

It's over-kill. And a high neck and a scarf together make you look as if you're being choked.

It depends what you mean by midi.

My longer dresses are mid calf and about 4 inches above the ankle.

I'm 5 3" size 8.

Regarding shoes-don’t buy Skechers or Fitflops if you don’t want to look older! If you need arch support, just buy an insole.

Yeah but this is one of those ironic fashions. So ugly they are cool. And to pull this off you need to be carrying off a certain look. Any regular combo of clothing in ms average that included these capris would look bad.

Does anyone else feel we're being taken for a ride by the manufacturers?

I'm thinking of jeans, especially, where the 'fashion' is changed by them just to keep us buying!

Barrel legs IMO don't suit anyone better than any others but hey, they had to think of something 'new' to make us replace skinnies, straight, flares, bootcut etc etc.

Personally I think we should all take a stand and reject fast fashion and stop being taken for fools.

Men don't go through this nonsense of chucking out jeans or trousers just because they're 'old fashioned'.

I think it's great OP is asking for advice and wanting to look 'better' but all becoming clones and wearing some kind of 'jean uniform' isn't the way.

This is a much misunderstood idea.

blazer = classic
jeans = classic

the shape of the blazer and the jeans = fashion.

to look classic you need to give a nod the the current fashion to look stylish.

for example a cropped blazer with large shoulder pads won’t look stylish when soft natural forms are in fashion.

70s wide legged flares won’t look stylish when skinny jeans are in fashion. And vice versa

sryle means knowing what suits your body and your personal taste so knowing how to give a nod to current trends and knowing when to rest pieces that are completely out of fashion at a given time. Otherwise you end up looking like you are in costume. Head to toe 1940s tailoring when boho chic is in trend or 1950s fit and flare when androgynous/soft silhouettes are on trend.

I am definitely not tall. Just barely over 5ft 5.

But I have just realised that most of my midi skirts apparently aren’t midi? I had (erroneously) believed midi to simply mean “slightly below the knees”/covering the knees whilst standing.

But apparently that’s still considered knee length? 🤷‍♀️🤔

God, how? I think it’s well over-sized, I went down (and I’m long in the body). Mine looking lovely still too.

Yes you've mixed up lengths.

If you look on some of the mainstream websites at midi dresses ( ie J Lewis, Boden, Nobody's Child) you'll see 'midi' now is 3 to 4 inches above the ankle. Maxi is down to the ground.

Knee length is just that- on the knee or an inch below (but covers all of your knee.)

Dresses have become longer. I'm a bit shorter than you and midi is maxi on me so I have to shorten them by about 2-3 inches.

I'm 56, and so would I. No issues with my age, but like lots of people I like to look my best.
I'm no fashionista OP but I try to buy a couple of things each year just to update things a bit. I'm more M&S than Cos too sadly.

All of which is fine, except that some of us don't aspire to classic or fashion. Some of us walk our own path, no matter what the trends are telling us. Our wardrobe never really changes, yet, we still manage not to look dated or as if we are in costume.

yep, you’re right.

Maxi is anything between ankle to ballgown/white tie afaik….

midi (actually midi) does look fine (on me) if it’s more of a boho-style / linen wrap dress. I have a few of those and really like them!

Something noone has mentioned is what suits you? What colour season are you? Are you light, bright or muted?

Also, take a look at David Kibbe. He looks at dressing as art.

There are lots of fab Facebook groups who will help you out.

The first dress colouring is way too overpowering for nearly anyone.

It can be really interesting.

I think I've finally found my style at 53. I've worked out I feel so much better in a plain white t shirt or cotton shirt, wide leg Jean's or linen trousers and trainers. I wore my cropped Seasalt navy linen jacket with them last week and felt put together. A scarf felt too much.
I worked out shirts up to my neck were doing no favours and found a white t shirt in m&s last week with a low sort of square neck and loved it so bought two.
Shoes are a pain as I'm a size 9( also tall at over 5'10) so there isn't a huge selection for me out there.
My two best buys were from Poetry in the sale last year, v neck long linen dresses down to just above the ankles in gorgeous autumn sludgy colours. They don't see to look good as good with trainers as they did last year though so may be I'll just wear flip flops?
Good luck on your style journey OP, it's tricky to find what looks good but enjoy finding out.

Fashion is for teens and twenties. I never buy on the basis of whether something is fashionable or no longer trendy e.g. I am not buying flared jeans - they don't suit me nor women under 5'9" who dont have skinny legs - i.e. most of us. Its fashion not style. The best option is to stick to classics and styles and colours that suit you and your body shape. You can wear them for years.

There are so many styles now that everything is 'in'!

I think it is silly that older women look at what 20 year olds wear and feel they have to copy those. Or , ditto, 'influencers' in their 50s and 60s.

You can wear any style jeans you like! Wide, narrow, balloon, whatever.

The important thing is sense of style. A necklace or earrings can really add 'oomph' (and I don't mean those ghastly over-sized beads that were a favourite of Theresa May and Harriet Harman!)

But something can add 'interest' - a handbag, a scarf, jewellery, interesting shoes.

And a good haircut/ colour and decent subtle make up.

Actually, @RuledbytheWashingMachine several people asked about ‘her colours’ and the OP informed us that she was (I think, can’t be bothered to scroll back) a light autumn. Some of us have pointed out that the colours she was wearing seemed drab and sludgy and it might be better to rely on her own instinct rather than obeying some tedious stricture …

But it’s a long thread so I guess people will have missed details.