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!

Is English not your first language, @Isabellivi ?

Well must tell the young women in my office that they're wearing the wrong shoes. Yes, some wear what you say [apart from Birkies] but actually even allowing it's office wear rather than casual I'd say the "ugly shoes" are in the minority. There's loads of ballet flats, Mary Janes, patent and even velvet and low kitten heels.

I have always been very feminine and dressed in a feminine way. It never hindered my career. I have prospered due to my competence and expert knowledge, not because I dress like a bloke.

Thankfully my institution channels Mary Beard. I'm one of the smartest and that's a laugh! Birkies are elegant where I work :)

I take issue with the concept that your clothes made you look over 60 because it suggests women over 60 are old and unfashionable.

That's so true. It comes up time after time on here. Posters will dismiss something as "frumpy" or "dated" or just generally horrible but then witter on about it being suitable for an older woman.

Same here.

I shall always take my hat off to.my mother who is 88 and still rocks leather trousers, a silk blouse and patent heels (not so high nowadays)! Last time I saw her she was wearing a navy and beige fitted dress, wrap jacket and Stuart Weitzman courts. Yesterday she bought herself a black trimmed oatmeal crochet cardigan to go with her casual trousers.

Sadly I do not have her sense of style. 5'4", 7st 12lb. Neither am I dainty!

I could imagine my tall, slim, early 40s daughter looking great in those trousers. I'm quite slim with fairly long legs but I'm 71 and I wouldn't look great in them. On me, they'd say elderly woman on a coach trip rather than the cool, chic Parisian woman who lives in my head!

Without seeing a photo of you, I'm can't understand why they would look wrong on you, with the right top and shoes.

Are you not falling into the trap of older women not being able to wear something that is ageless?

Worn with the right top, maybe a fitted cropped jacket, Mary Janes, or ballet pumps, they could be worn by a woman your age.

Coach trip women - that's a cliche in itself.

No, I'm afraid this is nonsense, as are the rest of your posts. I'm reminded of that bizarre thread from a few weeks ago where the OP waxed lyrical about "male provider energy" or some such guff. 😅

@Shetlands what I may see as 'elderly' is elastic waist baggy linen/cotton cropped trousers, that don't fit well, with a baggy T shirt hanging way down on the hips.

There's a world of difference between that look and tailored linen , slightly above the ankle, with a nice top (maybe tucked in), a cropped Chanel type jacket, flat ballet type shoes with a T bar, or maybe loafers.

Hmm so everyone else's ideas are crap but yours are 'objective reality'? 😁

I love the sound of that outfit but even the best cut cropped trousers wouldn't look great on me as I have very fair skin. It's in good condition but even so my ankles are more wrinkly than they were and I'm not wearing pop socks to cover them up! I do appreciate your interest and encouragement though. 💐

Along with the cool, chic Parisian woman

What a load of nonsense.

I meant a sudden change from a mannish look to dresses and florals. It would be pretty weird if I suddenly decided after 50+ years of wearing jeans and trousers that, to look younger, I need to wear a flowery skirt. Or grow my hair long, come to that. I know what suits me and what I feel comfortable with.

Nothing wrong with re-inventing yourself now and again.

What a wonderful woman you are OP.
i especially love the brown dress, stripey tshirt, the green barrels and the uniqlo stripy shirt that you wore with the barrels. I think the fisherman sandals work well with your brown dress.
Returning the orange shirt is a good idea. You seem to be doing really well at restyling yourself and working out what your own style is. I’m cheering you on!!!

I’m maybe out of step but I think the fishermen sandals look frumpy on older women though good on very young slim/ skinny women.

I think the dress would be transformed if you perhaps wore sling back shoes with fairly pointy toes and low block heels. I bought some from M&S a few years ago and they are both stylish (in my opinion anyway!) and very comfortable to walk in.

It isn’t my idea, it’s been studied extensively with brain scans and other studies on menopause. Not only that but social studies repeatedly confirm: women who play up their femininity are seen as more youthful and attractive….

Just do research on “my idea” that Youth= fertility . I didn’t make this up !

Both low testosterone and low estrogen (Menopause) age people -physically and emotionally due to hormonal changes.

Low estrogen causes women to lose skin elasticity and other feminine traits of “youth/fertility”. It also causes their brains to change which we can SEE ON BRAIN SCANS.

Whereas high estrogen feminizes women - their bodies as well as their personality.

So my idea is based in science, not some ideology from your “gender studies” class

Also a biological fact that femininity and masculinity are positively correlated to fertility, respectively.

Pay attention to older women who seem a lot younger than their age. Like that Italian/French model who is 70 — these women may be wearing jeans and t shirts but they are never masculine in their mannerisms, posture, and over all aesthetic

And they smile a big white smile and maintain a positive attitude. They’re not quick to be offended, hyper competitive, rigid and argumentative - this is MASCULINE energy and one way low estrogen affects women’s personality (as demonstrated by brains scans and many studies on this subject which is researched to help people thrive in their golden years! )

Loving this thread. I like the tan sandals..did you day where they were from?

I don't like them either, @Irismarle .

@Isabellivi ,you're annoying.

Agnes B has lovely, simple clothes in quality fabrics although expensive:
https://www.agnesb.com/en-uk/women/clothing/new-collection/

Massimo Dutti is another higher end of the high street label:

https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/

I've lost my style a bit since having kids/ putting on extra weight. I've been watching a personal stylish for about a year on Instagram but it was like £300 odd for 1 session to determine my colour pallet and then extra for her to go out n buy clothes for you. I downloaded chatGPT and asked it "what's my personal colour analysis" it asked me for a photo in natural light and I uploaded it and it told me I was a soft autumn. It gave me all the colours I should wear to suit my colouring and colours to avoid. It went into hair dye that would suit, jewellery metal that compliments me most even foundation and lipstick brands and shades. Then I asked it what my body type was. It asked for a full length photo so I uploaded that and it told me my body type and what I should wear and shouldn't wear. It will even spit out visual wardrobe suggestions. Do that and then just try and pick colours and styles that best suit your body type/ colour pallet.

I have also noticed the difference some jewellery and earrings have made to outfits and have invested in lots of costume jewellery from shein recently and some handbags and hair clips. Little touches really change an outfit. Hope that helps as it's really helped me turn my style around although it's still a work in progress

Late back to this party but I have to say you look fantastic. You are an inspiration.