Clothes for older ladies

[tumdedum]

Anyone else ever had to help their Mum buy outfits?
My mum is in her eighties, she's always been smart and stylish but now needs comfort: flat shoes and an elasticated waist.
We're looking for something she can wear to an Autumn wedding.
Trousers and a top, trousers must be elastic waist. Top needs to cover arms and be quite long.

She's apple shaped. Size 12-14 top and 14-16 waist.
She wants to spend as little as possible.
Searching Google just brings up outfits from new companies that when I check on trustpilot have very, very bad reviews.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!

Hi there, yes I did the same for my mum.

Basically kitted her out in a whole wardrobe full of clothes from Damart! Excellent options for lengths of trousers, lots of colours so it was easy to coordinate and she was really happy with everything. Lots of offers on the website too, save a certain % if you spend a certain amount.

Trousers from M&S I think they still have a classic range. Seasalt do lots of tunics and tops.

Bon marche or Marks and spencers will have clothes to suit her.

Bonmarche? You might be able to find both trousers and tops there.

My mum took to wearing elasticated waist trousers and loose tops in her 90s because she struggled with zips and buttons and wanted to dress herself. She still liked nice clothes and I don't think she'd have been too impressed at being being told Bonmarche would suit her. She found some things she liked at Poetry and Uniqlo.

Edited to add: I was only thinking the other day that she'd have appreciated the trend for elasticated trousers and oversize T shirts - you can find them just about anywhere now and at any price point.

Cotton traders?

Oh yes Cotton traders do they still have physical shops ?

Why should a woman who's clearly always enjoyed being smart and stylish be fobbed off with Cotton Traders and Bonmarche when comfortable, loose fitting, elasticated clothes and flat shoes are all over the high street?

Lands End have very comfortable trousers. Damart quality has fallen off the edge in the last few years, I used to buy their silk/ thermal tops every year, but the last ones were thin and shapeless though looked exactly the same.

Pavers have comfortable flats which are not necessarily boring.

We get it you and your mum are uber stylish you have said as much ! the op was looking for practical/comfortable budget friendly clothes for her mum which people have replied to, you are free to contribute but why come with a side of snidey?

Im 63 and I never wear "old" clothes, neither does my mum who is 85. We buy from all over the place and never from anywhere like Chums.
You can get really lovely pieces and comfortable basics from Cotton Traders and Damart and ignore all the flowery junk its just a matter of looking and pair them with lovely tops and jackets from elsewhere.
All .y trousers are elasticated because I have a 10 to 12 waste and 14 hips and non elasticated waists gape unattractively.
I often get inspiration from Vogue online and Pinterest.

I agree though, no need to start shopping at Bon Marche and Damart because of her age. My mum is 90 and buys from M&S, Uniqlo, Seasalt, John Lewis.

The op said:
My mum is in her eighties, she's always been smart and stylish but now needs comfort: flat shoes and an elasticated waist.
I think it's pretty unlikely that she's suddenly lost all interest in clothes simply because she's now struggling with things like fine motor skills and mobility. Don't you?

I've never said I was stylish myself, it's not for me to say.

The shops suggested are just shops that sell elasticated waists and maybe a flowy top that the woman might like and perhaps she doesn't want to spend to much money, I don't understand why you felt the need to be so snidey?

What about Roman for the wedding Op

I apologise if I sounded snidey. I was pissed off. It makes me cross to see old women who like to dress well being fobbed off, and it makes me even more cross when it's done on a board where one of the main topics is clothes. And especially so when you can't move on the high street right now for elasticated waists and flowy tops - at every price point.

I realise a lot of old women might not be interested but it sounded very much as if the op's mum would be. Just because you lose some of the ability to dress yourself or move freely doesn't mean you stop caring.

Unfolded has nice elasticated waist trousers, At least they did in Summer.

Something like this? It seems to be a one size fits all outfit https://www.bondstreetstore.com/products/federica-full-sleeves-dress-in-mocha?variant=56044931613046&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22262814169&gclid=CjwKCAjwiY_GBhBEEiwAFaghvjgM0JIIQ_LquDMamcbuW5e-Fv46yC-8Q8t8cxfLUAcp25iHvL6KfhoCXWIQAvD_BwE

I recently bought a couple of pairs of trousers from Bon Marche, elasticated waist and they come in 3 lengths....nothing about them screams 'old lady'.
Places like Bon Marche and Peacocks are usually pretty good suggestions for comfortable clothes, very reasonable prices and there is usually at least one on every high st!

(although my mum seems to shop exclusively from those free catalogues that come through the door!)😅

I think Roman would be good for the trousers, lots of styles in elasticated waist, but you could look at lovely loose tops from many stores when you had chosen trousers https://www.roman.co.uk/search?q=elasticated%20waist%20trousers

John Lewis personal shopper. They will run round the store and find things and there's no obligation to buy. Even if they don't have what you are looking for, then it might give some ideas.

Bonne Marche has some nice items actually if you look at items available. They are cheaper than Uniqko for sure. I buy from Uniqlo, H&M and Zara. 69 years old and considered a stylish dresser.

What does as little as possible mean for your mother, @tumdedum?

Actually a maximum budget would be more helpful!

An Instagram account I really love in this one: https://www.instagram.com/grahamst.fashion

It is a stylist and her mother (who is younger than your mother OP) and they both dress in the sorts of styles you mention so there may be some good suggestions. I think they always look great

This thread took a weird turn! Absolutely no need for the snide comments about peoples suggestions.

The OP said her mum is looking to spend as little as possible, BonMarche isn’t as old fashioned as it used to be and ticks the boxes for comfort/practical as well as being at the lower end of the cost side.
Also let’s not forget that dressing stylishly and smartly means different things to different people. My own mother for example loves clothes and always looks nice and makes nods to the trends but would find that outfit posted above far too grandma-ish (despite being great grandma 4 times over).