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Old lady clothes

135 replies

Lifelover16 · 13/12/2025 07:48

I am an old lady, mid 60s and I’m lucky to still be here.
I still try to take an interest in my appearance but have lost my way. I don’t have a massive budget. Please could someone help with which styles will emphasise my old lady looks so I can avoid them?
Thank you

OP posts:
Sparklesandspandexgallore · 13/12/2025 08:04

Good lord where to begin.
Ok my dd is in her 20s and carries minimum body fat. She is tall and extremely toned. Are you expecting to dress in the same style that she does?
If not just go shopping and try clothes on. See what you like the look of. Unless you have lots of spare cash, you will need to buy clothes you like rather than the latest style trends, as this will get expensive and time consuming.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/12/2025 08:19

I’m mid 60s and I’m not an ‘old lady’. Confused Sure, I’m older than I was but I don’t look or behave radically different to how I used to yet.
what you choose to wear depends on your body type, lifestyle and budget.
I’ll probably be going out for a decent length walk today so I’ll be wearing craghopper trousers etc…pretty much the same as my 26yo DD would (she uses my stuff when she’s home sometimes).
Thinking of yourself as an ‘old lady’ before you need to is likely to be more aging than what you wear.

skippy67 · 13/12/2025 08:22

Go to some shops and try on some stuff. Buy what you like, and leave what you don't like behind.

Darklane · 13/12/2025 08:23

Avoid baggy, floral dresses at all cos, which seem to have been everywhere in summer.
I’m older than you & find I feel most comfortable in fitted, but not tight, quite classic styles in plain colours. My daily wear mostly consists of plain coloured trousers, an occasional skirt (I have dogs , 😂) with an interesting top.

NutButterOnToast · 13/12/2025 08:27

Mid 60s isn't old OP.

Try some "young person" shops - Zara, h&m, Primark.

You have to be careful about the cuts/ shapes of clothes. Oversized items are still fashionable for now. Zara do great "current" looking jeans.

Buy some thick soled or knee high boots, those are back in now.

Avoid beige and pastels, that will make you look ancient. Making your trousers, top, coat, shades of the same colour can look nice.

Lifelover16 · 13/12/2025 08:29

ErrolTheDragon · 13/12/2025 08:19

I’m mid 60s and I’m not an ‘old lady’. Confused Sure, I’m older than I was but I don’t look or behave radically different to how I used to yet.
what you choose to wear depends on your body type, lifestyle and budget.
I’ll probably be going out for a decent length walk today so I’ll be wearing craghopper trousers etc…pretty much the same as my 26yo DD would (she uses my stuff when she’s home sometimes).
Thinking of yourself as an ‘old lady’ before you need to is likely to be more aging than what you wear.

I don’t want to think of myself as an old lady, but I have a serious illness which restricts what I want to do, and medication which has destroyed my skin and hair. It’s so depressing/ I want to choose some cheerful clothing to give me a lift and not make me look even more haggard.

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 13/12/2025 08:30

Old lady? I would never describe myself like that. It makes me think of someone in their 90s. I am 69 and wear what I feel looks good to me

curious79 · 13/12/2025 08:33

Mid 60s is not old lady territory ImO. And perhaps that already informs us what you need to be careful about doing. And that is not assuming you are too old to wear certain things.

In your mid 60s, you could still have blonde or brunette hair, a great figure and be very active. I don’t know your personal circumstance.

Things I think are very aging:

  • being overly practical in your clothing choices
  • garish patterns or no colour (beige, greys, black)
  • hiding figure in overly baggy clothes
  • Wearing twee, conservative jewellery

a brand I would look to for inspiration (even if not budget appropriate) is Me+Em.

OttersMayHaveShifted · 13/12/2025 08:36

Do you use instagram? Maybe try finding some fashion accounts on there to follow, to give you some ideas. I'm a bit younger than you (mid 50s) but I really like thesilverkat on Instagram. She's a hairdresser and is the same age as me (though considerably slimmer!) and has very white hair. She is so stylish, but her outfits don't look out of reach for normal human beings!

curious79 · 13/12/2025 08:37

I noticed your post about your hair. And having been ill. It sounds to me like you’re suffering from a serious loss of mojo. You can buy the silk hair covers, which could help. Would a bronzer, or a nice glow foundation, a light silky one, help? Stores like John Lewis have private shopping services. They’re not just there for super wealthy people. You could ask them to help you buy one outfit for every day that lifts you, tell them what you’ve been through and I’m sure they will be very kind.
good luck!!

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 13/12/2025 08:40

The comments here seem snarky and harsh. Have a look on Vinted. You’ll get more for your money. I’m 54 and lately I wear more trousers and shirts/ blouses. I feel smarter and it’s an easy wear. Now it’s nippy I wear a tank top or thin jumper over the shirt. I do think patterns can look a bit dated so I’m careful in that area.

Westfacing · 13/12/2025 08:40

Yes to avoiding very baggy and floral, or too much fussy detail - the young'uns can get away with pussy-cat bows and flouncy sleeves but not us who wore them first time round!

I like a pared-back look and a big fan of Uniqlo. Today I'll be wearing fleecy-lined khaki trousers, a base-layer, an orange short cardigan, and flat suede Chelsea boots. All simple, practical and cheerful!

And at 71 I'm not an 'old lady'... merely older 😊

Campbellcarrotsoup · 13/12/2025 08:44

I would check out Melissa Murell style masterclasses on you tube. She has lots of helpful tips to update your wardrobe for different body types and life styles. She also puts links in to all price points and is good for helping older women navigate zara and h and m etc alongside m and s and more expensive brands. She has lots of good videos on jeans for different body shapes as well.

Floisme · 13/12/2025 08:50

Lifelover16 · 13/12/2025 08:29

I don’t want to think of myself as an old lady, but I have a serious illness which restricts what I want to do, and medication which has destroyed my skin and hair. It’s so depressing/ I want to choose some cheerful clothing to give me a lift and not make me look even more haggard.

I honestly thought this thread was a spoof until I saw your update. I’m sorry you’re ill. Poor health can knock the stuffing out of you.

My advice would be to ditch this thread and start a new one, starting with ‘I have a serious illness’ as your op. Because otherwise this thread is going to fill up with posters taking umbrage at the suggestion that they too might be old - which is enlightening about the prevailing view of old age on this board but not very helpful to you.

evilharpy · 13/12/2025 08:56

You're not an old lady, you're someone who has health issues that affect how you currently feel about yourself.

What size/height/shape/colouring are you? Do you have an instagram account? Do you have anything that you do feel good in, so we could get an idea of what you might like?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/12/2025 09:01

Westfacing · 13/12/2025 08:40

Yes to avoiding very baggy and floral, or too much fussy detail - the young'uns can get away with pussy-cat bows and flouncy sleeves but not us who wore them first time round!

I like a pared-back look and a big fan of Uniqlo. Today I'll be wearing fleecy-lined khaki trousers, a base-layer, an orange short cardigan, and flat suede Chelsea boots. All simple, practical and cheerful!

And at 71 I'm not an 'old lady'... merely older 😊

I’ve seen older women with those wide lace trimmed collars on floral blouses that are everywhere at the moment.

I think they look pretty cool because it’s what you’d expect a younger person to wear.

ApparentlyIsMyCircusAndMyMonkeys · 13/12/2025 09:03

If you’re on Instagram there are loads of great accounts you can follow for style ideas eg oh.my.style

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 13/12/2025 09:16

If you haven't got Instagram then get it. There are hundreds of fantastically stylish women of 50 or 60 plus on Insta that are absolutely brilliant for fashion inspiration. Admittedly many of them are clearly ex-models, super slim with amazing bone structures and beautiful faces and I assume very healthy clothes budgets judging by their houses in the background, but plenty who are just the attractive side of ordinary and styling more accessible high street fashion too. Some are more 'normal' sized as well. Obviously Insta is also choc-full of 'body positive' overweight women twirling in clothes, so something for everyone regardless of age, shape or size.

I'd say start by identifying which basic shapes flatter you and make you feel confident and comfortable but also DO push yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit, to avoid staying in a dated rut. For example try wide leg or flared jeans and some really nice trainers rather than straight legged jeans and boring black ankle boots with a mid height heel. My BFF was recently complaining after losing weight that she was struggling to feel like she looked fashionable in anything, in spite of her weight loss, but she is still stubbornly wedded to shapes that are at least 5 or 10 years behind the times. It takes a leap of faith to try something new when you are over 50 because we are frightened of looking like mutton dressed as lamb, or we just don't feel like ourselves in something different, so start small with a couple of changes to your usual 'go-to' shapes. Don't frighten yourself by doing it all at once.

I tend to avoid florals and big patterns now. I love them but I have accepted that it's hard to wear the flowery, colourful dresses I used to love without looking like a pantomime dame.

Invest some time in finding out which colours really suit you, and learn how to layer and style things in a current way. For example at the moment it's the thing to tuck in shirts at the front but not the back and to layer shorter jumpers or waistcoats over the top.

Build yourself a capsule wardrobe one season at a time, with five or six basics in a coordinating colour palette that all work well together. For example, I am sixty and this autumn so far I have been wearing two pairs of trousers I live in, both M&S. Wide legged dark denim jeans and some cream wide legged chino type trousers, some lovely smart trainers in an interesting colour (New Balance 327s) a couple of burgundy tops, a couple of dark olive green tops, a couple of simple, versatile cardigans in olive green and taupe. Also a chunky, camel coloured, woolly gilet (NOT the polyester quilted middle-aged stalwart but something more current and interesting like bouclé, astrakan or faux fur) which I live in and looks great over everything. then some basic black or charcoal base layers and everything I pick up works together in any order. I also have one nice wintery dress in a subtle animal print and a taupe coloured corduoroy A line skirt and some knee high slouchy suede boots, which also look great with the woolly gilet.

Accessorise with one or two bits of statement jewellery or a nice eye-catching bag in an interesting colour, or a bright oversized scarf, but don't tie it in a dated way.

Get your hair cut in a style that is low maintenance and isn't instantly dating or helmet like. If it's currently in a style which you see in at least 50% of the women your age then it's probably terrible and very dated, or at least not doing anything to enhance how you look.

Apart from the boots and trainers, nothing I've bought has cost more than £45 per item.

Chiconbelge · 13/12/2025 09:17

I think you are getting quite a lot of unhelpful comments OP and I’m sorry that you are feeling down about your health and looks. I’m going with some super simple suggestions.

Spend money on a haircut from the best place you can manage. Think about some nice skincare - there are face creams and tinted moisturisers that offer you a glow which makes a real difference (pp here will have loads of good suggestions. Don’t wear colours that drain you. Buy one really nice (and not baggy) jumper in a colour that is chosen because it makes you look great not because you’ve always worn it, not because you like it as a colour. It may well not be very dark, very pale or very dull.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/12/2025 09:20

Sorry, I should have picked up from your OP that you had health problems. Flowers
I’ve never ‘done my colours’ but I think it may help to look at what looks better or worse near your face.
A bit of makeup can help - not heavy stuff but things like tinted moisturiser/BB cream, a bit of (not dark and harsh) brow definer and coloured lip gloss.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 13/12/2025 09:20

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/12/2025 09:01

I’ve seen older women with those wide lace trimmed collars on floral blouses that are everywhere at the moment.

I think they look pretty cool because it’s what you’d expect a younger person to wear.

Depends on the woman though. A willowy, glamorous model type with an edgy haircut and some funky, chunky specs could pull it off. Your average woman over 60 and a size 16 would look ludicrous, like someone cosplaying a six year old in a party frock.

ZenNudist · 13/12/2025 09:23

Old ladies are 85 not 65! Sorry you've been ill. Here are my ideas

Some straight or bootcut jeans from m&s or wide leg ones from sainsbury's

Wide leg jersey trousers from m&s in black or navy

Buy some addidas trainers (campus or sambas or similar) and nice Chelsea boots try fat face or white stuff or charles clinker for boots.

On top try to find some nicer tops or tshirts and shirts. I have a few from hush, fat face, tesco, m&s.

I wear blazers over the t shirts and shirts. But I also buy not too thick jumpers and tuck them in to my jeans or trousers. You need a belt as well.

I bought an acid yellow jumper that has gone down very well. It was only cheap acrylic whereas I prefer cashmere or merino wool. I did look at the lemon yellow cashmere jumper in m&s at the same time but it was somehow frumpy whereas the cheap one was an edgy colour.

Coat wise you may as well just get something warm and waterproof. I'm using a goodmove from m%s long jacket it's not too bulky and doesn't soak up the rain. I wanted a long wool coat but it's the wrong time of year. Try uniqlo for short puffer coats.

You could probably get a good look kitted out at uniqlo anyway.

Dress wise I like scamp and dude and am covering a blue leopard print party dress for Christmas . Wear with black studded ballet flats with a cross strap.

If you've got money hush is good for tshurts and sweatshirts to go for casual but not frumpy

Iloveeverycat · 13/12/2025 09:32

What style do you actually like. I think you are more comfortable in something you like wearing. I am 60 I like wearing colourful boho skirts and dresses with boots in the winter or wide leg leg trousers. When I wear colours it makes me feel better.
What is you hair like. Is it thinning could you have extensions put in or a hair topper to make it thicker.
Have you tried BB or CC cream they are so much better for mature skin than foundation and powder. It gives a lovely finish without being drying and can make skin a more even tone which lasts and takes away shine.

LoserWinner · 13/12/2025 09:35

I’m a similar age, slim, toned. I shop in Zara.

Theroadt · 13/12/2025 09:43

ErrolTheDragon · 13/12/2025 08:19

I’m mid 60s and I’m not an ‘old lady’. Confused Sure, I’m older than I was but I don’t look or behave radically different to how I used to yet.
what you choose to wear depends on your body type, lifestyle and budget.
I’ll probably be going out for a decent length walk today so I’ll be wearing craghopper trousers etc…pretty much the same as my 26yo DD would (she uses my stuff when she’s home sometimes).
Thinking of yourself as an ‘old lady’ before you need to is likely to be more aging than what you wear.

But that’s why she posted - she wants to change her mindset with clothes (she doesn’t need to be told to change her mindset! She knows!!)

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