Summer outfit ideas for a comfortable, stylish look at 49

[cambiodenombre123]

Asking the mumsnet gods/goddesses to save my fashion woes. I want to feel comfortable, sexy and stylish this summer. To be able to go for city walks and sit in a beer garden and not worry about my belly, fat arms, weird elbows and crinkly neck. I'm 49, fine hair in a bob, hourglass shape with big boobs, 5'6" and slightly overweight. I want to look current and relevant if possible? Please give me some tips of what to wear.

Yes. I am slim overall but have a very saggy belly. There is no way I am wearing a crop top! I do however have awesome legs and wear mini skirts at the age of 55 and hope to do so as long as I can! Many people dress for their size and shape, it is not a new concept!

OP, if this helps, last summer my wardrobe mainly comprised the following items, and I felt pretty fab having lost some weight and bought new clothes (also nearly all on Vinted)

I don't have amazing anything - I slimmed down to a comfortable 16 or a large 14, and I have pudgy arms, thick legs and one heck of a belly, I wore the following clothes and felt genuinely amazing. I made more effort with hair and make up than usual, and donned my sunglasses and hats (and SPF50) and I had the best summer ever.

Couple of long black summer dresses - wide scoop neck or shirt dress style, cinched in at the waist with tan or gold belt and tan or gold shoes, with denim jacket (my dresses were from M&S, Monki and John Lewis)
Jumpsuits (Halara) - stretchy and as comfortable as a baby grow but one item of clothing to think about and look surprisingly stylish
White legged white/ecru trousers (Hush) with belt, vest top and loose linen shirt
White barrel leg trousers (Hush) - wearing all white isn't practical but felt super put together, with tan belt, tan shoes and tan bag.
Cargo trousers, not too baggy (Hush) in different colours but quite silky fabrics- navy, khaki and black - ideal with trainers or flat sandals
Long white linen dress (White Company) - easy to dress up or down
Mix of jeans - dark indigo and paler blue - in flare style but not too wide legged (they make me look wider)
Rotation of vest tops, linen shirts, off-the-shoulder loose t-shirts and more fitted v neck t-shirts (t-shirts with longer sleeves to the elbow) in white, pale pink, pale grey, navy to mix with the various trousers (mostly Hush, Next, Mint Velvet)
Rotation of light-weight jumpers in pale grey, white, cream, pale pink and shawls and ponchos (mainly online)
Gold belt, shoes, bag
Tan belt, shoes, bag
Gold trainers
White trainers
Khaki cap
Straw hat
Sunglasses

Something else to think about - do you have a summer perfume? I feel very different in the summer months than I do the rest of the year, so I tend to wear a different scent and that can make a huge difference!

I love these looks!

Meant to say, thanks so much for this list @AnotherNewNotebook will be handy when I do my wardrobe audit!

I recommend looking at Melissa Murrell on youtube who gives great advice on all body shapes, sizes and ages. Someone on Mumsnet recommend her a couple of years ago and it has helped me so much in terms of what to buy and what to avoid.

Thanks @Southeastlondonmum2, I have just followed her on Insta and fell in love with a pair of ME+EM trousers but at £250 they are a bit steep when still trying to lose weight. In Edinburgh tomorrow though so might need to have a look anyway.

I'm a similar height and busty. My basic summer "uniform" is a v neck linen knit in black or navy over a white scoop neck t shirt with wide leg trousers in black or navy. I find being all one colour is slimming and detracts from the bust. The v neck on the knit draws the eye down which also detracts from the bust whilst infilling it a bit with a t shirt stops me looking too Bet Lynch.

I also have a number of jersey maxi dresses which I wear with a light cardigan or shirt knotted at the waist and a few smarter cotton dresses. Ive just bought this one https://atlastshop.co.uk/products/cotton-salcombe-midi-dress-in-black?_pos=4&_sid=97c9a2555&_ss=r which is a lovely soft seersucker. If you can wear patterns (I can't as I have a tiny head so everything wears me) then they have some lovely cotton dresses on the website - the quality is excellent. Also - I can highly recommend their cord Chelsea dress for the winter.

So I’m 49, 5’4”, size 16, I do like to look fashionable & attractive if possible.

I’m not too keen on my legs (visible veins from years of physical hard work) but when I go to the beach I do wear shorts like everyone else, I like Next denim boy shorts which are not too high waisted and don’t bunch up either.
Over the top I usually wear a beach shirt (I get them in linen / cotton from River Island and Accessorize.
It’s good to make sure the sleeves are loose.
Then on the beach I wear a costume as I don’t want to show my tummy; I buy my costumes from Next - I’ve got some really glam ones that are low cut on the chest but supportive there too, & pull in the tummy.
Also a couple of crossover styles in bright patterns.
I usually wear sliders on the beach which I prefer to flip flops; I find Superdry ones feel comfy and are nice colours.

I wear a uniform to work; but on summer days & evenings off or on holiday (but not on the beach) I wear:
wide leg linen / cotton trousers - I have 2 black pairs from River Island to wear with vest tops or boxy / fitted tops…. I was also tempted by a cream beaded crochet RI pair (with cotton undershorts) & they actually looked good, I wore them a few evenings last holiday with black vest tops.

I also like to wear fitted long skirt & top co-ords that I generally buy from River Island - their Midi length is actually Maxi on me.
I have a couple of nice stripy fitted midi dresses- again a maxi length on me - from New Look too.
& a short white linen shirt dress from New Look.
I generally prefer skirts & dresses that have a more fitted look as I have big boobs & therefore do look larger in anything flowy.

Shoes wise - in the UK I often wear trainers with my summer clothes eg my grey New Balance are my favourites at present; I also have some Blowfish Malibu sandals in nude & brown; & some chunkier Schuh sandals. I do quite like some of the Dr Marten sandals but they’re a bit too £££.

I usually carry a crossbody bag- for summer I’ve got a small raffia style bag from Accessorize.

Although my favourite shops are local (I also like Primark & F&F at Tesco as well as the shops I’ve mentioned); I find I do usually have to still order online still, or if the item I want is unavailable/ sold out in my size I look on Vinted & eBay, I’ve saved a lot of money that way actually.

Thank you all so much for your tips!💐uch great advice and ideas and I'm discovering new brands (e.g. really like the At Last dress).

The fever overtook me last night so I spent an hour clearing out one side of my wardrobe. Was such a tonic! I've got a big bag for the charity shop, things I've thrown away altogether and things I need other basics for to wear as an outfit. Realise I had too many random patterns that didn't hang together in any sort of style.

Has anyone ever shopped at Buddha Stones? I'm not sure if they're reputable but I love the design of these high waisted shorts unless anyone has found something similar elsewhere?

Off to watch more Melissa Murrell.

@cambiodenombre123 , Buddhastoneshop Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of buddhastoneshop.com
Read the 1 ⭐reviews.

"Don’t go any where near this company another AI generated scam store with refunds only possible to china and cancellations impossible on orders - suspect all the positive review so far have been supplied as part of the scam "

Yes, suspected as much. Gutted! Thank you x

There are so many of these types of online "shops" now - it's really annoying!!!

Did you want the shorts to be linen, OP? Some high-waisted linen ones at M&S, but not elasticated?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-high-waisted-shorts/p/clp60786567?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

Linen but not elasticated either. https://www.boden.com/products/women-highbury-pleated-linen-shorts-meadowsweet-pink-chambray-r0884pnk

These are linen-mix, high-waisted & drawstring?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pull-on-high-waisted-shorts-with-linen/p/clp61213416?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

urgh - linen shorts ..there is nothing as hideous and ageing as these for women of a certain age other than a fascinator ... why wrap your middle up like that in hot weather?

@corblimeyguvnr , I don't. I wear tiny hot pants and a cropped boob tube.

Not keen on them myself - but it's something the OP asked about?

Personally, I'm with @StylishAndBeautiful all the way ... 😁

Let's steer her away from shorts.

That's a powerful argument in one image ...

But what about elastic waistbands? Menopause & ice cream have put paid to fitted waistbands for me ...

@corblimeyguvnr , where did you get that photo of me?

Dresses!

Oh lord 😂😂 definitely not the vibe I was going for... doesn't scream beer garden chic. Elasticated middle for sure as I can bloat plus want to be eating al fresco. And don't want to wrap my waist up but want to have a flowy thing that will skim over it... If not shorts, culottes? Flowy skirt?

Sorry no culottes either - reminds me of an ex headmistress 😂 dresses please . A dress does for a woman what a suit does for a man ☺️

I have shedloads of dresses that skim, or with elastic/drawstring waists, or with kimono wrap ties ...

But I'm not giving up my Jigsaw & Arket & other floaty skirts & trousers with sneaky elastication ...!!!