What's your style? And do you fulfill it sartorially?

[DeposedPresident]

Clumsy title, I know.

I'm 53. I am a bit dumpy and I have really struggled to find my own style.

The look I love.... tends to be elegant, chic, a sort of cliched 'French' look. Blouses, jackets, etc. But I am too dumpy to do that justice, deps[ite years of trying.

More recently I have gone a little boho- lots of silver and turquoise jewellery, dangly earrings, wavy hair worn down, not up. Jeans, boots and sandals and long necklaces. Thing is, I feel good in this. And I have received more compliments than ever before. So I am thinking that much to my own surprise, the style I have been chasing for decades isn't really 'me' and this more relaxed free-flowing approach is something I am better suited to.

So i am interested in what others like as opposed to what suits them. Or if you have made a preferred style your own?

I’m in my mid-sixties, 5’3, annoyingly definitely a size 12 right now; prefer 10 as my clothes fit and hang better then. I make no claims to any particular style but my ChatGPT correspondent is certain I have one. It describes my dressing as:

Sculptural
Restrained
Intelligent (this since reading my CV)

I don’t mind the description but I wouldn’t want it set in stone. Last weekend in Notting Hill I noticed women wearing silk shorts trimmed with lace. I want some. (Or at least the totally wretched fat knees version.) I know my AI won’t approve.

I do hear you. I like baggy clothes that look awesome on willowy no boobs people. On me they make me look 3 stone heavier than I am. I’m curvy, buxom, hourglass (whatever word you want to use). I’m 51 and finally embracing- or at least accepting it. I have to wear fitted on boobs and waist to look good. I don’t want or like the sexy look - I want the effortless baggy willowy androgynous look. My dream is to wear a baggy jumper, floaty skirt and ballet pumps with floaty hair. Reality - fat geography teacher. And I’m not even fat!

my age has made me realise we all want what we don’t have - I have willowy friends who to me seem like they can wear anything and look effortlessly cool - who coo over how jel they are that I have the body I have! Oh to wear a spaghetti top
wirh no bra and a hippy skirt!! I’d be arrested. 😆. Good on you for finding a look that you love.

Marks and Ssspencer have the silky / lace shorts of your dreams. I stroked them today. Give them a go!

https://www.marksandspencer.com/satin-lace-trim-shorts/p/clp60784769?color=BLACK&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_bau&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20011577753&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20014443268&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bTXdFY7lngEHDJ5X8-RROcXr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs5LB5NvAlAMVPo5QBh17NSwgEAQYASABEgKyovD_BwE

I’m the same age as you OP but taller (around 5’ 9” nearly 10). My style is Soft Dramatic but for some reason I’ve just bought three abstract/floral/paisley maxi dresses that I would have called, unkindly, ‘cruise ship wear’. I don’t know why. I wanted to waft. They age me about 10 years and look like I’m about to go on holiday without my imagination.

I know why, really. That dratted Religion black maxi dress with the huge pink flower that was far too big and I had to return. But that had edge, and spark… and drama!

You can go to the ball, Cinderella…or at least wear a floaty skirt and vest too. I highly recommend M&S’s bra vests. Great for the large of nork, in hot weather.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/secret-support-scoop-neck-bra-vest/p/clp60782975?color=SOFTPINK#intid=pid_pg1pip19g4r1c1

I think I have a couple of looks. Sometimes I’m more preppy, other times more boho.

Getting my colours done, and knowing my body shape were the biggest factors in knowing what suits me ( autumn pear). Made a world of difference to what I wear, and I now receive compliments.

(Also in my fifties, and not a super model)

My basic method of dressing is to take something vintage and wear it with something modern. But I wouldn't call that a style. Apologies as this is going to sound really wanky but for me, style is to do with using clothes to express yourself or to create a mood. At the moment, the mood I like is kind of, 'The Mitford Sisters move to Hackney' - tweedy / heritage fabrics with a bit of an edge. At other times I might lean more glamorous / boho - think: Grace Kelly goes to Glastonbury.

I think that for a lot of people, finding a style is more to do with dressing to suit your shape. Well I tried that and it didn't work for me, in fact it made me self conscious and miserable. I'm pretty vain and if I don't feel right in something, I won't wear it, but I don't worry any more about whether it makes my legs look too short or my thighs too wide.

Mine tends to change with the season! In winter and autumn I’m all wide legged trousers and fitted tops. Long skirts with boots and silk/satin blouses. I also love a blazer. Spring is linen wide legged trousers and t shirts (still fitted) or column skirts in linen. Summer - I’m a hippie in little vest tops and long boho skirts and dresses 😂. I’m 51 and a short arse and about a size 14 on a good day. I can’t pull off the boho look anymore but fuck it. You can take the girl out of the 90’s but you can’t take the 90’s out of the girl. Apart from slip dresses and skirts. No chance anymore

I love this thread; I wish it'd had more replies. Maybe this will bump it!

I hear you @cubistqueen , I can't lose the 90s influence either. I'm definitely a bit boho/alt. But a little more toned down than in the actual 90s, a more grown-up version I think. I've always loved this look, and I think I do mostly dress that way. All my clothes, almost without exception, are charity shop and eBay finds, but as 'thrifting' is a bit of a hobby of mine, I have loads of clothes and plenty of choice.

I lost my way a bit post (multiple) babies, and weight gain, but now I've regained my old figure (of a sorts) and my old style.

I dont think I really have a style TBH, I have 'days' instead!😁
So I might wake up feeling its a boho day or a goth day or retro, tomboy, vintage, cottagecore, etc.
Only things I dont really do are athleisure and quiet luxury (I dont aspire to being traditionally 'stylish'). I think Id feel restricted trying to box myself into just one style, although I understand it can make life simpler in a way.

I honestly couldn’t name the style of what I wear on any given day! For me it’s just ‘putting on clothes’.

My outfits are invariably made up of clothes I like (I wouldn’t buy them otherwise), but beyond being appropriate for the day and season I could not begin to categorise. The pieces vaguely work together; sometimes the balance is perfect, sometimes it’s a bit nothing much.

I’ve actually been actively trying to identify my personal ‘style’.
I haven’t really come up with a label per se but have noticed certain consistent elements in what I tend to wear.

Based on this I came up with three ‘key words’ (idea pinched off Instagram) covering elements that the outfits I really like, and feel good in will usually cover:

• contrast (as in romantic vs tough, floaty vs structured, rather than colour contrast iyswim)
•texture
•silhouette/structure

if something feels a bit meh it’s usually because one of these three is missing.

I’m sure I’m not turning heads with my amazingly unique personal style, but it helps me feel happier with an outfit, and to consider what to add to eg jeans and a t-shirt to make it a bit more ‘me’.

I think I’ve grown in to my style finally, at 50. I wear a slogan t-shirt, generally yoga/feminist/literary, jeans, docs and a corduroy blazer. Or, harem pants and a vest top, denim jacket and keffiyeh. Occasionally a walking dress with Birkenstocks and a trilby sun hat. So I can’t give it a name, but it all works and feels so much more authentic than when I was dressing middle-of-the-road for a fair while.

I know what you mean about trying to force fit yourself into a style and it not working. I live in a very hot country, when I first arrived I tried floaty dresses it was all I could bear but I looked awful and dowdy - wrong body shape. Boho isn't me, layers, flouncy or puff arms just made me look ridiculous.
This last year I've switched back to a hot weather version of my younger self - fitted vests and baggy or wide legged pants, column or shirt dresses with a slightly tailored waist or belt, chunky sandals or trainers. Very few patterns bar a few stripes but a smattering of random full on things like a Farm Rio jacket, a vintage style bowling shirt or a studded belt. It's not revolutionary fashion but I look and feel so much better. Now if only my stupidly narrow feet could deal with Doc Marten sandals...

My style has changed with my age. I was always a bit 'rockchic' according to husband, leather, lace, long curly hair, and I love wearing black.

Since I let my dark hair grow natural (silver) I still wear leather jackets, but pair them with silk blouses and long floaty skirts, or jeans and casual T shirts....and my hair is now usually in a messy bun.
I do love beads and sequins for an evening look still. Not fashionable, but I have never tried to be.

I like the idea of three key words. One of the youtubers I follow (home and lifestyle, not just style) also does three words. I think this year she included 'whimsy' and 'feminine' .

I need to think about what my words/inspiration might be.

I have an image of you in my mind's eye and it sound FABULOUS!

As do you.
Boho, silver and turquoise jewelry, dangly earrings, you sound like a free spirit...what's not to love?😃

I have been thinking about this very thing a lot recently, as I lost my way while getting divorced and becoming stony broke 🤣

I always wear black, big chunky skull rings and bracelets, black nails, good eyeliner. The name I’ve decided on for this look is Elevated Emo 😁

It’s basically the same me but less primark and more All Saints, so nicer fabrics and shapes. But still about 95% black.

I love the look of minimal, clean lines, boxy cuts, neutral palate.

I look at women dressed that way and think that's what I'd like to be when I grow up (I'm 40+ 😂)

But.

My personality is not like that and I like warm colours, soft textures.

I need clothes with a waist because boxy makes me look ...like a box. I know what works for me shape wise and it's miles from the clothes I love on others.

My hair (fair ginger wavy) is not destined for the graphic blunt bob of my dreams and it behaves itself better when slightly longer.

I try not to lament it and go with what I know works for me.

I managed to miss your post on my first read through- I LOVE this!

I usually dress to try and hide my stomach. Then my sillhouette makes me look like a mushroom. The sort of boho thing seems to suit me better and I certainly FEEL better.

Thank you everyone for replying to my thread. I am really enjoying all of your responses.