Today I'm dressed like an old lady 😂

[GarlicEverywhere]

I hasten to clarify that I am an old lady! I'd love to claim "I don't know how this happened" - but I know exactly. I needed to go to The Outdoors but was hot and tired.

A weather-appropriate dress happened to be top of a nearby pile (yes, I need an actual wardrobe) and it is a very comfortable dress. Double muslin, basically a long, crinkled sack with an under-bust gather in place of any shaping. I'm not wearing a bra, which, at my age, only adds to the shapelessness.

As I looked so very drab, I felt I should add lively footwear. Trouble is, I needed said footwear to be flat and - yes, comfortable. The shoes best meeting my need were metallic gold, basket-weave loafers. And now I understand why old women so often wear shapeless dresses with incongruous footwear! Comfort imperative; too tired to style it but making a low-effort attempt at interest.

I probably need some better quality sacks 😳 and a pair of less flashy loafers.

Feel free to share your not-very-successful attempts at looking like you made an effort when you made none at all - or, alternatively, chortle quietly at my hapless discovery of my inner bag-lady.

Im not laughing at you. When young girls can walk about with their arse hanging out their shorts and their boobs escaping their tight tops, we older ladies can embrace our shapeless clothes and comfy shoes.

And we still scrub up well 🤣 hopefully

And men never seem to worry about how they look, either

And I wear purple.

I’ve always loved purple. I made myself a pair of purple shorts when I was 22. Later, I had a rainbow of silk blouses that I wore to work, but I was surrounded by black and greige. And I didn’t have the confidence to truly embrace my love of colour.

Now, I truly understand the poem. Now, I understand why so many older women dress flamboyantly. It’s nothing to do with attention-seeking. It’s not having any fuschia fucks to give any longer: I love colour, so I’ll wear colour. I couldn’t care less whether or not it’s fashionable.

And if it’s both colourful and comfortable - 🤩

You need to read this thread in Classics - ‘Expectations vs Reality’
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/3106919-Anyone-want-to-come-and-mourn-the-reality-vs-expectation-of-new-purchases-with-me

I wear masses of very bright colours, you can see me from 2 streets away. I’m a big fan of Crayola dressing (all one colour). I used to wear so many safe griege colours when I had a sensible job that I think I had enough of navy, Black and Tan years ago.

I’m like one of those Old ladies you see on Facebook reels from New York going out in bright colours, huge sleeves, masses of draping and enormous jewellery.

I am wearing the baggiest and longest tshirt in the world, paired with the baggiest trousers. Top is light grey and bottom dark grey. With trainers. The trainers have pink in them. I got red earrings and colourful clips on my half up hair. I am very very comfy. I look like a two tier curtain with some little pops of colour at the top and the bottom. And I do not care!

Going bra less is an absolute pleasure.

Oh, you're fabulous! And I love that thread, @PetiteParakeet.

I have spent the weekend chilling round the house/garden in my own personal maxi sack dress and no underwear at all! I love it. So cool and comfy.

I do sometimes wear it out, it does have a nice pattern and a small ruffle round the neck for 'interest'. Although it's at least 15 years old so probably hideously unfashionable. I've never given a shit about fashion though, so that's not my old lady stage. Comfort all the way for me and yes, colours and prints and whatever I fancy. I don't think I've ever looked 'put together' a day in my whole life other than boring work outfits.

I don't wear makeup up, jewellery or accessories. I do look at women who just look fabulous and have a great outfit, and wish I had a sense of style myself especially as I'm now well into the frump years, but I have no idea how to achieve that and frankly can't be bothered with the effort

Wear whatever you want! Comfort, practical, flamboyant, classic, modern… and at any age. I say several youngsters in shapeless sacks yesterday, of course they still look amazing being young and slim, and crucially look better than those falling out of their top short shorts and vest tops, or slightly see through cycling shorts, not a good look. Today I’m in a Seasalt dress, not the most stylish but it’s well cut for me, cotton, and to be honest my 20 something dds also shop there so not too old

How does an old lady dress now? Not like old ladies of my youth that's for sure.

I saw 2 waiting for a bus earlier this week. Both wearing coloured chino/ jeans narrow leg one had new balance one had sketcher trainers. Both wore natty colour short padded jackets were a symphony of pink white and orange. Add sunglasses. White hair.

It's a far cry from the last of the summer wine look. Not a plastic rain hood in sight.

We can't see the links after nine years x

I don't think I ever looked at the links, the descriptions are good enough!

When my grandma must have been 60-70 she always wore camel or chocolate brown straight leg trousers and a blouse in bright colours, she was an incredibly well groomed lady, hair was always well cared for and maintained, jewellery to coordinate. She didn’t really go in for makeup but would add a bit of lipstick if going out. She always looked quite glamorous.
mil is now 80 something and wears very colourful clothing, a lot of turquoise and purple. My own mum now in her 60’s wears denim dresses, long skirts with an oversized tshirt, jeans, basically the kind of stuff I would wear!
I think my role models for older women is to just dress for yourself and your personality.
I work with a lady in her 60’s who wears shapeless dresses and flat sandals, she does always look very comfortable!

Today I am wearing a long, loose white linen shirt, paired with grey and white striped cotton trousers ( which i made myself...pockets and elastic waist). I am comfortable and think I look perfectly acceptable. But then again, I don't care.
PS I'm in my 60s.

Brilliant! And due a revival i think 🤣

If you were really dressed like an old lady you'd have a nice cardi on as there is still a chill in the air!

I generally have a nice cardie on (usually purple), but at 28C even my 93yo mum doesn’t think there’s a chill in the air!

I don't know what my current classification is, maybe not "old lady" yet, but adjacent, what are the stages of old ladyness? I'm mid 50s with grey and white hair over some of my original darker colour. Although this forms a very sophisticated sort of natural highlights, I've got it up in one of those unattractive ponytail type buns, so no one can tell just how sophisticated I really am. No make up, a rattan sun visor, a very cute black and red plaid loose cotton dress, no bra, sunglasses. I currently am only wearing one pair of sandals, black tevas, the smart woman's choice.

1990's long elasticated waist M&S skirt, baggy t shirt (not tucked in), trainers with socks - just said to my Teen that I was dressed like an old lady - very comfy though!

See I still feel youngish wearing my loose floaty clothes and Birkenstocks, because my grandmothers were of the stockings at all times, girdle and silk dress era. I remember doing up the back of my grandmothers corset for her in the mornings. Hair always coloured, wash and set weekly.

Avoid beige linen. Especially on top.
Lest you look like a walking example of the Turin Shroud.

This is who I would like to emulateif I had the money..
www.elledecoration.co.uk/lifestyle-culture/a42784617/iris-apfel-cultural-life/

I have found my people! I am the Low Maintenance Woman. In fact I was probably born as a LMW.

I haven’t worn a bra since 2019. My boobs are so far south that knickers better at supporting them than a bra!