But what has actually influenced your wardrobe shopping choices?

[DeHumanaeMentisApatheia]

There are intermittent threads asking for lists of where people shop - I’m not sure how compelling these are for readers. (And where the OP takes no active role in the thread it’s hard to believe they’re not just some sort of AI generated thing.)

Surely the crucial thing is what shapes a person’s tastes and preferences - all the more so for mature women who have more hinterland. Whether that’s your parents’ interests when you were a child, or shopping with friends as a teen, or a revelation at university or in early jobs. As much as life stages, health, environment, finances.

My ‘reading Vogue from 13’ history is all over S&B.

What influenced you, before ‘influencers’? And how does that affect how you shop now?

Several things. 1 , I am taller than average, so there less choice. 2. I have bigger boobs than average, that affects choices ,3/ I have bigger and wider feet than average, so finding comfortable and flattering footwear has always been an issue. Also, I dont want very high heels since I don't want any more height. 4/ I did a lot ofballet as a child, and that has affected my aesthetic., in spite of my height, boobs and feet! 4/ I have a French mum.5, I never had a lot of money, and also because of said height, boobs and feet, have never been able to do fast fashion. So I tend to look for clothes that will last, both in quality and design. I observe fashions and what women wear and I pick and choose.

Not being a big-headed dick but I have a great figure. So I choose clothes that flatter and flaunt that.

My mum always taught me to "be different" in clothes and hair. This has been a huge influence. I don't wear whacky or insane clothes but I like statement clothes (see above - that statement could just be the fact it fits so well).

Since Covid, I've really prioritised being comfortable and saving time. I just shove my hair up because life's too short to be drying, curling, styling. And I haven't worn anything but trainers (except one stupid party) or super comfy snow boots in winter outside of the house since!

Most recently, I've been most influenced by the bloody prices (extortionate) and quality (terrible) of high street clothes. It's led me to my local charity shops where I've bagged some absolute bargains. Sometimes I've still picked up poor-quality high street shit but for a fraction of the price.

I think my work to a certain extent has influenced me, in that it's clear to me through my work that our current economic model isn't sustainable and consumerism and profit driven companies are wrecking the environment. There are many costs to what we buy that we (consumers), or the companies producing products, aren't paying, to the detriment of the planet. So I aim for good quality products from ethical and sustainable companies, or second hand, and I'm willing to pay a bit more for this reason.

Other than that, I go with what i like and what i think suits me and is comfortable.

I was about to say it’s amazing that the first two of you speak about your bodies first - but maybe it’s me that’s odd, as that’s never been a primary factor for me.

Neither of my parents were born or brought up in the UK, or Europe, @Imicolaso I’ve always been aware of a more global viewpoint and consequences - from people in rural areas on one continent mostly making their own clothes, to, on another, the vast acres of second hand clothes from the western world dumped under some ludicrous ‘charity’ fantasy - and sold at a profit in markets in climates highly unsuited to the items that end up there. I don’t have many illusions about fast fashion.

I have strict self imposed style rules created through years of trial and error, they sound boring but it works. I work with my body shape and colours, I'm an hourglass with deep autumn colouring. I am trying to buy more natural materials these days. I've finally got a decent capsule wardrobe, everything goes together.

Colours: Green, Brown, Mustard, Red, Navy, Beige. Plain colours, occasionally striped but no other pattern.

Tops: V Neck, assymetrical or scoop, fitted at the waist.

Bottoms: Bootcut jeans or trousers, pencil skirts.

Coats and jackets: I stick to navy or green and must be fitted at the waist.

Shoes: mainly brown/ tan leather.

Jewellery: Gold

A few years ago I stopped buying clothes in colours that don't suit me, even if that means I'm not wearing what's fashionable at the time.

I have broad shoulders so v necks suit me best - again I'll choose that even when it's not "in".

Also comfort. I cannot be doing with scratchy clothes, over tight clothes, anything that irritates my skin. Has to be soft and comfy fabric.

The above is a stark contrast to my teen goth/ emo years. Before I had my colours done, I wore so much black. Perhaps in an attempt to hide my body as I was overweight.

I don't want to be fashionable, trends come and go. I want to purchase items that make me look good, I love a classic but simple style.

My parents were both church ministers so I was around adults and “on display” from an early age. This was the 70s. My mother and grandmothers were smart dressers and wore simple but elegant clothes. My style has always reached for elegance with a twist (reached for but not always obtained) I love quiet luxury and beautiful, classic pieces.

4 years ago, I moved to a ridiculously hot and humid country. I spent 18 months to 2 years in big floaty dresses because I couldn't work out how to dress, and it was just so damn hot! I hated how I looked and how I dressed, but I just couldn't work it out - which sounds insane, but its true.

My previous look was layered but fitted/tailored, with an overwhelming love of boots, jeans and jackets! Eventually, I got rid of all the floaty stuff and figured out how to mimic my old style for the weather, so really lightweight linen trousers instead of jeans, tops or dresses with built-in bras, Tigers Mexico 66 or a local brand of slip-on shoes instead of boots, and I just had to get over the jacket thing because it simply doesn't work in any way, shape or form!

1. 1940s/50s films with my mum when growing up. Lauren Bacall, Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Joan Fontaine

2. My work - senior woman in a male-dominated industry while being v young for my level. I dress to intimidate (the men) and reinforce the fact that I stand out anyway (big unruly red hair, big eyes, tall) so may as well own it.

3. My income - more disposable income means I can buy good quality which lasts and have built an intense appreciation for natural fibres

What has influenced me-

• Allergy to any metal jewellery other than gold
• Wanting to cover bits of my body like my knees after surgery
• being too set in my ways to be able to accept some things that are fashionable- puff sleeves, big collars, barrel jeans
• wanting natural fibres as much as possible and to be comfortable- this frequently sends me to sites like ebay as I want cashmere and merino but do not want to pay full price!
• occasionally I will see someone looking nice on tv and want to try something eg Ashley Jensen in Shetland's coats
• shopping experience- if a garment bobbles, is poor quality or the customer service is awful I do not go back
• being a bit goth in my youth- I am overly fond of black

My influences include

1. wearing an insulin pump with small boobs means that it’s not hidden if I attach it to my bra so outfits usually have a jacket or loose fitting shirt.
2. wearing a glucose monitor so tops of arms covered.
3. Diabetes resulted in amputation of two toes so heels are out of the question and shoes need to be fairly practical. However despite the above I’m often told how stylish I look so I think it’s about working with what you have and I love clothes

I work with my body shape and colours,

Same here. As a small boobed pear I love the wide leg trousers trend as it suits me so much more than skinny jeans.

I am a jewel winter. I was in town today, and the sea of beige and brown was depressing. No new clothes for me for the time being, although as I have just retired I don't actually need any new clothes.

I don't want to be fashionable, trends come and go. I want to purchase items that make me look good, I love a classic but simple style.

That pretty much sums me up @EveryDayisFriday

Really interesting question.
I was previously into the folk/ Americana scene in my 20s so wore a lot of small floral dresses, cowboy boots etc. so I guess it used to be music ?

Now it’s just shops that are financially accessible to me in natural fabrics but yes I do follow Instagrammers these days

I come from a line of seamstresses and although I've never been a great sewer, some of my most vivid childhood memories are of the excitement of going round to my great aunt's house for a 'fitting' and playing with her button box. When I was a bit older, I used to listen to my mum and my aunties talking about shantung silk and moygashel linen and I knew that fabrics like this were to be treated with respect.

1960s / early 70s TV. My first influencers were Emma Peel, Lady Penelope and Cathy Mcgowan. These days I'm devoted to 1950s films on Talking Pictures.

Going into town, first with my mum, where we'd argue in Marks and Spencers, and then meeting friends on a Saturday and heading to C&A and Chelsea Girl. It's led me with a love of 'real shops' that I've never shaken off and I've struggled a bit to adapt to online shopping even while accepting the old days aren't coming back.

Getting into vintage when I was 19. Not that anyone called it that then, it was all just second hand. I lapsed for 10 years or so in the '90s/early 2000s when the high street was so cheap and exciting it felt rude not to shop there but I went back to it after the banking crash.

Above all I love clothes that have a story. One of my retirement projects is researching fashion history and working out where my vintage clothes came from and it's fascinating.

I was briefly into dressing for your shape but I'm not in the least bit interested now.

Having a very critical family. Which sounds awful doesn’t it but sort of wasn’t as they were very very loving at the same time. I was the only fat one in the family so this was the focus (for my mum it was her teenage bad skin).

therefore dressing to disguise. Adapting what I liked to what fit me was tricky. I would never wear shorts or a mini skirt or anything fitted once I hit puberty.

i have a lot of curves - short waisted, busty, robust limbs. And I’m short. Not always easy to find clothes that fit well.

not being very visual. I am not good with colours, I cannot anticipate how outfits work together very well.

having quite plain taste. Not utilitarian but not overtly feminine.

all of those things define how I dress. I actually love fashion especially in a historic context but I see it as something removed from me personally, it’s something to be looked upon and enjoyed that way rather than consumed by me.

Oh I forgot about dressing up! Dig deep enough (probably not very far) and you'll still find that child who dreamed about being Emma Peel or Margot Fonteyn

Living in Paris as a student influenced me. Less is more. Subtle and discreet style. Good cuts and classic styles. I tend to avoid trends. Quality over quantity.

To many, this probably seems dull. I don't stand out from the crowd that's for sure!

Trinny and Susannah's first book in dressing for body shape was also useful!

Oh goodness - I only ran out for my bakery and coffee bean orders! (Am still out, with contact lenses so please forgive typos.)

I’m no more influenced by strict colour rules than I am by my own shape so I find it hard to fathom that way of dressing.

But I can well imagine that growing up being particularly visible in one’s community must impose a certain self-consciousness and rigour. (I recall an astonishingly beautiful spread in either Vogue or Harpers Bazaar decades ago where a church going community in the US all aimed for Chanel level splendour in their Sunday church clothes.) I don’t myself remember any particular pressure to look a certain way when I was growing up in the 1960s/70s Homes Counties - but I’m sure my immigrant parents (students who moved into professional careers) cared quite a bit about how their children were presented. They were each tremendously interested in clothes so we were beautifully dressed.

The main thing that influences my clothes is my weight and shape. I hate my poochy tummy and if I'm honest that's the main thing, I feel like I'm always trying to hide it. I'm a size 14, never wear anything that clings to the tummy, but I like things that nip in slightly higher at the waist so I don't look totally shapeless - surprising how difficult it is to find clothes like that. I also avoid anything sleeveless as I look like a rugby player, very blocky. I hate puff sleeves as they make me look even wider, and round necks up to the throat make me look blocky so I avoid those, prefer a more feminine neckline where I can. So really, it's less about buying things I actually like and more about trying to avoid things that make me look even fatter. That is basically it in a nutshell. Sad really. Constantly trying and failing to lose weight. Stupid as even just a stone would make a huge difference, but it's a struggle. So the clothes I actually like I rarely buy. Even jeans make my poochy tummy worse, thick material and button/zip at the front add to the bulge, so I'm in bootcut jeggings mostly which are flat on the tummy.

My Mum raised me to value elegance and dressing “appropriately”.

Our definitions of “appropriate” vary but I’ve raised my own children in much the same way:

Dress for the occasion
Dress elegantly
Dress to suit your particular figure
Avoid “designer” brands

I am increasingly concerned about the ethics of fast fashion so I do my best to “buy less and wear more”.

I also try to buy from slow fashion brands or second hand.

Great thread! Lots of things influence me, I think. My grandmother had some glamorous things, my mum is a very classic dresser, both helped me think about quality.

I went through punk, goth and indie phases as a teen and young adult, so music and musicians are a big influence on me. I am very visual, so seeing something that someone else is wearing: photos, real life, film etc. and thinking how that would work for me or which elements I could wear is still a big influence.

I'm quite tall and very straight up and down, have very cool-toned colouring - pale skin, blue eyes, silver hair and needing functional clothes. So, I think I've ended up with a functional style with hints of retro/rockchick/hippy depending on mood.

Interesting thread OP. I have had the seed of a style since a teenager when I borrowed my step dad’s shirts and ties and paired it with cycling shorts ( 😂… I never said it was a good style ). The 90’s was a rich seam for me with very severe minimalist, black, bodycon with long tailored skirts and nipped in waists. My low point was the Trinny & Susannah years where I bought guides on dressing for my shape and went very neutral with my colours. I remember being very inspired by Mary Portas with her bob and I wore lots of cropped jackets and big statement necklaces. Nowadays I’m very interested in styling the clothes I have to create some friction. I like mannish tailoring ( still) , “ the wrong shoe “ theory and high / low combinations. I play around a lot with my clothes trying them in different combinations and take photos to save. I also have most of my wardrobe stored on the Stylebook app. I try not to buy clothes but I have access to some good charity shops. I still have a nose of good quality and my buys this year have been a Max Mara blazer, a stone coloured Reiss cardigan, a black leather Coccinelle bucket bag and some sunglasses with yellow lenses. This way the thrifting gods guide my style somewhat.

@hurtandconflicted I’m always quite fascinated by advances in diabetes tech - and therefore wondering why your insulin pump and glucose monitor need to be hidden. Is that for the safety of the instruments or because you prefer not to have them visible? (And if the latter, why?)