Dressing with a bit of an 'edgy' look.

[Richtea67]

Hi, I need to re vamp my wardrobe for autumn/winter and need some advice on how to incorporate a bit of 'edgy chic'. I'm early 40's, 5ft 2, size 14/16 and hour glass shape with big boobs and a bit of a mum tum. I have dark hair and olive skin, so tend to suit darker/autumn colours. I need a couple of staple bits, and some clothes I can also wear for work ( casual dress code). I already have some chunky boots and a grey leather jacket. I went shopping today in local town and it was totally uninspiring!

I have bought uniglo cropped bra tops in black, red and green. I am the same as you possibly bigger. The XL actually fits my boobs and the crop gives me a defined waist. I bought a couple of jeans from halara for the short size and stretch and have pretty much a new winter wardrobe. I also found Room Lytham really good for cropped wide trousers that are the perfect normal length for my height.

i love silver jewellery and have found a few good shops on Etsy based in India that I buy myself one new piece a month.
Am I edgey - no looking at the lovely ladies at the Evanescence concert at the weekend. Am I happier because I am feel more me than just my kids mum. Yes.

I'm someone who was quite 'alternative' when younger, think Indie kid, occasionally a bit goth. Had fully bright (eg bleached and dyed) pink and once blue hair before it was relatively common like it is now.

I sort of lost the 'edginess' in the last but one job I was in where I had to be semi-formal for the office for the best part of 10 years and I made a decision to try to get it back a bit in my mid 40s. Cut my hair short again with a (subtle) undercut, got some unusual coats and shoes, some slightly punky stuff. Hell, I even bought some bondage trousers for going out at the age of 48 earlier this year. Vinted is good that way - it's a fairly cheap, low-risk way of trying out some more extreme stuff. You can always search 'alternative/punk/goth' etc

It's not all tartan mini skirts. I've been wearing this for work
https://www.disturbia.co.uk/products/poison-eden-midaxi-shirt-dress

The Disturbia stuff looks a bit cheap IMO.

Wears My Money (whose blog/insta I find generally good) included “boho goth” in a recent autumn trends post https://www.wearsmymoney.com/fashion/7-autumn-2026-trends-ill-be-wearing-2/ Might be useful inspiration if you feel more comfortable with the boho end of edgy

That is gorgeous but not goth!

Goth is a lifestyle - the music, makeup, hair, clothes. It would be very random in your early 40s to reinvent yourself into a goth because someone on Mumsnet recommended it as 'edgy'
I think she needs to find her style and what colours and shapes work well for her. A consultation with john Lewis would be a good start as they have some great contemporary brands a stylist can recommend.

I think I know what you mean - sharp and sassy? A bit of Anna wintour? To counteract the frumpiness that middle age lends itself to?

I suggest the following:

A blunter cut of your current hairstyle. Slightly chunkier jewellery in dark silver or muted golds.
sharpen and neaten up edges where you can and then soften with muted colours.

I’d start at All saints

I'm older than you and love Disturbia.

I just need to be a little selective in the styles I pick. And most of the dresses have ...pockets!

Disturbia ads keep cropping up on my phone now. It's not always my style but there's a very lovely burgundy kilt with metal rings, unfortunately not wool, though.I do already have a vintage one.

What is this too old? I'm 55 and have had fairly similar taste all my life.

Hi OP, give AI a go. Upload a pic of you makeup free and ask it to analyse your colours. Then one of you in slim fitting clothes and ask it to analyse you shape and say what things you like and to suggest a capsule wardrobe. It should give you some ideas and you can tweak it with suggestions e.g more edgy, cool, younger etc

That will mean the OP will still be looking for something edgy.

Slightly 'edgy' smart-casual work wardrobe? | Mumsnet

I’m obviously not sure where you live or your budget, but I see John Lewis advertising personal stylist sessions where you can go and they help you to create a new look, could that be a thought?

Ludicrous gate-keeping on edginess here 🤣

@Dolphinnoises ,did you have any suggestions?

Well you can be into looking 'gothic' without being 'goth' IMO. There's a difference for going for a darker-edged aesthetic and being full on into the scene and it's not somehow disrespectful to goths to be 'gothic' if that's what you like aesthetically even if you're not into everything that goes with it.

I used to be kinda gatekeepy about 'alternativeness' but now I know that it's fine for someone to have pink hair and a full sleeve tattoo and to be into Love Island and Rihanna and Taylor Swift if that's their thing.

Disturbia
Ragged Priest
Killstar
Kate's clothing
Damaged Society
Stuart Trevor
Koi
Joe Browns

They are all alternative, edgy, post punk, goth and ofcourse Joe Browns are the end to add a bit of colour. Koi are shoes and boots

I don't understand what point you are making. Someone else suggested that Disturbia would make you look like a 40 year old goth and be beyond sad. I did not.

Disturbia has lots of dark colours and patterns but nothing too out there and similar to dresses you'd find elsewhere on the high street. And why shouldn't a 40-year old wear it?

Not Joe browns.

try asos, river island and topshop for bits you like

example soft edgy look for me would be a checked dress (plenty around at the moment) with boots (it’s almost time) or chunky trainers with a rocker bag and something to elevate - a piece of jewellery, a bold eyeliner or lip.

another suggestion to All Saints would be bimbo y Lola.

for inspiration have a look at zadig
amd Voltaire, Maje and Isabel Marant.

I wouldn’t say my style is edgy, maybe slightly alternative.

I wear lots of black, denim, leather or suede jacket, blazers, straight leg jeans/trousers. Still love a Doc Marten boot with tights and dresses, leather leggings or black skinnies (not really so much in fashion now but I still
like them) black eyeliner, silver jewellery, converse.

There are certain things I just don’t wear - pastel or bright colours, cardigans, padded coats, hiking/ outdoor type coats (unless I’m going hiking), maxi dresses, denim jeans with white trainers, Sketchers all fine I’m sure, just not my style.

I find stuff I like in the normal high street shops. I also like some of the Scamp and Dude things, especially the skirts.

If you like boho OP I second BASH, they have some great pieces and decent sales. Also look for past season Sézane but beware of fakes, the current season looks less like their historic aesthetic to me.
What I’d do is go and sit in a popular coffee shop and really look at people to get an idea of what I do and don’t like and then think about whether it would work on me. I find watching Trinny’s closet confessions helpful as she shows how different things fit together and how altering the line of something really changes the complete look. Appreciating Trinny is a different shape to you (she is to me too) but her principles and thought process translate across. Good luck and have fun with it.

I don’t know why everyone seems to have interpreted ‘edgy’ to mean ‘Emo’! You can add edge to all your usual looks by wearing interesting earrings, belts or hair clasps.

Actually I think @PinkNeonSign makes a great point - it’s not so much what you do wear as what you don’t!

@Richtea67 it sounds as though this is the perfect season for you to try out the look you like, there’s loads of checks and tweeds about, and Paisley pattern.

Try the supermarkets for bits so you can find out what works for you without spending a fortune

I’m in my fifties and I guess a bit “edgy” in my outfits but definitely not emo or goth

I think the style has to come from you, not a personal shopper for this sort of look

Sainsbury’s has this long tartan skirt. I’d pair it with maybe a band type t shirt and a wee cardigan or dark denim jacket. Biker boots or chunky loafers

there are short ones too

I also like the satin skirts or shorts with a lace trim (ASOS) with a black long line jacket, thick or lacy tights and boots, or a chunky knit

Just pick bits you like and play about with them!