Please help this old crow decipher Modern Trends

[Thankyouitwasdelicious]

It's happened and I am in my elasticated trouser era. Loads of sweatpants available but am I too old?

I looked at John Lewis (of course I did) and they have lots of Superdry ones which look comfortable but would I be a laughing stock (late 50s)? It all looks very 90s Britney and early Jack Wills to me which was my university era. Luckily I don't care but I do need to understand the exact coding so I can style out my mutton mistakes if I make them.

I would ask my children but I was partying so hard in the 90s that I forgot to have them.

This would be for wearing at home mostly but I do venture out in daylight hours occasionally.

“Partying so hard I forgot to have them” 🤣🤣🤣

Why not try the Iet Frans ones from Urban Outfitters. They are ridiculously outsized, comically so, but somehow they look quite cool on. Stupidly comfortable and wash well too.

These? Hmmm ... I'm afraid they look like waterproof over-trousers to me (I know, I have a pair for ridiculously wet/boggy site visits!!).

Not all elasticated trousers are sweatpants, OP. Loads of trousers have fully or partly elasticated waists these days (since lockdown & people working from
home en masse).

Are sweatpants what you actually want, or just comfy but stylish trousers that you can wear while working from home?

(Also late 50s, & forgot to have children along the way ...!!)

I have some nice adidas checked trousers which are some sort of weird tracksuit/formal trouser hybrid. Which is so odd as a combo that I feel like it must be trendy. I’m mid-forties for reference.

Heaven’s sake! For home (and occasional outside) wear you can’t really do better than:

https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-sweatshirts-hoodies-joggers

And you get to feel virtuous and clever as well, as they have the smallest possible mark-ups, as well as things being made here.

Urban Outfitters is quite a 'young' brand. Women's Bottoms | Women's Trousers, Skirts & Jeans | Urban Outfitters UK

The same group has Anthropologie and Free People, which you might prefer.

I suppose really I'm after a dossing about and working from home trouser which I can wear on days my arthritic knee can't bend inside non-stretch denim. But I want it to look intentional rather than slovenly.

Thank you WildCherryBlossom for the Urban Outfitters idea but I fear I would look like I'd eaten all 4 members of All Saints in those.

GoodbyePat - thank you, Community Clothing looks fantastic on all fronts!

“I would ask my children but I was partying so hard in the 90s that I forgot to have them.”

brilliant, I might have to pinch that!

Sweatpants are quite the thing. I find it quite strange watching the 90s revival but I like it.

I wouldn’t factor in your age. I think we’re in a situation where the sorts of clothes that are fashionable are okay for everybody.

agree that lots of trousers have partly elasticated bands now. You mentioned your knee. Have you tried the jeans (that strictly speaking properly aren’t jeans) that have some elastane in them? Everywhere does these.

I also suggest "Do I have children?" (worried look) "Gosh I knew I'd forgotten something!" for necessary occasions.

I'm ok on elastic as part of tailored trousers and in jeans (now there's a thought). It's whether I, Barren Beryl (MDMA) née 1969, would look tragic in Superdry or similar athleisure or should I just find a nice plain powder blue pair from M&S.

Um… not sure about the powder blue

Why not Superdry? I mean, look at these for example. Is this the kind of thing you’re thinking of?

https://www.superdry.com/outlet/womens/bottoms/athletic-tonal-embroidered-wide-leg-joggers-269876.html?source=googleshopping&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24313166597&gbraid=0AAAAAD0z0wIhZT9n0HX1GKFzKYQdO0Bo9&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-JGuouLQlwMVqUVBAh2u4QvkEAQYAiABEgJcHfD_BwE

Stop using the word "mutton". I don't care that you're trying to be amusingly self-deprecating but it's a horrible word to use about any woman.

Ancient crow here, so not that fashion conscious, but I make an effort. I live near a Cotswold Outdoor shop and have bought a couple of things that get nice comments.

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/c/womens.html

Good quality too, not cheap. Maybe avoid the stuff aimed at people going to Patagonia to actually climb the Andes:

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/ayacucho-womens-baleal-corduroy-trousers-B11CEH0731.html (Just love them. Hugely comfortable.)

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/acai-womens-boyfriend-hoodie-B11BFA0344.html?colour=107 (Not this one but v. similar.)

I'm still dithering over whether to buy a cropped fleece/hoody/sweatshirt.

OP, I am older than you and don't believe in clothes or brands having age limits. (Within reason, of course, I'd frighten horses in scrunch bum leggings and crop top)

Let me add an off the wall (and expensive) option. Google Cut Loose. It's a San Francisco company that uses natural fabrics and properly paid people. Small production runs so it never ends up on E Bay. But once you accept paying a real world price for nicely made clothes, and most of us are out of the habit, their stuff is comfortable to wear and very forgiving for bodies over 50. Edgy, but not delusionary. And good colours -- usually.

Superdry do make very good joggers though. I wear mine (five years old or thereabouts) every morning.

I think they might have been sold through Plümo at some point.

Don’t you have to pay a load of extra fees in import duty for that?

I hope people don’t post too much on here…. I am developing an alarming fondness for leisurewear… it’s a winter thing. And gym thing. I see people leaving the gym in these really nice…. Tracksuits.? I mean I can’t believe I just said that.

it never ends up on E Bay I've seen it.

Watching with interest.
I need some too, but not sure what to get.

(That All Saints comment made me laugh 😂)

Have a look at Masai trousers, I've lived in these for years, the ribbed fabric makes them look smart, machine wash, flexible and so comfy https://www.masai.co.uk/trousers-1/prina-jersey-trousers/1007653.html?dwvar_1007653_color=0001S&pi=7

I think I just had a worry that I am too old for things I wore as a student but yes, those sorts of joggers. Thank you for your suggestions, all of you, I am following all of them up.

Try some Halara wide leg jeans. So, so comfortable and really flattering. You can dress them up or down and wear with heels or trainers.

They're the Shein of athleisure wear, though. Very poorly rated on sustainability/traceability/working conditions etc.

Look at The Style Attic, they’re magic barrel leg trousers come in smooth stretchy fabric like denim, baby cord, jersey - I’ve got loads of them, their customer service is fab too, they’re a family business based in Leeds
https://share.google/Ycx9vC8SW8oRo67Cp

I think you'll find M&S has moved on (although powder blue was very in this year, along with pale yellow ...)

I must admit OP, I'm quite thrown by how you talk about yourself as if you're nearing the grave - but you're two years younger than I am!! And "barren" is such a horrid word ...

Maybe I'm delusional, but I don't think of myself as an ancient crow ... nor do I consider myself out of touch with fashion (though I pick & choose what I like, to complement & fit in with my own style).

That said, I'm not able to advise on joggers, as I didn't wear them in the 90s & don't intend to start! Any kind of sportswear just looks ridiculous on me, for some reason. I also hate clothes with logos - so even the relatively discreet branding on the Superdry bottoms is too much for me.

Also, I'm always warm so I dislike fleece or sweatshirt-type fabrics. My default pair of trousers for lounging around the house is an indigo twill drawstring-waisted pair from Toast (which I bought on Vinted so don't know the style). But you might like some of their current offerings. Mine aren't too dissimilar to these:

These also may suit - though you didn't mention a budget? I never pay full price for Toast though. Sales, or resale sites.

https://www.toa.st/products/cotton-hemp-loopback-jersey-trousers-dark-charcoal?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18437612048&dema_id=18437612048&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18437706656&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-zWBhAdEiwAqlRf-Jkqq97NGWwuyWBAk0Q0afomyMLQG0vvf3sAg3aXGI79G9FcFI--XRoCs8kQAvD_BwE