I seem to have forgotten how to dress for my age....

[HeadFairy]

How on earth do you do casual when you're nealy 40? Neither my working life nor my home life call for much smartness, certainly I've never worn a suit and only really wear denim skirts with boots in winter. I'm really struggling to know how to do casual now I'm approaching 40. All casual clothes seem to be much more appropriate for 20s/early 30s. I live in my jeans/longsleeved teeshirt/converse uniform, but I'd like to look a bit more fashionable while avoiding looking odd.

skinny jeans woolly tunic and boots is what i seem to be wearing. nobody has told me off and my team are quite likely to if i go a bit mumsy.

do not worry about looking fashionable, think instead about looking stylish

get decent leather low-heeled boots - warmer and smarter than Converse
Wrangler do some good ones [rummages] thus

Nowt wrong with jeans and tshirts but make sure they are flattering shapes - no crew necks unless you are slim and flat chested

I do jeans with nice jumpers and black boots in the winter, or a long corduroy skirt with boots adn a jumper like today.
I also have a pair of nice black trousers, which again I will wear with a nice jumper and my trusty black boots.

But don't take fashion advice from me, I have never been trendy

Those are nice boots MrsB, but I have massive feet, well size 9, so high street is not great for me. Next do size 9 shoes, but that's about it, hence the converses.

I tend to wear bootcut jeans as I've got big hips and bum so they balance me a bit but I caught sight of myself this morning and thought I looked so mumsy. Of course, nothing wrong with that, I am a mother after all

So where does nice affordable knitwear I can pair with my endless supply of jeans? I'm a bit to admit I had about 5 sports branded hoodie type things in my cupboard (Nike things - shudder) I was still wearing, they've all gone to the charity shop now, but I need to replace them with some nice winter woolies that are fashionable. I have a rather large rack so I have to stick to slim knits rather than chunky knits.

uniqlo
boden

i find 100% merino wears best, although the moths seem to like it too.

damn you fishie, just spent a fortune in the Boden sale

I think layering looks modern and not 'mumsy'
Also,an occasional piece from a more 'trendy' shop,such as Topshop,New Look,Miss Selfridge etc can update other things.
As I seem to say on all these threads,I think accessories are key.A chunky necklace and bangle can lift the plainest t shirt and jeans combo,as can the sleeveless/short sleeved knitwear around atm.
Also,I always wear a bit of makeup, and scarf and beanie hat if cold as it is now

I am much older than you. Forget "age" and dress to suit you.
Jeans are fine, as are other casual trousers.
Usual shops- Boden, Kew, Jigsaw, Monsoon, Zara, Next.
Stay away from middle age frump like Country Casuals, Kaliko, and all such makes found on 2nd floors of dept stores!

honest friend, I always try and avoid second floors in dept stores!

All those shops I do go to, Jigsaw, Kew, Boden and so on, but they don't seem to do super casual, I always feel a bit too smart in their clothes. Not that that's an issue, but if I really want to slum it and still look like a 38 year old (rather than a 38 year old trying to look like a 23 year old) I struggle.

HeadFairy, just in case the Boden spree produces some "return" items........I bought some lovely knitwear from both Top Shop and Zara today - our local stores seem to have a plentiful supply of sales items still. It was all a great mix of casual but stylish and was all either merino wool or merino/silk mix. The most expensive jumper I bought in Top Shop was £15 ! But my gorgeous navy long cardigan did cost me a whopping £30 from Zara.....but I will love it forever .

Zara always comes up really short and small on me. I guess it's made for teeny Spanish senoritas, not tall (big bummed) Northern European types. Same with anything remotely Japanese/Chinese. Uniqlo is impossible for me, proportions are all wrong.

Topshop knitwear can be excellent.Very up to date as well
As I said earlier,I am finding an item from TS or similar mixed with Boden/Kew/Autograph can really update things.

White Stuff?
Quite casual. Slightly ethnic.

I find a bit more quirky than Boden, but I don't like their dresses and their skirts are always a bit too long for me-only 5'3".

Oh yes,forgot White Stuff!
I love their tunics and knitwear.As Honest says,much quirkier than Boden

I have the opposite problem in White Stuff, not cut for taller people, the shirt sleeves come to my mid forearm, the shoulder seams are too high so the armholes are really tight, the waistlines are always too high too. 5'10" isn't that tall, but it makes a difference to clothes that are cut for a 5'6" average person, they just don't sit right.