A little moan...women of a certain age...

[howtotellmum]

I am a reasonably trim, fashionable late 40s- look a bit younger so I am told- but am so depressed at lack of suitable summer clothes this year.

Everything is either sleeveless and very young, empire line and smocky ( don't want to look PG), or floral like curtains.

I am not old enough for Kalico, or CCs, don't like Hobbs ( all those spots), Phase 8 and Fenn Wright Manson are all to floral and droppy, and mother-of-the-bride, Monsoon looks garish, White Stuff and Fat Face are aging hippy...

Jesire and Whistles are drab this season...I could go on!

used to love Jigsaw and Kew, but Jigsaw is now silly prices, and everything this year is purple, navy or black ( not my colours), and the dresses are either too formal or too floaty.

Have bought one colour block dress from Boden, and one skirt Jigsaw and one skirt from Kew.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I like Whitestuff - excellent cut - T shirts and jeans are fab; Crew - preppy and fresh; and the Timberland womans range (sans logos please!). But then I am only 39 ....

point taken about poetry collection ...

I AM staid ... ... have to live up to my nickname

but I guess what I should have said is that after a certain age .... is it really necessary (sorry can't think of a better word - tired) for the main pieces of your wardrobe to be fashionable?? Sorry, I know this sounds like a wierd question but I find it's better (for me personally) to buy classic separates and then use accessories to keep them contemporary ...spend a fair bit more on shoes and bags and scarves then when I was young

I do agree with your overall point though. There is a definite gap in the market for the late forties. Tis a very difficult age.

not expressing this very well ..

obviously main pieces have to be in fashion (we are not talking elasticated waists here) but not necessarily cutting edge ifswim ...

CountingtheGreyHairs - IMVHO, it becomes ever more important, with passing age, to be "cutting edge" . I am much more daring with clothes now (43 next month) than I was 20 years ago; and although I still have a few things hanging around in my wardrobe from 10 years ago, they seem staid compared to what I buy now.

When you are young and lithe and bare flesh is attractive, anything goes! As you age, and you want to cover up more, the cut and colour of the clothes take on much more importance.

Counting- do agree with you. My basic wardrobe is quite plain, but I always like to match say plain trousers, or jeans, with a slightly unusual top- the sorty JIGSAW USED to do!

I'm notlooking for high fashion, but neother do I want to look as if everything I am wearing may have come from M&S most staid range!

I have very few clothes, and wear them to death.
I jjust like clothes that are in good fabrics, and have a kind of ethnic or slightly quirky twist to them. I know what I can't wear- which is anything too girly- such as puff sleeves, tiered gypsy skirts, full skirts, strappy tops unless cardi over, etc.

I also know that anything longer than just on the knee skirts adds about 10 years to me, and because I am only 5 3", clothes have to have shape and fit, or I look short and dumpy.

yes, HowtotellMum, I find one of the advantages of getting older is that you do know what suits you and what doesn't

and you get to see the fashions being recycled and so can be a bit choosy in the knowledge that it will always come around again ...

Bonsoir Anna - I dressed much more conservatively when I was younger too (partly because it was the style then - think Lady Di - oh the shame) and I agree that you have to make more effort as you age - and that dressing in your forties is a nightmare - too classic and you can look 90, too cutting edge and you are in danger of mutton dressed as lamb

But I don't do "edgy". My figure doesn't allow for it now. And frankly the shops around me aren't great. Nor do I have the patience. And I have different priorities. So I go for the best cut and quality I can afford and if I find something I like - I buy 3 - and wear 'em to death!

I am 43 and I own a sewing machine.

I'm mid 40s and buy clothes from Zara, Uniqlo, Comptoir, Agnes B, Joseph, Primark, Prada, Gap, Toast. I spend more on accessories/shoes rather than clothes, from Hermes, Lanvin, CL.

I am 52 but shortish and petitish. 5'4" and size 12. I agree it is really difficult to find a good mid way for clothes. Had a quick look round yesterday and so much of the stuff is really dressy/going out clothes. I like OSKA, some Hobbs, some M and S Autograph. Love Marella and Paul Smith but can't afford unless in the sales. Jaeger isn't so fuddy duddy now and that is good quality but pricey.

I'm 42 and thought it was just me. I absolutely hate trawling around shops looking for clothes - quite apart from dodging teenagers preening themselves in every mirror, the 'young' shops are waaayyyy too young, and the old shops are waaayyy too old.
I do like white stuff, some monsoon (but less and less, these days), bits from top shop and debenhams. Next is boring, boring, boring.
Thank goodness for ebay!

This shop www.hubshop.co.uk/index.html has some great 'pieces' (hate that word)...

I was drooling over Comptoir des Cotonniers ... went to their shop in Kingston ... biggest size was a 14. So I ain't going there ever again on principle!

(When I was young, I was a size 8, and had no money. Now I am 40+ , and a size 16, I have money ... but many shops turn their noses up at ladies my size. When will they learn?)

Pleased to see that others are having the same problem as me. I'm about to be 'mother-of-the-groom' and am having great difficulty in finding an outfit. I don't want 'CC floaty' or independent shop 'bride's mother' type of wear which trades on the desire not to be a 'high street clone' (who cares?). Bride's mother is wearing Anne Balon and I'm sure will look lovely but it's not my style. I'd just like something that's not too dowdy but not too young. I'm a slim 5'6" size 10 so it shouldn't be too difficult, but it is. I've brought home numerous Hobbs, Phase Eight and Kaliko outfits, all unsuitable in either cut, colour or style and am beginning to think I don't know myself what I want though I'm pretty sure I'd know it if I saw it. I'm fast running out of time - what's the betting I'll give up and end up in a frumpy frock and jacket anyway?

I'm 40 this year, and a very scruffy casual dresser. I still wear a lot of White Stuff and Jigsaw/Kew, some Boden jeans and cardies, Gap basics, some All Saints. But (am lucky enough to have a bit of disposable income) in the last couple of years I have realised that spending more for something non-mass-market can get you something a bit different, more suitable for a grown-up look, better quality and strangely, much more often with sleeves. I haven't bought a lot but I have a couple of things from two designers I've discovered, odd molly and ghulam sakina, that I love and get a lot of use from - dress/tunic things that you can wear with tights/boots or over jeans. It's worth a google. I never want to become a mad fashion victim or buy mostly expensive clothes and I don't want to sound like a terrible ponce BUT but I think it's worth it if you find something that is totally "you" and you will wear a lot. (haven't bought anything costing more than £200 btw so I'm not talking haute couture).

I love Odd Molly (not that I have any). Gorgeous things

Flora,try Nougat or Avoca,from House of Fraser,or independent boutiques.
Individual,classy,slightly quirky type of clothes.

Found this site while googling for Avoca

Get My Fashion

I'm taking it that 'grown up girls' is a euphemism for the over 40s

It features some of the brands mentioned below. Haven't investigated it thoroughly myself, am off to do so...

Hey, I was going to link to that site. It's great, I've got some of my favourite clothes from one of their Devon shops. Absolutely our demographic I think.

I have the same issue, although am not 40 yet.

Try Toast - I have a few things from there this year, and I think the sale is meant to be starting soon.

I wear alot of Gap and Zara at the moment. Don't like Hobbs or Kew as they just seem too middle aged.

White Stuff and Fatface are rather dull I think, and every other school mum is wearing them where I live.

Boden just doesn't suit me - I think it is too middle aged. French Connection is ok - I love the jeans from there as they seem to fit me.

I agree about Jigsaw - hugely silly prices now, i think I used to get my entire working wardrobe from there, but it is too expensive and rather dull this year imo.

I love odd molly, there is lots of brand new OM in ebay where it is much more reasonable.

I got this dress and of course I look just like HC wearing it. I wear it with a belt as I'm short, and a leather biker style jacket and it is one of those great throw it on in the morning outfits.

I think the key things are to know your self - what colours and cuts suit you and to keep reading newspapers and magazines to see what looks you like. ALso dont rule out whole shops = go and look you never know

Macherie - I love that dress! Is is this season?

Talbot it is from their summer 09 collection, it's called berry, the colour is powder.

down at bottom of page

I googled it and it came up on ebay, but was on a few US and scandanavian sites too, for much more obv.

I LOVE it

Macherie - I'm on it already! Am in touch with someone who has it on my size. It is exactly my style and a big thankyou for pointing it out.

Brilliant

Let me know if you get it!