So where do over 50's (early) shop

[knowallnora]

It seems to be becoming more and more difficult to find appropriate clothes, you know - dont want to look 30 but not 70 either. Used to use Principle (has it closed down?), river island (too young) becoming really hard. Any ideas?

all the brands I quoted do mail order.

Hobbs, jigsaw, phase 8, boden, LK bennet, joules, are all good and I agree that Marks and Spencer is too frumpy even for underware.

Having turned 50 last year I really identify with OP. So hard to find suitable clothes that arent ageing...I tend to live in jeans and fleeces, so for those times when I would like to look smart, I end up looking like WI meets V festival - NOT good.
Ideally need to have a pesonal shopper, but they can be £££, and the ones that are less so have dressed similar age friends in CC and viyella.

I find Kew clothes fit me, like jigsaw (not keen on whistles), Gap for basics, Farhi and Paul Costelloe (although latter a bit suity for my style). I'd love to be 'styled' - and so need it - have just come back from a V depressing shopping trip having bought the same stuff YET AGAIN. Makes me look like a french matron.

And why oh why are all the pretty dresses sleeveless??? I have upper arms like a stevedore, I want to HIDE them, not flap them around! And nor do I want a cute little cardy, or bolero, or jacket....please God, I there anything out there?

Breathing now - need chocolate cake and coffee. Hate shopping.

I am 46 and mainly wear jeans in teh day gap or diesel skinnies or boyfriend.Still wear converse and boots a lot.Simple dresses with footless tights and nice shoes Get a lot from zara and h and m too.I haven't really changed my style apart from not as cheap as that does look terrible.

i went through an "old" phase last summer (at 50) when I was struggling to find things that suited. I'd got into a middle-aged mindset, I think, and i was quite shocked to see my waist disappear - hence the craving for elasticated waists! I've got over trying to "look my age" now and wear what everyone else does (within reason). I love mags such as Woman and Home too, for not being too patronising and showing realistic role models.

At the moment I'm wearing leggings (cheap); a bodycon vest (cheap) a long cardi (not waterfall) and funky lace-up boots, plus scarf. I've also got out of the habit of "matching" which I think can make you look frumpy as you get older. I've just cleared out some bootcut jeans, some flared jeans and cheap V neck jumpers which all of a sudden I find ageing.

For me the problem is more about getting my weight under control - something I've been trying/failing for the last few years to do!

I don't like formal clothes and am fortunate that in my work I can usually wear whatever I like - I only have to be a bit smarter if I'm with clients. The marketing/advertising world is pretty casual these days.

At the moment, I'm wearing my staple - jeans. Today's are (horror of horrors) from Per Una, but they are good, straight leg denim. I also have a pair of black ones. I pretty much live in them.

I quite like some of the Indigo stuff in M&S.

I hate shopping though, so my first port of call is always M&S as we have a big one very close to us, with easy parking! It's in the same building as a large Sainsbury, where I do all my shopping, so I regularly browse their stuff - there are occasionally some nice pieces.

I still like Kew. Love the jersey dresses and little cardis in for spring.

I have nice accessories and have fabulous hair, if I say so myself!! Just wear what you like and bugger the style gurus.

I agree weight being stable and feeling slim makes it a lot easier to have a choice.

Definitely, clothes hang much better, although there's a fine line between keeping your figure, and not being too gaunt. BIWI have you looked at [www.myfitnesspal.com]? Recent discovery thanks to mumsnet, helped me considerably.

Has all been said really - I'm older than you and not slim. Don't see my age as a barrier, though size is more so I must admit. Nevertheless love shopping and buying clothes, shoes, and accessories that I like and suit me. Also enjoy reading magazines - even Grazia - and I get ideas for looks from them, even when the actual clothes are too small or 'youthful' for me.

Particularly agree with advice of Purplepeony (how I share you feelings about gold jewellery), cabbageroses, and higgle. Also bonsoir's keep it simple and stylish suggestions.

My favourites - which all of course do your size and sell online, are M and S Autograph, Boden (careully selected), Hobbs,and L K Bennett. Also like Whistles and Jaeger, though it is £££. And some Isabella Oliver. And accessories from Comptoir des Cotonniers. No CC, Viyella, Windsmoor, or Per Una.

What is CC?

let you into a secret- I name changed a while back- I was PP.

Yesterday, for example, I was casual. I spent all day in the west end. I wore straight leg skinny cords, almost velvet from White Stuff, ( could just have easily been jeans from Uniqlo), a white T uniqlo, and a longish cover your bum V neck cardi from Banana Republic. Topped with a trench coat from Mint velvet and chunky boots from Jones.

A varition on this is my every day look- white scooped neck Ts, tank tops- plain colours- cropped cardis or longer plain tunics- White Company, varous cardi and jumpers from Jigsaw. Jeans tucked into boots or out, depending.

I am 55 next month and my favs are

Hobbs (specially NW3 collection)
Monsoon (bolero cardis)
Boden (cropped cardis, cropped jeans)
L K Bennett (grown up stuff)
Laura Ashley
Wallis (from time to time)
Mango
Phase Eight
Kettlewell colours (for tees/tops in every colour you can think of)

I cannot do East as it is all to big & droopy & long for me - I am Gamine (5ft 3", size 10), so I need neat fitted clothes with quirky details. I spend a LOT of time looking and not much time buying!

Noddy - CC is Country Casuals.

I'm headed towards 50, and my main problem is daytime shoes. I'm nearly 5'10" and feel uncomfy at my height so don't want to feel taller. Cannot bring myself to like anything from Clarks ever so wear Converse as a uniform. It's OK (and I think a bit cool right now) but I can't see myself changing ever, so will be wearing them at 82!

Everyday shoe suggestions would be very welcome. I do own biker type boots too. I'll warn you, have never found any I like on MN!

For work it's Mid range wide leg trousers, a colourful top and cardi with boots, ballet flats or leather converse (primary supply teacher). Visiting friends is selected items from Boden, Phase 8 dresses (we have an outlet shop close by), or a trawl round John Lewis. Also the odd retro thing and a few inappropriate items from Camden or holidays abroad. Lots of different jewellery.

cabbages and roses, can i ask where you bought your denim skirt from? Just to add, i am late fifties, size ten and find Top Shop 'Martha' jeans brilliant tucked into chunky boots. TopShop 'Baxter' skinny jeans are good too.

I bought my denim skirt from Boden- it was the pencil skirt. I did actually sell it on Ebay last week as I hadn't worn it for a while- started working from home more- so slob around in yoga type pants all day unless have to go out!

Kew usually have denim skirts but they length varies- I find a 20-21 inch fine but sometimes theirs are shorter- too short.

Worth looking at Boden though- and trying the longer length "minis".

goingmad- I share you prroblem with shoes but only because I have skinny feet- AA fitting almost. Nightmare.

I tend to live in boots all winter- have some from Duo and Jones bootmaker.

In summer I wear sandals- I like Dune- plimsolls- like converses- occasionally ballet flats if I can find some that stay on my feet.

I work from home mainly so don't need smart shoes that often. I do have some Clarks ballet pumps with a silver buckle across the front ( 2 years back) which I wear with trousers.

Brands you might like to look at are Dune, Hobbs perhaps???, Pied a terre, Kurt Geiger, LK Bennett, Russell and Bromley.....

Dorothy- I feel your pain- I am the same size as you. I need clothes that do not swamp me.

I don't have much need for smart clothes but like to have the odd dress and skirt for more formal wear, but most of the time I live in smart casual, which doubles for work and play.

cc is Country casuals.
very ageing, IMO.

more for the over 70s.

All my mum's friends bu that kind of thing and per Una and they are 70-mid 80s.

Ah thanks. My mum would never wear cc either

Thanks cabbageroses. Will check out Boden.

I like to think I'll never wear CC and its genre, however old I might be fortunate enough to get. Ditto M and S Classic Collection obviously - don't think those of us who are baby boomers will ever see themselves in such things. Feel sorry enough for poor old Twiggy having to model Per Una (though expect she's well paid for it).

Btw, see M and S are, as promised, phasing out Portfolio, another of my betes noires. When launched said to have been for the 40+ woman but resolutely frumpy - perhaps worst when trying to be on-trend!

To follow cabbageroses account of her outfit, I'm certainly no style queen but for lunch at tapas bar in Brompton Rd and shopping in High St Ken today wore:
Autograph tunic, dark denim skinnies, Boden belt, Hobbs pendant, R and B boots, Italian trench and Comptoir des Cotonniers scarf. All very accessible to over 50s and more.

I'm in my 50s too and still buy my jeans and the odd top from River Island.
I also live in Highlands and buy a lot online.
I like Joe Browns too, slightly different from the High Street and some nice stuff.