Warning- RANT clothes for a 70 year old!!!!

hollysteers - correct! I also see plenty of clothes for all sizes and ages out there. The question comes down to - do you like to shop and try on? Some people don’t and do not have the patience to find suitable garments (without having to bring them back after trying on at home. It’s a pain in the keester and a second trip. I myself have been guilty on this…)

lizzypopbottle - keep sewing away!Nice to see pictures. Good job! You are saving a lot of money and your clothes fit you well.

Mary Berry wears Zara !

Try Vinted, lot’s of new with and without tags or worn once. Just bought two pairs of new leather sandals for less than one pair from a shop.

leeds22

My late 90+ mil thought Bon Marche was an exclusive French shop. Bless her.
I used to buy nearly all my clothes from Boden but I find most of their dresses either too short/too long/too flowery. Did get a nice dress from them in winter and was complemented on it. Mostly seem to get tunic tops from Sea Salt these days and live in jeans or cotton trousers plus t-shirt or tunic.

Your late mil was absolutely correct in thinking Bon Marche was an exclusive French store. See my post of yesterday, 9.10.
The Paris Bon Marche is very similar to Harrods.

I am a little younger than you, in my late fifties, but my brands of choice are Joe Browns or Seasalt. Seasalt, especially, is very popular with friends who are around my age, too. For all of you saying that your daughters or even granddaughters wear the same style as you, I am not sure they all do. My daughter is in her late twenties and says my clothes look nice on me but she has a totally different style. My favourite brand of shoes is vintage style Red or Dead Ziggy and l like Ness tartan handbags and purses. Many of my clothes are bought on eBay as l could not afford many otherwise and, as others have said, I wear my favourites for years. I like Fatface in the sales but the quality can be a bit hit or miss. Joules clothes are lovely but do not suit my shape. They are also something of a uniform for the 55-75 age group. If you are really interested in clothing aimed at an older demographic, you could try the Carr and Westley catalogue, which my elderly mother likes. They have some smart, classic clothes.

Wear what you like and feel comfortable in. It’s not so much what you wear but how you wear it! Be confident wearing your own style.

My understanding is that the OP is looking for good quality clothes that FIT a 70 year old. I like the style of clothes my DDs wear but they just don't fit my mature body shape. Short jumpers, trousers that dig into your crotch, have tight waists then look like jodhpurs over the thighs and sag around the bottom, high-waisted dresses and leggings make me look awful. I buy bras, pants and tops at Bon Marche but their trousers stop at 31" and I have long legs.
Also I now have to live on a pension and can't afford to buy from most of retailers mentioned on here. I'm repairing the clothes I've got and hoping they'll last. At least the fashion is for well-worn jeans!

Just make sure that you wear the correct size! Far too many women walk around with t shirts and tops, two sizes too small for them, displaying rolls of fat! A good quality linen/cotton shirt in the correct size, far more classy.

Parachute trousers at M&S. Light flowing fabric with an elasticated toggle at the ankles. Will it make you fly if you catch the toggles when you walk or disco? I am over 70 and got a pair ...

I use Ambrose Wilson which is part of the JD Williams group . I tend to order two different sizes and pleasantly surprised that they are generally true to size , I get free returns via Evri so that’s good for me !!

I love clothes shopping, mostly online now as I'm sure will be the case for a lot of us on here, our high street is dire
Over the years, I have gradually developed 'my' style. I am petite and most cropped tops sit on my waist and paired with a pair of wide leg navy, black or white trousers give a good balance
Midi dresses are maxi on me, which saves alterations. Most pictures give the height of the model, so easier to guage what the length will be on you
I love classic broderie anglaise dresses and tops in the summer, so fresh and never goes out of style
My go to shops are River Island, Bombshell and Zara, in person and online
I don't look for clothes by age, but by what appeals to me

HillyN I am 80 and am yet to have a problem with clothes fitting me. No I am not willow thin, but because my hips and ribcage are very close together, I have never had a waist and this is a problem I have contended with all my adult life, not just since I got older.

However, it does bring up another reason older women have difficulties with clothes and that is quite simply that so many of us are overweight. 70% of women over 60 are obese, compared with less than 50% of younger women. But overweight younger women have the same problems as overweight older women and they seem to be able to find clothes.

I agree with Poppyred over people wearing clothes that are too small, mainly because they do not want admit how big they are - and we already have clothes sizes that are considerably larger than those sizes were 50 years ago.

Very few people have perfect figures, we have naturally high waists, low waists, longer than average arms and legs, short necks, big busts, whatever, we adjust to them when we are young, it is just we change a bit as we get older and need to readjust again.

I'm late 60s. I find Roman originals on line very good. They have a good choice of style and colours, and many styles are suitable for a range of ages. No delivery charge and £3 to return a parcel, which they deduct from refunds.

I don’t think it’s just that Monica, although you’re right. I think most older women want to expose less of themselves than younger women do, which restricts choice more. For example, cap sleeves, too much cleavage, polo necks etc. wouldn’t be for me now. I’m not overweight, but I’ve still got more I want to hide.

I'm 65 and have a local shop in Southport called Lucy Lous but she us also on line
She has a live viewing on Thursday night (I think) where you can see the clothes on her and her mum
I buy quite a bit of her and the quality is very good

Good grief! I wouldn't be seen dead in shops for older people.

Places like BonMarche, M & S and Edinburagh wool shop were my late mom fave shops.

Not a chance in hell I would shop in any of them. I shop in normal clothes shops and buy what I I like.

The time of knowing what generation someone was by their clothing has long gone thank goodness

Cotton Traders specialise in classic styles older women like. But they are over- priced compared with Tu and M and S.

Bonmarche is another one that caters for older women but it's rather frumpy. They are however very good on trouser sizing and do 25 inch trouser lengths in a lot of their styles.

HousePlantQueen

I think that Woolovers have lost their direction, too much non knitwear, and the quality is now rather poor. I have a couple of their cashmere/shetland mix v necks, lovely colours for sure, but within a couple of wears the bobbling was terrible.

as an aside; as I wrote it, I thought that 'knitwear' was a rather frumpy, old lady word......

Hi HousePlantQueen, I still shop at Woolovers but you're right about the quality.
I like their jersey shirts but I've noticed the bottoms tend to turn up even after a good iron, this really annoys me. Does anyone have any tips for preventing this?
I have two cashmere turtle necks I bought from Woolovers ten years ago and their still in really good nick. The newer cashmere I bought is a finer knit and I'm already noticing the bobbling.
I'm going to check out some of the outlets people have shared on the post and see what's out there.

One thing I still buy from Land's End are their Pima Cotton nightgowns made in Peru which are lovely. They come in short and long sleeves and short and midi length. I often use them as dresses when working at home. They are neither clingy or see through, do not wrinkle and are breatheable.

Has the OP disappeared?

What happened to East?

www.east.co.uk/collections/new-in?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxNjVnqH0_gIVjNLtCh2W6g7MEAAYASAAEgIalvD_BwE

I really meant that it seems to have gone "off" Notagran. I used to love it. Especially the linens.

Casdon Never been one for exposed necklines, and I still wear polo necks. I am shaped a bit like a spider, long slim arms and legs and a small round body in the middle, so do not have the problems with sleeves and trousers some have. I am what I am and when you see the shape of so many younger women. why worry?

I am with you Keffir12* on the shops I would never shop in. I have never understood the attraction of M&S to so many. I gave up on it in my 20s. It seemed to me that everything they sold was designed for someone 20 years older than me and when I went into the shop when I was 70 and that was still my reaction........ I have occasional bought stuff there, but not often.
Fortunately my mother was always very stylish, although, as a result, a hard act to live up to.

Quichette I share your love of the Lands End night dresses, I have been wearing them since I first found Lands End, which must be over 15 years ago. I am actually wearing one as I write this post.

So many clothes in damart are frumpy as are some in m and s. I wear the same as I have for years. Usually jeans, trainers, sweatshirts and for going anywhere I wear dress trousers with a plain shirt. I love charity shops and occasionally Bonne Marche, I don’t own a proper pair of shoes as I just have 3 pairs trainers, but I do need some sandals or crocks. If I buy new I end up cutting off sleeves, adding appliqué or lace to make the garment mine. I have several chopped up dresses in the wardrobe. If I was going to an event like a wedding I would head for a charity or second hand shop. After all it’s just for one day then I will donate it. I hate fast fashion and much prefer to reuse and upcycle.