'Wearing Topshop in my 40s' ('Woman' magazine)

Well I for one think some of these shops have some very nice stuff for us " oldies" to choose from,just this am I have ordered some thick fair isle leggings from boohoo, whilst they are very on trend (according to DD) they do have some lovely dresses yes they are short but look good with leggings/jeggings & ankle boots.

I use Primark, Zara and New Look etc all the time, Goose, for leggings and skinny jeans to wear with short dresses/tunics and long jumpers. These shops provide the things I like, rather than M&S etc. I sometimes get a bright smile, a 'look' and a "these are a nice colour, aren't they...?"

I use them! I often see older ladies in them, too. I just wear a sleeveless vest under tops that are too low, and skinny jeans under short dresses or tunics, like all of us.

I like the younger shops mainly because they do the longer length tops. Even their sleeveless t-shirts are far longer than those offered to us in shops for older ladies, and they do have a tendency to shrink so it's better to buy them extra long in the first place. I do hate tops that ride up and expose my back.

I have seen those Fair Isle leggings I think and admired them! Alas skinny jeans and leggings are for legs skinnier than mine and I just despair at finding well made boot cut trousers or jeans at a reasonable price and in decent fabrics. Then again, with reference to the weigh in thread maybe a potato sack would suffice

Soutra I discovered Bon Marche jeans thanks to a thread on GN and they're the best fitting jeans I think I've ever had. Bet you've already trust them.....

*tried not trust. Predictive text strikes again.

Well I'm nearly 65 and shop wherever takes my fancy - Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, New Look, if I like it, I buy it.

I don't think it matters where you shop if you like the merchandise there.
However, a lot of 'young' shops only sell in small sizes so that does bar anyone over a size 16.My daughters used to live in Topshop and New Look when they were teenagers, but now in mid 30's don't like them much [not a size thing, more the style and sometimes poor quality.]I think you can often find an item that you like from any store, without liking the clothes there as a 'whole'.

You and me both Katy - and I'm 65 this year too.

I wrote earlier too about my wonderful vintage Top Shop shirt I bought.

The newspapers can write such nonsense.

No, I tend not to shop where bright young things buy their clothes simply because I cannot stand being bombarded with the over loud 'music' that's played in them.

Yes, most of my wardrobe comes from these type of stores. I keep saying I must stop buying clothes designed for teenagers, but it seems most designers assume that if you are over 50 you must also be over a size 12. I would love to find clothes of a smarter design ( not frumpy) at affordable prices in a size 6/8 but it isn't easy. I prefer boot cut jeans to leggings as I have always loathed the shape of my legs - skinny, bandy, and shapeless ankles (although I am very glad I can still walk on them with no problems!) but would like some smarter trousers that fit properly.

Beyond a fixed dislike of M&S clothes (shoes excepted) I do not think about what age group the shops I buy clothes in are aimed at. Running my eye over my wardrobe mentally it includes clothes from Next, New Look, Monsoon, Sainsburies, Fat Face, East, Lands End and possibly others. A lot of my clothes buying is dictated to what shops I have access to. I live in a village and rarely shop in the nearest really big town. There are three smaller towns which I visit, all of whom have some clothes shops and my list reflects what is available in them. I am not sure what that says about me or my taste in clothes.

I've discovered a small shop in a village nearby. It's run by a woman of a certain age, and she sells wonderful clothes, that aren't too expensive. She does all her own buying, and sells stuff that is ideal for me. It must be ideal for many of us, as the shop always has a number of customers 50plus, as well as youngsters.
I did buy some leggings in M&S today - from their Autograph range. The quality feels much better than in recent M&S years. They tried to compete with New Look, Primark etc but it didn't work, did it. The local store looks 85% better than it has for years. No longer filled to the brim with a motley collection of clothes that I can't imagine anyone wanting. I do hope things continue to look up for M&S.

Can you whisper where this wonderful shop is please Iam64?? I have a favourite by Hampstead Heath overground station called Monika's (I believe she also has one in Hay) and I can honestly say I have never gone in without seeing something really stylish that I coveted. Often many somethings!!

I'm still wearing Top Shop vest tops that I bought more years ago than I can remember; other vest tops have come and gone but the Top Shop ones last forever. And that's with wearing them as tops in the summer and vests in the winter. Best purchase I ever made. Never go on holiday without them...

...mind you, I bought another top from my favourite charity shop today; this time a woollen tank top thingy with a French label. Tres chic ...

I've just bought some holiday tops from River Island , never entered my head that I might be too old to shop there me being a pensioner!

My new favourite shop is in Uppermill, which is near Oldham, and just overt'moors from me. I found it by chance, when there for work related stuff. There is also a fab wedding frock shop there, where middle daughter bought her frock last year. It's a lovely small town/big village, lots of small individual shops, good butchers and clothes shops. I bough a brilliant rain mack in the outdoor shop, mid calf length, totally water proof and good to wear on any occasion (well, maybe not said wedding). It's great to see small shops so successful. Nearby mill towns are pretty devastated as a result of unemployment, and shopping malls.

Iam64, you may have a queue of NW grans cluttering up the quiet streets of Uppermill.

Ohhh, what a plan, we could all shop till we drop, and have afternoon tea at one of the tea shops. It's a lovely area, and if I wasn't so content here in North Manchester, I'd be trying to persuade Mr Iam to move. He fears the moors still though, so that may deter him. We're a mile from our moors, so he doesn't have to see them every day. I do though, I walk the dogs on the edges of our moors - it must be his southern genes. He came north at 18, and never went back!

Right, we'll put that on the calendar.

I nearly lived in Oldham years ago. My ex was working at Doncasters Moorside and we started looking at properties [couldn't afford anything, though]. Ended up moving away.

Oldham town centre is a shadow of it's former, proud self. That is the same for so many northern former mill towns. It's so sad. The proud working class communities where my grandparents lived don't seem to exist any more. Anyway, that's another topic. Let's keep shopping

Bon Marche for me. I know it's for older women, but the shapes suit me. I no longer have a tiny waist and they recognise this.