Even at my age!

gillybob I've searched, truly I have. And though I have somewhere in the region of 50+ tops, not one, not one goes with these trousers. Well, apart from the plain white tees, that is, but they do absolutely nothing for them. And I haven't even got a scarf or a necklace that co-ordinates (and I have dozens of them too) ?.

I mean, seriously, what was I thinking? Well clearly, I wasn't was I? Thinking, that is.... ?

I like your dress sense Gabriella - at least you have a plan! Plain white tops of different styles.
Then add the pattern/colour on your bottom half.

Something to think about here.

Thank you.
?

I love colours, which has resulted in a wardobe of tops, jumpers and tunics in every colour of the rainbow. Most of my trousers are plain and neutral, so it sort of works out, but the "capsule" effect defeats me. When I go on holiday, I try to narrow it down to an assortment of blues with the odd green or purple item, so most things go together well enough. A few more neutral things might be sensible, but I dislike black and have very few black items, and nothing grey as I look awful in grey; white doesn't suit me either now. Another thing tbat works against a planned wardrobe is the lure of charity shops, where I find things I can't resist even though they don't go with anything else.

Well in that case Bathsheba you have our full permission to go shopping for a new top !

Thank you for that Bordersgirl I had never heard of it before. But it makes sense doesn’t it? There are colours that seem to drag me down but I suppose that’s due to skin colouring and there are colours that make me feel more “me” . I bet it’s expensive though

Haha, thanks gillybob, that's what I needed to hear

Grannyticktock

I’m afraid I have the same problem as you, I love colour, always drawn to bright pinks, oranges, purples, luckily for me I like a bit of colour clashing

In the winter, I wear a lot of black, I’m not very good at buying winter clothes

Hate all neutral colours

I would actually get everything out. Ditch the things that you never wear and put everything else back in groups ie all shirts, trousers etc together. Saves an awful lot of time.

That's the other thing I'm not good at: ditching old clothes. I do clear out every so often, and I am trying to have a one-in-one-out system, but when I select the "out" item, I sometimes think, "Well, I'll just hang on to it until the end of the summer...." and so it goes back on the shelf. I also have a "limbo" area in a trunk, where I put things I am almost sure I want to get rid of. They stay there for months or more, and then when I find them, I either think, "I though I'd got rid of that, it can go now " or "Ah, what a nice surprise, that will just go with my new top!"

Grannyticktock

That’s where we differ, I love a good clear out

I love a good clear out too but would still love someone to go through my wardrobe and match outfits .

I used to have it all sorted. Everything co-ordinating, different coloured shoes, bags, to match each outfit. Somewhere along the line I lost it. I'm not sure how and when it happened

Gillybob - I think if you look online you will get a fair idea of how to work out your colours yourself, without having to spend a fortune. Simplified you are either an Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer person, depending on hair and skin colour. You can then find a colour chart which relates to you. I paid to have it done years ago and was an Autumn ( auburn hair, fair skin, freckles!). Now my hair is almost white, I've lightened the pallet to Spring, but I worked that one out for myself online. Good luck!

Thank you Willow10’I shall have a look on line later . My “real” hair colour ( before the grey) was a kind of dark blonde/ light brown with hints of auburn . I colour it myself in a similar colour . I tend to suit orangey lip sticks rather than pinks so I think I’m on my way

Imm6 It's so true what your daughter feels, any old trousers and then a patterned top. I am at the moment looking for what to wear to a Celebration of Life event. Pulled out navy cropped trousers, well it is warm, and a navy top with a bit of pattern splash on it. I do have nice wedge shoes (I think). Your daughter's words will haunt me when I am clothes shopping from now on.

Urmstongran. Don't worry! Be comfortable and enjoy your trip! You probably look far better than you think!

Try a wonderful website called: "chicatanyage". Josephine is terrific, in her 70s, not skinny, sensible, practical and has some super ideas AND tells you where all her choices come from. I've been introduced to some completely new brands ( and not expensive) not available on the High Street. I've ditched all my awful old clothes and taken on some of her advice ( which I think has already been suggested): new hairstyle, great glasses and sunglasses, great shoes ( try GEOX for comfort and Italian style), well-fitting trousers ( nothing sloppy and no elasticated waistbands! sorry...), keep away from "mumsy" prints on top ( go for bold prints or a solid, dramatic colour), always wear earrings, and lipstick and finally, buy 2 lovely, big dramatic scarves.

Grammaretto I love what you said:
I don't think we should try so hard. Rules are made to be broken, especially when they are about colour and pattern.

I sometimes think our generation feel a bit "bullied" to look absolutely right, without actually having what is "right" defined!

I haven't changed shape all that much and due to other demands have put the sorting out of my own clothes at the bottom of a long list. As a result I find that having a wardrobe that is crowded makes it much harder to sort out what to wear.

For going away - in fact any time really - I love shirts. The sun burns me so I prefer long sleeves. They can look smart and team with any trousers that are suitable for the occasion. I do love frocks still and now that I use a rather awkward mobility scooter I wear either lightweight summer trousers under a dress or cotton pj bottoms. I have some that are white with broderie anglaise and look like Victorian Knickerbockers!

My daughter treated me to having my colours done. A lovely woman came to the house and tried all different colours on me while I sat in front of a mirror. We decided i was a "summer" and she gave me a little booklet with all my suitable colours. Apparently I must NEVER were black.

"wear" black not "were".

Bold coloured glasses, short choppy hairstyles, earrings, a slick of bright lipstick, big bold scarves and 'get your colours done', are what almost every person over 55 who's ever been asked, recommends.
To me, it screams overload.
Where I live, I can't even remember seeing anyone over any age with a full face of make-up, earrings, noticeable lippy or huge scarves.
Au natural is the order of the day but then, we don't need artificial masks to face the world, we're secure and confident.
Yes...I know there will probably be GNs going 'off on one', but this is my opinion and I respect the fact that opinions differ.

Several suggestions on here for plain white tops but can you wear white? I can't. Not proper white. It has to be more of a creamy shade or else I look as if I'm about to expire!
I did my own colours from online sources and it is true that once you know which colours to go for then there will always be something in your wardrobe to go with it. So that's the colour aspect now it's just style of clothes to suit you!!!

I recently went shopping with a friend, in the changing room I was trying something on and I said what would I wear it with? It would go with my red jacket, I have a blue bag so I could pick our either colour. Suddenly sounding rather irritated my friend snapped “why do you always do that ? what does it matter what it goes with? if I like it I just buy it”. I felt a bit silly and said I like to mix and match.

On the way home my friend suddenly looked at me and said “oh gosh that is why you always looks so stylish and well turned out because you actually buy it to match.” For me I actually think about my working wardrobe if it won’t fit in, I don’t buy it. Each piece has to work hard and be able to be versatile.
Pick out a few key pieces from your wardrobe take pictures then actively built on those. Think about how you can make them work for different occasions, can you dress it up /dress it down, what will it go with. Its not about what you have its how you make it work don’t discount little things like earrings, belts, sunglasses and bags they make a big impact.
I don’t really stick to rules but I never wear anything much more above my knee, no low tops, if I am wearing long maxis I keep the top shorter, I hate long t-shirts or cardigans with maxi’s, I never wear double denim even though its on trend I also never clash patterns and that’s on trend too. I keep it simple and it becomes simple

You can 'do your colours' yourself by sitting by a mirror and draping different colours round your neck. Study the effect of each colour.

My problem is that I like to 'be comfortable.' I hate wearing synthetics. They make me feel sweaty and itchy. I dislike anything clingy or close-fitting. I take after my mother in finding anything but the lightest necklace around my neck irritating, and scarves annoy me, and never look right. I can't abide bras with wires, and lacy bits that itch and irritate, and they have to be made of cotton, as do my knickers! I have to remove any labels from garments, for the same reason.
I am 5ft tall and size 16-18, and it's difficult to get sensibly priced clothes that fit. I have two wardrobes full of tops, trousers, and a few dresses, and a drawer full of t-shirts. I can rarely find an outfit that does anything at all for me, and tend to wear the same few loose-fitting and comfortable tops and trousers all the time.
Basically, I am a natural-born slob! I don't have many social events that require me to dress-up, and can't wait to get home and change into my 'comfies' afterwards,
I would love to be co-ordinated and smart, but at almost 80, frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!