Even at my age!

GeenGran78
That's a good outlook to have.
If you're conscious of your clothes and fiddling with earrings, straps, hemlines or tight waistbands then life is a chore.
Wear what makes you feel comfortable and then you can concentrate on more important and interesting things.

Oops!
GeenGran78 GreenGran78

I can’t bear to cull my clothes. Why is that? It’s not as though they’re designer or anything! If they are ‘wearable’ I keep them. And then add to them, ad nauseum.

Urm, you are describing me!

I thought I had a plan. I wear trousers or jeans 99% of the time, so have black and navy and paler blue in my wardrobe. But then I buy myself some taupe ones, olive green ones, and some sand coloured linen ones, and a pair of grey striped linen, and oh, must have those apricot coloured cotton pedal pushers for summer, and those fine navy striped jeans would look nice with a white blouse, etc, etc, etc. So I buy.

Then invariably I go hunting for T shirts or tops to go with the trousers. Every single summer I add to my T shirt collection so they really pile up. I bought two lovely summery T shirts in Sainsburys last week ( as you do when you go food shopping, sigh.) And because I have so many items, none of them ever wear out or look worn enough to be discarded. I have too many clothes and it makes "what shall I wear today?" a very difficult decision to make. Not only that, If I am not planning on going out the nice clothes stay on the hangers and I wear things I don't mind cooking in or getting messy.

I read somewhere that too much stuff needs maintaining and it makes decision making harder. It is true when It comes to clothes as well. I am just not sure I want to loose my good clothes, but I have run out of wardrobe space and have pretty cream clothes rails in the spare bedroom - which has become my walk-in wardrobe. I think I really will have to be charitable and do myself a favour by bagging up clothes I decide I can spare.

And then buy no more!!!!

Life is short. I wear clothes that I love. Lots of colour. Floaty maxi dresses on holiday, wide brimmed sun hats, quite trendy, but flat shoes. I’m 60 next month (that feels weird and I don’t like it), but I’m still me.

When I read Gillybobs post that her aunt only had 40 items of clothing I was astounded. Unless it included underwear I thought it a lot. Then I read that Gillybob had 50 + tops!! How do choose to wear out of that lot?
I wear skirts in the winter and have one each of brown and grey and three black. Have ten tops. All good quality. In summer I wear floral dresses. Have twelve. Mainly blues and greens. Am often complimented on my dress.
I believe in fewer good quality clothes and do not follow fashion trends.

Interesting thread I am so glad I am not alone in having “nothing to wear” when I am going away.
I went to a personal stylist at a large department store a few years ago. It was free and she was so helpful. There was no pressure to buy anything, but she had me trying on styles and colours that I wouldn’t have even bothered taking off the rail, to an amazing effect. Mind you I was working then and I have a different life now I’m retired!
My daughter is very good at advising me what suits me but she tends to persuade me to buy something which yes looks good, but I would hardly ever wear unless I had a very hectic social life - which I don’t !

You have to be really honest about what suits you from the front and back view
Full length mirrors are key

Oh so true Gabriella. Leggings are definitely not for everyone. Or me really! I am far too plump. I wear mine indoors but wouldn't be seen out in them, except in winter when I wear a mid thigh length tunic and boots with them.

Last summer I saw a large lady in what must have been very cheap pink leggings that were almost see-through. She wore a short fitting T shirt with them. I thought she was naked from the waist down. The leggings highlighted every single lump, bump and roll of flab. I know we are not supposed to criticise our sisters ("Hell, wear what you like! You go girl!This is 2019!" etc <ahem> but I can only conclude she didn't possess a mirror or have a friend or relative kind enough to suggest she wore something else. on her bottom half at least.

I conclude she was another (like me) without the old capsule wardrobe.

Moom, thanks for the heads-up for Chicatanyage. I’m having a look, although I am happy with what I wear. I do go for bold, rather than ‘mumsey’ prints. I love bold colours and I always wear earings.

I’d be nervous about having my colours done, incase it turned out all my favourites were on the banned list, and I had to face a future of greys and greens YUK!

You read wrong then Bijou I do not have 50 + tops !

Bordersgirl great description of getting your colours done, I like the sound of it. Like someone else said I no longer even know what suits me, although I thought I used to. Or maybe nearly everything suited me because I was young! Sadly those days are long gone. Also frustrated with a wardrobe crammed with stuff that doesn't do anything for me so I'm googling 'getting your colours done' now.

I too have a wardrobe(s) full of clothes but still seem to struggle to find something to wear every day. Most of my stuff is summer wear and brightly coloured - today I have on a pair of wide leg palazzo trousers in a mixture of orange, yellow, blue and black - I love them as they're so cool and comfy so this year I bought more in black with orange flowers and a pair with different coloured stripes - a plain top is a must but that's ok as I have too many of them too so can match them up! I'm another who impulse buys and often end up wondering what was in my head when I went out that day In winter I mostly wear dark colours. I'd love to have a capsule wardrobe but think I might get bored so have never tried it. I also can't do huge necklaces which make my neck ache or scarves which annoy me and don't seem to suit - I have a drawer full and look at them thinking one day I'll wear that but know I never will!

I had an aunt who bought all her clothes from the market - she was short and plump and always looked fabulous and didn't shy away from bright colours.

Bijou I think it was Bathsheba that has 50 tops and she was just answering gillybob . I think so anyway hope I didnt confuse it further.

Thank you pinkjj

My late aunties collection of around 40 items obviously did not include lingerie but did include trousers, skirts, dresses, tops, jumpers, cardigans etc. Everything matched impeccably.

If I try to do the 'co-ordinated' look I tend to look like Mildred from George and Mildred.

I too had my colours done about twenty years ago,
I think they were called “Colour Me Beautiful “.
I turned out to be an Autumn.
I’ve used the swatches they gave me, so all my clothes
mix and match.
The only trouble as I’ve got older I’ve lost confidence
in my first choice of outfit, then try on another, and another
finally going back to my first choice?
My husband once said it looked as if we’d been burgled
when he saw the heaps of discarded clothes lying on the bed.

Liz46 I am sure she would be so flattered to be asked

Sara65. Don’t be nervous about getting your colours done. I had mine done a few years ago and it really shook me out of my rut. Your favourite colours are probably your colours otherwise they wouldn’t look good.

I do think having my colours done was one of the best things I’ve done. I am a “warm Autumn “. No black or white (too harsh) and I do actually look ill in these colours! Navy or brown as dark basics and golds, rusts, reds, turquoise, dark green, peach or apricot shades and I always feel good and get compliments. I use scarves/necklaces for interest and I feel it really works.

From time to time You Tube have blogs on how to make the most of your existing wardrobe to achieve new looks without buying yet more clothes. I've found them to be really helpful. I sometimes think that we are all too quick to 'declutter', often giving away clothes that could be re-styled, altered in fit or worn with different accessories to achieve a new look. Try it, even if you have to take clothes to a tailor or dressmaker to be altered. If they were good quality to begin with, it's well worth the outlay.

Sorry Gillybob. It is Bathsheba who has 50+ tops.

If you want a capsule wardrobe of coordinating flattering colours whynot save up and get a Color me beautiful consultant to do a home visit. I had one on my retirement with two friends putting into bin bags anything that did not suit me and that they did not want to wear.

That was 9 years ago and now I need to do some work myself i.e all short sleeved tops out, most long sleeved shirts with cuffs out etc. I now buy garments with 3/4 sleeves, and
only buy to my colours which means that if the garment fits me I can coordinate them. With this I have 4 scarf hangers one for each of may main colours.

Am now off to a wedding. have had the hairdresser put streaks of my main 3 colours in my hair and an coordinating wardrobe. Gel nails on Tuesday. This is all fun once in a while.

According to everyone who knows me, I’ve always been very stylish. The last year or two, since taking HRT, I have struggled a bit with my “dress sense” because I now have a 34f bust. A capsule wardrobe would not work for me as I would become bored with the same clothes. I always have at least two cashmere coats, two trench coats by Jaeger or Jigsaw, a few Coach handbags, funky shoes in bright colours (often high wedges), several mock-wrap tops. I hate patterned or crop trousers, only wear NYDJ jeans and leggings by the same brand. Bright colours and bold patterns are a no-no for me. Chunky necklaces are not for me but I love dainty earrings. There are always a few plain, cashmere sweaters in my chest of drawers and smart wide leg trousers in my wardrobe. I hate summer and stick to cotton maxi dresses and tailored cotton or linen trousers. Watches are my favourite accessory - I have loads in different styles and straps!

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Stella14 - agree about wearing what you love. What you wear depends on your budget, your sense of style, your interest in clothes, etc - but mostly, surely, on your lifestyle. I would never now - and I rarely did when working - wear a blazer style jacket, “slacks”, a printed silk square scarf.......because I’d look daft in our campervan, at the swimming pool with GC, in the supermarket, etc? I’d feel dressed up and uncomfortable. White Stuff is about as smart as I get. In France at the moment in our campervan - bought a loose linen dress from a market yesterday - v easy to wear and cool.

A beautiful view Lisagran.
Whereabouts in France is it?