Clothes for ladies of a certain age

I must confess, it has never occurred to me to dress more circumspectly, now I am older.

I dress as I have always dressed. I like colour and I wear what I like, I have been told I am stylish, more bohemian than conventional, but it is very difficult to judge oneself.

Clothes are simply not that important to some people.
They're just to save walking around in the nuddy.

Jenpax I could see his point of view! There are some sights out there.

Aveline

Hmmm. As long as you're comfortable that's OK.
However, I remember a dear colleague at work who deplored what he called 'Carrion dressed as mutton'. Made me think.

He sounds a misogynistic so and so!

I'm with you Kim. Can't believe what some people my age wear (as long as the colours don't clash, they go together sort of thing) Not saying when relaxing at home I wouldn't wear an oversized cardigan to keep warm on cold evenings but not out. I'm sure you get taken more seriously when well put together at age 78.

I never asked my mum if she approved and she never said !Different generations …so why would I be bothered about if she approved of me!
My 16 year old grandson and 13 year old granddaughter say “ you’re so cool nan” and mean it. They can talk to me on any subject and even hail me when they see me in town, even when they are with their mates ….that must mean something. 🤷🏻‍♀️

When I look at photographs of my Mum over the years, I realise just how smart and fashionable she looked. She never wore trousers and made a lot of her clothes. On the other hand my patetnal GM, even at a comparatively young age, looked 'frumpish' and years older than her actual age. To me this was odd as whereas my Mum never had much money to spend on clothes, my PGM was a wealthy lady!!

I think as we get older the temptation is to feel you have to conform to a certain style of clothing, you start to wonder if you are dressing appropriately.
I definitely have made a few changes, upper arms always covered, slips under clothes that might be transparent in certain lights, and nothing low cut. But basically I’m sticking to what I like.

Lots of people on this thread and many similar, say 'I just wear clothes I like' and I never quite get the point, Are their really lots of people wearing clothes they don't like, so that saying 'I only wear clothes I like'makes someone who does that quite exceptional

The same goes with people saying they only wear clothes they feel comfortable in. Again do many people, especially older people choose only to wear clothes they are uncomfortable in?

And what has only wearing comfortable clothes you like got to do with whether you dress fashionably, stylishly, or, as in this thread 'clothes for a certain age.

You can wear comfortable clothes you like and look stunningly stylish, or you might choose to wear comfortable clothes you like and look a frump.

Whitewavemark2

My go to casual wear is usually bought from Poetry, which I spend 95% of my time in.

Smarter stuff sits in my wardrobe for the very few times they are worn during the year.

Thanks for the recommendation Whitewavemark2. Never heard of Poetry but there’s a lot on there I like.

I love linen and have loads of linen trousers but I sent a tunic back to Sea Salt recently. I had worn and washed it carefully 3 times and it looked awful. I got my refund £85 no problem but I was disappointed as it looked lovely online. Second time I wore it, it was freshly washed and ironed and drove a couple of hours and it was totally creased up. I think it must have been a heavier linen than my trousers.

I just wear what I like, which in summer is still floaty skirts and dresses, always flip flops or strappy sandals, favourite shops East, NRBY, sahara, and a few others. Winter, tend to go for tube skirts, big jumpers or pretty tops, scarves and ankle boots, still like buying clothes.
As for my mother, if she ever saw me, I can guarantee two of her comments would be , mutton dressed as lamb, and , well she must have money to burn ( 1 wish I did)

I used to make my own clothes except of course accessories.
I can remember.watching one of the actresses in the programme,’Charlie’s Sngels’. I liked what she wore so much that I decided to make the same bell bottom trousers and waistcoat to match also a dark brown cap while my husband had a similar shirt and tie!

It’s nice to read all your memories My lovely mum died in her early 60’s about 30 odd years ago, she certainly didn’t dress like me (jeans, tops, etc) but always looked elegant. Cotton skirts with a blouse and cardi. And always a nice silver broach. I can remember when my mum bought a pair of cotton trousers for a holiday - my dad approved. He told me excitedly that ‘your mum’s bought a pair of slacks!’ I know my dad (who was always very smart) lamented the days when women always dressed up smartly and wouldn’t dream of leaving home without a hat and lipstick. I can see his point - I thought that women in the 1940’s and 50’s always looked so lovely. I for one am also short and dumpy so can’t seem to aspire to ‘smart and elegant’ 😂

I’m 64 and have always loved clothes. My mother was always well dressed and everything matched. Her earrings, necklaces,handbags and shoes would always be changed to match whatever dress or outfit she was wearing. She’s 90 now and has dementia and can’t see much at all so she’s oblivious if she’s got food down the front of her top. She would be devastated if she could see what she looks like now. I buy her modern but comfortable clothes but they always seem to be missing as she lives in a care home now. My daughter has very good taste in clothes and I often run things past her to decide whether they suit me. All her friends comment on how glamorous I am 😂😂 today I’m wearing wide legged dark green trousers, a patterned blouse with a green knitted waistcoat over it. I’m also wearing trainers but usually wear long or short boots with dresses.

I had a coat identical to this in the 60s. I’ve had a new one for some years now.
I can’t remember when I’ve never had a black/ white/ grey polo jumpers, same with navy/ white T shirts and a couple of white shirts. Same with a good blazer and white jeans / trousers.

Larger lady here but try to wear fashionable clothes. Today I’m in cord jegggings long tunic jumper and chunky jewellery. Short suede boots and leather jacket when out. Love handbags and and leather jackets.

My DM died 40 years ago at age 78. I can barely recall what she wore on a daily basis but do know due never wore trousers. The few photos I have of her she is either wearing black fitted with full skirt dresses (think she would be about 30) or in more modern times 50/60s a knee length skirt always with a pinny. Strange how times have changed with mobile cameras, everything and everyone now captured. A question for the legging wearers. If wearing leggings with dresses, tops, how do you keep your feet warm especially in winter?

Whitewavemark2

My go to casual wear is usually bought from Poetry, which I spend 95% of my time in.

Smarter stuff sits in my wardrobe for the very few times they are worn during the year.

Oh dear, I have just had a quick look on their website at the March edit very much to my liking.

My go to casual wear is usually bought from Poetry, which I spend 95% of my time in.

Smarter stuff sits in my wardrobe for the very few times they are worn during the year.

To be honest in 1994 I was wearing much the same as I am now in 2024. It had become hard to find anything that wasn't polyester or denim. Most women wore blue jeans all the time, I had a number of straight skirts as well, some with matching jackets, and wore shirt blouses both with skirts and jeans.

Flat shoes, or shoes with a four to five cm heel, lace up boots during the winter, and high heels when taking part in University symposiums.

A lot of this is still in my wardrobe and I still wear it.

When I think back to the "old ladies" of my childhood, my grandmothers, great-aunts and their contemporaries, they dressed in waistless dresses with short or elbow length sleeves in royal blue, brown and grey, black for the recent widows, and thick stockings, from the age of 50 something I would think. But of course, I was brought up to never ask a grown-up their age, so I don't know how old these women actually were.

They wore hats and gloves when going shopping or to church in distinction to my motther and aunts, who wore gloves in the winter and hats only if attending a church service where they were required, in other words Catholic or C of E, or going to a funeral.

My mother who died in 2002 basically stuck to the 1970s folk-lore /gypsy / hippy look for the last three decades of her life.

I could likewise count on one hand the occasions when I saw my father wearing a hat, although his father always wore one outdoors.

I'm normally found in winter wearing black cord, or velour trousers with a long sleeve tshirt and warm jumper. If I'm not going out I wear lounge wear velour top and thick cotton jogging bottoms. I also wear levi jeans.
Have lots of posh clothes dresses, blouses and jackets for holidays. I like midi length always have and can't stand skinny trousers. Also wear cropped trousers in summer.

Oh, and my mother liked Playtex cross-your-heart bras and panty girdles, and a satin slip, always black.

I’m 67. Every day I wear black leggings with a long t-shirt when it was warm, or a vest, thin thermal polo neck jumper and a wool polo neck when it’s chilly. My house is heated to 16 degrees, and if I’m warm I take off the top jumper. To walk the dogs I add a gilet and old Barbour coat. Ugg slippers indoors, wellies or Ugg boots when I’m out, or black leather boots.

In warm weather I’ll wear a Joules t-shirt dress or elastic waist linen shorts, or Levi’s denim longer shorts, with a loose t-shirt or vest top, and usually either Birkenstocks, Converse or Skechers trainers.

My mother was 36 when I was born, she always wore fitted floral cotton frocks and a handmade cardigan, (and always wore a brooch), or stretch nylon trousers with a strap under the foot, with a turtle neck jumper or a blouse.

She had a beige knee length gaberdine raincoat, a wool hip length jacket for dog walking, and a sheepskin coat. She didn’t really have “best” clothes but if she had to attend a wedding or funeral, she’d wear a skirt and matching jacket.

Velvet slippers, American tan tights even under trousers - she never wore socks, nor shorts or jeans. Block heeled proper shoes, or fur lined rain boots.

And a long brushed nylon nightie and floral quilted nylon dressing gown.,

Nothing like me.

Eirlys

The other day I found a photograph of my grandmother when she was around 80. She was wearing a long dress down to her ankles. Well the image was taken in the 1940's! I am now 93 and don't dress anything like that. I wear smart trousers in Winter ,plus a blouse with a collar and a cardigan. I belong to the Kettlewell Colours Group so I know what my seasonal colours are and the cardigans are in these bright colours.. Ankle boots with. a low heel, a smart fleece jacket ,or a nice down jacket , plus bright scarf and I'n ready for an outing. I wear tailored trousers outside around the house. In the Summer trousers are a lighter weight and cascades replace the cardigans though I do love long dresses in abstract prints.
I still buy clothes though really there's not much point. I don't go out much and I don't need anything! I'm a cabbage!

There’s a point if it makes you feel better, good on you for still wanting to dress well, even if you don’t get out as much as you used to.
Speaking personally I’ll just be happy if I can reach your age.😃

Georgesgran

Odd response Susie

I genuinely don’t think my Mum would have anything much to say about what I wear.
She died in 92, when we were all ‘doing a Diana’ - jeans, a white shirt and navy blazer, often with those Bally slip-on shoes in navy and white. We’d exchange that look for a short sleeved shift dress, tights, heels and a colourful blazer for a night out.

Oh that takes me back Georgesgran......."doing the Diana look".
When my daughter started school in 1993 the mums in the playground were Diana clones, in exactly the attire you describe, even down to their haircuts.
What they thought of new school mum me, goodness only knows.