What is your style over 65?

I disagree with relying on looking in the mirror suelld. The camera gives an unbiased view and tends not to lie!

I'm loving all these posts :-) Lots of nice ideas thank you. So far it's making me see that what I maybe need is a nice jacket or two, to smarten up casual tops and trousers. And also to clear out my wardrobe. I have two or three nice jackets that are maybe 25 years old - and the style is too young. I sort of cling on to clothes indefinitely (had a very frugal time in the past) in case I might need a change of look and make a new outfit with something older - but some of them haven't been worn for years as my style has changed.

I'd also like a crisp white shirt - something else I don't have.

I think it's definitely trousers (wide leg - they suit me and are comfortable) and long skirts now. Until I was 60 I was wearing short skirts and woolly tights - I have gradually moved on from that.

I haven't worn make up for many years and used to look good without it. Now I don't ha ha. But I can't start wearing it again - I just can't get on with it. Lipstick has always looked awful on me - I have thin lips.

I'm still thinking about the hair. Surprised how many people said plaits were for young girls. Mine is one thick braid that hangs at the front at one side. The main issue is the whispy bits round the edge now are starting to escape too much.

It looks a bit like this - only my face doesn't look so good ha ha.

The thing is the lady on that photo looks nearer 60 than 70. My braid is similar to that and looks ok when first done but as the day goes on, whispy bits spring out at the far side and they're the grey bits - the grey bits have gone thinner.

That looks like a fish-tail plait - I wear mine like that sometimes as I also have long hair. I find it quite fiddly to do though as the back quite often comes loose. I think some people are imagining plaits either side of your head like schoolgirls used to wear.

There's an art to doing a messy bun, lots of tricks on YouTube, like using dry shampoo to stiffen the hair.

I like watching Suzi Grant on her you tube website Alternative Ageing. One think I noticed in a recent video was how she had shoulder pads in a top. It completely changed the look. Much sharper. She lives in Brighton and buys preloved as well as "shopping her wardrobe".

She has probsbly always had great style..she is the same age as I am and grey with bobbed hair like mine so I follow with interest. Clothes should be fun. But I do agree that after retirement there is such a shift in what I now require. Some things are probably now destined to hang unworn in my wardrobe!

gentleshores

Basically I'm starting to look more Glenda Jackson than Helen Mirren! And I'm not keen on the look!

Oh gentleshores, if you look like the fabulous Glenda Jackson then be very grateful & proud. Glenda will always
be able to top trump the irritating & irritating Ms Mirren by a country mile.

My favourite on YouTube is www.youtube.com/@mmpersonalstyling. It's not specifically for older women but for everyone. T

Shoulder pads work well if your hips are wider than your shoulders. By evening them up your hips look narrower. It's counter-intuitive but it really does work.

Barleyfields

I disagree with relying on looking in the mirror suelld. The camera gives an unbiased view and tends not to lie!

As with most things there are qualifying facts as well… If I look in the mirror when the light is low I look so much better than out in broad daylight!
But the camera can be too harsh often …both can distort reality.

Short of having a Stylist with you all the time I think we can compromise on what we think we look like! We do know what our best features are and when we are not looking too good.
I like to look as good as I can for as long as I can WITHOUT going OTT.
When I was younger I was into Drama, did some modelling, etc, and learned how to do Pro make-up, etc, but being young and insecure I could rarely go out without full ‘war paint’ … A long time ago I asked family and friends how much better did I look with it than without it… most looked puzzled and said no difference!
So go with your gut, look up mags and you tube for all the inspiration you fancy, but most of all if you are comfortable within yourself you will feel good regardless of what you look like or wear!

Summer will usually find me in loose cotton / linen tops with crops in denim / cotton / linen. Colder seasons and it will be loose tunic type tops, often with a handkerchief hem. Jeans /chinos and cosy cardigans. Scarves in cotton or silk for all seasons. I do like a pop of colour near my face. I do have smarter clothes that come into their own on holidays especially cruises but the shapes are pretty much the same - loose tops with more fitted or tapered trousers. My working life was all skirts and medium heels neither of which have a place now. I'm 73 and if I had to identify with a style, I'd say that I veer towards the boho look. I'll check that I look presentable and appropriately dressed before I go out but then can forget it and get on with the business of the day. I use lots of moisturisers on my face, topped of with a Bobby Brown pop of colour and some grey liner smudged around my eyes. If I go out with no colour on, I'm asked if I'm ok.

Rosiebee

Summer will usually find me in loose cotton / linen tops with crops in denim / cotton / linen. Colder seasons and it will be loose tunic type tops, often with a handkerchief hem. Jeans /chinos and cosy cardigans. Scarves in cotton or silk for all seasons. I do like a pop of colour near my face. I do have smarter clothes that come into their own on holidays especially cruises but the shapes are pretty much the same - loose tops with more fitted or tapered trousers. My working life was all skirts and medium heels neither of which have a place now. I'm 73 and if I had to identify with a style, I'd say that I veer towards the boho look. I'll check that I look presentable and appropriately dressed before I go out but then can forget it and get on with the business of the day. I use lots of moisturisers on my face, topped of with a Bobby Brown pop of colour and some grey liner smudged around my eyes. If I go out with no colour on, I'm asked if I'm ok.

What is a ‘Bobby Brown pop of colour’. ? Is that foundation?
I would say I aim for a Boho look too … I THINK I have it covered… but who knows, others may think I just look ‘strange’!
At my age I no longer care desperately. I don’t travel any longer, like you, if I did cruises I might well upgrade my wardrobe… but I don’t and never will now. My health, lack of wealth and hatred of boats/ ships ( after 9 hours on the heaving Irish seas one year) are a deciding factor there! 🤢
Enjoy it!

This may also be interesting - note the stylists hair gentleshores.

This is anothed help you master 'Old Money Style'. The pieces are also foundation pieces for a whole wardrobe.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAGPpbWzCo

Lots of advice re wearing lipstick here, gentleshores, but I'm a fan of a little blusher. It makes you look healthy IMO, rather than made-up.
I think your jackets may be the wrong shape for now, as well. I love a jacket, but they can date.

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Lipstick doesn’t suit everyone. It doesn’t suit me. It can look harsh and quite old lady-ish on some. I like Christian Dior Lip Glow which is sheer and natural. Expensive but I only wear it if going out somewhere, so it lasts ages, whereas my smudge of grey eyeliner (Avon Glimmer Stick, £4.45 from Amazon) is absolutely non-negotiable!

I am just 80. I wear clumpy shoes, DMs or Birkenstock for preference. Big jumpers, straight leg trousers or ankle grazers. Mostly in dark colours. I have a duffle coat and a Seasalt parka. Tunics with jeggings, and in the summer maxi dresses. I buy a lot of Toast clothes, in their sales, and have some lovely indigo jackets. I prefer natural fabrics. Cotton,linen, wool etc, and I wear only silver jewellery. Except for my wedding ring that is. My style is my own .

For me it's all about aiming to look 60 :/

Natural fabrics. I like fashion and I love the loose, oversized look (not to everyone’s taste I know), so slightly oversized dresses and pants, sometimes more fitted pants with a slightly oversized top. I love flamboyant sleeves. Rock chic boots in autumn, winter and early spring. Edgy trainers, or candles (including flip flops) late spring and summer.

Sandals, not candles (bloody autocorrect)

Straight leg jeans, thin silk poloneck under Seasalt sweater today, blue patent brogues and Barbour jacket to pop out and about today. I try to wear a dress with thick tights and boots when I go out to lunch, like Masai and Pomodoro. I always wear my "5 minute face", tinted BB cream, blusher, mascara, eyebrows shaped. In the summer I am inevitably in white lower half, either shorts, pedal pushers or full linen trousers, or white jeans, with a bright colour top. Never wear red, or beige or yellow. Always wear earrings, in the winter generally have a scarf of some sort, today it is a navy animal print. I think carefully before i buy anything now, avoid anything old lady ish, so no cardigans, apart from a couple of linen ones for summer evenings.

tobyianathekid

For me it's all about aiming to look 60 :/

Dare we ask how old you are?!

Thanks that's an interesting video PoliticsNerd :-) And that's what I mean about the plait - now I'm older the style is a bit harsh around the face - so I'm thinking I could do with more hair around my face :-)

What exactly is Boho? Is it floaty 70s type dresses? I'm interested.

I had a quick look at the Suzi Grant videos were interesting :-)

I’m probably a bit reserved re clothes. I’m nearer 80 than 70, 5’1”, size 10/12, so no real problem re fit, though I might have to alter length! I have no leggings, jeggings or skinny jeans. I like tapered or straight trousers, though quite happy that wide leg is back in fashion, and I have raked out my old ones, which are still in good condition. I do have a couple of pairs of jeans, but prefer chinos. Last summer, I bought two dresses, one from white stuff, and the other from M & S. No frilly tiers! I’ve always like straight skirts, but have few occasions to wear those nowadays. I often wear Ecco shoes, trainer and Mary Jane style. I like casual jackets, but not blazers. Have fine hair, so keep it short. I think long hair for older women is okay if it’s thick, but otherwise not. I’m boring.

PS I do like pattern and colour for tops and dresses, and own a lot of cardigans.

BOHO = www.mehar.com/uk/blog/bohemian-fashion-history-and-boho-aesthetics

In my case think very much more muted….no headbands, open toed sandals or other hippy essentials!
But I love all the earth tones, floaty scarves, ankle boots, etc… as it says … your style is your own!

In tue winter I exist in layers -thermals and tracksuits .
I have nice winter dresses ,which I keep for church or going out ,but the cold defeats me
In the summer I'm adventurous.
I love the vintage fifties look or I wear hippie caftan styles .

suelld

BOHO = www.mehar.com/uk/blog/bohemian-fashion-history-and-boho-aesthetics

In my case think very much more muted….no headbands, open toed sandals or other hippy essentials!
But I love all the earth tones, floaty scarves, ankle boots, etc… as it says … your style is your own!

So Boho is Bohemian then - slightly hippie style but not quite? You are quite right, that your style is your own and expresses who you are. Maybe that's the thing - I don't know who I am any more! It's not just being older, disability has changed me as well. So I'm dressing for comfort, in clothes that I like, but still have some older practical clothes (warmer tops) that I like to wear but don't actually go with anything . Part of me, now I'm disabled, wants to look ultra presentable when I go out now - casual somehow makes me look a bit sad. On the other hand last time I had a medical appointment looking quite presentable it was almost as if the Doctor decided there was nothing wrong with me because I presented well (he was not a nice Doctor though).