Gransnet forums

Chat

'Old Lady shops'

(18 Posts)
Rocketstop2 Sat 02-May-26 19:02:42

I made myself laugh today as I saw something I liked in a leaflet for what I used to term 'An old lady shop' ! It kind of put me off, although I have sent for the clothing to try.
It got me thinking, even though we are older now, are there still shops you feel you might be too young to buy from? I aim this at all ages too, as we are all only a certain age in our own heads.
I can remember as a young girl wearing Marks and Spencer stuff that My Mum had bought and vowing 'When I'm grown up I shall NEVER shop at Marks and Spencer.' (I did !!)
So, anyone else??

Cossy Sat 02-May-26 19:14:19

I don’t feel any shops are “off limits”, if I see something I really like and the price is right (& it’s in my size), I will buy it, irrespective of which shop it is.

Rocketstop2 Sat 02-May-26 19:16:10

That's what I'm doing now , mainly because a lot of shops all have the same stuff !

kittylester Sat 02-May-26 19:20:48

Was it Damart? A leaflet from them came today and I just put it straight in the bin on the basis that it's an old lady brand......and i'm definitely not an old lady!!

Rocketstop2 Sat 02-May-26 19:22:11

Ha ha kittylester , now that would be telling (yes) ! This is EXACTLY what I meant !

foxie48 Sat 02-May-26 19:22:14

I don't have any big shopping centres near to where I live which is why I love to stay with my daughter and go shopping. I'm 77 and have bought clothes from Mango, Zara, and Monki (just to name a few) when I've been with her. If it fits, looks good and makes me feel great then I'll buy it!

Moth62 Sat 02-May-26 19:31:10

I buy my elastic-waisted jeans from Edinburgh Woollen Mill, which my children definitely class as being for older people. If they have to accompany me, they wander off to look at the whisky selection side of the shop!

Rocketstop2 Sat 02-May-26 19:31:40

Good plan foxie48 !

Casdon Sat 02-May-26 19:38:52

There are quite a few I see as too old for me so avoid.
Bonmarche, Hotter (I don’t like those grown on soles, and find the shoes uncomfortable), Chums (my 95 year old dad buys his trousers from there), Roman, Edinburgh Woollen Mill. I’m not a flowery patterns person, and I don’t like synthetic fibres, I have an aversion to clothes that combine the two.

LadyGaGa Sat 02-May-26 19:42:16

I have recently discovered the most comfortable jeans I have ever worn. (I know you won’t tell anyone, but they are pull up ones from Cotton Traders 🫣👵🏻 )

Silvershadow Sat 02-May-26 19:59:18

I wear clothes and shoes from all different places. Depending on what I’m doing or where I’m going I dress accordingly. I don’t sneer at shops like Hotter or Bonmarche as they provide some nice clothes at reasonable prices. Whenever I pass our local ones they are full with happy shoppers. You have to choose carefully but that’s no different in any shop. I also like Seasalt, local boutiques, vintage, and most importantly I dress to suit me and my body shape. Nobody has ever said I look ‘old lady’ and with daughters working in fashion I’d soon know!

Knitter43 Sat 02-May-26 20:21:21

I definitely don't like Damart stuff and I can' t think why they keep sending me mailings as I don't recall ever buying from them. Like many of you have said, you buy from wherever you see something you like. We are lucky there is so much choice now and we don't have to be stereotyped as women were in the past. We can wear exactly what we like - it made me think about the past though. How many of you will remember wearing liberty bodices as children? I certainly do and hated them with their fiddly.rubber buttons. I also hated those navy blue knickers we had to wear ( complete with pockets) and say thank goodness those days are over!!

merlotgran Sat 02-May-26 20:28:37

I’ve been buying my jeans from Bonmarché for years.
I can grab a pair off the shelf and know they will fit.
How can anyone tell where they one from?

Witzend Sat 02-May-26 20:30:24

Must say I look on Hotter as a real old lady shop, but having said that, I bought a pair of ankle boots from them - they are supremely comfortable - I have worn them loads and TBH I don’t think they look old-lady-ish at all.
The style is Murmur, if anyone wants to know.

Deedaa Sat 02-May-26 20:31:05

I used to search for old lady shops for my mother in law. Skirts weren't too bad because M&S usually had some flowery ones, but short sleeved blouses that buttoned up the front were a nightmare to find. I once went to Marks to buy her some knickers. I asked an assistant if they had any white cotton old lady knickers. "That's what I wear!" was the offended answer!

Scribbles Sat 02-May-26 20:35:40

I will never be old enough for Damart or Chums!

winterwhite Sat 02-May-26 20:53:12

We’re probably saying that there’s a dearth of non-frumpy clothes for women over 70.

sixandahalf Sat 02-May-26 21:12:13

I think it's rather unkind to posters or friends who shop at these places.

They are on the whole cheap and do the job.

We can't all manage Seasalt, Sahara,Jigsaw and so on.