Eek!! I bought some leggings!

JaneRowena, you are quite right, I will think of ladies without leggings in furture

Pompa you are spending far too much time thinking about ladies in their leggings. I hope your knee gets better soon.

And for your delectation, and as a salutary warning to us all, a dreadful fashion fail horror story fresh off the local grapevine press - my sister, to be precise!

Near her village is another with a large and strange retail centre, in the middle of nowhere. There is a very successful but strangely decorated café, and recently they enlarged it and refurbished it using unsold mirrors as their main wall decorations.

Rather than the rather nice prints they had had until recently there are now red or black or green or gold curly-framed mirrors wherever you look, which does rather give the impression of a funfair hall of mirrors.

My sister was having coffee with a few friends, was gazing absent-mindedly over the shoulder of one when she saw, to her horror, a Bare Behind!

The poor, completely oblivious woman was bending over to serve the table next to my sister's but her derriere was mirrored on the opposite wall. Her leggings had fallen down and she hadn't noticed. She went on serving and talking, my sister was struck dumb and one by one her friends were silenced and turned to see what she was looking at...

At which point the waitress also turned her head, went as red as a beetroot and made a hasty exit, almost dropping her tray as she attempted to pull up her leggings with one hand.

She returned and apologised, saying that would be the last time she pulled on a pair of leggings without checking that they weren't her daughter's! She had been wearing a long top, but her pinafore had caused it to ride up. The leggings had been so tight that they in turn had pulled her pants down with them. She was so busy that although she had felt some discomfort, she had ignored it!

Whilst emptying the dishwasher this morning it stuck me that I would be quite happy to show some "builders bum". That would mean I was capable of bending down that far !

The last few post talk about exactly what I hate about leggings. I suspect that leggings are easier to get very wrong than most other garments. You only need a bit of whale tail to finish the look off.

Dark teal velvet Treggings? Wow! That sounds like a lovely C *****s outfit janerowena. Giving me ideas, thanks!

Black, grey and dark denim or navy for me! Apart from my lovely dark teal velvet treggings. I wear them with a grey silk long floaty layered evening top.

Well, I'm so chuffed with mine that I have bought two more pairs and two more tops! Still only black and grey - one step at a time

I've seen several leggings-wearing young mums displaying 'workman's bum' as they bend or crouch down over their children's buggies.

Not an attractive look!

just one last word on leggings, I saw a young girl the other day with a lovely figure, wearing leggings and a short top, she looked really smart, however as she bent over to see to her toddler, I could see the outline of a pair of white knickers and a pantie liner. yuk.
The moral of this story is not to buy really cheap leggings as they are transparent, or if you do wear a long top.

I sent her this link to boost her confidence.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=leggings+tunic+jacket&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&tbm=isch&imgil=LMnKuiGfPJj6dM%253A%253BC_2BoKgfbDVPdM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.pinterest.com%25252Fgc4pinning%25252Ftunics-for-leggings%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=LMnKuiGfPJj6dM%253A%252CC_2BoKgfbDVPdM%252C_&usg=__ggLes2LAN2BLuFo5z4SSUqsFx3Q%3D&biw=1136&bih=731&ved=0CEsQyjc&ei=foUxVIfrKonxaqWsgfAI#imgdii=_

I think once most of us older heavier ladies start to think of them as a substitute for thick black tights, the whole matter becomes a lot clearer, with the slimmer ones being able to use them as a slim or skinny jean substitute. If my friend's leggings had been a paler yellow leopard pattern rather than a darkish brown, I would not have encouraged her!

Not up to DIY yet, so back to providing my expert opinions on ladies dress

Steph on BBC breakfast is looking stunning this morning, that is what I call a classy outfit. WOW

I might also be moderating my views on leggings. The combination of MC boots/leopardskin legging/biker jacket would certainly be a head turner, no Miss Marple look there, good on her.

I have narrow feet too, AA fitting. There are so many of us around!
I get my shoes from Special Feetures.
They send you a chart to draw round your feet on, which you send back to them and they advise you whether a style you like will suit your feet.
In many years of using them I've only had to send back one pair.
Wish I could just buy shoes from a local shop though!

Oh, hooray HildajenniJ - someone else with narrow feet!
There are so many 'wide fitting' shoes and boots around which are like boats on my feet.

In the past Rieker I've found standard fit to be OK but I've a feeling they've got wider...Surely my feet can't have shrunk?

Coolgran65 "I want to be a little funky without looking stupid" exactly sums up my aim too. Not always easy is it?

I've loved this thread - and enjoyed the humour also.

I sometimes ask DH for his opinion on some item of clothing (if I'm not sure), he will tell the truth (and receipt for return will be at the ready just in case).

But my friend would say, if you're not sure then you shouldn't buy it. However sometimes we like to try something outside of what we would normally choose and then I do appreciate an opinion.
I want to be a little funky without looking stupid.

What's wrong with long skirts, and shawls? I'll forego the floppy hat if you don't mind. If you saw me you'd understand why! DH loves me in a long skirt I have several and still wear them out in town.
Just come back from Cotton Traders having bought myself new dark grey cords, a couple of base layer roll necks and a long cardigan. I've made a start on the new winter wardrobe, what next? I need shoes and boots [groan] I have fairly narrow feet and hate shopping for shoes.

I have found this thread useful too. My DH rarely notices what I wear either. One day when I was still working, I was setting off for work in a plain black skirt (old) and a lovely new bright green top. I said to DH 'does this suit me? He replied 'oh yes that's a lovely new skirt'. I said 'nice try, wrong end'.

Yes, it has!

I agree. This thread has been so much more practical and helpful than the Autumn style blog .

I have just come back to the thread, I do like Yogagrans idea of a regular style thread, I felt lost when I went to buy my jeans. There were leggings, jeggings, treggings, short legs, boot legs etc etc. I hadn't got a clue.

It would be useful if shops like M&S had posters around with women in their 60s to 90s incorporating the latest trends but without looking like mutton dressed as lamb. Wish I could return to the seventies and wear long skirts, floppy hats and shawls.

I reckon I could wear sackcloth and ashes and HymnsElf wouldn't notice.

I would never let DH dictate what I wear, nor do I question what he wears. I think we are both adults and should be capable of making our own decisions about what we wear and where we wear it and buy it for ourselves as well.

Thanks jingl I was anxious my sartorial moaning had hidden patronising overtones.
Lundylinda. If you wanted yet more Mystery boots, Hotter have a sale on line and they have dark blue or mushroom ones for £45! I googled Hotter codes and got free delivery too!

Good for her!!!! The worm needs to turn sometimes.