what to wear at 60 plus?

sallyswin - I've got the same problem as you, problem legs and feet. My legs are spindleshanks with lots of broken veins. Large flat painful feet .
The rest of me isn't bad for my age. (80).
I usually wear a full length skirt or trousers to hide my legs. I made some wide flared trousers in floral patterns. Can't wear tights or holdups now.
I like strong colours, especially pinks, never beige, and black drains all colour from my face.
Tops are a problem - do others wear those baggy smock tops like maternity smocks? Fitted tee shirts are hard to find now.

BIjou, you are an inspiration!

Love the summer when I can wear my maxi dresses. Find that I need to wear heels with knee length dresses or I feel really squat and frumpy. Under maxis I can wear pretty flip flops. Roll on summer

I meant to add, why feel that you should dye your hair.? There does seem to be a lot of pressure from magazines, newspaper articles etc.on older women to do this. Unless you have a very clever and/or expensive hairdresser, you can just look like an old woman with dyed hair.I stopped dying mine when I was in my sixties and haven't regretted it. (I have a good haircut though.) People usually think I am younger than I actually am.) There aren't any rules really are there? Do what makes you happy and stick two fingers up to the fashion writers!

I read a lovely quote by Lauren Hutton that went something like this . . . fashion is what designers offer us 4 times a year . . . but style is what we intuitively choose from all of that to make our very own. I have since very young loved capri pants ballet flats and turtle neck/polo jumpers. I have seen this look come and go and come back again and I am still a keen fan.

So PennyB I say use your own forever intuitive style with a tweak here and there. And as to where to shop . . . knowing your own style you can often find suitable items in many shops . . . I bagged the last size 12 khaki lightweight casual jacket in the whole of the South East from Topshop in Brighton. It is just the right length and looks great casual in jeans and flats or over a little black dress with heels and nice jewellery.

And I love Alyson Walsh's references to what she calls "grown up" "style tribes" in her book "style forever" - Casual Glamourpuss - Scandinista - Older and Bolder Brigade - Fabulous Femme - Gentlewoman. There was a lovely recreation photo-shoot in The Bath Magazine last week? with some of us older gals . . . really interesting. I am about to read the book now for some more tips! More info on the style tribes in Alyson Walsh's excellent style blog . . . thatsnotmyage.com/older-models/the-grown-up-style-tribes/

Thought I'd do some people watching today in my City Centre to observe what "older women" are wearing.

There were a few of "those" skirts, yes, but mostly everyone was wearing pretty much the same thing, regardless of age.

A particular "look" around here seems to be straight leg jeans, flats, a polo shirt and a colourful puffa gilet.

One lady was rocking a gorgeous grey asymmetric bob. Very stylish indeed.

Lots of flats, brogues (currently very fashionable), swingy slubby tops, bikers and flowy shirts.

Alas, still too much nylon in the shops.

I think it's easier than ever to look stylish, providing you stick to good quality fabrics. I agree there's a lack of fitted T-shirts around at the moment.

I think it all depends on size, and we should wear what suits us. Nothing to do with age.

I do wear 'those skirts' - when i feel like it. My legs are not for show, not the slimmest part of me and I like skirts - so in the summer its often a maxi or almost maxi skirt, yes with flowers. Having said that I also have some narrow jeans and tops identical to those worn my my DDIL, who is 25 and as trendy as a young baby allows. These days I don't worry about it. Really liberating. I've adopted one of my Dad's phrases - if others don't like it they can look the other way - often heard when he was wearing one of his well loved gaudy sweters.

To answer the question in post no 1, my advice would be not to look through catalogues and magazines for ideas but to take a critical look in the mirror and see what shape is the most flattering.

Just wear at least one item tailored/classy...good haircut...and feel comfortable in you own skin. Regardless of current fashions, you know what suits you. In summer I feel comfortable in maxi dress and flat strappy sandals. Winter straight leg denim tucked into boots, a nice blouse and a selection of scarfs (to cover scraggy neck!) If you feel comfortable wearing it, you will carry it off well and look good.

I completely agree with M0nica. Those 1980s floral skirts etc are so ageing. I think I dress younger now than in the 1980s - sheesh, I even had an old lady perm then!
I hit 60 last year and, apart from no longer wearing jeans which finish somewhere south of my belly button, I dress as I like and, yes, some items are the same as my daughters-in-law wear. If you feel confident and comfortable (hence the above the belly button jeans) then wear it. If you feel uncomfortable or inappropriately dressed, it'll show on your face and that's certainly ageing.
Oh the only other concession I have made is to make sure my feet are comfy - again shows on your face if you're in pain!

Other than what I've said, and which may only apply to me, there's no need to change anything just because you're about to hit 60 - at least I don't think so and no-one actually laughs at me, at least not when I can see ...

If you think you should change your appearance, why not investigate a personal dresser in somewhere like Debenhams and do it slowly, maybe buy a few staples like a 'good' dress or trousers.

PS It's ok being 60 ... not sure about 61 though, which is what I will be this time next week. Still not buying floral skirts or lavender cardies though.

I don't believe that age should dictate our choice of clothing. Choosing what suits our build, shape and colouring is what works (and people of all ages can get that right or wrong!). Saying that though, I'd say wear what the heck you like...if it makes you feel good, then do it!

I think the old saying mutton dressed as lamb doesn't really count now.we 60s& 70s are not going to dress like we did in the 60s. If you like something buy it and wear it I say.

Today I went out for lunch with a colleague from 20 years ago. I am wearing and Orvis colour block jacket with an Orvis denim skirt. The Tee shirt is Ofelia and the scarf Miss Shorthair, the sandals sandpiper and the tights Tesco. A neighbour who called round for a cup of tea complemented me on my outfit!!! I'm 75 do not wear makeup except for evening do's at Christmas.

I avoid most floral stuff as I don't want to look like a pair of curtains. Trendy culottes and Ines de la Fressange designed stuff from Uniqlo; trouser suit from MeandEm, oversized white shirt from Mango worn over navy M&S Twiggy jeggings or treggings, tops from Seasalt or Masai, plain items from Cos. Nothing animal print or frilly. I buy expensive scarves from Anthopologie or J Crew to add interest to stuff from Jigsaw or Warehouse. I can rarely wear cheap clothes which make me look coarse. I sound snobby, but have found items from H&M for example which look good. I spend a lot on clothes because It was years before I could afford to buy what I wanted, had to make my own until I went out to work to earn enough to buy my own( married to Scrooge). I am so fed up with M&S clothing which is overdesigned and overembellished. Most women of a certain age want to cover their knees and upper arms, not try to look 18 again.

I stopped to speak to an elderly lady today (well she was more wrinkled than me) she was wearing a wonderful black and yellow floaty kaftan over black leggings and looked marvellous.

Hattiehelga, there's usually an option in your spam file to mark an e-mail 'not spam' and future mail from that address will be delivered as usual. Just a blip!

What I wore today is typical of my style. Straight leg, black with white spot cotton trousers, white oxford shirt, red patent leather loafers.

I tend to live in jeans and can't see me stopping - they are comfortable. The only thing that I have changed is shoes, I refuse to wear anything uncomfortable.

pennyb et al - there's no need to think "I'm 60 now so I can't wear the things I used to".
I wear (and buy new) whatever I think is flattering and not old-fashioned. Examples of "old-fashioned" include the Classic range at M&S - to be avoided!
Having said that, a lot of my things are timeless styles (mustn't say "classic"!) and I have had them for ages as they are good quality and never date.
If anyone can recommend where to find stylish clothes that don't cost the earth please tell me as globalisation has led to the same shops with the same styles in every high street.
Where on where can I find something different that would suit an older (but not old) person and not cost the earth becasue they are designer labels?

I swore that I wouldn't become a 'beige' lady when I retired. I also rarely wear pastel colours, and primary colours seldom. I like slightly 'off' shades like plum, rust, teal, khaki etc. Gave my longer flared skirts to the Charity shop. My friend still wears them, though. M & S classic section still do the above mentioned skirts. Wear what's comfortable, and not tight! A good bra helps too.

I love clothes and shopping so managing my wardrobe is a bit of a challenge. I love Cos dresses which are usually in strong colours with oversized geometric shapes. Uniqglo for casual wear t shirts, jeans in lots of different styles, big pleated culottes. I also love a comfortable jumpsuit, I've made 3 in various fabrics. Being over 60 is no barrier to being stylish.

At 60- wear what you want, what you feel good in, what suits your colouring and body shape- and throw the schackles of fashion away at last (I'd say do that at any age..) - one of the joys.

If you stil need inspiration after all the very good advice so far, look at women whose style you admire (and, dare I say it, those you don't) you will quickly establish a benchmark which will help you to be more adventurous if need be.

My wardrobe is gradually being taken over by the stuff my DD2 puts in her charity bag, and which I always rummage through before it goes. She's very stylish and knows how to throw an outfit together, so all the work's being done for me