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Style & beauty

what to wear at 60 plus?

(158 Posts)
pennyb Wed 04-May-16 13:54:06

I am about to turn 60. It feels like a landmark. My 50s sort of came and went without me really noticing but I do feel different now. Not old I hasten to add. Maybe more grown up. Anyway I think perhaps it's time to take stock and revise my style a bit. I've pretty much carried on wearing the things I have always done but suddenly feel a bit mutton dressed as lamb. I'd like to update my look to reflect my age but without going old or frumpy. Where do I start? (Did I mention I hate shopping?!)

whitewave Sun 08-May-16 17:56:18

I think when you get to our age you can wear exactly what you like and sod everyone.

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 17:47:49

I think I have reached that time of life when you become quite proud of your age, instead of trying to hide it.

Rambling now.

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 17:46:26

I am 74. In caseyou don't know. smile

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 17:45:19

Short sleeves as my arms are still quite presentable.

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 17:44:08

Today I've got on a Marks and Sparks dress for the first time, that I bought last summer, just before the "summer" disappeared completely. It is blue with white broderie anglais. It could be Per Una. I can't see the label as I am wearing it.

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 17:40:49

I like sparkles. Always will.

wildrose Sun 08-May-16 17:04:46

Can someone link to one of these floral "no no" skirts I'm best avoiding please? Just so I can check that the long skirts I own aren't the same! I think they were described upthread as typically worn by some women once they reach a certain age... I'm curious grin

petra Sun 08-May-16 13:16:53

I wouldn't wear anything that my 3 closest friends wear. One has a penchant for greens and brown, yuk, the other has a thing about sparkles and the other always looks as if she's waiting to grow into everything. But I love them all.

janeainsworth Sun 08-May-16 12:53:00

grin

Alea Sun 08-May-16 11:54:47

I am so glad you added that last sentence -janea or I would have been questioning how good a friend she was grin

janeainsworth Sun 08-May-16 11:52:10

No. I have a very dear friend whose dress sense I like.
She lent me some maternity dresses which I felt awful in.
Even though I was pregnant at the time.

Jaxie Sun 08-May-16 10:40:27

I read once that you can always tell if a stranger could be a friend if you would willingly wear what they are wearing. Do Gransnetters agree? I have 2 existing friends who are copyists, and I find this rather annoying.

NotTooOld Sat 07-May-16 23:13:11

I got my summer clothes out yesterday and chucked out all the size 12s which have obviously shrunk over the winter. I'm now doing two walks a day instead of one, except when it is raining. I agree about the beige cardis being no-nos but I think beige linen or cotton trousers are ok. I like neutral trousers (usually cropped ones) in the summer, so beige and navy are fine, but I keep black for the winter - and avoid pale blue at all costs.

janeainsworth Sat 07-May-16 21:26:07

Oh dear deedaa! I remember saying that to my DM blush
Her response was 'yes what's wrong with it?' and I didnt have the nerve to tell her grin

Deedaa Sat 07-May-16 21:19:43

DD's killer comment is always "Is that what you're going to wear?" At which point I look in the mirror and say "Of course not! I'll find something decent".

Synonymous Sat 07-May-16 09:24:33

If you don't enjoy wearing it get rid.
If you try it on and it excites you buy it.

Pittcity Sat 07-May-16 07:58:24

I wore a dress leggings combo on Thursday that was comfy. Saw myself in a shop window and won't be wearing them together again!

Mamie Sat 07-May-16 06:34:39

Today I think I will wear ancient shorts and an even more ancient BHS t-shirt as I have to spend the morning lifting turf and barrowing earth round the garden.
I think that should be sartorially appropriate... hmm

absent Sat 07-May-16 05:45:13

I really hate shopping and have an embarrassing tendency to faint in supermarkets and department stores. However, my personal shopper, aka absentdaughter, tends to wheel me around from time to time to guide me towards new clothes, new shoes, new jackets, etc. – and some of them are actually for me! I do try to keep her mantra in mind: "Mum, there is never a right time to look frumpy".

banorapoint2486 Sat 07-May-16 02:49:05

I totally agree. Wear what you like so long as the worst parts are covered. Unfortunately age depicts what we wear eventually such as bad knees dodgy feet, liver spots, droopy boobs and lumps and bumps. Always try something on first is my motto and you are not certain about it, don't buy it.

Jalima Fri 06-May-16 21:19:06

I shall get out my beige linen trousers shortly.

Although - we were having a cuppa somewhere nice this afternoon and in came a table-full (rather than coach-load) of old ladies in beige cardigans .....

petra Fri 06-May-16 20:22:03

Phoenix No, your ok. A good beige is classic. It's those cardigans and waistcoats that should never see the light of day that posters are talking about.
You could call my Chinos beige, nothing wrong with them.
And the right 'beige' with black is class.

phoenix Fri 06-May-16 18:42:28

BTW,great article in today's Telegraph, "Never too old to look cool" sorry, still haven't worked out how to do links from Hudl, but I do think it's worth a read! (Great photos too)

phoenix Fri 06-May-16 18:38:37

Oh dear, looks like I'm getting it wrong on many counts!

I have the odd beige top, but in good fabric and well cut (I do liven it with scarves, jewellery etc) and often wear black trousers in various shapes, boot cut, straight, leggings whatever!

I have also been known to wear shortish skirts, but usually with opaque tights, long jumpers or tunics and boots, never with bare legs and high heels.

Must get out my cropped trousers and see if they fit this year.........

Brupen Fri 06-May-16 18:32:37

I am 71next week and wear whatever I like. Lots of colour ,skinny trousers or leggings with lump covering loose tops! I do dress appropriately for special occasions though. I'm rather tall so the excess weight doesn't show much as its spread over such a large area!
I'm often complimented on my clothes which makes me smile as the majority of them are garnered from charity shops.
Yesterday I bought a 20s style flapper dress,all fringing and sequins ! God knows where or when I will be able to wear it but I wanted it so badly !!
My hair refuses to go grey which believe it or not I am disappointed about and have spent years having bleached. Stopped that now.
The only thing that really lets me down now is my wrinkled face!!
I really believe that you should wear what pleases you and makes you feel good. Life is too short now to worry about age and numbers.