Stylish Grans.

Do not try to control your inner-hippy Stansgran

As I'm termpoarliy disabled with two broken arms, I'm doing a lot of people watching when DH drags me out of the house and plonks me down in open-air cafes. I was a Hatton Country World yesterday, a favourite haunt of 'our generation' and I've never had such an urge to call the Fashion Police.

Tight T-shirts enclosing roll upon roll of fat like a large Cumberland sausages. Too short skirts showing off white, dimply legs and varicose veins or cropped trousers enclosing large posteriors. Red faces, sweating in the heat, With the emphasis on beige. Boring.

Then a 70 year old hippy-type grandmother came into view. She too had a more 'mature' figure, but her long skirt and floaty top not only disguised her wobbly bits but made her look cool and colourful and exotic.

So go for it stansgran

Bbbevan. good for you. I'm nearly 72 and I'd love to lose that much weight. My resolve is rock solid in the morning but crumbles by the evening. Oh how I'd love to be lighter and slimmer again - though not back to my 8.5 stone weight - especially in this hot weather ! How did you do it?

Sorry that should be back to my 7.5 stone weight. That was too skinny for my liking!

I'm not sure if it's crimpilene you are seeing in the shops, it's probably neoprene or scuba which feels a bit similar. I made a skirt out of scuba and it's incredibly easy to sew, it's quite light as well. I'm not a huge fan of synthetics , so I won't be wearing it, my DD loves it though!

I have a great neoprene hooded coat with a bonded fleece inner. Fantastic; light, very warm and washable.

Yes Anya I know,what you mean, summer can be very unkind to some people. It shows every fault off. I think start with a good haircut and makeup and know your good and bad points. Whatever you say everyone has good points. I always take my time buying clothes these days, if I am in any doubt then I don't buy it. I read that you should only buy clothes that make you feel like doing a little dance. Buy the best you can afford, a good basic and you can dress with scarfs, jewellery, bags, shoes etc. Always look at the back view as well when you buy something, and never, never buy something that is too tight because it won't look right and you won't enjoy wearing it.

busylizzie I was diagnosed diabetic in March. I went on the Low Carb, High Fat diet and because I lost the weight I have reversed the diabetes. The diet was surprisingly easy. There is a thread on GN concerned with it.

We associate 'old age' with our parents generation, as mentioned before, tight perms, elasticated waists, crimplene. As our generation ages, what we wear will also become regarded as how 'old' people dress. I've noticed many older ladies (including me) have a sharp bob - very few younger peeps do so I reckon it is becoming an older woman's style. However I think our style is a vast improvement on the past, & I was really flattered the other day when my daughter was staying, ran out of clothes & asked to borrow a top of mine she liked. That would NEVER have happened when I was young!

It's an ill wind... I got this dress for next to nothing from the closing down sale at BHS. I was receiving my 20 year long standing member award from the KUGB that day. Everyone else was in sportswear even though there was supposed to be a dress code. Come on, GNers. Be daring! Post some photos of yourselves at your stylish best!

There's certainly loads of scope for older ladies to do exotic. It's very liberating not having to go to work and have people say "What on earth are you wearing?"

I have been known to pass stuff on to DD when I'm tired of it - and sometimes she even wears it!

Ok Lizzy this is me serving up Christmas dinner last year in one of my flowery Toast dresses

Love the dress, Jane. You look perfectly happy and relaxed. ? I do 5:2 and have fasted today. Your Christmas dinner makes me feel very hungry indeed ?

it should be tomorrow soon lizzy

You've proved my point Jane - lovely.

Thanks Anya

Nobody has mentioned size and carriage. A tall slim woman with a certain air can look good in a bin bag. One of my cousins is like that.

Oh how true M0nica.
I have now shrunk to a tad over 5 feet, I am overweight although I have recently lost half a stone, and I walk badly due to my current disability.
I feel like a badly filled sack of potatoes. My GD one is my build exactly and I so regret it but number two at 14 is shooting up and we both envy her.

My mother drilled into me that the face looks prettier when you are drsssed in plain colours. Of course she meant our kind of face, but more striking faces can compete with any amount of colours. On a rather sad note, I noticed in an online catalogue the colour greige.

I take it this is between beige and grey and is exactly the colour my dear friend - sadly now suffering from dementia-wears. I can't influence her family to choose better colours for her.
I like black because I'm still grey/blonde and combine it with another colour.

A dear friend of mine is about five feet tall and a real apple shape. She was in her sixties when I first met her, she had very little money and bought all her clothes in charity shops and flea markets. She has a wonderful way of putting clothes and colours together and always looks marvellous.

I bought a lovely skirt from a charity shop for £5.99 and I'm not sure it's ever been worn. What a find!

Am not very stylish at the moment, still in nightie( a long flowery thing) glasses on end of nose, hair a morning riot, slurping a large mug of tea.DGC will be arriving shortly so must log out and dress in stylish combat trousers and T shirt. which by the afternoon will have a variety of stains from little hands.

Normally of course, am more stylish than the late Coco Chanel. ( !)

Im a bit of a slob at 68, and a size 18-20 . I wear what I feel comfortable in, I do have what I call a couple of posh outfits if Im invited out anywhere which isnt a lot now a days! Comfort will always come first.

Mumsy, I was a bit of a slob at 68, then things went downhill

I have on the dreaded cropped trousers and a not-too-tight t shirt.

I did do a bit of gardening earlier then slobbed around.
It is Bank Holiday after all, and I have been very busy lately.

Hair is still a morning riot btw as I didn't style it this morning. Don't think DH noticed.