Wouldn’t it be nice......

I'm 5ft 9ins and I haven't been able to buy a dress that fits well for years. Not only are they too short overall, as many have said, but also the waist seam comes around my midriff and either digs in when I raise my arms or ends up bunched up under my bust!
I rely on separates; I buy packs of 3 men's T-shirt style vests from Matalan and have put my own choice of motif on some by printing on to transfer paper and ironing it on. They are good, thick cotton and have lasted really well.

I like Toast and also Seasalt for plain coloured clothes that are comfortable, nice colours, sensible lengths and sizes and which wash well. Joules clothes wash well but Their designs are getting same-y. They’re my top bet for next years has been competition!

I have already told M & S about the unsuitability of some of their clothing ranges for 'older' ladies, including the fact that we don't necessarily want cheap clothes, but smart and well made. I suggested that it could be one reason why their sales are down. I even volunteered to be a model for the fitting/shaping of some of their garments. They haven't grabbed this opportunity as yet!

BBbevan
You might try the men's M&S tee shirts in the nearest size to that which you normally buy. It won't have shaping but it will be a better quality (slightly thicker) cotton and they come in round and V necks. I've bought a white V tee in medium and it's great. Not as varied as the ladies tees but a more wearable material. I don't like round necks on anything.
M&S have patterns GALORE on every top...or so it seems.
I did buy a loose fitting ladies white V neck, long-sleeved tee plus a plain white shirt with 3/4 sleeves on Monday, both in their sale and they are fine. Bras?...haha. Everything for bigger boobed women looked like JCB lifting gear so it's back to Bravissimo who know women want stylish, supportive and sexy.

Oh Lemon Grove I thought I was being 'picky' - but you took the words out of my mouth. Do they think we can't recognise decent colour sense and proper clothes when we see them. And why do walking sandals have to come in pink!! Tempted to open a shop called 'Nothing Pink'.

We have a sports shop called Go Outdoors, I think they are a national chain. For £5 annually you get a card which gives a discount at the till. They stock a label called Weird Fish and I have had good and decent length tee shirts from them. Also a really nice straight cotton dress with short sleeves that cover the problem bits at the top of my arms. I did have to go up a size however especially since I was likely to put some weight on while I was on holiday!

cornergran I'm looking for the same dress as you! Every time I try one on and it's just above the knee, (I'm 5'5") I come out of the changing room, they say is it ok? I say "No,I prefer below the knee". More often than not they tell me that's what a lot of ladies say! So why don't they listen?

Oh yes lemongrove, germolene pink is the perfect description! Yuk

Although I used to be a bit of a fan of Gudrun Sjødén, there’s no way I could afford her wacky stuff any more. I do still have three items of hers, but they all look pretty awful on me. And why does she design so much in an inverted V shape (useless if you’re top-heavy), and/or with designs that look like they were painted by infant school kids in the 1960s? If, like me, you have lumps and bumps that you want to disguise (and like it or not, busy patterns are great for that, as is clever tailoring), discover the latest incarnation of the once horribly frumpy Dash.

At 5’1” and size 22 WHY are M&S tops too short for me?! Heaven help taller people!

Cotton Traders is my go-to for t-shirts. They come in a wide range of colours, fit well, don't cost a bomb and last for years..!
Bon Marche is where I buy my loose cotton nightdresses from - cheap, cool and comfortable, who could ask for more...!

Thanks Silverlady just had a look at the Kit and Kaboodal site.

I like Bonmarche particularly the quality of the T-shirts although I prefer the plain ones. Also like Seasalt again cotton good for Summer, after that its pot luck in some smaller department stores, small boutiques, market stalls and on line, not at all the way I shopped years ago. Hasten to add I don't buy that much anyway.

Silverlady79 - thank you for the Kit and Kaboodal suggestion, have just had a look and the dresses look gorgeous and very reasonably priced ??

I can never understand why they do nighties suitable for winter, in lovely warm materials, with massive gaping necklines!

What is the point?

Seems I’m not the only one wholly dissatisfied with fashion for the over 50s!
ANY BUDDING YOUNG DESIGNERS OUT THERE WILLING TO LISTEN? YOU WOULD BE WORTH A FORTUNE IN NO TIME! ??

I hate the fact I can only get either a night dress in cotton that either goes to the floor or goes to top on my knee. Where is the happy medium mid calf length that is snug in winter and cool in summer?

Poppyred, I do so much agreewith you.
These fashions are pre-set a year early by the designers who are mainly male and with young women in mind. They are paraded on the catwalks then given free to famous women who will wear them and their fashions will then be sought after by the rest of the flock. Even if not sought after that is what will be found in the shops!
Now as far as retailers are concerned they just want to make profits so they need to wake up and demand a better selction to cater for all who have money to spend in their shops and stores. Many times I have gone clothes shopping and come home with my bank balance still intact.
They say M and S is closing stores down and they make more profit out of the food stores than from clothing.
..Yes, they really ought to ask all of us what we would like to wear and not be slaves to the designers.
Their loss. Our loss.

Strangely I found a dress in M&S this year that I like. Unfortunately it is sleeveless so I bought a little bolero from Wallis. My OH says I worry too much about my arms and in this hot weather, I have taken the bolero off a couple of times. The dress has a zip at the front so I can choose how high or low I want it. We have a very large M&S near us and normally I am amazed that I am unable to find anything I like.

Hush do really nice cotton long sleeved t shirts and vests

But they are fitted! Box shape would be much nicer!

I got a really nice nightie from M&S, navy and white Breton stripe, below the knee (never worn in bed though, except if the GDGs are staying over); bought it really for slobbing around first thing in the morning and getting a few jobs done. And it was free, because I had a £10 voucher to be spent on nightwear.

willa45 - Thank you for that - I'll try some. I do like my jeans though and the best pair I ever had were NYJD but as I am now retired, I really can' t justify paying so much for them.

In defence of M&S in love their half sleeve t shirts. They come in plain colours and nice prints, wash well and are good value. Admittedly I don't buy much else from Marks.

Emelle, have you tried using loose leggings as 'pants'? Last year, I bought a pair of 'Jean' leggings (thicker fabric), but got them a size larger since I didn't want them to be formfittingly snug.

Being one size bigger, they look more like 'skinny' jeans than true leggings. They cost half of what jeans would have and turned out to be a nice fit (I have skinny legs too).