Wow , I saw a lady today.....

There are some great comments/opinions here - at the end of the day it is all about CONFIDENCE - and attitude too. I always try to look my best, but have never had a great deal of confidence, no matter how many compliments I may receive. I would like to think I was a cross between Goldie Hawn, for her looks, especially her smile and hair and Helen Mirren for her attitude and style. I had given up wearing a bikini until that famous photo of Helen in hers! She gave me the confidence to start wearing them again! Happy Christmas to you all - and wear whatever makes you feel good!

Sounds great. She obviously has the confidence to carry it off. Me?I'm stuck in dark trousers and grey tops. Occasionally I may see something bright which I'd love to wear, buy it, get it home and never wear it.

I wear a lot of pinks and reds, stripes, dots, plains, anything. I feel brighter in those colours, I look much older in greys and particularly browns so I don't wear them. I'm 71 and a size 12/14.

Me again! Just remembered my bright red wool coat which I had hidden away in the cupboard - must get it out and wear it! Ha! You will never see me in beige!

There are so many style ideas for older ladies on the internet, one is advanced style. One common denominator is lipstick, usually red. I haven’t tried that, I but never go out without make up and dread the day when I might decide a nice, grey, short back and sides would be very practical. Complete with beige anorak and no make up. My mum wore orange lipstick and Creme Puff until she died at 94, can’t let her down!

I'm 5'9" and a size 11 (!) up from an 8 which was too thin.
I naturally gravitate to greys, creams etc but occasionally go mad and buy something as bright as possible.
This year I got a boiled wool coat in burnt orange and everyone loves it so followed it with a dress in teal and a floaty scarf to wear with it in clashing colours of teal, turquoise, orange, red and fuschia and navy.
Plan to wear the lot to go out on Christmas Day with navy tights and patent ankle boots.
By the way, my hair is shoulder length, highlighted and I'm 74

If only there were some sort of style guides for us older ladies. If you look on the internet they hold up Joanna Lumley and Helen Mirren, etc. as examples, but we don't have their confidence (or their money)! Where is someone to show us the way?

Would some tech savvy,stylish people post some photos please of outfits and ideas ?

I bought a bottle green beret in the Monsoon sale. DH came across it the other day still with its (very cheap) price tag on, and wondered why I haven’t worn it yet. All I can say is it didn’t look too mad when I tried it on in the store....

You can bet that the stylish lady had spent a lot of money on those clothes.

Never underestimate the power of expensive, "ordinary" clothes.

I love to see older people (men too) dressed a little outrageously. Far to many beige people out there. Btw, I'm sitting here in black tracksuit trousers and a grey T shirt but I have just been cleaning the oven. ??

And I had some gorgeous stylish (for me) fuchsia pink leather gloves last year. Sadly I now only seem to have one. It could be something to do with the youngest DGS who was terrified of them and refused point blank to hold my shocking pink hand.

IMO at any age, there are colours that suit us and those that don't, but we do have to check them occasionally, as what suited us when we were young, might just not suit us now. I remember my aunt suddenly started to wear pink and lilac after her hair had turned grey and they suited her very well, whereas when she was younger and had brown hair neither suited her.

If you feel good in certain clothes, you wear them with confidence which makes others think you look good too. You probably do: we are our own worst critics when we look in the mirror, or worse catch sight of ourselves in a shop window!

Result!
Thank you for giving me a little “push” , Kim19, I have not yet worn the duffle so contacted the store, explained and yes! I can return the navy one for a full refund and buy the pink one!
Admittedly after the Christmas excesses I may resemble a raspberry moose (deliberate spelling) but who cares, they’ll all see me coming!

I do think a skirt is better for older women rather than the ubiquitous black trousers or jeans. I am sure that most don’t check their backsides in the mirror.
I likebright colours especially bright pink or turquoise. Just because it is winter one doesn’t have to wear dull colours.

Now then bijou,here is my dilemma,the rear end is encased in the black trews.

Fortunately we are all different, but feeling * good in yourself* and looking confident and self assured goes a long way.
Unless you can wear knee boots, I think trousers do look better certainly than flesh coloured tights or even dark because most of us now wear rather more “sensible” shoes than we used to. You can tuck them out of sight with trousers and jeans but not with skirts.
But if you have the legs for a skirt, go girl!

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oldbatty - some images for you. I think some style “tweaks” can make quite a difference to an outfit - like pushing sleeves up, wearing an oversized scarf....

HannahLL.........Love it, wear it with panache.
I will be wearing burgundy tights with black patent shoes with my short black skirt . Wish I was 5'9".

? to MB!

I could wear all that lisagran and still look like a sack of oats.

No J,I refuse to believe that.What are your good bits.

Is that you Lisagran if so, you could go out in a bin bag and look fab, channelling your inner Melania Trump!
I of course look just like Christine Lagarde only not as tall, not as slim, not got the sharp haircut, or a whizz at evonomics - but I can do scarves!

J1108 stop putting yourself down. Like most of us, I bet you can scrub up well. However, I would say to all of us, myself top of the list, try to invest in properly fitting undergarments and the rest will be much improved. Took me a long time to concede then practise this.

I need my comfort too much to even try for stylish but my DD says I do a good 'quirky' - she said I'm like Karen who was on the last bake-off. I'll take that.