All this 'how to be stylish' advice.

Classy, lemongrove

I used to have a dear friend who always looked wonderful. She was in her 50s, very short, typical apple shape. She wasn't well off so most of her clothes came from charity shops and jumble sales. Her style was tunics and leggings and she had a wonderful eye for colour, jewel bright blues, greens and purples. Always looked as if she'd spent a fortune.

I've a friend like that Deedaa, she really looks the goods whatever the occasion but none of her clothes are expensive. Comfort comes first with me I'm afraid. I think the invention of Lycra was the work of the devil. Who wants to spend all day squashed up in sausage skins!

Lisagran, I wouldn't be seen dead in any of those three get ups!

Hetty, would you be able to post an image of what you think is stylish, just from another perspective?

Spangler a local man who lives in my area dresses like you describe and it makes my day when I see him on the high street.

Here are some for you.

Marydoll, I'm not sure I really understand what 'stylish' actually is. It seems to be different things to different people.

To me:

Jeans - not good on anything other than a perfectly toned bum and long legs (so usually the young). Don't people ever check their back and side views too - they really should.

Tunics - look silly, like kiddies mini-dresses for the elderly - usually ruined by shapeless, stick-like legs emerging beneath!

High heels (unless you're a lifelong dancer) look very dangerous - especially when the wearing has the 'elderly waddle' walk.

Big jewellery - what on Earth is it about. Old person with giant jewellery seems to be a thing - but why?

Thanks Hetty!
I still none the wiser. .

However, I may fulfil the criteria for much of your description above! ?

*Spangler* You remind me of my late husband - well turned out until his death. His signature: red socks, pocket handkerchief and beautiful shoes polished to see yourself. I heard my DD comment "I do wish men today were as well and smartly turned out as my F always was".

Dear Ladies & Gents you have made my day and given me a hearty laugh. Thank you!

I would definitely wear images one and two (I am 5'2" size 10 on the bottom and 12 on the top)

A denim crop top and a silver sequinned mini skirt, with my trademark white six inch heels
I've still got my Fairy Godmother dress on with stilettos and pink fluorescent socks, I love it so much.
The dress is rather torn and dirty now, though, so not so stylish as it was.
It's from spending so long up that bloody tree.
Oops - do fairies swear?

Hetty
You really made my day, you funny woman!

I don’t mind image 1, but would never wear two or three in million years, while I might look through fashion mags i will only wear what I know suits me, I’m not really taken it by the stylish tag! I’m not really a follower, I have my own style

Hetty58

Lisagran, I wouldn't be seen dead in any of those three get ups!

I did say, “Which of these 3 images - if any - do you like?”, Hetty . There’s wide range of ages and types of folks on GN, and we’ll all have different ways of dressing, and different takes on style. I imagine quite a few of us had professional jobs, having to dress quite smartly, and now - retired- are adjusting to a more casual, comfortable look - without giving up on style?

Lisagran, 'having to dress quite smartly' doesn't necessarily apply to 'the professional job'.

When I was teaching and lecturing, I wore whatever I fancied (within reason).

Those higher up the scale, professors, deans etc. had no obligation to dress in a particular way - as their qualifications and reputations spoke for themselves.

My idea of dressing smartly is to put a clean jumper on.

MissAdventure - yes, mine too, some days! But other days, I enjoy playing around with clothes.

I only like 1. 2 & 3 are quite 'old lady trying to be trendy'.

I don't mind any of them, but they would all look horrible on me, because I'm a horrible shaped person.

I bet you’re not!

fevertree Fri 16-Oct-20 14:28:39
Spangler a local man who lives in my area dresses like you describe and it makes my day when I see him on the high street.
Such a compliment, I am truly flattered.

sparklingsilver28 Fri 16-Oct-20 14:52:11
Spangler You remind me of my late husband - well turned out until his death. His signature: red socks, pocket handkerchief and beautiful shoes polished to see yourself. I heard my DD comment "I do wish men today were as well and smartly turned out as my F always was".
Your husband's attire sounds wonderful, he's my kind of fellow. What a compliment to be compared with him, thank you, to both of you.

One of the first threads I read as a contributing member was this one about cycling. The surgeon who performed my hip replacement told me that impact exercise like jogging isn't a good thing for an artificial hip, at least not for a year or two, as that's how long it needs to "bed in." But swimming and cycling are excellent exercises to keep the hip working well.

I read all the posts and thought about contributing but everyone seemed to be of the lycra set. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it's not exactly my style. Not only that my bike goes back to my childhood. As a small boy my feet couldn't reach the pedals, however, my grandmother's old bike didn't have a crossbar and I was able to stand on the pedals without risking crushed nuts syndrome. How I loved riding out on that bike, I'm sure that today's parents would freak out if their kids rode a bike amongst the traffic as I did when I was just a little boy, back then I never gave danger a second thought.

Now that I feel more confident and with such complimentary remarks, I can show my grandmother's bike because I still have it. And as for a cyclist's lycra outfit, I will leave that for those who prefer synthetic to natural fibre. Here's that thread. www.gransnet.com/forums/sport/1280839-Lets-get-cycling

Well, today I am wearing a red corderoy dress like the lady in picture 2. with dark grey tights and a pair of clumpy patent leather brogues. No scarf, I have a short neck and if I wore the scarf, all you would see is a small tuft of hair sticking out at the top . Never wear Dr Martins or anything approximating to them. Life is too short to spend hours lacing up boots. My look is considerably less 'biker' than the exemplar.

I also dress like picture 1. As for jeans, I am sorry, Hetty, I am still a size 10/12 and I still have long slim legs, my legs were always one of my finer features, so I still wear skinny of slimfit jeans - and I look at the back and side view!

However, my confidence in how I dress rests with my 13 year old DGD, who considers she has a very stylish grandma.

Marydoll

Thanks Hetty!
I still none the wiser. .

However, I may fulfil the criteria for much of your description above! ?

Me too Marydoll! . I think colour is vital. And earrings, scarves etc. I liked the first two but thought the third was awful.
I know someone who wears lovely clothes in interesting colours and colours her hair to match often in three different shades ! A bit OTT for me (the hair) but I vastly prefer that to to dingy m and s elasticated trousers hotter sandals and a purple regatta anorak ......

MissAdventure having met you I totally disagree that you are a horribly shaped person