Does anyone else feel disenfranchised by models?

I think our mothers had it easier in a way, they knew what was expected at their age ,when to wear a hat etc.
We were the first liberated generation though I never did burn my bra. I look at fashion in newspapers and magazines and decide if I think I would suit it. I think "Are we there yet'"s suggestion of a blog is a very good idea.
What looks good on one has never looked good on some others.Also who knows what air brushing has gone into fashion shoots especially when they use older models.

Just to add the one I've watched is middle aged and middle sized.

AreWeThereYet those women are already there on YouTube but they tend to be based in the USA. A couple I've seen do 'unboxing' vlogs, where they work with online retailers, send for a range of garments and unpack and try them on (they do get changed off camera!) They send back the ones they don't like it that don't fit well. They often get a range of prices too. The last one I watched was trying on a range of jeans.

I am not really bothered about who models the clothes.

I would just like to see some clothes for sale that are suitable for a woman of my age and build, which is 70, 1 m 62 and 56 kg

They don't exist, as clothes for my height and build are meant for 14 year old girls!

If I'm honest I don't care what the model looks like or how old she is. I look at the features on the clothes, check the length and sizing, and the colours. If I still think it would suit me I buy it. If I see something that looks good on a larger model I'm likely to ignore it because it probably won't suit my shape as I won't have the curves to fill it out.

I see an opportunity here for a business opportunity for the entrepreneurs amongst you - set up a blog and model the clothes yourselves to let others see what they look like on your shape and colouring.

I think many models are excessively thin. A more representative size would be healthier and inclusive. I don't like to see long grey hair draped over older models' shoulders. It's often accompanied by a sultry expression. What's that about? Grey or white hair looks great in a stylish bob or an edgy, short style. If grey hair is long, for me it looks better tied up off the face and shoulders. Actually, I've never seen any long hair draped over adult shoulders as attractive or sexy. It just looks childish and silly.

I love sewing and trawl through endless dressmaking patterns. Most independent pattern designers show a range of ages and sizes on the pattern envelope and that's good. The big name pattern companies are slowly following suit. I think they might have gone too far in some cases. I want to see a picture of someone who most nearly represents me, so they could show several different people wearing the garments. Pattern envelopes are big enough to show four or even six different people. What I absolutely don't need to see is a model of any size, shape or ethnicity looking coy and pouting at the camera. Many of the larger models are posed like that but not the skinny ones. I find that patronising and really wish they wouldn't do it.

It depends on how you dress! I don't go with the age thing for dressing. I wear what I want providing it suits me.

My favourite online clothes shop, which has 2 outlet shops, one where I live is Joe Browns, who are quirky colourful and different.

I don't do shopping where my late mom did and never will. Nor do I intend to ever wear clothes solely for my age group. Shudders at the thought.

Growing older disgracefully though not mutton dressed as lamb. Why would you want too!

Surely anybody any age can wear any clothes that they feel comfortable in and think they look stylish in.

I really do not understand this idea of clothes being tied to a particular age group. It is not unknown for myself(78), DDiL (520 and DGD (14) to all be wearing essential identical outfits, straight leg jeans, big sweaters and 'sensible' shoes. The sweaters and how we wear them will be different, I like bright and strong colours, DGD, pastels and DD will be in black or dark grey.

I will be wearing what one of todays fashion pages describe approvingly as 'chunky loafers', the other two will be in Doc Martins and we will all put our quilted parkas on when we go out,

Germanshepherdsmum I would like to see genuinely larger models (not size 12!) so i can see how the clothes might actually look on me! I am fed up with getting things that look fab on the model but look hideous on my less than perfect body!

I googled clothes for 50 and over I am 75, there was a few I quite liked and by the way I am grey. I love some of the fashions you can get I don’t wear dresses much but like long skirts I have jeans and I am looking for a white shirt to wear with them which doesn’t cost the earth. Mostly wear trainers too. Have a look on pin interest got some fashions for older woman.

Things have improved a lot .

As for the rest - stick thin to the point of being emaciated -I dislike the zombie look !
And if any of the automatons talk they adopt an extraordinary flat way of speaking !

Must admit I don’t look at the model. I see the clothes and know whether it’s my style etc. A look at the size range is the final decider. I’d be put off a lot of purchases of furniture, appliances etc if I looked at the highly polished settings - nothing like my serviceable but cosy home

I don’t know what sites you’re on but I see plenty of 70 + models with grey hair, sometimes even long. Admittedly, they’re usually pretty beautiful with wonderful bone structures. True, not many dumpy, 70+ with double chins around (a self portrait) but then, let’s be honest, the clothes look better on the tall and elegant and they are trying to sell the clothes!

Just keep watching the Queen, a great model throughout her life and especially since Angela Kelly started advising her and being her dresser. The model for the Tena advert is another good advert for an older lady with curves who says that you can wear what you want and are never too old for lovely clothes and earrings, I love the gold ones she wears in the ad.

Nowadays digital sewing patterns are modelled by the people who are making the articles of clothing. I actually find that they don't show the articles in their best light (I'm being kind!) which puts me off. If I saw them on a model, I'd probably think what a lovely garment it was. Now, I know that the clothes won't look the same on me but somehow, the image of me doesn't even enter my mind when browsing so I rarely buy the more realistic looking patterns. I think I'd be the same if I saw clothes on a fat, frumpy model.

There is a beautiful older woman models forGudrun Sjorden,long grey hair,admittedly slim but gorgeous.

I do get annoyed with models, but never the hair dye ones. I just want to see a representation of the colour.
In fact, I’d be happy with the box being a solid colour of the dye inside.

My biggest gripe is that a range suddenly changes its actual cut and style as soon as it goes into size16+!?! Why? Iv often seen a top/dress that I decide I want, only to discover the style in larger sizes is totally different but same fabric! It's as if they think anyone size16+ cannot cope with a waist/darts/low cut neckline/ jeans typing ?and morph into dartless and baggy frocks with non descript high round neck or jeans sprout an elasticated waist??? how rude!

I know they want to show the clothes on models who look good,but why do they have to be so tall ?

Saggi

To be honest I buy what I like and what suits me …. whatever the model looks like. Anyway I think it keeps me buying clothes that ‘others’ may think unsuitable for ne! I don’t do unsuitable…. I do what I like. And I wear purple.!!!

I wear purple too, I have six pairs of cords in a lovely purple, bought at M&S several years ago. They sold out of the colour in days and since then have been offering their usual dull offering of navy, black or beige - with the occasional smattering of some unwearable bright colour shunned by shoppers of all ages.

FannyCornforth

Jane I’ve been umming and ahing about Snag tights for ages.
I usually wear cotton leggings and socks. I have ‘sensory issues’? about fabric

I’ve also been umming and ahing about buying Snag tights for while as I have rather large legs just wondered if they would actually fit ? Looking at their advert the models tend to have larger legs but I’m too sceptical to go ahead and buy them .

FannyCornforth

What do you want to see on a box of hair colour Mummer?
They can’t put on a picture of someone with ‘YUKKY’ hair, can they?

Obvs!! But I also don't expect a cgi photoshopped grey hairdo on someone who obviously doesn't have grey hair either! My point is that showing realistic images of the people who may want the products actually looking good wearing said products would be a better use of ads. A few realistic 'before and after' for your hair dye example wouldn't go amiss either illustrating the possibility of getting ones yukky hair improved?

Germanshepherdsmum

Absolutely right merlotgran. I would find a catalogue full of overweight ageing ladies pretty depressing. If I want to see that I only need to look in the mirror.

Certainly agree with you both on that one . I look past the slim younger model wearing what I’d like to buy , if it comes in my size then I’ll buy it .

AreWeThereYet

Growstuff nor me! I stopped buying dresses by the time I was early twenties, stick to skirts that are a bit more forgiving when they don't fit properly. Coats have to skim with no waistline.

Sorry Fernhillnana I've gone off piste a little bit with shopping instead of modelling, so sorry. Back to older models - the problem (from a suppliers perspective) with older models may be that younger people wouldn't want to buy stuff that seems aimed at older people? Whereas older people do buy stuff aimed at younger people.

Agree! I always wonder why there's 100s of sizes 8-10 in sales both online and shops of items that most size 8-10 wouldn't be seen dead in!! And those larger sizes have to put up with no stock from an early stage in season of most popular sizes!! Bad stock management and total ignorance of customer/consumer base! The wastage must be phenomenal in small size clothes AND tiny/huge shoes &boots!

Should it be ‘alienate’?