Warning- RANT clothes for a 70 year old!!!!

Getting older has meant my body shape has changed a lot so what I wore years ago wouldn’t suit me now. Saying that, I can find nice things in M&S, Seasalt, Woolovers, Bon Marche for holiday wear, etc. I’ve just had to accept getting older means looking at things differently and I’m never going to be tall and skinny. I like to think I look anything but elderly! My daughters keep an eye on me to be sure I dont ! Also, in years gone by I never worried about spending but now, retired, my budget has changed too.

For a wedding I tried a personal shopper , she had a rail of pastel floaty dresses looked out for me , took one look at my boots , jeans and pushed the rail aside , I ended up with a nice shirt and drape trousers , far too expensive , but they will be worn again

Me too.

MerylStreep

Maybe you could stop looking for something that’s just not out there clothes for older women
My daughter and my teenage granddaughter take/ borrow my clothes. Change your mindset.

Totally agree 👍🏻

I get quite a few things from charity shops. Good quality stuff turns up there for affordable prices. I also buy 2nd hand Seasalt and Joe Brown's on eBay because I know the sizes. Most of my clothes are very similar to DD's and aren't very different from what I've always worn.

Maybe you could stop looking for something that’s just not out there clothes for older women
My daughter and my teenage granddaughter take/ borrow my clothes. Change your mindset.

I’ve a bit of a Gudrun habit too. Some of the outfits as shown in their brochures are so wacky I have to wonder who buys them, but the three dresses I have are lovely, imho, and so well made. I only buy in the sales though.

I’ve had down jackets from Lands End which have lasted for years (and were not made in China) but recently I’ve been really disappointed in every aspect of their clothing. I like some of Seasalt, Masai, Gudrun Sjoden. Not keen on leggings except on kids/teenagers, just don’t think they’re very flattering …

Vinted?????

I buy from Gudrun Sjoden too. Her clothes are very different and if you try to get the whole look it can be expensive. She is very keen on ethical clothing and natural fabrics. Poetry is another good one. Both have a shop in London and good online catalogues but they are rather more expensive than Lands End, M & S and similar.

PinkCosmos

I order clothes online and always order more than one size of each item because sizes seem to differ massively.

I still end up sending most of the stuff back anyway, because of poor quality or bad sizing

The disadvantage with online shopping is that you can't feel the fabric. I know it says, cotton, polyester, viscose etc, on the description, but fabric can vary so much in thickness and quality.

I have been in stores to check out the quality of an item that is also for sale online. If they have it in my size in the store and I like it, I will buy it. If they don't have my size in the store I will buy it online.

If I do find something I like and they do it in different colours, I get one in every colour.

I used to by online from Damart but they charge for delivery and returns - which put me off buying from them

I don't buy from Damart, but at the moment I receive emails from them offering free delivery. I know normally one would have to pay.

I don’t very often buy online. I shop in New Look, Next, M&S and H&M, when I go shopping the last thing I think about is my age 66, I wear the clothes that i think suit me. Absolutely love shopping.

Trouble is, you don’t know that before buying them. I confess though that I buy their black jersey elasticated waist yoga pants, which are fine, wash and wear well, great for round the house or gardening. The rest of their stuff I don’t buy.

Germanshepherdsmum

I read that a lot of Landsend clothes are made in China now Sue.

You piqued my interest, GSM so I’ve just taken a look at my LE items. All the jeans, which I’m sure are more than 5yrs old, were made in China and t-shirts are variously from Vietnam, Jordan and a third country I can’t make out because it’s faded but isn’t either of the first two.

We are quite lucky in that we still have a few independent shops around here and often I find something nice in these. I wouldn’t use a shop specifically for older women.

I like Gudrun Sjoden clothes, Masai, Thought, Blue Vanilla and anything a bit different. I also find nice bits in charity shops. In the summer I like cropped leggings in organic cotton as they are comfy and not so clingy and I can wear nice tops and tunics with them. I buy these in all colours from Sea Salt although there’s not much else of theirs I like.

Friends I have who are about 60, shop in High street stores of Mistral, Whitestuff and Weird Fish.

Neither they nor me deal with online shops for clothes. No thanks. Cant do with all that sending back stuff.
I dont buy that many clothes. When I do, it can be M&S though not that often, Next, not that often, a local rural co-operative, and charity shops.
I wouldnt rate myself as the best dressed person around!

HTH

If you want a shop that caters more for older customers, try Edinburgh Woollen Mill. As well as shops in some touristy places they have outlets in garden centres and online. My late Mum loved them. Try them. They will make you realise you are not old enough for old lady clothes.

There are no such things as clothes for older people. I am a few months short of 80 and the clothes I wear are not markedly different from the clothes worn by my DD, 50, or DGD, 16. OK, no mini skirts, but jeans, leggings not Dv martins, but fairly clumpy shoes and trainers.

As for online shopping, I am selective. Happily by jumpers and tops from better quality suppliers like Lands End, and Culture Vulture, but otherwise like to try before I buy. That consists of taking opportunities whe they present themselves.

DS and family live in York. If I need any clothes, I make time to visit shops there when visiting. It has an excellent town centre and also excellent out of town shopping.

Similarly, when I visit DD her Sainsbury's has much bigger range of clothing than any of my local branches, so a visit to her, includes a visit to Sainsbury's.

Mind you, my shopping for this summer consists of T shirt and sweat short to go with some trousers DD made me for Christmas, both items bought from Lands End, otherwise everything I had last summer has at least another season in it.

Why stand in line Ruthie ?
Evri and Royal Mail will pick up from your door . Evri charge just under £1 extra and Royal Mail don’t charge extra at all
I have just bought three different sizes of two jackets to choose between them as I agree sizing is too often hit and miss, but the rejects will be picked up tomorrow!

I like to order online and I admit I very rarely buy expensive (to me) clothes I find Next and Roman have plenty that I like and they fit ok too. I can’t imagine what they’d have in a shop for over 70s though. Just buy what you like age doesn’t come in to it I’ll still be wearing jeans and t-shirts in my 90s if I get there 😂

I certainly wouldn't want to buy clothes in a shop specifically for 'older' women.
I very rarely buy anything these days but when I do I still go to the same shops that I have bought from for years.
Quality, cut and fit are what are most important these days.
My motto is buy what you like and not what you think your age defines what you should wear.

I read that a lot of Landsend clothes are made in China now Sue.

Germanshepherdsmum

I agree with Paddyann (that’s a first!). If there was such a thing as a shop selling clothes for older people I think it would be a pretty depressing place. If clothes are being returned because they’re poor quality or badly sized it’s because you’re buying cheap stuff. I buy very few clothes but I pay more for quality - and they last. It must be upwards of a year since I bought an item of clothing and I don’t need to do so any time soon. Buying lots of inferior quality clothing is far more expensive than buying, occasionally, a quality item. I still wear clothes I bought 10-15 years ago and they still look good.

I agree, up to a point.

I don't buy many clothes so this is probably only once or twice a year. The last time was when I needed a dress for a wedding. It wasn't cheap and I couldn't find anything locally.

The fit can also depend upon the style and cut of the item.

I still wear clothes that I have had for years

I don’t shop anywhere much different from where I shopped 20 years ago. I try new places as they appear on the high street or online. I wouldn’t step into an ‘old lady’ shop, though!

It is a hit or miss business, I do agree with that. I’ve just sent back an entire Landsend order as the quality and fit of their current offerings are nowhere near as good as my previous orders.

I agree with Paddyann (that’s a first!). If there was such a thing as a shop selling clothes for older people I think it would be a pretty depressing place. If clothes are being returned because they’re poor quality or badly sized it’s because you’re buying cheap stuff. I buy very few clothes but I pay more for quality - and they last. It must be upwards of a year since I bought an item of clothing and I don’t need to do so any time soon. Buying lots of inferior quality clothing is far more expensive than buying, occasionally, a quality item. I still wear clothes I bought 10-15 years ago and they still look good.