Gransnet forums

Chat

Are you a beige dowdy?

(270 Posts)
Rufus2 Mon 27-Aug-18 14:07:38

During a phone talk with my nephew's wife she remarked on how most of the elderly ladies passing by her car (she was parked waiting for someone) were decked out in beige. This was in Bournemouth. Used to be retiree's heaven. She wondered why was this so? What's wrong with splashes of colour? Her (elderly) mother and my dear Vera would never wear anything beige in a fit. I put it down to the climate which can be drab. sad
Even Sir Ken Dodd picked up on this when he used to call his afternoon matinees "50 shades of beige" grin

sarahellenwhitney Tue 28-Aug-18 11:40:25

kathyd
Take a look around my seaside location home and you can pick out a Brit oldie from the top of a cliff. All caution thrown to the wind in their reds, purple, orange and yellows. Give me 'over the channel ladies' any day.

Coconut Tue 28-Aug-18 11:36:48

I’ll wear beige/sand/fawn etc jeans !! but liven it up with a matching red and beige top for instance. You can liven any outfit up with splashes of colour.

Margs Tue 28-Aug-18 11:33:48

Ladies, ladies, ladies - what's wrong with black and navy blue? Certainly black will go with anything. But good quality charity shops in good catchment areas are wonderful for picking up colourful bargains.

dragonfly46 Tue 28-Aug-18 11:23:34

I never wear any shade of brown/beige and very rarely navy blue. I do like grey, however, as it can be dressed up in so many ways. I am also beginning to love vibrant purple as my hair is going grey. I just love colour although my house is mainly painted white!

Rufus2 Tue 28-Aug-18 11:13:25

Are you wearing beige Rufus?
Jalima; Curses! How did you guess? Of course, my recent virtual party; age giveaway! I rushed to my wardrobe and changed into royal blue, matches my eyes perfectly, although I do add some red accessories at times to complement the blood-shot tinge after a party. grin

Terrystred Tue 28-Aug-18 11:11:15

I have very white hair and beige looks awful on me! I wear very colourful clothes and today have on a navy jumper with a picture of a dog wearing bright pink welly boots. I'm 66 (but can't actually believe that is true!)

knickas63 Tue 28-Aug-18 11:10:46

Jeans and usually a colorful top is my 'uniform'

PennyQ Tue 28-Aug-18 10:51:12

I wear so much bright yellow I’m referred to as Granny Yellow

sarahellenwhitney Tue 28-Aug-18 10:50:09

I am guilty of being a beige and shades of grey and have the option to add splashes of colour. Dull to many but rather that than be thought of as mutton dressed as lamb in colours that would befit a teens plus .
I notice that HRH Meghan seems to prefer the lighter shades, an occasional pattern, black or navy and she is not even forty.

pen50 Tue 28-Aug-18 10:44:28

No beige for me (except underwear under white or light garments.) I'm 62 and I wear bright colours, retro frocks with jaunty prints, leather jacket, tight jeans, sexy shoes, lots of flamingo themed stuff, etc. I'm going down fighting!

blueberry1 Tue 28-Aug-18 10:44:09

I hate beige and prefer dark bottoms with colourful tops.I have noticed though that the many elderly folk around here,male and female,all seem to own beige jackets and trousers.Strange.

kathyd Tue 28-Aug-18 10:43:54

In France the women are considered stylish but oh, they are so dull. At first meeting one thinks they are elegant but on a daily basis so monotonous. En masse they are forever in neutrals and some never wear colour. They are usually very well groomed though.
Apart from Brigitte Macron I have never seen a Frenchwoman in something bright and cheerful or pink, blue, turquoise, yellow, green or even red. Occasionally there's navy, but usually brown. This is not when on holiday but fifteen years of living in France.
In summer I once had a long wait in a hospital reception hall and during two hours I watched the women passing through. Every French woman was wearing beige, black or white.
If someone came through reception wearing colour I asked them if they were French and they never were - not one of them. Very dreary. Even in summer. No florals or patterns such as stripes either.
Clothes shopping is a nightmare if you don't want to be as boring as them.

annep Tue 28-Aug-18 10:37:10

Beige does cover a lot of shades.

henetha Tue 28-Aug-18 10:34:07

The only beige garment I have is a pair of summer chinos which look ok with a bright t- shirt. I love bright colours, both in clothes and in home decorating. Today I'm in blue jeans and turquoise check shirt.

Barmeyoldbat Tue 28-Aug-18 10:23:24

I do have a pair of off white skinnies that go well with everything including my red boots. Going to get myself a pair of winter white cords for this winter as I am fed up with blue.

harrysgran Tue 28-Aug-18 10:19:58

I dislike beige it makes me feel invisible I love a splash of colour especially worn with navy or black I do agree it seems to be a uniform for many older ladies

Rufus2 Tue 28-Aug-18 10:11:11

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9siP4kUNMo
This might be relevant to this thread. wink

lovebeigecardigans1955 Tue 28-Aug-18 10:05:07

Well Rufus I must stick up for beige! Today I'm wearing beige jeggings (pull-ups,) a textured cream top and brown socks. If I go out I'll add a medium brown 'suedette' biker jacket. Colour lovers will find it boring I expect but in my eyes it looks smart. I'm thinking it reflects my quiet personality. Do dramatic extroverts wear bright colours?
I alternate. Tomorrow I'll be in shades of blue.

inishowen Tue 28-Aug-18 10:04:41

My husband often comments on the beige brigade. Men are the worst, beige trousers, and often a mint jacket. I had a colour therapy session this year. I am a "summer" and was given a palate of summer colours to wear. Black was a big no no. I still wear black trousers, but any new ones will be navy or grey. We should have fun with colours, no matter how old we are.

Blinko Tue 28-Aug-18 09:59:12

Black, grey and cherry red for me today. Beige does nothing for my complexion. I do have lots of stuff in grey and black though.

Jessity Tue 28-Aug-18 09:58:30

I had my colours done about 10 years ago, found it incredibly useful. My neutrals are brown, chestnut, tan, camel, bronze, cream, etc. Black, grey, pink just don't work. I've a bronze trench that I bought in the States some years ago and makes me feel fabulous. But beige? No and no and no. I might wear say cream trousers but always with a top in one of my accent colours, turquoise, scarlet, etc. Good shoes and handbag and some confidence help too!

B9exchange Tue 28-Aug-18 09:53:47

Can't bear beige or brown, think it stems from having to wear a pale coffee coloured blouse and brown skirt and blazer at school. Not keen on lilac either, perhaps because my nurses uniform was lilac and white stripes! Navy or white trousers with bright tops and smart jackets for me!

Tamayra Tue 28-Aug-18 09:46:59

Never wear Beige I don’t think it goes with grey hair !

Theoddbird Tue 28-Aug-18 09:44:56

Oh Rufus...I now have a picture in my head that I know will stay there for a while...hahaha. I am definitely not beige. I love colour. I have dozens of colourful scarves and
necklaces. Have to say that some of my scarves are now being used to dress the portholes of my narrow boat home...

Lupatria Tue 28-Aug-18 09:41:23

i live in poole which is next door to bournemouth and i'd like to defend "beige is bournemouth". i can't remember seeing much beige (or whatever you like to call it) around either poole or bournemouth.
at 71 i don't, never have and never will own a beige garment! nor will i wear navy blue (i remember those capacious navy knickers we had to wear at school).
i normally wear black trousers teamed with a colourful top - never a plain colour as that shows every bulge - some are "quiet" and some are fairly "lurid" but i hold to "if I like it then i'll wear it".