Even at my age!

"wear" black not "were".

My daughter treated me to having my colours done. A lovely woman came to the house and tried all different colours on me while I sat in front of a mirror. We decided i was a "summer" and she gave me a little booklet with all my suitable colours. Apparently I must NEVER were black.

Grammaretto I love what you said:
I don't think we should try so hard. Rules are made to be broken, especially when they are about colour and pattern.

I sometimes think our generation feel a bit "bullied" to look absolutely right, without actually having what is "right" defined!

I haven't changed shape all that much and due to other demands have put the sorting out of my own clothes at the bottom of a long list. As a result I find that having a wardrobe that is crowded makes it much harder to sort out what to wear.

For going away - in fact any time really - I love shirts. The sun burns me so I prefer long sleeves. They can look smart and team with any trousers that are suitable for the occasion. I do love frocks still and now that I use a rather awkward mobility scooter I wear either lightweight summer trousers under a dress or cotton pj bottoms. I have some that are white with broderie anglaise and look like Victorian Knickerbockers!

Try a wonderful website called: "chicatanyage". Josephine is terrific, in her 70s, not skinny, sensible, practical and has some super ideas AND tells you where all her choices come from. I've been introduced to some completely new brands ( and not expensive) not available on the High Street. I've ditched all my awful old clothes and taken on some of her advice ( which I think has already been suggested): new hairstyle, great glasses and sunglasses, great shoes ( try GEOX for comfort and Italian style), well-fitting trousers ( nothing sloppy and no elasticated waistbands! sorry...), keep away from "mumsy" prints on top ( go for bold prints or a solid, dramatic colour), always wear earrings, and lipstick and finally, buy 2 lovely, big dramatic scarves.

Urmstongran. Don't worry! Be comfortable and enjoy your trip! You probably look far better than you think!

Imm6 It's so true what your daughter feels, any old trousers and then a patterned top. I am at the moment looking for what to wear to a Celebration of Life event. Pulled out navy cropped trousers, well it is warm, and a navy top with a bit of pattern splash on it. I do have nice wedge shoes (I think). Your daughter's words will haunt me when I am clothes shopping from now on.

Thank you Willow10’I shall have a look on line later . My “real” hair colour ( before the grey) was a kind of dark blonde/ light brown with hints of auburn . I colour it myself in a similar colour . I tend to suit orangey lip sticks rather than pinks so I think I’m on my way

Gillybob - I think if you look online you will get a fair idea of how to work out your colours yourself, without having to spend a fortune. Simplified you are either an Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer person, depending on hair and skin colour. You can then find a colour chart which relates to you. I paid to have it done years ago and was an Autumn ( auburn hair, fair skin, freckles!). Now my hair is almost white, I've lightened the pallet to Spring, but I worked that one out for myself online. Good luck!

I used to have it all sorted. Everything co-ordinating, different coloured shoes, bags, to match each outfit. Somewhere along the line I lost it. I'm not sure how and when it happened

I love a good clear out too but would still love someone to go through my wardrobe and match outfits .

Grannyticktock

That’s where we differ, I love a good clear out

That's the other thing I'm not good at: ditching old clothes. I do clear out every so often, and I am trying to have a one-in-one-out system, but when I select the "out" item, I sometimes think, "Well, I'll just hang on to it until the end of the summer...." and so it goes back on the shelf. I also have a "limbo" area in a trunk, where I put things I am almost sure I want to get rid of. They stay there for months or more, and then when I find them, I either think, "I though I'd got rid of that, it can go now " or "Ah, what a nice surprise, that will just go with my new top!"

I would actually get everything out. Ditch the things that you never wear and put everything else back in groups ie all shirts, trousers etc together. Saves an awful lot of time.

Grannyticktock

I’m afraid I have the same problem as you, I love colour, always drawn to bright pinks, oranges, purples, luckily for me I like a bit of colour clashing

In the winter, I wear a lot of black, I’m not very good at buying winter clothes

Hate all neutral colours

Haha, thanks gillybob, that's what I needed to hear

Thank you for that Bordersgirl I had never heard of it before. But it makes sense doesn’t it? There are colours that seem to drag me down but I suppose that’s due to skin colouring and there are colours that make me feel more “me” . I bet it’s expensive though

Well in that case Bathsheba you have our full permission to go shopping for a new top !

I love colours, which has resulted in a wardobe of tops, jumpers and tunics in every colour of the rainbow. Most of my trousers are plain and neutral, so it sort of works out, but the "capsule" effect defeats me. When I go on holiday, I try to narrow it down to an assortment of blues with the odd green or purple item, so most things go together well enough. A few more neutral things might be sensible, but I dislike black and have very few black items, and nothing grey as I look awful in grey; white doesn't suit me either now. Another thing tbat works against a planned wardrobe is the lure of charity shops, where I find things I can't resist even though they don't go with anything else.

I like your dress sense Gabriella - at least you have a plan! Plain white tops of different styles.
Then add the pattern/colour on your bottom half.

Something to think about here.

Thank you.
?

gillybob I've searched, truly I have. And though I have somewhere in the region of 50+ tops, not one, not one goes with these trousers. Well, apart from the plain white tees, that is, but they do absolutely nothing for them. And I haven't even got a scarf or a necklace that co-ordinates (and I have dozens of them too) ?.

I mean, seriously, what was I thinking? Well clearly, I wasn't was I? Thinking, that is.... ?

I don't think we should try so hard. Rules are made to be broken, especially when they are about colour and pattern.
I once had a personal shopper who talked for over an hour but the clothes she chose for me were the last thing i would want to wear.
My Mil is still stylish at 94 but I've never been.

My go-to are plain white tops ie: tees, shirts, unfussy blouses, no ruffles and usually V or scoop neck.
I dislike heavy thick cuffs (which M&S are prone to do) and prefer 3/4 or long sleeves without the tab fastening.
I can then go to town on coloured, striped or patterned jeans, trousers leggings, skirts.
I like to forget what I'm wearing once dressed.
Yesterday I wore a white V neck, curved hem, 3/4 sleeve tee (£3.50 Primark) with khaki leggings (£2.30 Primark) and chunky white leather trainers (£42 River Island)
I have 3 prs each navy, khaki, pale grey and charcoal leggings. They wash n wear well with no bagging, pilling or see through. That's 12 pairs for £27.60. A bargain and yes, I wear them going out for coffee or shopping...anywhere except a dressy event.
You have to be really honest about what suits you from the front and back view.
Full length mirrors are key.
Friends don't always tell the truth.

Oh don’t take them back Bathsheba I’m sure you must have something lurking in a drawer that matches them

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I bought a pair of trousers yesterday and they go with nothing in my wardrobe at all. I even knew that when I was buying them but still went ahead because I liked them. How stupid?? I will now have to buy something to go with them - or take them back. Hmm, yes, that's what I should do, take them back...

Now where did I put the receipt?