Gransnet forums

Chat

Are you a beige dowdy?

(269 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

Jalima1108 Mon 27-Aug-18 14:42:29

Are you wearing beige Rufus?

ie Beige trousers, beige and whatever checked shirt, beige and fawn diamond pattern zip-up cardigan - the uniform for some elderly men?

Charleygirl Mon 27-Aug-18 14:46:49

I am dressed in black today, long sleeved black top and trousers. I think I own a beige cardigan but I have never worn it.

Jalima1108 Mon 27-Aug-18 14:47:49

I'm in boring navy blue and white

I have got a beige cardigan, it's from White Stuff (funnily enough confused)

Jane10 Mon 27-Aug-18 14:50:51

I hate beige. Today I'm wearing navy trousers and a navy and red rugby Jersey with only a few small stains and spillages on it!

MissAdventure Mon 27-Aug-18 14:51:16

I've never liked beige, for myself.
Some people look great in neutral shades, but I'm more a fan of black.

petunia Mon 27-Aug-18 14:51:39

Dear lord, I’m not yet ready for beige, or fawn. Ken Dodd's “fifty shades of beige” made me giggle though. I do love a splash of colour here and there if I’m looking a bit samey with colours. A dash of crimson or, my latest go to colour, orange. Purple is good too. But no beige. Not yet

Jalima1108 Mon 27-Aug-18 14:52:30

I look hideous in any shades of grey!

Deedaa Mon 27-Aug-18 15:09:24

I wear mainly black in the winter, sometimes branching out into grey. In the summer I am much more colourful with turquoise and green, and sometimes even pink!

Grannyknot Mon 27-Aug-18 15:09:31

I believe beige is nowadays referred to as taupe. smile

Working Londoners practically dress in all black. Made me rebel against it when I worked in London.

Rufus2 Mon 27-Aug-18 15:20:56

Are you wearing beige Rufus?
No way Jalima, It's just gone the witching hour, again, so I'm just about to crawl off to bye-byes. But if it wasn't so damn cold I could sleep in the "nuddy", (doesn't bear thinking about); would my sun-bronzed torso count as beige?. Didn't think so; now I'll probably have nightmares. shock

Teetime Mon 27-Aug-18 15:23:44

I hate beige, mushroom, taupe, cream and brooooowwwwwnn!!! Purple, cerise and blues for me.

JudyJudy12 Mon 27-Aug-18 15:28:05

I think navy is the new beige, look at anyone over 60 most will be wearing navy.

hillwalker70 Mon 27-Aug-18 15:35:01

Chartreuse is my favourite, never, ever beige, far too Bournemouth.

janeainsworth Mon 27-Aug-18 15:35:29

I’m a beige dowdy.
I’ve just bought these (beige) trousers in the Boden sale, although Boden steer clear of the B-word and call them ‘sand’.
They fit me perfectly & I’ve worn them with a white shirt & last night went out in them with a black vest & cardi.
They’ll also go with my navy t-shirt, sage green t-shirt & lots of other things I have.

loopyloo Mon 27-Aug-18 15:44:23

Well there is beige and there is whatever neutral colour is fashionable at the moment. I think some of it is because retired people have limited incomes and wear something practical.

Grandma70s Mon 27-Aug-18 15:49:38

I never wear beige myself, but on the right person it can look very elegant, as most neutrals do.

BlueBelle Mon 27-Aug-18 15:51:35

Can’t stand beige above the waist I have some fawn/cream cropped pants otherwise it colours for me
Wearing a sleeveless (splashes of a variety of blue) top and cut off denim bottoms today but like all colours bright or pastel I like green and yellow but don’t wear them as I don’t think they suit me so I m more of a blue mauve purple pink person oh yes got some bright oranges in the wardrobe too very rarely wear black find it too dull
None of my friends wear beige either

Jane10 Mon 27-Aug-18 16:00:59

Beige near the face absolutely drains colour from it. Avoid!

Jalima1108 Mon 27-Aug-18 16:30:04

I wear beige sand/taupe with black in the winter.

Grey drains colour imo - avoid!!

Gma29 Mon 27-Aug-18 17:15:02

For summer, I do have a couple of pairs of natural coloured trousers (beige by another name I suppose!). They go with all my brightly coloured summer tops. I don’t possess a beige garment of any other description though.

shysal Mon 27-Aug-18 18:07:07

I never wear beige. I was once in a waiting room full of oldies on flu jab day and noticed that I was the only one not wearing the colour. Today I have on black joggers with a Joules Harbour top in navy and white stripes with shocking pink and purple flowers.

varian Mon 27-Aug-18 18:15:53

We had a thread about beige not long ago. I think the consensus was -

1) don't dress head-to-toe in beige and go around with a beige husband.

2) you might get away with beige trousers or skirt if your top half is in a dark or bright colour.

3) beige is very unflattering near old skin. It only looks good with you tanned skin.

phoenix Mon 27-Aug-18 18:18:11

I am 60, (only recently) and have some beige (or as I prefer to call it "camel") items in my wardrobe, goes very well with black!

oldbatty Mon 27-Aug-18 18:29:27

Aw poor beige husband.