Today’s Featured Comment
How about some nice clothes for people of my demographic?!? I go to the mall, with money to spend, and have lost over 50 pounds. I want new clothes to celebrate, to flatter this rediscovered body of mine. All I can find is “skank wear” (I think I’m a little old for the hoochie momma look!), and “polyester Granny wear.” What about all of us women in between?!? Where’s the HEBBS clothing? [HEBBS: High-Earning Baby Boomers, or Baby Boomers who live in households that have an annual income of at least $100,000. ~ Renee in, HEBBS: You know who you are]
I need to look polished and professional as I’m being all managerial. And I still have a great pair of long legs, and like clothes that are fun and flattering. Also, they should not wrinkle up when I stow them under the motorcycle seat for the ride to work (being older and wiser, I always wear full protective gear EVERY time I ride). So, if we are on people’s radar, when will I start seeing some decent stuff at the mall, that will make me willing to part with some of my vast financial holdings?
PS I just bought a great Jason Wu blouse at Target. I love Target!
[This comment was originally posted in this conversation. ~ Eds.]
re instant face lift: i just googled it. well, if i got the right site, i saw a woman applying tapes to her face and tying it with special string up in her hair. she looked better. since it is removeable, why not? but i would not do it. what a bo
Have you tried Chico’s or J.Jill? Both of them have clothes for women over 50 who aren’t willing to look like “grandma’s” or like you’re trying to look 20 again!
If you have one in your area, try Christopher & Banks. They have lots of styles that are appropriate for our age group and for a good price! Every time I go there I find many things that I like.
For a polished, professional look, try Talbots.
I love shopping at Coldwater Creek and they have a really nice online outlet. Their clothes are appropriate but don’t look like I should be sitting on the porch in a sweater knitting (unless I want to).
The Loft is great. Banana Republic too.
Try Addition-Elle they are on line, plus size. Sort of Cold Water Creek-ish and have a younger plus size line as well.
How about Talbot’s I haven’t shopped them for awhile, ok a long while, I found the 50 lbs you lost. After I find someone to stumble upon my extra 50 I would love to shop there again, the clothes are usually very classy and classic.
I find that L.L.Bean has some really good choices for mature women. Love the quality & they have a very good returns policy. Most of their stock is casual. Quality is excellent.
I have the same problem. I personally like Jones of New York. ( Macy). Classic,good quality,fits well and very business like. You might find it a bit too conservative. I also like Dana Buchman ( Kohls). You are right. When we were young and had no money,but good bodies,we could buy up the mall. Now,we are being ignored by the fashion industry.. By the way,does anyone know of a company that sells shoes with low heels? I am tall,plus at a certain age you can’t handle the spike heels any more. Any suggestions for shoes???
My latest way to get clothes as an over-50 has been to find good consignment shops, where really well constructed clothes are someone’s castoffs (perhaps when she found the weight I lost and had to give them up!). I have been finding good classics.
To clarify–not thrift stores, but consignment stores. The prices aren’t necessarily cheap! Because malls are just depressing to me. (smile)
I love Coldwater Creek.
I used to love to shop. Now I hate it. I hate lugging around the clothes in the department store, changing and trying on various outfits. It doesn’t make it any easier when our choices are poor. I’ll try anything online. All these recommendations have online stores!
I love Merrill’s for shoes. I work in them and they have proven to be the most comfortable shoes ever! I’m a flight attendant and on my feet all day walking across the country at 45,000 ft. up.
There’s a French blog I like to browse – yes, I know, it can be a bit over the top in it’s selections, but there are whole sections on clothes combinations, grey hair, scarves that real women are wearing. It’s’ dedicated to women 40ish to whateverish and every detail herein is chosen for you — for us — to wear, to amuse, to use. . . And always, always with a French twist.
http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/
It’s not for those of us who want comfy clothes, and yet many of the women do look comfortable and stylish.
I tend to browse it when I want clothes ideas and to see what you can put together simply.
This is also an interesting blog on simple clothes combinations that any of us can put together:
http://www.theviviennefiles.blogspot.com/
And if you really want to put your clothes together in a wildly stylish way:
http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/
I LOVE these blogs you pointed me to! For awhile now, I have been wanting to assemble some simple outfits that are classic that can carry me through anything beyond the casual I have plenty of, and these ideas are great. Thanks so much.
Try Soft Surroundings or Pendleton, they have classy elegant clothes for a more mature but youthful look!
Just got back from a trip to Macy’s. The winter clothes are on sale as they make room for spring. I was able to get several (2/$5, 2/$12) sweaters, a nice pair of slacks ($23), a casual jacket ($16) and a small wallet ($9) for $80. I stuck to the 65% off racks.
There might have been more selection at the bigger Macy’s a little further away. Check out the sales. You may find a bargain or two for next fall/winter.
You can usually return the items you buy. Eyeball them in the store, take them home and try them on there. If they don’t fit, return them. I’m not always in the mood for changing clothes either. But I do have a good sense for what will fit me or not. I spent a bit more than I had planned but still didn’t do so bad for what I got.
Shopping is fun, especially when it’s quick. I haven’t been shopping in a while, which may be why I was able to have some success today.
Love this! I have wondered the same thing. I would like to add though, something for us in between aged women that doesn’t cost us our arms and legs.
My sister in law never tried clothes on in the store. She brings them home and she too has a good sense of what will fit. I used to think that was so odd, and now I am doing the same exact thing. I sure wish I could afford a personal shopper! Someone that picks out great outfits and they fit and look good!
It’s similar to buying something online and returning it, if it doesn’t work out, without the shipping cost, sort of.
Ann Taylor and Talbots have been my choices for professional wear for 15 years. Always find things that will work for business and business travel. Also like Nordstrom to find Dana Buchman suits, sometimes Jones New York. And always, always Nordstrom for shoes. For casual, my new fave is Tommy Bahama. Business-casual: Cold Water Creek but only the more structured jackets, their lined Tees, never their pants (talk about a matronly fit!).
Love everything about this post, especially such helpful comments. I have to agree with so many of the suggestions, as well as add my own. 1) I’ve found that shopping at the upscale consignment stores is really a treat these days – AND, there is one online http://www.refinestyle.com that gets things from all the best consignment stores in the country – only caveat, no returns! 2) I’ve found the book How Not to Look Old
, really, really helpful – such great advice and ranked by High, Medium and Low Maintenance choices! 3) I just ran across two articles- one, how to custom design our own shoes – two, about how to ADD sleeves to our favorite sleeveless dresses.
I love the idea from @BoomBox but I would rather not see so much cleavage exposed on an older woman.
I start my 55th year in life tomorrow and now more than ever do I pay attention to key foundation pieces. Women get far too distracted with pattern, especially with the trends going on right now.
So I want to go back to @RamblinRedhead and suggest that I AM in your demographic….I shop everywhere from high to low but focus on only 2 accent colors each season. Doing this helps me create a coordinated wardrobe. Remember what women tend to do is find a great blouse or top and buy it in a million colors. This does NOT create a coordinated wardrobe.
My mantra is “Core-Accent-Accessory”….Don’t go out of the house not knowing what each of these are for you and you will create great personal style.