There's a story behind this jacket, which I related in a previous post: Is black really the new black? I needed a new jacket, something versatile that would suit me and fit into my existing wardrobe. Like many women I immediately thought of black, however each time I tried on a black jacket I realised that it wasn't flattering, so eventually I bought the jacket that I'm wearing today. It feels light and yet warm plus the softer shape looks better on me than the many structured black jackets that I had rejected. Another bonus is that plain black worn near the face of most over 60s is too harsh and doesn't flatter us, whereas the softer colour in this Mango jacket doesn't make me look so haggard. In this outfit I am wearing black trousers, and when I was younger I would definitely have worn a black jacket to make me look taller and slimmer, however at my advanced age the priority is to look younger!
Take a look at some of the colourful jackets in Imogen's post: I love them but suspect that my pension won't stretch that far, having seen the names Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs! However I will use them as inspiration for the next time that I go looking for a new jacket. I have become a far more discerning shopper since I started following other bloggers. Do you have a favourite over 40 blogger?
I have a slew of favorites! Vintage Vixen, Pull Your Socks Up!, Helga Von Trollop, The Style Crone, Forest City Fashionista, Bag and A Beret, Ephermera, oh the list goes on and on and on!
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is, Bella, that I can spend all day reading my favourite blogs (including yours!) and never get any work done!
ReplyDeleteSue, do you go thrifting at all? I have been a big thrifter in the past, but haven't had a chance to have do it much at all lately. I find, though, that it is a great way of picking up items that aren't what's on the racks in every other shop, and it's far, far cheaper! So you might be able to find the likes of Vivenne Westwood and Marc Jacobs, but at a fraction of the cost.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you re the wearing of black beyond a certain age. I'm nearly 42 and my colouring seems to have softened a lot over the past couple of years, but I still wear a lot of black, and it's just too harsh for me. So hard to find things in another colour, though, sometimes!
You're right that black gets harder and harder to wear as we age. Black in its colour properties is cool and deep and bright, which you are the opposite of (you look warm and soft and light) so it's not a great colour for you and will be aging.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately where I live in Spain there aren't any charity shops - the British equivalent of thrift shops. I'll check out a few when I go back to London next month though! I used to go to Wimbledon Village on a regular basis when I lived in London, as it was a wealthy area and you could find some real bargains in the charity shops there.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were a lot younger, and I didn't have much money to spend on myself, I used to haunt the local Oxfam shop. I remember a work colleague admiring my "new" suit and asking where I had bought it. She couldn't believe it when I said "Oxfam"!
Did you read this post I wrote in January about the difficulty in finding anything that isn't black, especially when shopping on-line?
http://over60andoverhere.blogspot.com.es/2013_01_01_archive.html
Being generally poor, all my clothes hail from either Primark or charity shops. While you'd think Primark is just for teenagers, my mum who is over 50 has found some really great clothes there for of course graciously low prizes. I maintain that the quality of Primark clothes (shoes are probably worse) is not at all bad and you seriously pay next to nothing for something that may cost £60 in a 'more upmarket' shop. Charity shops - I think you have to strike lucky but I have one down the road which is excellent and I have picked up many a silk/wool outfit from there for £3 or so... It's in Archway (perhaps many of the donations come from Highgate though), I am familiar with a whole host of charity shops in Cambridge too, and one British Heart Foundation one there in the centre really won my heart. But I have been to many both in Cambrdige and London, some in well-off areas where the prices are actually steeper and yet couldn't find anything I liked, so that's no guarantee. It's hit and miss, but worthwhile going to a few and while the most run-down areas won't really have quality, sometimes Mayfair is just as unwieldy! Here is a link which may be helpful: http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/the-best-charity-shops-in-london
DeleteInteresting to read your thoughts on my colouring Imogen. When I was about 40 I went for a colour analysis and was told that I was a Winter. A lot of the bright colours looked good on me (I particularly liked the bright blue), however I looked dreadful in the icy shades. Fast forward about 10 years and I was given a free colour analysis at work and I think they said I was a Bright Spring. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteObviously my colouring is changing as I become older (25 years later!) and I think it is important for those of us who are over 60 to remember that. We can't assume that colours that looked good on us in our youth will still suit us.
Susie, I shopped at Primark when I lived in London (Tooting branch) and one particular top that my husband bought me there lasted for years. Good recommendation - I will pop in when I next visit London! Yes, I agree that the charity shops can be a bit hit and miss, but it's still worth checking them out. Thanks for the link.
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