How things have changed in the fashion world in the last 50 years. What was acceptable clothing for women over 50 of age in those days is so different now.
Did you know that 50 years ago women were not expected to wear trousers? Clothing for women over 50 back then was more likely to feature pencil skirts twinsets and pearls.
On Lifestyle Fifty I feature all kinds of fashions, and the only advice I get from my readers is that they don’t want to see me advocate styles in which they might look like mutton dressed up as lamb.
They want style and comfort.
Many of you loved this look on Instagram – a black vest T worn with mid-calf length bengaline pants (yes trousers) and a white shirt worn as a casual cover-up, and flat comfy sneakers -definitely not stilettos.
Like the look – Buy it Here with 15% discount. Stock permitting.
Clothing for women over 50
Today, we have a veritable tsunami of women’s magazines and newspapers staffed by women, and articles written by women, along with fashion articles featuring both the bizarre and outgrageous.
We are encouraged to wear what suits us, go for styles that suit our body shape, be guided by fashion trends but not dictated to.
50 Plus Fashion
In fact clothing for women over 50 has no boundaries. We can wear what we like, and for over 50s fashion that naturally includes trousers!
What no trousers!
In 1968, articles written by women for women were few and far between, until the Femail section of the Daily Mail took shape.
Headed up by Shirley Conran, the 16 page magazine insert was staffed by women and women journalists who were encouraged to write about what women talked about.
Femail and Shirley Conran
For the first time in newspaper history they began writing about their weaknesses and their fears, and the first picture on the first edition of Femail featured a topless model wearing trousers – clearly with nothing on underneath them.
It caused an uproar.
In those days, trousers were not considered suitable attire for women. In fact women were generally not allowed to wear them at work, and were often turned away from restaurants if they were wearing trousers.
“It’s hard for us to imagine a time when the wearing of trousers was controversial. But, in 1966, only two years before this Femail cover image, socialite Nan Kempner was turned away from a top New York restaurant for wearing an Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo suit. Her brilliant response? To peel off her trousers and declare her jacket a minidress.”
Linda Kelsey: Fifty Years of Femail
Sex and the lack of sexual knowledge available was on the feature agenda, but referred to obliquely rather than openly.
“Back then, many men thought the clitoris was probably a Greek hotel,” said Shirley Conran.
Lifestyle Fifty Manifesto
Much like the Lifestyle Fifty Manifesto (which you can grab as a freebie if you sign up for the newsletter) the Daily Mail’s Femail Manifesto pointed out some pertinent facts about what women in the 1960s were beginning to want and not want.
Read the full article by Shirley Conran, and the full Femail Manifesto here: Femail’s First Editor Shirley Conran Rejoices Women got to wear Trousers!
Best trousers for over fifty
Trousers we love at Lifestyle Fifty.
We love comfort and style.
Like the Look – Buy it Here (stock permitting)
We love Ponte Pants.
We love stretch pants
We love skinny jeans.
Clothing for women over 50
In your wardrobe make sure you include some of the following garments …
- Wrap dresses that nip in at the waist to help disguise a thickening midriff
- Skinny jeans that can be worn with long tops which have a nice cut and a little swirl around the hips and bum
- Swing style a-line dresses
- Bengaline or capri pants
- Comfy footwear – with good support and preferably leather.
Pin this Post – Choose your Pin 🙂
Black Friday Tips. What is Black Friday? Should You Care?
I love my three-quarter pants and a longer line top now I am in the um…over 60…age bracket. And my leggings with a longer top are my go to in winter. The 1960s manifesto is interesting, some of the points still hold true today.
Hi Jill, yes I agree that is a go-to look for many of us and is flattering for most. The 1960s manifesto was interesting wasn’t it!
Hi Jo, I think that the manifesto is still relevant in 2018. With fashion, I wear pants more than dresses and usually prefer my active wear for home or a quick run to the shops. I remember the days when a woman wasn’t seen outside without hat, gloves and stockings. Thankfully these days are more casual but I do like to dress up occasionally. I do have one fashion beef and that is that many of the midlife clothing is made for larger sizes. I find it very difficult to find clothes that fit well in a Size 8 as I’m more suited to fitted styles rather than flowing. Thanks for sharing at #MLSTL and as always you look lovely.
Hi Sue, yes those days! Gosh, they seem like yesterday. I can’t imagine what my grandmother would have made of us running to the shops in our active wear!
I love this! I started wearing yoga pants at age 40 (after losing an impressive amount of weight!), and I plan to look my absolute best by 50. I plan to continue rocking fitted and flowing sundresses and maybe even get a bikini for the beach. 😉
#mlstl
Well done on losing weight Bethany – that’s fabulous. I hope you find some lovely sundresses and bikinis to suit the new you 🙂
Hi Guys, I hope you will indulge my take on the manifesto. While most of it might be true for “us”, I don’t think it fits the current generation of smart, talented women born after 1985. I rewrote the points from the excerpt with my 28 year old daughter in mind. I am sure you all know women exactly like her- smart, driven, take no prisoners attitude, while soft, loving and considerate of others at the same time.
I am with Leanne on the demise of skinny jeans and prefer straight legs for jeans and tapered legs for dress pants. I still wear skirts and dresses, and love a pretty 4″ heel. It’s fun to be a girly girl once in a while.
Revised Mantra
She proves her worth and does not need to prove her equality.
She is not interested in women’s rights, and has little patience for women who succumb to the mantra of being oppressed.
She wants her soap powder delivered by Amazon and pays an up charge for the convenience.
She likes men, and sex, but is not likely to be in a hurry for marriage and children.
She has created her own success and is proud of it.
She pays no attention to fantasy girls and accepts herself for who she is.
She has a few valued and trusted men and women friends and doesn’t care what the general masses think.
She does meaningful work and is justly compensated for her efforts. She takes pride in a job well done.
Johanna, I look forward to exploring your blog. You have lots of interesting content and great fashion advice. Thanks to Leanne and Sue for hosting MSTL.
Suzanne, I absolutely love this! Thank you. You have returned with such an insightful and considered comment and I think you are spot on. I’d love to publish this in a post with your permission.
Hi, Jo – It’s actually incredible how much of the Manifesto is still true in 2018 (almost 2019)!
I almost never wear dresses or even skirts any more. I’m grateful that I live at a time where I easily have this choice! #MLSTL
Hi Donna, I know, aren’t we so lucky.
I remember not being allowed to wear pants to school until seventh or eighth grade. Now I rarely wear dresses. I love to look good but still feel comfortable. I can’t wear heels now, and I do miss them. MLSTL
Me too Michele, it was skirts and dresses for us girls until 6th form if I remember rightly. I miss heels too – just so uncomfortable these days, and I used to wear them a lot.
I think I would add to that manifesto: She has a brain and enjoys being able to use it! And Shirley Conran … that name is familiar … is she the one that went on to write the blockbuster (or shoudl that be bonkbuster!?) “Lace”?
Great addition to that manifesto, Janet! And yes, Shirley Conran started off as a journalist and magazine editor and then went on to write Lace, termed as the scandalous classic that defined an era! She also wrote Superwoman.
Hi Leanne, thank you 🙂 x Yes, most of the selected parts of the Manifesto still ring true – did you read the whole Manifesto on the link? It was really interesting 🙂 Ah yes I get you about the sausage skin effect, but being a bit of a shorty I think skinny leg jeans suit me better than straight leg jeans. But that’s the beauty of being over 50, we can wear what suits us and not give a fig! Go you 🙂
Hi Jo – just wanted to pop back and and let you know that I’ve shared this on my SM (I had to find a couple of new places because I shared it the first time too!) Great post and I’m looking forward to our coffee date tomorrow xx
Thank you Leanne 🙂 That’s so lovely of you.
Hi Jo – you’re looking gorgeous (as always) I thought most of the Manifesto still rang true for today. We don’t really need to state things quite so loudly and clearly because some of it is now normal, but claiming our place in the world in our own right is still a big one for me.
I have to also confess to not being a fan of skinny jeans – I’m waiting for them hurry up and die a long awaited death and to be replaced by straight leg jeans that don’t need to be peeled on and off like sausage skins. I do love capri and bengaline pants though 🙂