Only read if you are a female in your 40s

[Christine]

I hear ya with the settling and the clinginess. Ugh-what happened??? I looked at J Jill on line and saw some cute things.

I went to the J Jill store last week and they did have some cute things. My problem is that all of their tops are on the short side. The skirts will fit me beautifully, but the coordinating tops hit too high up and then the whole flow of the outfit just isn't right. I don't know what's up with that but it seems like all of their tops are like that.

I am 5'7" and, yes, I have a bit of a long torso, but I'm not a freak or anything! At least I don't think so. When the top piece just doesn't hit right, the whole outfit looks wrong.

 

[Christine]

I only buy a few pieces from J Jill. Most of my clothes are a mix of Talbots and Ann Taylor when I can afford it. I do get clothes from Penney's, Target, and Kohls when I have a tight budget. Most of those clothes are kicking around the house clothing.

I'm lucky that I have an Ann Taylor Factory Store near my house. It's not really a clearance center but it is stuff made just for the factory store and I don't often see it in the regular stores. But it is nice and more affordable. I get most of my summer blouses there for about $30 a piece. Pants are running $60 a pair but they often have a buy one, get one 50% off sale. (I'm talking work clothes here).

 

[RitaZ.]

I love Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft.

 

[TDC Nala]

What am I supposed to wear if not tee shirts and jeans???

 

[WendyZ]

I turned 40 last yr. I shop at Ann Taylor Loft, New York & Co., Old Navy and once in a while Ann Taylor. I only shop the sales or watch something I like to see if it goes on sale. I try not to get my heart set on anything, esp. at ATLoft. I LOVE that store, but I cannot pay full price their stuff.
Also if you have any outlets by you, Banana Republic is good and there is an Ann Taylor factory store. Recently I've had good luck at BR outlet. Somehow I manage to hit the sales at the right time.
I know what you mean...I don't want to dress like a grandma (no offense to anyone), but I don't want to look like me 18 yr old daughter either. One of my favorite shows is What Not to Wear. I love it when they have a lady in her 40's...that helps alot.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

What am I supposed to wear if not tee shirts and jeans???

I think once we hit 40 we are supposed to wear "grown up" clothes.

But I am never, never, ever, never wearing one of those house dresses my Grammy used to wear - everyday.

 

[KarenB]

I have to chuckle, because here we have all of us 40 somethings at home on a Friday evening (a beautiful on here) talking about clothes on a Disney discussion board!!

No offense, but I would rather be at the beach wearing some of these cute clothes.........

Karen

 

[TDC Nala]

I think once we hit 40 we are supposed to wear "grown up" clothes.

But I am never, never, ever, never wearing one of those house dresses my Grammy used to wear - everyday.

I am wearing grown up clothes - Mickey Mouse boxers and a Harry Potter tee shirt.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I am wearing grown up clothes - Mickey Mouse boxers and a Harry Potter tee shirt.

I have on a Mickey Mouse t-shirt and Eeyore sweat pants.

 

[rcraw45425]

I've been buying almost everything at Chico's lately. But, like Coldwater Creek, it ain't cheap!

 

[Rella Bella]

I second my fav Coldwater Creek!

 

[lalijack]

I'm no help.

If it's cute, I'll buy it. Tank tops, camis, capris, skirts, dresses, jeans, shorts, cute shoes and boots.


I love trendy clothes. Just because I turned 40 in January, doesn't mean I have to dress like my mother or grandmother.

Hi ladies! I turned 40 (gasp!) in January too. I am lucky enough that I can wear jeans, yoga pants, sweats, capris, whatever to work. But I still want to have a good selection of nicer outfits to wear when the occasion arises. I have some great luck at Marshall's and TJ Maxx. Believe it or not, I have also bought some stuff from Kristian Alfonso's newish line of clothing on HSN. (She's an actress who has been on Days of Our Lives, among other shows. She's in her mid-40s, and makes clothes that are very much appropriate for our age group.)

I also like LL Bean and Lands End. But not all their stuff. Some of it is just too frumpy also.

ITA, some of LL Bean's and Lands End's stuff is good. But some of it is indeed frumpy. We have to be wary of the dreaded Mom Jeans.

 

[RUDisney]

Someone just PM'd me about Talbots outlet. I live in a ****** little town and the closest one is probably at least an hour from here, but it may be worth the drive.
Thanks!

I've gotten great deals on talbots.com. Go to the clearance (sale) link and you can find things that are reasonably priced. Unfortunately, you don't have a Talbots store nearby. I learned that with dresses and skirts I should buy more than one size and take the ones that don't fit back to the store to avoid having to pay to ship them back.

I also like LLBean and Coldwater Creek. Dress Barn sometimes has nice things, too.

It's funny, my DH used to buy all of his clothes at A&F. It would annoy the life out of me because they weren't age appropriate for him. When he turned 40, I put my foot down and now he buys Tommy Bahama and Peter Millar. Much better for him, IMHO.

 

[sraiford]

Quacker Factory - QVC or Ebay! Quack Quack

 

[wvdisluv2]

Double post...not sure why...or how? Sorry

 

[MsLeFever]

No help from me - but I hear ya! I'm doing WW and trying to lose another 15 pounds. Between not being happy with the belly flab, not finding a style that works AND being short - forget it. Trying to get dressed to teach on Monday nights will be a challenge for 8 weeks!

 

[WeCantWait]

I'm close enough to 40. Just turned 39 and I feel the same. I have had luck with Talbots.

 

[drag n' fly]

I live in Canada and will be 42 on the 25th. I find it so frustrating to shop. You either look like your Mother or a hoochie mama wannabe

I buy a lot of my clothes from Land's End and Aritzia has some fairly tasteful stuff in the back. I also find some nice stuff at Old Navy too in the ladies not junior ladies section. Also in the last couple of years Mark's Work Wearhouse has really improved their woman's line of clothing.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I cheated in reading this thread. I'm almost 40. : )

I agree about the clothes! I had an especially difficult time buying an outfit for a wedding. Many of the dresses for the younger crowd looked like prom dresses and they weren't right for me. The other end of the spectrum were fuddy-duddy clothes that the grandmother of the bride would wear. It was difficult to find a happy medium between these two ranges.

Luckily, on most days I wear simple clothes (think Disney shirts! ) and it's a good thing I'm simple as it isn't easy to find a lot of clothes I like.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I'm in this age range........if you would give us an idea of price range and what "pieces" you are specifically looking for that would really help with suggestions.

No matter where I have lived in the country I have shopped online from Lord & Taylors, Nordstrom & I have just started getting some really great things from Coldwater Creek online.