Your opinion on "age-appropriate" dressing??

[punkin]

I am 40. I am currently sitting in a VERY mini mini-skirt. I think it looks great. I wore it to WDW last week. DH likes it. My DDs like it. I don't care for anyone else's opinion, especially AOL's.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have always found this to be a ISSUE.

I think older women dressing too young look ridiculous. Yet, I do not think they should dress like Aunt Bee from Mayberry either. As Christine said, "fine line".

As a hairdresser, we always wore some wild outfits. For years, in the big salon I worked at, I was "forced" to wear things that I was not very comfortable in just because it was not my style. Because of working in the business I do, I am very aware of it. I do NOT want to have a hand in making a woman look too old and a hairstyle can do it very quickly. It is a complete package--hair and clothing.

Some people know how to do it and many people don't.

 

[Dolce27]

I’m 28 but look a lot younger than my age. I’ve actually had a couple of people that didn’t know me very well say that I’m 18-19. (I disagree that I look that young!) A co-worker (29 yr old) that is very trendy and into fashion (me not so much) went shopping with me yesterday. I made an off hand comment about how tired I was of people thinking that I was much younger than my actual age and she told me that I dress young and that’s part of the reason why.

At work we have to dress professional. I don’t normally wear an actual suit jacket but my usual attire (for the most part bought from The Limited) consists of black slacks, professional button up shirt and I’m usually wearing nice but professional Kenneth Cole dress shoes with it. I wear make-up but rarely have jewelry on. Apparently she thinks wearing lots of big jewelry, frilly blouses, and cute skirts with heels that show more foot than shoe is more age appropriate for an approaching 30 year old woman. I would think 20 somethings just out of college would dress like that - as if they just stepped off a page of a fashion magazine. I think that I dress plain and boring but am I really dressing young?

I actually do have one cute black pleated skirt that’s a bit trendy and flirty that I sometimes wear with a white button up blouse. However, she hates that and told me that I look Catholic school girl in it and only perverted old men would like that outfit on me. Apparently I do not have any fashion sense.

 

[justapixel]

I'm 49 and I wear a 0. You know where they sell size 0 clothing? You got it...the Junior's section of department stores. Very few things there are appropriate for a woman my age, so I really have to hunt. Skinny or not, I've had two kids and I have a belly that shouldn't show so I have to stay away from tighter things too.

I recently discovered Express and love it, because they have small sizes and trendy clothes but also many things that are appropriate for a woman my age.

The thing about dressing well is not necessarily dressing for your age, but dressing for your body type. If you wear a size 18 and wear leather bustiers and mini skirts, you are going to look odd and inappropriate whether you are 21 or 51. But, if you wear nicely cut jeans, boots and a tunic you can look good from size 0 to 22, and look nice well into your 70s.

Knowing your trouble-spots, whether they are from age or other things, and dressing around them, is the key to dressing well.

 

[KristinBelle]

I have always found this to be a ISSUE.

I think older women dressing too young look ridiculous. Yet, I do not think they should dress like Aunt Bee from Mayberry either. As Christine said, "fine line".

As a hairdresser, we always wore some wild outfits. For years, in the big salon I worked at, I was "forced" to wear things that I was not very comfortable in just because it was not my style. Because of working in the business I do, I am very aware of it. I do NOT want to have a hand in making a woman look too old and a hairstyle can do it very quickly. It is a complete package--hair and clothing.

Some people know how to do it and many people don't.

Totally OT but how did you become a hairdresser? Did you go to a school? I love hair and have always thought about becoming one.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I'm 49 and I wear a 0. You know where they sell size 0 clothing? You got it...the Junior's section of department stores. Very few things there are appropriate for a woman my age, so I really have to hunt. Skinny or not, I've had two kids and I have a belly that shouldn't show so I have to stay away from tighter things too.

Try Banana Republic!

I'm a size 0 too, and their clothes fit me like a glove. I wear the regular sizes, but they also sell petite sizes online, and that 0 will probably be even smaller.

 

[justapixel]

Try Banana Republic!

I'm a size 0 too, and their clothes fit me like a glove. I wear the regular sizes, but they also sell petite sizes online, and that 0 will probably be even smaller.

Thanks for the tip! My local mall doesn't have one, so I've never shopped there. I don't dare buy clothes online! I'm odd-sized, since I'm not tall but am skinny with long arms and legs. With my newest aquisition, my middle-aged belly, I'm starting to look like a spider.

I know there is one 30 miles up the road, so I'll have to check it out.

 

[CCIntrigue]

My opinion on "age appropriate dressing"? Bah, humbug!

I am 57 years old, look younger. 4 years ago I lost 76 pounds by going low carb and working out. Went from a 16-18 to a 2-4. I wear shorts, bikinis, tank tops, whatever I want. I now have the body to carry it off. As long as clothing is tasteful and not too revealing, wear what you want to wear and what you feel comfortable in! Hopefully I will never get to the point where I wonder, "am I too old for that?"

More important is being comfortable with yourself and your body image. After I lost weight it took me a long time to get to that point. I was a 4 and still saw myself as fat for a year or more. Be realistic about what you really look like and dress to take advantage of your body type. Don't be concerned about current trends. If you like it, think it looks good on you, and feel comfortable in it, wear it!

 

[pppiglet]

What do they expect us to do? If we're too old for capri pants, goodness only knows what they expect us to wear in regards to shorts!

Just one more reason to not like AOL.

I just recently bought some for my 70yr old mom. She loves them! I think they look a lot better on her than most of her other clothes!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

With my newest aquisition, my middle-aged belly, I'm starting to look like a spider.

Ugh! Some of us 40ish and 50ish ladies at work have been talking about this change in our body shape--that the weight settles more in the belly but our legs and arms are as thin as ever. (Some of the guys say the same thing is happening to them.)

I stopped browsing the mall when so many of the smaller stores started catering strictly to high school and college age women. I need to go back and see exactly what stores we have there now--we don't have a Banana Republic, but we do have an Ann Taylor and an Ann Taylor Loft that I've never stepped foot in (have only been to the ones in Orlando).

 

[justapixel]

I like Ann Taylor, but I'm also busty and they seem to run small around the top half. Not a lot in there fits me. It's almost like they are modifed petite.

Pretty clothes though!

I am determined to beat the odds and get a flat belly again. I'll stop drinking beer and eating ice cream tomorrow. I promise.

 

[Hixski]

I just recently bought some for my 70yr old mom. She loves them! I think they look a lot better on her than most of her other clothes!

My 74 mother wears capris all the time. From spring through to fall. Those ARE her SHORTS. I am sure not going to tell her she shouldn't wear them.

 

[Mkrop]

The thing about dressing well is not necessarily dressing for your age, but dressing for your body type. If you wear a size 18 and wear leather bustiers and mini skirts, you are going to look odd and inappropriate whether you are 21 or 51. But, if you wear nicely cut jeans, boots and a tunic you can look good from size 0 to 22, and look nice well into your 70s.

Knowing your trouble-spots, whether they are from age or other things, and dressing around them, is the key to dressing well.

This is so true!

 

[stargrazer]

My opinion on "age appropriate dressing"? Bah, humbug!

I am 57 years old, look younger. 4 years ago I lost 76 pounds by going low carb and working out. Went from a 16-18 to a 2-4. I wear shorts, bikinis, tank tops, whatever I want. I now have the body to carry it off. As long as clothing is tasteful and not too revealing, wear what you want to wear and what you feel comfortable in! Hopefully I will never get to the point where I wonder, "am I too old for that?"

More important is being comfortable with yourself and your body image. After I lost weight it took me a long time to get to that point. I was a 4 and still saw myself as fat for a year or more. Be realistic about what you really look like and dress to take advantage of your body type. Don't be concerned about current trends. If you like it, think it looks good on you, and feel comfortable in it, wear it!

Kudos to you on your loss and your terrific attitude! I'm mid-thirties and I wear whatever I like that looks good whether it came from Target, American Eagle or Neiman Marcus.

 

[Green Tea]

Interesting thread! I am having a psychological issue with a pair of shorts I have on order. I love madras and had tried on shorts at several stores with no success. I had my daughter in American Eagle and they had a cute pair of long madras shorts so I broke down and tried them on and the 6 was a good fit. They actually fit! But, being that I'm in my early 40's and AE isn't a 'ladies' store I hung them on the rack and left. Fast forward a few weeks....still thinking about those cute bermuda shorts. I ordered them! They have not come yet, but am still concerned someone will recognize I'm wearing shorts from AE and think I'm a skank since I'm over about 17!

PS: I WILL wear a shirt long enough to cover the waist, although that will be one long tee shirt b/c I did notice the waist on their stuff is very low.

 

[JunieJay]

Interesting thread! I am having a psychological issue with a pair of shorts I have on order. I love madras and had tried on shorts at several stores with no success. I had my daughter in American Eagle and they had a cute pair of long madras shorts so I broke down and tried them on and the 6 was a good fit. They actually fit! But, being that I'm in my early 40's and AE isn't a 'ladies' store I hung them on the rack and left. Fast forward a few weeks....still thinking about those cute bermuda shorts. I ordered them! They have not come yet, but am still concerned someone will recognize I'm wearing shorts from AE and think I'm a skank since I'm over about 17!

PS: I WILL wear a shirt long enough to cover the waist, although that will be one long tee shirt b/c I did notice the waist on their stuff is very low.

I would buy them! Nothing offensive about someone in their 40s wearing bermuda shorts....I just wish those looked good on me, I would wear them too. Who cares what store they came from?

 

[Green Tea]

My favorite store/brand is Sigrid Olsen. They always have pants to fit me (just not those darn madras shorts I'd been hunting for!)

 

[Green Tea]

I would buy them! Nothing offensive about someone in their 40s wearing bermuda shorts....I just wish those looked good on me, I would wear them too. Who cares what store they came from?

Thanks!

(my dd was pretty proud of me too!)

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I'm odd-sized, since I'm not tall but am skinny with long arms and legs. With my newest aquisition, my middle-aged belly, I'm starting to look like a spider.

Omigod... I got this visual of the spider from It's Tough to be a Bug!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I just realized something pretty ironic -

We're apparently too old for shorts, and now capri pants are a "don't", but the last time you went into a store that sells workout clothes - which I think we're still allowed and (gasp!) even encouraged to do at our ripe old ages - did you happen to look at what that stuff is made out of, and how short those shorts are????

Spandex? Short shorts, that are cut higher on the thigh? Oh... here's my favorite, bra tops, that are meant to be worn alone? Is there an "old lady" section at Sports Authority? I don't think so.

I say if we're encouraged to work out, then we must take that to mean if it's good enough to wear on a treadmill, then it's good enough to be worn eating a twinkie on my couch.