Your opinion on "age-appropriate" dressing??

[PrincessKitty1]

Inspired by the thread on finding petite-size clothing.

Do you try to choose "age-appropriate" clothing (whatever that means!). I have a really hard time finding clothes that I think look good on me. I think it's OK for people to dress pretty much anyway they want, without my judgment, but I do look at other women my age and think "I like her style" or "that style would be wrong for me."

I don't want to showcase my little rolls of fat (darn that gravity!) or the spider veins in my legs (not that I have any spider veins! ). But besides not wanting to showcase my physical flaws (which women of all ages have, not just my age ), I think I look weird in clothes that are too trendy. The example I used in the petites threads was a baby-doll mini. I'm 50, and I think, even with a professional makeover, I would look silly in something so trendy.

I have one fitted tropical-print dress that hits just above the knee but I have pictures of me in it from last year's Fourth of July trip, and I don't think I look very good. I have several below-knee skirts that look kind of fuddy-duddyish.

Luckily I'm mainly a capris-and-T-shirt kind of gal. I would like other options, though, but can rarely find anything I like that fits and looks "right."

Anybody else??

 

[Christine]

I'm very into "age appropriate" dressing! I'm 43 years old!

I like the example given in the other thread about the older woman wearing clothing from "Bebe". I think they have the cutest stuff in there, but I would not wear it. I wouldn't even wear their simple black T-shirt with the rhinestone "BeBe" across the front. I see LOTS of women my age doing it and, as well toned as they might be, they just look silly for some reason.

It's very hard to explain why but it is something that will just "hit" me right away when I see it.

I try to find "youthful" things that still look somewhat sophsticated. For instance, I buy the long sleeve button up blouses from Victoria Secret. They have great coverage (don't gap between buttons) and they are cut trim through the ribcage and waist, but they have a very subtle sexiness to them. If I buy the same type shirt at Kohl's it will gap between each button and it will be very wide and too short.

I also won't wear "baby Ts" but I look for trim cut T-shirts. Today, at work, I have on a straight cut denim skirt that is about 3 inches from my ankles and a brown T-shirt on. I don't think I look fuddy-duddy for a 43 year old (yep, I sure do for 20 year old), but I also think it is kind of youthful.

Two years ago I found some good things at Hecht's (before they turned into Macy's). Several longish, flowing jersey material skirts with matching blouses. Age appropriate, figure enhancing, but not matronly at all.

Haven't had much luck this year.

 

[WDWAurora]

I have a hard time because I have a job that requires me to dress very professionally. I'm almost 25 and I look like I'm 16. If I wear a lot of really nice clothes that are very professional, I look like a kid wearing mom's clothes. I help my dad shop for my mom (she has dementia) and he'll point out stuff that he thinks I should wear (he was in my field) and I'm like...Yeah, I really like it, and I'll probably wear it. In 20 years. I try to stick with great tailored trousers and non-button up blouses. I don't have a skirt kind of job, so that helps a little. I buy suits from stores like Express, that tend to be more for my age group. When I'm a little older I probably will buy a lot from Talbot's and Ann Taylor. Oh, Ann Taylor Loft is also good for my age now. I've gotten several shirts from there.

I agree though, it's tough!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I have the "I look like I'm playing in Mommy's closet" syndrome, too. I'll be 33 in a little over a week, but I'm perfectly happy in jeans and a concert t-shirt. I dress like a 13-year-old boy (except my jeans aren't 10 sizes too big and hanging halfway down my butt, like the boys here wear). I do own a pants suit, but I feel physically uncomfortable in it and a pair of dress shoes.

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm 45 and I feel that I dress age appropriately. I would never shop for myself in Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Aeropostle, Hollister, etc., although I do think my teen girls look cute in what they get there. I've seen women my age in the mall in Abercrombie t-shirts and I think they look silly. I tend to stick to JC Penney, Macy's, Dress Barn, Lord & Taylor, and Talbots. I like classic clothes with a great fit and accessorize a lot. I have to dress for work everyday so I tend to wear a lot of suits. I don't wear short shorts or skirts or anything too tight or too low cut.

 

[CEDmom]

If I had to define myself I guess I'd say I'm classic preppie. It's what I've been all my life and I'm most comfortable/look best in. I tend to shop at Talbots, LandsEnd, Eddie Bauer etc. They're look is updated without being out there.

 

[Fitswimmer]

If I had to define myself I guess I'd say I'm classic preppie. It's what I've been all my life and I'm most comfortable/look best in. I tend to shop at Talbots, LandsEnd, Eddie Bauer etc. They're look is updated without being out there.

That's me. Khaki's, oxford shirts, loafers, polos...all that stuff that just never seems to go out of style. I wore it in HS, college and I can still wear it now and look decently dressed.

However, I do wear my Project (RED) Converse sneakers any chance I get!!! If Ellen can get away with them so can I-we're about the same age!

 

[Cass]

I wear skirts and blouses, dresses & heels every day. I don't own pants/shorts/jeans I have always just loved how I feel and look in dresses etc...

I have always dressed like I'm 30 - even when I was like 17/18. I'm 42 now and feel/dress 30-ish, it's a good age.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I think woman can wear what they want, within reason. I seen a woman of about 50 at the Cheesecake Factory in a short skirt,, heels and fitted shirt. She looked awesome.

I'm not sure why some people think woman of 43 look "silly" in BeBe shirts. Most teens and younger woman I know, don't shop in BeBe yet. They are still into Abercrombie and Aeropostole.

I myself don't own a BeBe shirt but I do own other types of clothes from BeBe and everytime I've been in there all the woman in there range from 30-50.

I myself like Ann Taylor loft, those types of clothes. But I have been known to shop in Macy's and Penny's junior department because "womans" clothes don't fit me right. It does get on my nerves because sometimes I have a hard time finding clothes, because some are "too young" for me. But hey to each your own, if your're OK with it, wear it.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'm turning 33 this weekend ( ), and while I won't wear things that I see 13 year olds wearing at the mall, I tend to dress more trendy than ultra-conservative. I've never been preppy-- in high school I hung with the artsy all-black wearing crowd, and in college I was pretty punk rock.

To this day, I would never shop at Ann Taylor or Talbots.

I buy most of my clothes at Gap, Old Navy, Macys, and NY&Co.

I do wear miniskirts (but only with flats and a non-revealing top!)

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I'm a boring dresser. I buy most of my clothes at Kohl's and wear jeans and t-shirts on weekends.

I love Abercrombie, Hollister AE etc - but obviously not on me.
I buy them for my DD.
Probably one thing she'll admit to is that I do pick out cute clothes there.

 

[missypie]

I am 49. It irritates me that What Not to Wear never seems to do ladies my age. I think it's because Clinton and Stacy don't know what to do with women our age either!

One reason to shop at "age appropriate" stores is the sizing....If I pick up a camisole at American Eagle (while in there shopping with my DD), I have to buy a Large. But if I buy a camisole at White House Black Market, I can buy an Extra Small....much better for my ego!

I buy a lot at Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic. Not ready for Chico's yet! I went to Banana Republic on the 4th of July to see what was on sale. DD14 ended up finding a fabulous pair of skinny legged jeans (size 0, of course) that had been $128, for $38. I'm sure they were left over because no one else who shops there is as tiny as she is!

One of my DD's friend's moms wears the t-shirts from Aeropostale with the cute sayings on them. I barely noticed, but DD has let me know how inappropriate she thinks it is that the mom is wearing teen clothes.

 

[imsorry]

Well, I am 50 and recently left the work place. I always dressed very conservatively, suits, pants with sweater sets, etc. I've been home a few months, and realize I look like fuddy duddy - jeans, sneakers, sweatshirts. All while DH is walking around the city where most of the women look like they are in their underwear - camisoles worn as shirts, etc.

So last week I put on my stretchy black Mamma Mia t-shirt with the silver lettering and a pair of skechers and capris. I felt 10 years younger and I really do not think I looked ridiculous at all.

 

[missypie]

It's such a fine line for us "older" women between looking in style and looking ridiculous. I always look at the Society-type pictures in the paper-you know, the ones of all the rich folks at the charity events-to see what looks good and what looks bad on folks my age. Those ladies stay up on every trend, but some of the looks - e.g. leggings and baby dolls tops - look bad if you're over 30 or so, no matter how thin or rich you are.

I really have to watch myself. My DD14 loves to shop, so I am in the "younger" stores a lot with her. I am thin, so I can physically fit into those clothes. But most of the time I "shouldn't" try on those clothes.

Next year will be a tough one...from her birth, I've always known that I will turn 50 the year DD turns 16. She's cute as can be and I try hard to look nice, not to compete, but for my own self esteem.

 

[Christine]

It's such a fine line for us "older" women between looking in style and looking ridiculous. I always look at the Society-type pictures in the paper-you know, the ones of all the rich folks at the charity events-to see what looks good and what looks bad on folks my age. Those ladies stay up on every trend, but some of the looks - e.g. leggings and baby dolls tops - look bad if you're over 30 or so, no matter how thin or rich you are.

I really have to watch myself. My DD14 loves to shop, so I am in the "younger" stores a lot with her. I am thin, so I can physically fit into those clothes. But most of the time I "shouldn't" try on those clothes.

Next year will be a tough one...from her birth, I've always known that I will turn 50 the year DD turns 16. She's cute as can be and I try hard to look nice, not to compete, but for my own self esteem.

Hey, I understand. My DD turns 16 in a few weeks. We were shopping this weekend and the clothes were just SOOOO cute. I saw some really cute tops in Hollister and Abercromie & Fitch and I just shook my head--why didn't they have them available when *I* was 16. I would just look stupid in them now! It's so hard not to try to make it work though.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

So last week I put on my stretchy black Mamma Mia t-shirt with the silver lettering and a pair of skechers and capris. I felt 10 years younger and I really do not think I looked ridiculous at all.

This is basically how I dress, too. Capris, a cute T-shirt, and adorable shoes/sandals. I can't imagine an age when they wouldn't look appropriate. I was in Starbucks recently and heard some college-student-age women discussing how much they liked my look (I didn't hear the "for a woman her age" part, but I'm sure it was there ).

However, when I was at the beach for the 4th, I would have loved some really cute dresses to wear to the restaurants/bars. The area we visited is VERY casual, and capris/T-shirts/sandals were perfectly appropriate, but I would have liked the option of something just slightly dressier.

I've never gone for the preppy look (although I've worn it as kind of a work uniform in the past, when I worked at business-casual places...khakis, polos, and Clarks) and anything too romantic just makes me look like an old hippy (e.g., full skirts, embroidered blouses, etc.). I would like some cute sun dresses that aren't too revealing, that I could wear to the grocery store (I live in Florida ) or to a beach restaurant.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm so completely out of the loop on tready clothes that I had never heard of Bebe. I just checked out the website. I'm in my early 40's and in pretty good shape but even so it would take quite a few cocktails to get me to put on any of those outfits on . I can't even imagine the look on my DH's face if I did .

 

[missypie]

This is basically how I dress, too. Capris, a cute T-shirt, and adorable shoes/sandals. I can't imagine an age when they wouldn't look appropriate. I was in Starbucks recently and heard some college-student-age women discussing how much they liked my look (I didn't hear the "for a woman her age" part, but I'm sure it was there ).

However, when I was at the beach for the 4th, I would have loved some really cute dresses to wear to the restaurants/bars. The area we visited is VERY casual, and capris/T-shirts/sandals were perfectly appropriate, but I would have liked the option of something just slightly dressier.

I've never gone for the preppy look (although I've worn it as kind of a work uniform in the past, when I worked at business-casual places...khakis, polos, and Clarks) and anything too romantic just makes me look like an old hippy (e.g., full skirts, embroidered blouses, etc.). I would like some cute sun dresses that aren't too revealing, that I could wear to the grocery store (I live in Florida ) or to a beach restaurant.

Ann Taylor Loft has some terrific sun dresses on sale right now. Just got one for $24.99. I think you can see them on line.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Ann Taylor Loft has some terrific sun dresses on sale right now. Just got one for $24.99. I think you can see them on line.

Thanks--I did look them up online and they have some cute styles, but generally too short/revealing for me. I like Ann Taylor Loft styles in general, though, so I should go ahead and check out the dresses in person at the mall.

 

[coolbeans]

I am 34, mom to DD (11) and DS (15 months), my "style" is casual. Capris, t-shirts, knit shorts (Gap Outlet..very cute), I recently found a love for Ann Taylor Loft and their casual clothes. I buy t-shirts from Old-Navy. I won't pay $60 for a pair of work pants so I usually hit Kohls for those. (I work at a bank, business casual dress code)