Absolutely. I can't wear the same clothes as the 20 something young woman I raised. The skirts have to start getting a little longer, the shorts longer, the tops mature (but not old lady sparkly, gaudy!). No shopping at a Wet Seal or Abercrombie. I like Gwyneth Paltrow's jeans, luxurious t's, and blazers. Oprah magazine does a great job of showing how women look good at different decades.

nope.
I say, that if you have the body.
wear what you want.

Used to say that until me and my "posse" turned 40. That was in the upper low cut jeans era. Then my philosophy switched to "Just because you can wear, doesn't mean you should". 40 year old butt crack ain't good at any size :-)

Oh and Happy Birthday!!:flowerforyou:

Just because the number goes up every year doesn't - shouldn't - mean you get all dowdy!! I'm 44 this year and I dress like I feel. No I don't dress in skimpy clothes, but I defo don't dress like a frump either. I have always preferred the classy casual look. 40's 50's and 60's are not what they were when we were kids, we are now all healthier, fitter and socially more interactive than before.

Agree 100% There is a huge difference between dressing in what the current style is for the 20s out there and dressing stylish for your own age, body type, and preference. Frumpy is as bad as skimpy in my opinion. Clothes are meant to enhance not to hide.

Happy birthday! You look fabulous! I agree with melwharris and chunkilious.
I like to search on Pinterest to check out what styles women in their 40's like. Check it out and have fun shopping

Great topic,. I was just talking to my husband about this yesterday because I bought two dresses that are well above the knees. I say if looks current and I feel comfortable I am going to wear it. Your right though it seems to be more difficult in the 40s to not dress like a teenage OR an old lady.

When I buy clothes I don't worry about if it is age appropriate at all. I worry about how does it fit and is it flattering on me while looking classy. I do love to wear short dresses and get compliments on them. I used to be worried about being age appropriate but a friend told me I was dressing like and old lady and took me clothes shopping. I found that I like younger clothes and they look good on me and I feel sassy in them.

The funniest thing I was told recently, we were out to dinner with a group. I was told how cute and classy I looked, they loved the purple in my hair, and told my husband was lucky man to have such a lovely young wife. That was until they found out I my age, then they were I am too old to have purple in my hair and my clothes were too young for me.

When I was in my 20's, my mindset was this "looking good totally meant looking sexy" At this stage in my life, it's not quite the same thing. My aim is to look - "sexitarian" - fantastic, but still office professional not street professional. Looking sexy is still cool, but more laidback...the impression I want to present is "she looks beautiful/great" not "I want to take that home right now!"

One other thing - youngsters tend to show A LOT of skin - show it off, but if you can keep most of it covered up, you'll stay "age appropriate"

Re-pinned this on Pinterest lately "Your clothes should be tight enough to show you're a woman, and loose enough to show you're a lady" - Marilyn Munroe

I like to find "style icons", and then look for clothes that I think they might wear, but way, way cheaper . Then I stick with what I know works for my body type (hide my thighs, emphasize my waist). Currently i like clothes worn by Sharon Osborne or Rachel Zoe. And they are both shorties like me.

I think it is cool to have your own style. Age is not a factor.

I am finding it hard also. Even more so that I have three teenaged daughters. Being out with them, beautiful, tall and stylish, can at times make me feel either like I am trying to dress like them, or look matronly. I have never been a fashion plate dresser, but I am a professional and want to look classy without looking like my mother. :laugh:

I hate trying to find clothes! There is really no happy medium (as many have said). I don't want to be "soccer mom" all the time but I am not my 20 year old daughter and I am not my 60 year old mother. I have found however some really nice shorts that are kind of "mid length" from Calvin Klein. Also, being in the industry I am in, I can get away with jeans 99% of the time. My problem is shirts. I can't find anything that fits right, and I am so tired of dark drab colors. I also have a tendency to be cheap. I guess having raised kids and being responsible I have a problem sending money on myself so most of the time I will find something I like and of course I think it is too expensive so I pass on it! Consignment stores and thrift stores seem to be my best friend when it comes to clothes shopping. I sometimes hate to admit it but the clothes are used so they are stretched and "formed" and won't sag a month after you get them home.

I dress modestly, unless I'm on a date with the DH, but I never did get the whole whack your hair off thing. I look awful in short hair! My curly hair will have to practically have to be shaved not to look like Bozo!

I say go with what you feel comfortable with -- if you feel uncomfortable in it or like your trying too hard, then most likely you are for you. However if you can rock a younger look, and it makes you feel confident and smile, then it's soo the look to do. Too often in life I've found myself hiding from the world through my clothing, or wearing it for someone else...but the people I truly admire find no need for this, and never seem to be inappropriately dressed. So, what I wrote in the beginning is my new goal. Dressing for me (only took 40+ years to get to it). Lol.

By the way, loved this thread!

By look of your picture I would never have thought you were over 30! My husband gets on my case about age appropriate clothing all the time. He made me throw away all my funny logo T-shirts 10 years ago. I take one of my fashionista bff;s with me to okay most of my buys.