Dressing your age- 30ish and up

I'm a mom and I turned 30 last year and I honestly worried if i was going to have to start dressing differently at some point soon. I wear lots of dresses & skirts (almost every day), tights, cardigans, vintage things, etc. When it comes down to it, i just wear what i like and what i feel comfortable and like myself in, and i don't really pay any attention to rules. And hey, I'm a graphic designer so people just expect me to dress weird.

The only thing I just can't get away with is knee socks. I've tried them a million different ways and no matter what, they still make me feel like a stripper. I don't get it, they look so cute on everyone else!

I think it's individualized...whatever you feel good in. I've never seen an age limit/maximum on clothes labels. I'm 47 years young and I feel pretty darn good!!! I'm not gonna dress like an old woman to make other people feel comfortable!!! I'm not disrespectful by no means, but, I like my body. Whatever looks good on it, will be on it

Hell no.

I'm 32. I'm "supposed" to stop wearing short skirts at 35. That only gives me 3 more years.

If you look at my pictures, that's all I wear! :laugh: As long as I feel good about myself I will not be following any "rules".

Plus, rules are meant to be broken. Rebel!

I feel the same way:)

I'm 35. My husband and I went to Downtown Disney a couple of weeks ago and I wore my leopard print, black feathered, white silk rose on one ear Mickey Ears. (For reference, just about everyone and their grandmother wears Mickey ears at DD.) I didn't think anything of it at first. I noticed people were kinda looking at me odd. Then I realized I had paired them with a sparkly cookie monster shirt my daughter got me for Christmas that has cookies all over it and says "Love at First Bite." I have a feeling between the shirt and the ears most of the people who walked by me probably thought I was a bit touched in the head. lol My kids really enjoy buying me cartoon character clothing as gifts for the holidays, and I love wearing the stuff they buy me.

Having said that, though, I really love colorful dresses, sundresses, etc. It seems like area one lives in really affects what is kosher for older women to wear. I have been on message boards discussing this before and we posted different things and asked if women over a certain age would wear them. Some of the women saw the dresses I liked and thought they were much too young for a grown woman-others, from more urban areas, thought they were great and would totally wear them. In some parts of the country it seems like after you hit a certain age you are supposed to dress pretty calmly, I guess? I'm in Southern California and you see women all the time dressed really young, with fake blonde hair-they look like Barbie from the back, and then when they turn around you can tell they are older. one lady at Disney looked older than me and she had pigtails and was dressed like Cyndi Lauper from the 80's lol. I guess it's just kind of "normal" around here for women not to change their style of dress as they get older.

I am gonna wear what makes me happy. If I somehow offend someone because I am 34 and like skinny jeans and motorcycle boots, too bad.

Quit hating and be happy with YOU!

Yes, I'm old enough to know better, but still love wearing black leather and studs. Somebody stop me....? NOT!

Almost 41 and if I was in the right place for it, I would still rock a mini skirt. I will wear short shorts (nothing hanging out) and tank tops all summer long. I don't shop with my age in mind, I focus on colors or patterns that I like and then see how it fits on me.

This!

What age is a muumuu acceptable?

I am in my 30s. And my body shape has never mixed well with juniors clothes. My style is somewhere between preppy and california casual. So basically at work I aim for the 50s look, and on the weekend I usually wear a flirty dress/cardigan or jeans/trendy top and maybe a t-shirt with a cardigan. Style icons for me: Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Jessica Biel, Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon and Zoe Saldana.

I will try pretty much anything (if it fits in my general style) even if people think they aren't appropriate for someone above size X. Body shape is way more important than clothing size when picking things out.

What I do wear:
* Skinny jeans (yup, I wear them at a size 18. Totally fine if you get a pair that fits, and choose tops wisely. I skip any pair that gives me muffin top, and pair with a longer shirt or cardigan)
* Leggings (see notes from above)
* Pencil skirts (good for any age)
* On trend tops
* Girly or Prim Dresses (usually something to flatter my waist, all styles are open)
* Cardigans
* knee length skirts/dresses, I am OK with up to around 2-3 inches above the knee

Where I shop:
Macy's INC, MK by Michael Kors,Kenneth Cole
Torrid for jeans (most of their clothes are low quality so I don't get them)
Nordstrom (lingerie, MK by Michael Kors, Kenneth Cole, Halogen or whatever they changed the name too)
H&M
Gap
Old Navy
Target
Banana Republic
ASOS
Dorothy Perkins
Kohls
Ann Taylor/Loft

What I don't wear:
* Uggs
* Mini-skirts (worried about flashing people, anything that is mini in the front barely covers my butt. And I don't have that much junk in the trunk. I don't know how other people do it)
* stuff from the juniors department (juniors clothes are made for people who have smaller hips, thighs, and breasts than I do. With less of a difference in waist and hips, so it just doesn't work on my body)
* Hoodies outside of the gym (I already look young, putting on the hoodie makes people think I am in high school)
* Super low cut tops. (I am a G-H cup, I know conventional wisdom says, show it off...but I just feel like people stare too much if there is too much cleavage. I keep it modest, and let my sister get all the cleavage attention. )

As for fit: I get things tailored. I need to get pants taken in at the waist. I have so many problems with pants length. I have long legs for my height, so if I want to wear heels, I need to find a 33 or 34 inch inseam. I have such a problem getting blazers. The ones for 16+ are usually completely shapeless, so I just get them taken in at the waist. I usually pick shorter ones since I have a high waist and short torso.

So the question is, how do you look up to date without looking like you're copying 20 somethings (or younger)?

I used to go by the guideline, "If you wore the trend the first time around, you shouldn't wear it when it's retro," but styles keep coming back again and again and again. Stove-pipe, bells, bootcut, tapers, wide leg, straight leg, flares, skinny... over and over again!

Now, I still go for the trends, but I aim to have one trendy piece with basics, instead of an outfit of all trends that tends to look costumish.

I do think there comes a time when you have to realize you look like a fool in junior clothes and I don't think anyone looks good in sparkles unless your 5-12, that's just me. I am almost 56 and cannot find a pair of jeans that aren't Mom Jeans though. Snce I lost weight, I have to go to the junior section and then they are so low my Arss sticks out when I sit. That was fine in the 70's but I'm a Grammy now. :explode::grumble: :ohwell: :laugh:

You shouldn't have to go to Junior's to buy jeans...hit up a Macy's in the regular sections...Calvin Klein, etc. I *never* shop in Juniors!

I've tried. No one has size 4 that aren't straight legs. I'm just not a straight leg kind of girl. It's so frustrating.

Old Navy? Gap? Target? Banana Republic? Kohls?

being short waisted I can't wear mom jeans, or they come up to my boobs, so I have to wear mid-rise just below the belly button.. as I change sizes though they inadvertantly become low rise and I occasionally have to hitch them up before I sit down.. I love Target's misses boyfriend T's I have 4 of them,plus a couple others that are similar, ss slightly long, and I love them.

It's not about dressing your age, it's about how you carry yourself and how confident you come across.

being short waisted I can't wear mom jeans, or they come up to my boobs, so I have to wear mid-rise just below the belly button..

DITTO! I hate buying pants but I love jeans!

I am 47. I find most of what people my age wear just outright frumpy. Plus I'm short. These trendy cropped pants everyone my age is wearing just make me look shorter than I actually am.

None of us want to be told what to wear. So why should any of us be telling others?

I once worked for a 75 year old European woman who at one time was a model. She still wore 4 inch stiletto heels! While other ladies her age were dragging around oxygen tanks and wearing slippers. I say more power to her!

Wear your sparkles! Don't let anyone tell you not to.

I think I'm going to start dressing horridly so I can be nominated for What Not To Wear. I'd like a $5000 new wardrobe..

I enjoy younger clothes for sure....because when I was young enough to wear the in style stuff I was too fat!!!

I do have my own rules though.....I still want to look appropriate for my age (no belly shirts or mini skirts etc)