Fashion For Over 40..... - Page 3

love yourself first · 05-18-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malory

I think this may be a US/UK thing. Here in the UK it's not unusual to see 35+ women showing cleavage, wearing tight jeans, etc. It's great as long as they aren't lumpy/saggy etc. I'm more impressed by a 45 year old who can fit into a pair of skinny jeans with no unsightly lumps than i am by a a 19-year-old who can do so. It's considered acceptable for older women to dress sexy, if they feel sexy.

I think what looks pathetic is when people try to squeeze into clothes that are two sizes too small for them, which goes for any age.

Ill fitting clothes do look cheap and bad at any age. But here in the US, I've seen 40+ and 50+ year old women with aged, haggard, wrinkled faces/necks/upper chests but slim bodies wearing clothes that 20-somethings wear. This happens when the older woman has maintained a slim build and is in shape. It looks great from behind, but there is something very jarring and not quite right about seeing someone who looks very old from the neck/upper chest up but very young from the neck/chest down. But maybe that is just me.

If your face and neck/upper chest still show signs of youth or aging well and your body is fit and in shape, I think there are no restrictions on fashion other than clothes should be well tailored with quality fabrics and not too revealing, etc. Also, I am more of a believer of dressing appropriately for the ocassion or event than your age (except for the example I noted above).

g-stringranny · 05-23-2008, 11:03 AM

I love that this thread came up. I started this when I had a different screen name.

bettinfla · 05-23-2008, 01:39 PM

I am going to be 60 in a few days, 5' 9" tall and wear a size 12. I shop at Macy's, Marshalls, TJ Max and sometimes Ross. Ross definitely for bras. I trly to wear what's in style -- capris, tops, jackets, however I cannot for the life of me figure out who came up with this baby doll pajama top style that is out there now. I haven't seen one person look good in this style and so many who are wearing it who shouldn't be. It looks like maternity wear.

RedCatWaves · 05-23-2008, 02:14 PM

My new favorite place to shop is Softsurroundings.com. They have beautiful clothes, nice quality, always cut well with the mature figure in mind, yet not dowdy. Their outlet has some fabulous bargains. I check it every day and have gotten some velvet jackets and silk sweaters for as low as $9.99.

Request their catalog: http://www.softsurroundings.com/catalog_request.php

VTmom · 05-23-2008, 06:55 PM

Is JJill exclusive to a certain part of the country? I've never heard of it.

RedCatWaves · 05-23-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTmom

Is JJill exclusive to a certain part of the country? I've never heard of it.

JJill is national, but the stores are mostly just in upscale shopping areas, so they're not as common as Target and WalMart. They have a catalog too: jjill.com

VTmom · 05-24-2008, 06:32 AM

Just went to their website and found they have a store in the city my son lives in. He's got a great mall about a mile or two from his apt. I'll definitely have to check it out next time I visit.

g-stringranny · 05-25-2008, 10:10 AM

I went shopping at a mall yesterday & came home empty handed. There was absolutely nothing that I liked.

LoloDSM · 05-27-2008, 11:33 AM

I'm 37 and shop at Ann Taylor, J Crew, and Banana Republic. I usually buy the more conservative (less trendy) clothes, although I try to mix it up with shoes and accessories.

ETA: They are rather expensive, but I also like to wear Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses. They are forgiving, stylish, and fun.

eche428 · 05-27-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g-stringranny

I went shopping at a mall yesterday & came home empty handed. There was absolutely nothing that I liked.

ITA

I rarely shop (didn't get the genes for it, LOL), but when I do it's like pulling teeth. I hate the teeny-bop/slut wear that most stores are pushing.

Prosti-tots! Here's a great clip...

http://www.hulu.com/watch/20036/king...ots#s-p1-st-i1

I also hate the tent-wear that most of the "age appropriate" stores push. I want normal adult clothing. I wish someone would bring out a line of clothing that's classic and updated. Why can't we have clothes like Audrey Hepburn wore or other cool classics?

g-stringranny · 05-27-2008, 07:20 PM

Maybe we should start looking into vintage clothing. I always liked the '40's style & the hats.

cara4curls · 05-28-2008, 04:24 PM

"Maybe we should start looking into vintage clothing. I always liked the '40's style & the hats." - g-stringgranny

No, that will just make you look OLDER, IMO. Stay away from these, please! For the most part, vintage is better on younger people for a funkily-sophisticated look, but on more mature women, it can really age and date you. Also, if one is old enough to see a fashion trend emerge twice, and you wore it the first time around, DON'T wear it again, unless you're really one in a million!
That said, in my opinion, dress for shape, not age. Let your body's shape, and your outlook be your guide. As far as the women who have stayed slim but have haggard-looking chests and necks, the best advice is to not wear revealing necklines, and wear a pretty scarf or a beautiful piece of jewelry to compliment those clothes they have earned the right to wear by staying slim. They should also pay attention to good skincare and makeup too. There are many ways of looking stylish without being too revealing. Opaque tights, cuts that skim, flattering detailing at the best part of the body, accessories, rich colors appropriate to level of contrast between hair and skin, etc. Don't fall into the old lady pastel elasticized waist trap either - instant frumpitude. If you've got nice legs, opaque tights, and a dress or skirt length that's just above the knee can look fab! If you don't, then a well-cut pair of pants can go a long way too.
Last but not least, really cheap-looking clothes can age you too. Better to spend more on a couple of good items(unless you find that fabulous deal!)that are better quality and really suit you than a whole closet full of cheaply-made things that will end up at the thrift store in 6 months.

g-stringranny · 05-28-2008, 07:42 PM

I remember seeing an older woman who looked fabulous. She had a very nice, slender figure. She was wearing a pair of nice designer jeans with a tank & short blazer. She had a scarf tied around her neck. She was wearing nice high heels & carrying a designer handbag. I loved the way she looked. Women in their 20's, 30's, etc could wear this style also. I think she was very smart to add the scarf.

I do pretty good in the winter. It's the summer clothes I have such a hard time with.

Verity · 05-31-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koukla72

For me, "dressing too young" means too trendy, too tight, and too revealing. We've all seen the twenties who can get away with these fashions because in our culture it really is accepted and encouraged for them to wear this stuff. But the older we get the more ridiculous we look when we try to hold onto it, if we ever did wear it at all....

Though I will say I think a 20 year old in tight jeans and, say, flip-flops and a belly-baring camisole with a bit of a muffin-top, is a different beast than a 45 (or even 35

) year old in tight jeans, flip-flops, belly-baring camisole, and a bit of a muffin top, regardless of the cut of the jeans. Not only do I see it as less flattering, but culturally, it says different things about the women.

For the first, the general perception is that she's young, maybe a little clueless, but it isn't even really noticed. That's just what twenties wear these days, muffin-top or not, flattering or not. For the second woman, the assumption would be that she's pathetic, trying to hold onto lost youth, and maybe even a little trashy....

The problem I think this thread addresses is trying to find clothes that don't make me look like I'm trying to hold onto lost youth, but also don't make me look frumpy and old. I'm all for looking youthful, I just try not to look silly at the same time.

I agree completely.

"Age-appropriate" doesn't have to mean Chico's or Coldwater Creek, both of which I find old-ladyish, but it doesn't mean the juniors department at Macy's, either.

J.Jill is sort of in between for me. Some of the pants are ok, though even their size (2) is a little too big in the hips for me. (I wear a size 1 at Gap or Old Navy.) Their capris also run long. I have to buy a petite, which I never do at other stores. J. Jill's shirts tend to be cut a little too loose to look fashionable, IMO.

I used to like Eddie Bauer, but their pants are too big for me and their shirts are too short to wear with low-waist pants.

I shop mostly at Target these days. Their Mossimo pants fit me well and don't have a bunch of embroidery or sequins. Their Merona shirts are perfect--slim-fitting without being too tight around or under the arms or in the bust. Even though I am slim and only a 32B/C, "junior" cut shirts (like the Mossimo line at Target) tend to be too tight under the arms and through the bust.

I tend to stay away from prints because I think it's very tricky to wear them without looking frumpy and old. I'm old enough to be a grandmother, but I don't want clothes that scream, "I'm a granny!" I think scarves are very tricky, for the same reason, and I avoid them unless it's with a coat, for warmth.