are you one of those moms that dresses too young for her age?

[zumbamama]

I dress in hip hop gear, zumba gear and brazilian workout wear, so yes, probably a bit young for my age...but hey, it's my job. Cleavage and midriff are completely covered, so I think I can still rock my young threads.

[Anonymous]

Oops, are you guys saying I cannot pull off the R&R jeans I just got at the Rack? One pair of Scorpions and the other has a gold R&R logo stitched on the back pockets... both are very dark blue denim. I'm 40, but I'd say I look 35? (No muffin tops, either...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. I have worn LLBean since I was 10 years old. I don't like the jeans or pants because they tend to be high waisted and pleated rather than flatfront but love their short and long sleeve t-shirts, turtlenecks, oxford shirts, hiking shoes, coats and sweaters. Frilly, flippy skirts and jeweled flip flops are not my think, I like simple clothes that fit, last, are comfortable, and don't restrict what we happen to be doing. I don't think the clothes add 10 years to anyone. The hairstyles and weight seem to do this more regardless of what you choose to wear.

Really, you're ok with the fact that you wear the same clothes you did when you were 10?

*shrug* I've been wearing Gap since middle school... but it's not like I'm still wearing the same pleated skirts with matching tights and scrunchie.

[Anonymous]

I like my legs and so i wear mini skirts. Not skin tight, not obscenely short. But why should I have to wear long goofy shorts or skirts?? Screw that.
If it looks good on you then who cares?

[Anonymous]

Alternatives to LL Bean, J Jill and Talbots for this 39-yr-old:

Anthropologie
J Crew
Theory
Diane von F
James Perse
Trina Turk
Velvet (shirts)
Nanette Lepore
Banana Republic (sometimes)

Stay away from slutty and over-logo-ed shit

[Anonymous]

i agree...most women have to dress differently as they get older because their body looks older too and they need to cover their $h!t up. if you can still flaunt (tastfully of course) do it! and if that means wearing anthropologie or H&M or whatever youngish stores are out there, then do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 30 and still buy Forever21...though I do stay away from the neon green racer back shirts and the plastic leggings. My mother dressed young her whole life too. I see nothing wrong with it. Though there is a BIG difference between dressing young and looking like a hootchie mama about to go clubbing.

Classy

[Anonymous]

Play up your best features and play down your worst. You can't and shouldn't wear anything just because it's in style. Make sure clothing fits properly and get it altered if it doesn't. But the biggest things (in my opnion) that age women are excess weight, poor posture, and bad haircuts. A slender woman with good posture and a chic haircut can wear anything she wants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a firm believer that you are either naturally beautiful and in good physical shape or you are not. You can package it anyway you want but you aren't changing the reality so just go with what you have.

Disagree completely. The world is filled with average looking women who look fabulous: great hair (highlighted with modern cuts and styles), beautiful make-up, and flattering expensive clothing. I know many women like this. They know how to play up their strengths and they put a lot of effort (and usually money) into looking great.

[Anonymous]

Good clothes should fit well, period. This is true regardless of style or price point. That, plus a nice haircut, clear skin, good shoes and bag, a nice smile, and straight posture go a long way towards looking age-appropriate and beautiful.

[Anonymous]

OP - Take a good hard look at yourself in your favorite tops from the "young" stores.

Do you look like women you admire, or women you laugh at? Are the pre-partum cuts showing off your strengths, or your weaknesses? I watched my sister-in-law wear the "young" stuff too long. It isn't so much that it is too "young." The problem is it starts to fit poorly and ends up highlighting things you'd rather not highlight.

And, when the jeans get cut too low, they look classless on anyone.

[Anonymous]

Has anybody here ever heard of the phrase, "mutton dressed as lamb"? It conjures up a lot of not-so-flattering images, IMO.

I love fashion and dye my hair. But there's a big difference between following fashion and dressing 20 years younger -- they're not the same.

Something always gives you away -- the wrinkly neck or cleavage, or the skin on your arms or shins that looks like old leather. Then viewers get that disconnected feeling, like seeing a guy in a bad toupee....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody here ever heard of the phrase, "mutton dressed as lamb"? It conjures up a lot of not-so-flattering images, IMO.

I love fashion and dye my hair. But there's a big difference between following fashion and dressing 20 years younger -- they're not the same.

Something always gives you away -- the wrinkly neck or cleavage, or the skin on your arms or shins that looks like old leather. Then viewers get that disconnected feeling, like seeing a guy in a bad toupee....

I agree with this sentiment in theory, but in reality, fashion spans twenty years these days--i.e. there isn't really *that* much difference these days between what a 25-year-old would wear and a 45-year-old, so I'm not sure that "dressing twenty years younger" applies.

Also, lots of 40-year-olds don't have wrinkly necks/cleavages, etc. I'm 42 and pass (seriously) for 35 (one group of 40-somethings in my child's preschool didn't invite me on their only for 40-somethings outing because they all thought I was 35-ish, and that is just one of many examples) , because I have religiously used sunscreen all my life--thus I don't have wrinkles, etc. (And yes, i always remembered sunscreen on my neck. )

[Anonymous]

I think the age comparisons may vary depending on what item of apparel we're talking about:

- age 20 versus age 40 for the belly-revealing short top
- age 30 versus age 50 for the miniskirts.

That was my post, I'm in my 40s, also a religious sunblock user, and no wrinkly cleavage (yet) either. But you won't catch me in a tiny t-shirt after two kids, even if I am a size 10.

[Anonymous]

I'm still a size 2 after my 1st baby, and I guess I still dress the same as I did before. While I do dress very young, I don't do mini skirts, or midriff baring shirts anymore. I say if you can still pull it off, go for it, but keep in mind you don't want to look ridiculous.