Middle age and having a hard time keeping up with fashion

[Anonymous]

Take a cue from Lee Radziwill, Jackie O, and Audrey Hepburn:

Figure out what looks good on you and make it your "uniform." Have a daytime version and a night out version. For me, it's Agolde jeans, beige or other soft color sweater (I like Jenni Kayne basics) and loafers. Gold jewelry. Sometimes a blazer.

For evening: black cigarette pants, silk blouse, black pointed toe flats.

Around the house: Lululemon joggers, cute sweatshirt (perfectwhitetee) and Hokas (for my knees!)

In the summer, I swap black pants for white jeans and I switch to Frank and Eileen chinos and crisp white t-shirt or shirt.

There's no need to be "trendy" when you are 50. But you can still look great.

[Anonymous]

what age do you start wearing Chicos ? is that before or after giving in to eileen fisher? asking for a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what age do you start wearing Chicos ? is that before or after giving in to eileen fisher? asking for a friend.

Chicos would be for the 70 and up crowd, after the Eileen Fisher 60s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really, how much clothing do people need?
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. Shop your closet, thrift stores, or trade with your friends.
Don’t we all have enough unnecessary stuff?

I like clothes. I do mostly thrift (Poshmark, Thredup, TRR). But also I don't have kids, don't eat meat, and barely drive, so I figure on balance I'm doing ok.

You don’t have kids and you’re checking out fashion advice on DC Urban Moms (and Dads)? I assumed there was a cooler place for these tips for the childfree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand what’s in style for jeans. Can someone post a photo of a middle aged looking person wearing trendy jeans? Do they hit your shoes? How wide are they at the bottom? Hahaha I feel like a loser even posting this

You need to find a fashion blog for 40+ women and follow it—someone who’s more focused on everyday style than high fashion. Here’s an example:

https://jolynneshane.com/

Thank you! This is really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand what’s in style for jeans. Can someone post a photo of a middle aged looking person wearing trendy jeans? Do they hit your shoes? How wide are they at the bottom? Hahaha I feel like a loser even posting this

You need to find a fashion blog for 40+ women and follow it—someone who’s more focused on everyday style than high fashion. Here’s an example:

https://jolynneshane.com/

Awful. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I really don’t understand what’s in style for jeans. Can someone post a photo of a middle aged looking person wearing trendy jeans? Do they hit your shoes? How wide are they at the bottom? Hahaha I feel like a loser even posting this

Any jeans except skinny or jegging are in style.

Darn, that's all I have these days. I hate skinny jeans too, but I thought they were in fashion. Can I go back to my flares or boot cut? Love those, super flattering.

Yes, go back to flares or bootcut.

Agree, but not the ones you wore in 2001. Current flares and bootcuts have a higher rise and people are wearing them a little shorter. Not grazing the floor.

Accurate ^^

You can go back to flares and boot cut jeans, but not the old ones hanging in your closet...

I always wear high rise because they flatter me, but I don't believe anybody notices where exactly my jeans fall or how high the rise is. It's not "giving up" to wear flattering clothes while also realizing no one is looking at you so closely that they notice your hems. Frankly no one was looking that closely 20 years ago but they definitely aren't now in middle age.

I just found some high rise, boot cut slacks in my closet from maybe 5 years ago. They’re a little too long. Wore them to work yesterday and got compliments.

People do notice. You can not care if they notice - or think that them noticing is on balance not a big deal. But yes, people do notice.

As long as you are neat, clean and professional people, people don’t care.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to dress like you're 20's or 60's. You're literally in the middle. Wear clothes that fit that you wouldn't make you stand out from a crowd unless that's what you're trying to do.

I'll say this though, I saw a lot of 40 year olds wearing crop tops at the beach and on the boardwalk last year. I think that environment is different than wearing them around town here though.

Knowing what's appropriate where and when is a skill that you should have by your 40's. If you're going some place you're not sure of (like the aforementioned beach/boardwalk) bring extra clothes and see what other women your age are wearing.

[Anonymous]

I’m 57. You don’t have to be a fashion victim but it’s not that hard to look current and put together. Wear clothes that fit. Buy staples that are classic. Mix in an occasional in trend item or two every now and then either by design or color even. Repeat. Stay away from matching sets of anything. No one has to be a slave to fashion. Having a little style never hurt anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a cue from Lee Radziwill, Jackie O, and Audrey Hepburn:

Figure out what looks good on you and make it your "uniform." Have a daytime version and a night out version. For me, it's Agolde jeans, beige or other soft color sweater (I like Jenni Kayne basics) and loafers. Gold jewelry. Sometimes a blazer.

For evening: black cigarette pants, silk blouse, black pointed toe flats.

Around the house: Lululemon joggers, cute sweatshirt (perfectwhitetee) and Hokas (for my knees!)

In the summer, I swap black pants for white jeans and I switch to Frank and Eileen chinos and crisp white t-shirt or shirt.

There's no need to be "trendy" when you are 50. But you can still look great.

It isn’t a fashion thread without the “crisp, white shirt” poster showing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine to do this, but know that it’s going to seriously age you. 48 is still quite young. I’m 46 and nowhere near going gently into that Eileen Fisher.

see, i loved eileen fisher and gudrun sjoden in my 30s, so I continue to just wear what I want to wear at 49. usually dresses and leggings, and in winter, knee-high socks. a bunch of folks seem to think i'm still in my 30s, so who knows. I had my suits/business wear made in hong kong, so they aren't from any particular season and are to my specifications for length and and pockets, and I can get new tops every few years that are more in tune with whatever the current trends are.

keeping up with your hair is more likely to influence how people perceive you than your gym socks