Dressing "age appropriate" at 40

[Anonymous]

I just turned 40 and have become more sensitive to dressing my age. I'm a SAHM so I spend most of my time in casual clothes -- jeans, t-shirts, sundresses in summertime, etc.... I find that it's easy to dress too young when dressing casual (I never had this issue when I dressed for work). In your opinion, what are some major fashion no-nos for the "over 40 set"? I still want to look hip and modern, but I don't want to appear as though I'm trying to look younger than I am. TIA!

[Anonymous]

No muffin top.
No Uggs.
No micro-minis.

Those are my pet peeves. Other than that, I think there is a huge range of fashion available to us 40-somethings. I'd probably ditch regular T-shirts for something in a more refined fabric and more fitted. And I would ditch flip flops (if you wear them out) and wear ballet flats or sandals instead. But jeans are for any age. Just buy a flattering fit.

[Anonymous]

how does one avoid the muffin top look? (aside from the obvious, lose the weight solution)
i'm having a really hard time finding the right kind of shirt that hides the post-partum baby belly, and yet doesn't look like a tent.
the truth hurts!

[Anonymous]

the only way to avoid muffin top is to get pants that fit properly. it doesn't matter if you are thin or fat if you squeeze into pants that are too tight, you get muffin top.

[Anonymous]

The "no muffin top" rule should apply to everyone, regardless of age. I'm SO tired of seeing teenage girls with flab hanging over their jeans! Why do parents let them out the house looking like that???

[Anonymous]

There was a long thread on this very topic a few months ago. Sorry I don't remember what it was called but if you search the archives you might be able to find it--something about"dressing older" maybe? As I recall, in a nutshell, the advice was mostly that one doesn't need to really change the way one dresses just because one turns 40. I mean, you're probably not dressing like a teenager at age 39, right? So it stands to reason that your clothes now are likely just fine! I also recall from that thread that it is far more about body type than age--if you have the sort of body that can wear mini-skirts, for example, then why not? (Although I agree about not the micro-kind...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how does one avoid the muffin top look? (aside from the obvious, lose the weight solution)
i'm having a really hard time finding the right kind of shirt that hides the post-partum baby belly, and yet doesn't look like a tent.
the truth hurts!

empire waist.

[Anonymous]

JUst dress for your body type.

[Anonymous]

I find the very premise of OPs question so depressing. I'm 37 and feel like lots of women (also moms) my age and older are still urbane and hot looking, and role models in terms of "keeping it together". Dress for your body type! If you're 55 and have maintained a smokin' bod, I don't see why age alone earns you a "go straight to Talbots" card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how does one avoid the muffin top look? (aside from the obvious, lose the weight solution)
i'm having a really hard time finding the right kind of shirt that hides the post-partum baby belly, and yet doesn't look like a tent.
the truth hurts!

Try one of those dress shirts (blouse) for women. They fall to a little past the waist. (Like you get at Gap.) I wear those with jeans, and I've noticed that it tends to hide that I have a slight "sticking out" belly much better then if I wear a t-shirt or long-sleeved t-shirt.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP.

This type of shirt:

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5760&vid=1&pid=585792

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the very premise of OPs question so depressing. I'm 37 and feel like lots of women (also moms) my age and older are still urbane and hot looking, and role models in terms of "keeping it together". Dress for your body type! If you're 55 and have maintained a smokin' bod, I don't see why age alone earns you a "go straight to Talbots" card.

Ha! May G-d strike me dead the moment somebody gives me a "go straight to Talbots" card!

[Anonymous]

I don't think you have to do anything but dress for your body type and in good taste. But, that applies to everyone at any age, imo. This notion that you have to dress a certain way or give up certain looks when you reach some arbitrary age is, well, arbitrary. Not to mention horribly outdated. If I still have it at 40, 50 or whatever, I plan to flaunt it. (By flaunt it I don't mean tight or short. I don't dress that way now.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "no muffin top" rule should apply to everyone, regardless of age. I'm SO tired of seeing teenage girls with flab hanging over their jeans! Why do parents let them out the house looking like that???

I blame the jeans manufacturers. They are cut to give a muffin top. Say what you will about mom jeans that go over the waist, but there wasn't any muffin top with that look. I am no way advocating the return of high waisted jeans.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP and I just want to clarify that I am in no way suggesting that when you reach a certain age you need start shopping at different stores (i.e. Talbots, Chicos, etc...). Yuck. That would be ridiculous. I'm just wondering if there are any "looks" out there that make an older woman appear as if they are trying to look younger. I just keep thinking of one of my friends in high school's mother who picked up on every fashion trend that we did, and she looked ridiculous sometimes (i.e. the neon phase and Jams to name a few). For example, the one thing I think looks ridiculous on "older" women is Uggs. This is just my opinion, mind you, but this is the type of thing I'm talking about.