Anonymous wrote: No.

But when I think of dressing “fun” I think of Prue on Great British Bake Off. I love everything she’s wearing, especially the jewelry. I wouldn’t wear it, though, and things like the mumu’s are quite aging.

I feel like it's hard to start dressing like that in midlife. People who have been dressing quirky their whole lives have it baked in, but if you suddenly start wearing super bright patterns and technicolor accessories in your 40s, people will think you are having a midlife crisis. Once your kids are out of the house and you are in the retirement/grandma zone, people will view it more as you just letting loose and relaxing.

I think that's the hardest thing about dressing in my 40s. I still have a kid in elementary school, I'm still mid-career and viewed as "young" by many people I work with (who are in their late 50s and 60s) so I have to think about how other people perceive me and there are professional and social risks to dressing "fun". It just feels like a tricky time to be expressive, even though I dressed very fun and colorfully in my 20s and well into my 30s.

Start with fun shoes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. I am very short with largish breasts and if I don't wear fitted clothes I look frumpy, so I wear very simple solid dark colors type outfits. I actually would love to wear peasant blouses and beautiful prints and bright colors, love those on other women, but on me it's just all wrong. I've been thinking I need to buy some small, fun accessories like more interesting jewelry, belt, shoes...

Same here.

Yup, jewelry is pretty much our only option pp. I have a lot of really cute jewelry but the object of my wardrobe is to keep my breasts from looking porn-y or matronly.

Consider getting a reduction. I’m really glad I did, and I don’t have to worry about my shirts sticking out and dropping off as if from a shelf.

No.

But when I think of dressing “fun” I think of Prue on Great British Bake Off. I love everything she’s wearing, especially the jewelry. I wouldn’t wear it, though, and things like the mumu’s are quite aging.

Yes, i dress super fun at 48. I'm skinny which makes it easier to get away with.

I have tons of dresses - shirt dresses, loud print dresses, mini dresses.... I'm trying to get back into skirts, and have picked up several mini skirts this year. I'm lazier about accessories.

I've got enough money that i'm spending a bit more money than i used to. But i also have a favorite consignment store in my town where i get a lot of my most interesting stuff - things i would never have bought full price because they're a little impractical, but less guilt at used prices. Absolutely none of this stuff looks 'silly' -- i just look like a well dressed bold style person. I also have a very good sense of how to style my body, so stuff tends to look good on me. I get a lot of compliments. I have always always loved clothes (even as a kid, i love barbies so much, mostly for their clothes) so clothes are just a really fun part of my day.

Anonymous wrote:If you stop dressing in a conservative way, some people will find it silly and try-hard. So what - if you like it, rock on.

+1
Just go for it. I was a neutral tones, simple lines obsessive even when trends were technicolor and Brit prints. This year I am choosing more color, especially in shoes because I'm over the dullness. Maybe age is making me feel duller so I am going for more color. When I see head to toe black and Grey on others it is a downer so I figure it's no big deal if I'm scoffed at by someone who's outfit I also find sad and silly. Its like any other taste, why cater to those with tastes you find displeasing when the stakes are so low. I still wear the old neutrals but I set them off so I dont look like a walking fleshy appendage in all beige or a funeral attendee in all black. I dont know if neutrals are a young persons game or if the collective trends are veering from it and I am just part of the shift.

^ Oh and when it's not too cold, I wear thigh high socks instead of warm tight. Either real ones with garters, or fake ones that are actually woven onto sheer tights.

No. I dress so boring.

I think I'm going to force myself to buy a couple sweaters in actual colors (as opposed to black/gray/cream/camel) this year.

Also I have some great jewelry I never wear so maybe force myself to drag some of that out and wear it more?

But all of this is just emblematic of how freaking boring my wardrobe is -- wearing a green sweater and a necklace counts as exciting these days.

I'm 45 and slim. My favorite outfits in the winter, when it's not absolutely glacial, are corduroy, velvet or tweed miniskirts or shorts with warm tights, and a turtleneck or whatever on top. I have tall boots and ankle boots to go along with those.

If people think my outfits are silly, I don't care.
I utterly reject the idea that age should force people to dress a certain way.

Start with 2 outfits that are more the style you like.

Get comfortable not blending.

Anonymous wrote:Not really. I am very short with largish breasts and if I don't wear fitted clothes I look frumpy, so I wear very simple solid dark colors type outfits. I actually would love to wear peasant blouses and beautiful prints and bright colors, love those on other women, but on me it's just all wrong. I've been thinking I need to buy some small, fun accessories like more interesting jewelry, belt, shoes...

Same here.

Yup, jewelry is pretty much our only option pp. I have a lot of really cute jewelry but the object of my wardrobe is to keep my breasts from looking porn-y or matronly.

Not really. I am very short with largish breasts and if I don't wear fitted clothes I look frumpy, so I wear very simple solid dark colors type outfits. I actually would love to wear peasant blouses and beautiful prints and bright colors, love those on other women, but on me it's just all wrong. I've been thinking I need to buy some small, fun accessories like more interesting jewelry, belt, shoes...

Start with accessories. Fun shoes, belts, bags, etc. can make an understated outfit stand out.

Adding a little unexpected bling can help, too. I'm not a jewelry person, but I will mix in things like a white shirt with a jeweled collar or ankle socks studded with faux pearls to help basic outfits less so.

Play with prints, too. I rarely like them for dresses and shirts, but a pair of pants with a fun print are attention-grabbers that are easier to style than you might think.

If you stop dressing in a conservative way, some people will find it silly and try-hard. So what - if you like it, rock on.

47 F. Feeling like outfits are bleh. Some might think the style of clothes I'm wearing now is classy or understated especially at this age but I feel a lot like everything is too conservative. But I don't know how to do fun or more daring without looking silly. Any advice from those who manage to dress well into this age?