I’m mid-40s and my spaghetti strap days are behind me. I need a good bra, plus I’ve always had wide shoulders, so spaghetti straps have never suited me.

If indoors I will probably get cold and if outdoors I will get sunburned. I like to stay covered.

I have a sun allergy, OP. Even with SPF, I develop rashes and they get itchy!

I'm 60 with nice skin on my chest and toned arms that I'm not shy about showing. I don't love strapless bras, but I'd wear one if I needed to with a dress I really liked.

But I don't wear spaghetti straps--never have, even when i was young--because I have acne scars on my back that I prefer to keep covered. (Not sure why I didn't get acne on my chest, neck, or face. Just on my back.) There are a lot of backless dresses or back cut-out dresses that I don't consider wearing for this reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have great arms and shoulders and look better in a halter dress. Luckily they even make convertible bras that work with a halter, so win win on that front, over the spaghetti straps.

Does everyone remember when it was cool to show bra straps like in the late nineties early aughts? I had special bras with cute straps just for those outfits.

I have nice bra straps and don't care if they show.

Wear whatever you want, but since we’re commenting on a fashion thread, some styles really don’t translate well at different ages. Having your bra straps show in your 40s and 50s reads as tacky and undone.

It’s a bra thing for me. They look better on me with a bra, but i find strapless bras annoying and I’m not into having bra straps showing as it detracts from the look most of the time.

Anonymous wrote:I have great arms and shoulders and look better in a halter dress. Luckily they even make convertible bras that work with a halter, so win win on that front, over the spaghetti straps.

Does everyone remember when it was cool to show bra straps like in the late nineties early aughts? I had special bras with cute straps just for those outfits.

I have nice bra straps and don't care if they show.

Anonymous wrote:I’m 53 and still wear them if weather appropriate. My arms are fine. The potbelly I’ve acquired with menopause and my sagging jowls are a different problem.

I have a tube top style strapless bra that I got from soma that is sooooo comfortable and stays up really well.

Link to the bra?

Was there ever a time when 40 and 50 year old women were wearing spaghetti straps at graduation?

I have great arms and shoulders and look better in a halter dress. Luckily they even make convertible bras that work with a halter, so win win on that front, over the spaghetti straps.

Does everyone remember when it was cool to show bra straps like in the late nineties early aughts? I had special bras with cute straps just for those outfits.

I am thin but: have largish breasts so need a bra with straps that would then show. Have a little bit of upper arm cellulite I am self-conscious about. I do wear sleeveless things but would likely not in a graduation context.

Anonymous wrote:I've always been jealous of women who can wear them without a bra. If I ever get a reduction, you can bet I'm buying some!

I can do this but don't most of the time because I have kids and they would be mortified if I walked around in a strappy dress without a bra.

I do it on vacation in places where that is normalized and occasionally on date nights with my DH. But if my teen or tween see me they'll be like "mo-ooooo-om, stop."

I will say that as I get older, even with small breasts, there are fewer styles that are flattering for this because even A cups get less perky with age.

I'm slim and have nice arms but avoid spaghetti strap dresses because I don't want to deal with the sun protection necessary to KEEP my skin from getting sun damage. If I'm going to be outside, I prefer more overage to avoid getting burned (especially on my back where it is annoying to apply sunscreen) and will layer a lightweight short or cardigan over a camisole or scrappy dressy anyway for this reason. And then inside I get cold easily and want a layer for warmth.

When I was younger I just wore the strappy things and sometimes got sunburned and didn't care so much, but now I care and am responsible.

I don't care what others wear and wouldn't judge a woman for wearing a strappy dress, regardless of the state of her skin or arms, unless it was objectively unflattering somehow.

Anonymous wrote:Many of us have also gotten a matronly chest - a sturdy bra is essential and you can’t hide that under spaghetti straps.

Also, at 53 I just don’t feel like I need to be on display, you know? I don’t particularly like how I look, but beyond that I just find sleeves very nice. I don’t have to worry about burning, I’m not too cold, etc. So it’s about comfort.

If you like spaghetti straps, wear them! No reason on earth you shouldn’t if you like them.

I could have written this exact post.

I've always been jealous of women who can wear them without a bra. If I ever get a reduction, you can bet I'm buying some!