Agnostic.com
  1. Agnostic
  2. Posts
  3. Silly, Random & Fun

57 12

Do you "dress your age"? Exactly what does that actually mean anyway? What does that mean to you? Do people tell you you should be dressing more your age? (This topic probably has been discussed here before; if so, my apologies)

At 47, I dress mostly in jeans or leggings (or yoga pants), t-shirts or tank tops, hoodies, and sneakers. Sometimes I might wear short dresses, short shorts, or short skirts. Heck, I've been known to wear a tutu. I don't own blouses (anything with buttons) or slacks or power suits or blazers. Dog forbid, I should wear pantyhose or nylons (ugh). Sometimes, I might wear my hair in pig tails or braids.

Do we actually need to dress our age? I get that you have to respect dress codes and such and not be inappropriately dressed in certain situations (weddings, funerals, etc.). But what does age have to do with your clothing choices?

#weddings #funeral #yoga #dogs
graceylou 8 Aug 23
Share
Submit

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

57 comments

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

3

Level 8

perhaps it is more important to dress one's size rather than age ...

Sometimes I can’t find my size and have to go with bigger.

@graceylou my poor daughter (28) still has to buy kids clothes ... she blames me for having transmitted the dwarf gene ... age 28.not 2 8)

@PontifexMarximus I’m not tiny. I wear a regular size small or around size 5/6. But people have complained that stores don’t stock realistic sizes so now they rarely stock my size because apparently I’m not a realistic size because I’m not size 14 or larger.

@graceylou my daughter has the same problem ... often people tell her that she is too slim as if she was anorexic ... she's just small but well proportioned, but is clasdified as "abnormal"

@PontifexMarximus So she knows exactly how I feel. My friend who is larger says that size 14-16 is the average size and therefore normal. I’m not a normal size. They don’t need to stock a lot for us not normal humans.

@graceylou yes ... she does ... there is always some passive aggression ... one of her colkeagues, age 22, weighing in at more than 2.5 times her wieght, frequently mocks her

@PontifexMarximus Where I used to work they worry I might not be able to lift a heavier dog into the tub to get cleaned, because I’m much smaller than my coworkers. They really had no idea how much I can lift. I’m small but I’m strong.

@graceylou they don't realise that you have lug much less body mass

@PontifexMarximus Still I’m not considered within current average range by far so I must not be served the same as average women when it comes to clothing. I tend to be seen as having something wrong with me. And I’m not tiny. I’m over 5’3 and 115 lbs. A friend of mine is 4’11 and 88 lbs. she’s more of an outlier than I am for sure.

@graceylou Try Talbots....things fit in the shoulder & crotch for smaller people, so you don't look like you borrowed your dad's clothes...they are not cheap but have Unbelievable sales! My tiny girlfriend, and others of her stature, swear by Talbots!

@AnneWimsey I would probably not find anything to wear there. Cardigans, blazers, blouses, slacks, dress jeans. I don't wear any of those.

This is more my style and like in the picture (This is my favourite brand):

[rebelspiritclothingstore.com]
1

Level 8

For me comfort and function are king. I wear dress clothes for work every day. Slacks, dress shirt, tie (I hate ties). I would much rather where be wearing shorts and a t-shirt, or jeans and polo or flannel when it's colder.

At home I'm as likely to be wearing nothing as I am to wear something.

You and me both. I mean, the at home thing. That is. ?

@graceylou I may need to see this firsthand...

@JeremyTaylor Only if you show me proof yourself. Again.

@graceylou Don't think I wont!

@JeremyTaylor I dare you!!!

@graceylou Well I double dare you!

@JeremyTaylor I will show you double.

@graceylou put up or shut up...or is that put out?
2

Level 8

I tried to find a cotton, button down, fitted-ish, oxford style shirt. Three shops - no luck. Not just not in a color or a size I liked but nothing in the store at all! Somedays I really dislike women's fashion.

Right? Sometimes I look at the trendy clothes and go, NOPE!!!

I'm prone to cotton Oxford shirts myself.

@graceylou completely! So much of fashion now is tee shirts and synthetic garb.... blah.

@TristanNuvo right! Sometimes a oxford is perfect!

@Donna_I Ha! That's my garb.

@graceylou tee shirts are great but I need a few traditional shirts occasionally. 🙂

@Donna_I If you like it, wear it, right. I tend to go the opposite of traditional. I have some "shabby" style tops, OOAK or custom made for me.

@graceylou completely agree! If you like it wear it. Custom pieces are incredible!
1

Level 8

I don't think I dress my age. I dress rather conservatively and covered up. So very rarely can you see skin or even curves if I am wearing loose jeans or dress pants. So because I do not dress like a scantily clad sex worker and do not "flaunt it" people assume I dress older or younger than I actually am. But why the fck must I dress like a sex kitten and flaunt it? Maybe I do not want to flaunt anything because that garners more attention from perverts and creepers. Let the others flaunt it and deal with the unwanted attention! NO THANK YOU!

You dress however you like, but just because others want to show skin doesn't mean they are dressing like sex workers and want attention from perverts and creepers. The word "conservative" isn't even in my vocabulary.

@graceylou There are some that do dress like sex workers. And you misunderstand me. My criticism is mainly geared at the socialization and the marketing that teaches women, particularily young women, that their worth lies in their looks and they must dress a given way for the male gaze. And then with all the women/girl that internalize that BS narrative/message and try to encourage others to follow suit.

I dress, frankly, sexy, and find No "unwanted attention" because my behavior is pretty conservative....i worked in a shipyard with about 6 women and over 20,000 men for 13 years, I know how to project my intentions, or lack of them, with no problem

@AnneWimsey well yeaa but older women apparently become "invisible" or so I have heard/read. So it's way easier at your age. Unwanted attention has nothing to do with mannerisms btw (I am pretty shy myself) and has everything to do with if you are read as being female. Guys that engage in street harassment are not doing it with any dating intentions but to show off to their neanderthal buddies or to assert their masculinity/dominance.

@demifeministgal not invisible at all, in fact loud & proud and just rejected a 52-year old (I am 70 ).
And street whistles are aimed at anything remotely female, why would you take a knee-jerk reaction personally?

@AnneWimsey Alright then, perhaps less visible than one was in their youth? Perhaps you are the outlier to the data and the anecdotes? IDK... though I was looking forward to becoming invisible and now you have burst my bubble! 😟 :/

Because it is disrespectful and anxiety inducing, personally. I just wish I could be left alone 100% of the time by men. And even if I were to don a burqa or niqab the fckers still would not leave me alone. :/

@demifeministgal i enjoy the company of men, after 13 years in a shipyard am much more at ease with them than with women, generally speaking. Most are pretty harmless, altho maybe an alligator mouth un-backed-up by a hummingbird ass, lol! Don't take it so personally, i assure you they aren't......
4

Level 9

In the summer, I flit around in short, little skirts and dresses. Great legs from hiking and running. Why not show off my best asset?

At 65, I'm still going strong.

Also, I finally learned slender people look best in clothes that follow the lines of our bodies. Instead of wearing a tent. Photos:

  1. September 2018. A summer dress I made.
  2. August 2015
  3. December 2015, ready for New Year's Eve!

You look impossibly good for 65, improbably good for 55, and unlikely good for 45! Apart from the hiking, how are you doing it? Or what are you taking? We should be told! ?.

@KevinTwining

Aww..gee..shucks.. (sound of scraping boot.) Thank you so much!

Since age 21, I have been regularly weightlifting, hiking, backpacking, running, swimming, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and stretching. Endorphins are addictive.

In 2017, I set a personal record by hiking 326 miles with 64,200 feet of elevation gain. Spectacular mountain vistas, high alpine lakes, white glaciers and jagged mountain peaks. Love it.

My Mom was considered an exercise fanatic and a health nut. She fed us low-fat, healthy food. I took it to a new level. Thanks, Mom!

At age 22, my youngest sister got skin cancer. I was 27. That was my wakeup call, and the last year I had a tan. Since then, I have worn sunscreen every day, year-round, on my face and neck, and a wide-brimmed hat while hiking and gardening. That's why my skin looks good.

So, I have never smoked, avoid alcohol and never drink soda pop. Also, don't eat deep fried food, fast food, hamburgers, donuts or pizza: all the high fat, processed, sugary junk foods that Americans love.

My dad died of cancer at age 51. I was 24. Immediately I eliminated from my diet preserved meats with cancer-causing nitrites and nitrates. Bacon, ham, pepperoni, salami, etc.

Instead of buying processed food, I cook from scratch at home. I eat 4-5 small meals per day.

Once a year, I enjoy a rib-eye steak when finding morel mushrooms in May. Sauté the morels with olive oil, butter and garlic: WOW!

Bottom line: a healthy lifestyle gets results. Exercise and enjoy eating healthy, whole foods. Protect your skin from the sun. Drink lots of water. Be optimistic and upbeat. Have fun! It shows.

You remind me of Sally Fields!

@SukiSue

Other people have said I look like Sally Fields. Also, Jackie Onassis.

Thank you!
5

Level 9

I just had a breast reduction, and am enjoying backless, strapless, etc for the first time in my 70 years! My "age" is feeling FREE,

Go you!!!!!!

@PalacinkyPDX Such a cliche to say i should have done it 20 years ago....i should have done it 50 years ago, LOL!

more folks should be aware of the insurrection
1

Level 7

I have a new job, so I've had to buy office wear for the first time since the 90's. Ugh.

Sorry to hear that. The last few years my work and office wear has been jeans and t-shirt. Love it.

@Donotbelieve I am now wearing... chinos. Shudder.

@graceylou that's been me as well. But now I have a job that requires 7am starts and proper clothes. But, more money and more stimulation.
3

Level 8

An interesting question. I think it's fine to have one's own style, which may or may not fit other's perception of age-appropriate. Be reasonable: If you don't like suits but it's a formal affair, go with the flow.

Where I see this being charged revolves around the objectification of women when they've internalized it. I cringe. Examples include say a 60-something woman trying to look like a 25-year-old, or a 12-year-old girl tarted up like a little prostitute. It's not OK.

Yes, dressing the way you want is usually fine except in the cases that you mentioned. I can easily pull off a Hello Kitty top and short frilly skirt because I don't look like I'm in my 40s. On the other hand, I can hardly pull off a blouse and a blazer without someone asking me if I'm going to a special event.

@Liberty I agree. I am talking about more-extreme cases. Yes, mature sexuality is....hot.
2

Level 8

I dress on the casual side, even for work, but I don't push the boundaries too far. I want to keep my job.

...I agree.i work in manufacturing and me and some
co workers wear shorts (cargo type) , we often get
the" look" going to & from work-especially if it's not
80degrees...Tempted just to wear the suit jacket
just to tease the shallow folks that judge a book ...?

...also hold a "style" oject of clothes
10 yrs-then it's ok to wear because it comes
back in style.I see other countries
citizenry wear what's user friendly all the time.?

@BBJong It's amazing how stuff is stylish again after 10 years!
2

Level 6

Dress the way that makes you feel good, don't worry about what others think. Of course I am going to deviate on one fashion trend "Thongs". YIKES!!!, some people definitely should not wear them. Actually I am just going to say that most people shouldn't wear them, but hey that's just my opinion...... what do I know?

There is a time and place for thongs. They are super uncomfortable. I might wear thong undies when I wear tight body-fitting dresses and don't want panty lines showing through. Or if I wear a skirt for dance with slits way up my thighs.

@graceylou while I was partially joking, what I had in mind was the thongs people wear to the beach with nothing else. Perfectly happy to find a pair of thongs on my girlfriend, if she's cool with it. Please please just don't ask me to wear one........ha ha

@marksam8484 I don't know. I think you would look hot parading in nothing but a hot pink thong.
2

Level 9

I always find it incredibly amusing when anyone thinks it's okay for them to tell anyone else how to dress.

It doesn't matter if you (general you, not you-you) think someone is dressed inappropriately, it really doesn't. Your opinion on the issue is wholly irrelevant.
If you aren't the one purchasing another person's wardrobe, you get absolutely
NO say at all.

I'm going to wear whatever the fuck I please. If you (again, general you) don't like
it, don't fucking look. You don't get to tell me that you don't like it. If you think that
you can do that, be prepared to get an earful.
I don't tell anyone else how to dress. It would make perfect sense that I wouldn't
tolerate anyone telling me how to dress.

I find it incomprehensible that anyone can not grasp and understand this simple logic and reasoning.

@jlynn37 A lot of people are stupid, think their opinions are more important than they really are, and other people are actually going to care what they think. That's the only explanation that makes any sense. At least to me.
1

Level 9

I dress the way I please. Still have the figure for short shorts, camis, halters but wear one piece bathing suits.

I can’t do one piece bathing suits!!!

@graceylou My favorite is a Tri Kini. Thats a Hat, Sunglasses and a pair of sandals.

2

Level 8

Oh good grief no. I actively avoid trying to dress my age. How boring. 😀

Right. Me too.

@graceylou Great minds think alike. 😀
1

Level 8

When I was younger, except for a few years in college I actually dressed older because I wasn't very comfortable in my body. Lots of shapeless, matronly styles. As I've gotten older though I've become more comfortable with who I am and gravitate to things that are more fun and figure-flattering. That being said, you won't catch me in a micro-mini or a midriff top. And I still look for comfort; I still give thanks to whoever invented stretch denim... Bottom line, except for specific dress codes at work or in school and dressing appropriately for certain occasions, the most important thing I feel is to find what you like and feel comfortable in.

I was very prissy when I was in high school. Blouses, blazers, long skirts, pantyhose, dress shoes. In my later 20s I switcted to more sporty styles. I turned into a free spirit later in life.

@graceylou I was a very conservative dresser in high school. I wouldn't even wear jeans. And no color - tans, browns, rust, all neutrals. Then I had something of an awakening in college: bright colors, bohemian, and vintage styles. After college I sort of fell down a hole and went back to drab clothes again which lasted for quite a while. Also I started to gain a lot of weight and this was back in the 80's when plus sizes were still very ugly.
1

Level 8

Unless one is a fashionista (more power to 'em), it seems most folks gravitate to what is comfortable - fashion trends be damned !

I know here in super casual, and often very warm Florida, I dress for comfort . On the rare occasions I need to dress up a bit , I manage - but really don't care , or think about age appropriateness...

I've been fortunate at various jobs, where it was either casual, scrubs, or a uniform !

I would be completely out of place around a fashionista, although I used to be one. I used to work around the university and with students, and those people aren't exactly examples of trendy fashion. And now, I work with dogs. They don't care what I wear, and on occasion, I've had my clothing torn up by overly enthusiastic pooches. I like casual and comfortable but I also love unique one of a kind clothing. I feel as comfortable in shorts and tank top as I am in a ball gown in heels.

@graceylou hm-m-m. that could be one of the many reasons I prefer being around animals ... <grin> But I'll leave the ball gowns to you - I'd definitely be out of my element !
2

Level 3

I don't think that should even be a thing. I say dress how you feel like dressing, to express yourself, a d to be comfortable. No other reason matters (although if you do corporate work you might need a couple of suites, which I personally utterly despise and forever happy that I don't have to.)

Nada Level 3 Aug 24, 2018
Reply

I am technically the CEO of my corporation (on paper anyway). LOL. My corporate work includes playing with dogs and getting grubby. Jeans and t-shirt are standard office wear.

@graceylou your corporation sounds lovely!

2

Level 8

I dress kinda twenties style.

Coldo Level 8 Aug 24, 2018
Reply

That is cool. I have a flapper dress.

@graceylou Excellent. I attend a Twenties dance regularly The Gatsby,strict dress code.Great night.
2

Level 8

Funny you should ask that -- funny to me, anyway -- because just the other day i was thinking about my decade in japan, and something one of my students said about my habitual attire. since i was a teacher, i was expected not to wear jeans, which would've been comfy, so i dressed in highly color-coordinated land's end cotton knits. a typical outfit for me was a matching skirt and blazer in some bright color (often red or yellow), with a contrasting colored shirt, knee socks of one of those two bright colors and a matching beret, along with chinese cotton maryjanes. the student i was just thinking of commented that i was, by dressing that way, trying to look young. now, first of all, i was in my 30s when he said that (but continued to dress the same way into my 40s), so i wasn't feeling particularly old, and he was about 20, give or take, so i wasn't even that much older than he! second of all, i didn't know anyone, of any age, who dressed the way i did. i was just trying to satisfy the dress code in a minimal way while remaining comfortable and avoiding drabness. if i was trying to look young, i was certainly not trying to look like any actual young person. i think i was just trying to look like myself. but in japan, once you hit 40 you dress in gray, because you're officially old or something. i'm 66 now and i have one gray dress which i like because it has pockets, but most of my clothing is still pretty colorful (and a lot less formal than my above-described outfits, which you surely realize were not formal at all). i like a low neckline, not because i am trying to flash some flesh but because i don't like being choked by high necklines. is that bad because i am in my 60s? too bad; i don't think i should have to choke because of how many years i've been alive. i also don't wear underwear. am i trying to dress younger than my age? no -- i am trying to dress in a way that doesn't make me want to scream. i wear skirts and dresses because i find them comfortable. do i now eschew jeans? no -- but i'm fat so they don't fit, and i also have a high personal thermostat, so i would rather have a nice breeze going most of the time instead of being all covered up. does this have to do with age in some way? maybe... in that i am old enough not to care whether other people think i am dressing my age!

g

Definitely, dress in a way that is comfortable to you and in a style that you like that fits your personality, but still respecting a dress code if it's required. Age shouldn't matter. Most people who don't know me well would guess my age to be in the late 20s or early 30s though I'm much closer to 50. I'm also quite fit, not model type, but pretty good. My sis-in-law is just a year older. To my parents' fiftieth anniversary party, she dressed like a granny. I wore a little black dress with silver sparklies. But I could pull it off without looking like I tried to dress young. I did look like I was half her age. I would look odd in the very conservative pants she wore and her knit cardigan.
2

Level 7

Before I retired I wore a suit everyday. Now I wear a T-shirt and jeans everyday. If I'm in the house I wear nothing

In the house I often wear nothing as well.

1

Level 6

I feel the same as you, and apparently dress the same, i’m 47 as well. 🙂

Awesome!!!!

1

Level 7

I dress in colors and exactly what I feel myself in. I have a closet full of suits that I haven't worn in years. Sneakers, Jeans, T-Shirts of every type, kind, color and sayings. Baseball Hats, Berets, Balmorals on Occasion, Bandana's and Jeans. My hats and shirts are me and I'm over 60.

I love bold colours!!!
3

Level 2

I dress how I want. Never been told to dress my age.

I did get told once. And I tried to dress more “mature” but then I get asked why i was dressing up.

3

Level 8

I just wear what's most comfortable for me..always.
I design/make most of my own clothes, so now lean toward Thai designs and wear stretch cotton T-shirts.

Pic taken this Christmas at a local store.

Looks very comfortable.
3

Level 8

Yep, absolutely! At my age, I should dress comfy and I know that cuz I say it's true

As ken Kesey said at the end of his testimony for Timothy Leary: “ that’s the truth, even if it never happened! “
2

Level 8

I’m also 47. How should we dress? I see women my age dress like they’re 80. I take care of my body, I will wear whatever I want for the most part. It’s usually tight and sexy... I’ll admit it.

You go girl!!! And me too. I love tight clothing. Sex appeal. I know forty somethings often dress frumpy.

Write Comment

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

Share this post

Copy Link

Related Groups More

Dog Lovers
1389 members
Trump Pinata
1137 members

Categories

You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:162096
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.