Question:
Does anyone else over 50 find it hard to dress age appropriatly?
I am 54 and have been, was, always so fat I was just happy to find clothes to fit me. Now after losing 142# and learning to shop in stores instead of catalogs, I am drawn to clothes for much younger girls. I have 6 grandkids but I don't want to dress like a granny. I don't want to look like a hoochie either. I like jeans and T-shirts for casual but for more dressy places its hard not to be too show my real taste in clothing. I guess missing out on all those years hiding in a fat shell has warped me. — Tawnda C. (posted on November 14, 2003)
November 13, 2003
i am 56 and can tell you I go thru the same thing. I am not ready to be a
"little ole granny" But I also know how ridiclous middle aged or
older ladies look when dressed like a teenager. Like you, I missed out on
so many pretty styles and etc because of obesity and having to wear much
older looking clothes when I was young just to get my size. I try to look
around me and notice what some of the other ladies my age are wearing.
Sorry I can't be of more help but just wanted you to know you are not
alone.
— Delores S.
November 13, 2003
as long as your choices don't all come from the JR. section, you should be
fine. i would stay away from belly shirts and low-rise jeans. you might be
a grandma, but your still a sexy woman!!! congrats
— franbvan
November 13, 2003
Me too me too! I am 54 and tend to dress to show off the body I have worked
so hard to achieve (and paid some serious money for also!) I chose classic
styles but am not afraid to show some skin. I look at older, great-looking
actresses like Susan Sarandon and Sigourney Weaver and figure if it's OK
for them it should be OK for me. I am with people younger than myself alot
(since I have kids that are 9 and 14) and I don't think the other parents
have any idea that I am a decade or more older than they are.
I say go for what you like and what feels good on you; you have earned the
right! hugs, Ann rny 9/10/99 260/124
— [Deactivated Member]
November 14, 2003
I'm with Ann. I'm 54 also. I didn't get a chance to have this body when I
was young. I'm enjoying it now. I'm not going to hide any more. I do have
low rise jeans, but do wear shirts that cover my, um, skin. Yes. But I know
I've got them! I could wear no zip up pants AT all, no matter my weight
until my TT, 8 yrs ago today.
— vitalady
November 14, 2003
Well, I'm not your age, but I can tell you that there are some older ladies
that I admire how they dress. Stylish but not too young or hoochie! There
are some of the stores taht i tend to bump into them at... J Crew, Banana
Rebpulic, Ann Taylor and Talbots. They all have very stylish clothes that
are great for younger more conservative women or older stylish women. Oh-
Eddie Bauer and Lands End are great too, but more on the 'outdoorsy' side.
— LMCLILLY
November 14, 2003
OH- one more thing! DON'T stay away from low rise jeans! Really, they are
more flattering, make you appear to have a smaller 'behind' and a smaller
tummy, middriff area. Now, I DON't suggest you wear super low rise or bear
your middriff...but places like Gap and Old Navy have more moderate low
rise or hip styles that look great. There's nothing worse than wearing
those old granny, waist comes up to your bra style jeans for looking OUT OF
STYLE (and thick too)!
— LMCLILLY
November 14, 2003
My favorite is J. Jill. Although I'm (still, sigh) a pre-op I really like
their catalog because they carry a broad range of sizes (regular and
women's). And they show women of many different ages in the catalog (they
have stores too). My husband laughs everytime we get one in the mail,
because he knows I'm going to be in a trance for the next 45 minutes
drooling over the clothes! BTW, I'm 42 years old. And I'm not really much
of a shopper, probably because of my weight and my self-esteem.
— Le P.
November 14, 2003
I'm not 50 (I'm 40) but boy oh boy do I understand where your coming from!!
I now wear a size 4 and after a tt, I have a great looking stomach that I
like to show off whenever I get the chance!! I wear shirts that just skim
the top of my jeans or show about an inch of skin. I'm not fat and there's
no ugly skin overhang and I like the way it looks!! However, a friend told
me that I dress age inappropriate because of this and because I wear jeans
that fit me nicely (I get told all the time by guys that I have a great
butt - since it was the WORST area of my body before WLS, I really want to
show it off too!!). I told her that she sounds jealous because she's 50
pounds overweight and can't wear them herself!! She admitted that is a
little jealous. I look at it this way, if I think I look good, I wear it.
I've not had anyone tell me that I look bad in my clothes and most people
guess me at at least 6 year younger then my age. I've now got the body
that I've always wanted so I AM making up for all those lost years!!!
— Patty H.
November 14, 2003
I agree with the comment to look around at how others your age are
dressing, those that you admire. I have a few stylish women where I work
and when in meetings with them, I study how they dress. Picked up lots of
ideas for work. As a general rule, even tho you may have the body for it,
if its too tight, too short or shows too much skin, its age inappropriate.
Also, if you haven't got the hang of it yet, bring a trusted friend to shop
with you. They are great for honest opinions!
— Cindy R.
November 14, 2003
I shop alot in the jr. dept, mainly because the fit me better now. I am
only 5'3" and everything seems to be too long in the misses. I am 49
and I dont dress hoochy, but I do dress somewhat younger and it feels great
and I look fine in what I choose. and yes I have 5 grandkids too , my 7
year old grandson told me I didnt look like a grandma, he said I was pretty
and I looked like a regular lady, course he got a big kiss. I think I would
rather look like a regular lady, instead of a grandma...be true to yourself
and only you!!!!
— terri R.
November 14, 2003
Thank you all for the great advice, but thank you most of all for letting
me know that I am not alone.
— Tawnda C.
November 14, 2003
I have to agree about the low rise jeans. I have a really hard time
finding jeans that are not low rise. I personally don't find them
flattering, especially for those who are a little older and have extra skin
around the middle. I have had luck with the Gap classic fit and the Eddie
Bauer natural fit. The legs are pretty slim, and the waist is high enough
to hide the skin and imperfections.
— Fixnmyself
November 14, 2003
Lady Don't worry about looking like a hoochie mama! Dress to please
yourself not others. Whatever makes you happy! Celebrate! You have lost
all that weight, have fun and experiment with new styles of clothing and
colors for your new bod!
— Kara J.
November 14, 2003
QUIT WITH THE WORRY !!! It's 2003 & there is no such animal as dressing
age appropriate... Everyone today dresses in whatt is comfortable to them
and as long as your not running around naked.. wear whatever you feel good
in. Today 50 is not old... You are just at the age you can really live
life.. You go girl...
— Anne T.
November 14, 2003
Good Morning! I will be 47 next Sunday and I now wear a 6 or 8 I have 3
grandkids. When my oldest grndaughter spends the night she borrows my
clothes! LOL Most of them she keeps until I mention I like to wear my
clothes also.
She loves the way I dress says I have some cool clothes,
I'm so glad bell bottoms came back :) I always tell my husband that
straight legged jeans choke my ankles.
I had had my first consult with a plastic surgeon after a TT, then I'm sure
I'll wear my shirts like some of the other's just to the top of my jeans.
Who knows I may get bold and wear low rise. My motto has always been
"Age isn't important unless you are a cheese!" Have a great day!
— Brenda T.
November 15, 2003
I'm 55 and totally relate and agree with most of the posters. Since going
from a 6X to a 16 top and baggy 18 bottom I'm having a ball shopping! A
good cure for the fear of dressing too young is to watch the wonderful 1955
film "Marty." His mother and aunt are our age and not happy about
it. Seeing how they handle it will make you rethink what it means to be
"age appropriate"!!
— Chris T.
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