Age appropriate fashion?

[Krististeph]

Yes, I wish that was me in my avatar. But no, I'm not that young, pretty or slim. I'm not particularly old or ugly, nor am I brave enough to show my face yet.

After seeing so many people here dressing so nicely, and very age appropriate, I get a bit bothered by the fact that while I have and do dress in age appropriate clothes, I've been attracted to younger generation fashions quite a lot lately.

Miniskirts, short dresses (I can fit into some juniors' 13 or XL sizes if there is a bit of stretch). Stuff a good 30 years too young for me. I don't wear these items out... I'm not trying to pass as a 20 something or a teen.

But there are some awfully cute dresses and outfits available for younger people. Now I know that GGs also sometimes have issues with age appropriate dressing, I'm not trying to artificially recreate that. The dress i'm wearing now: Black, sleeveless stretch knit top with a teacup-type skirt striped with alternating horizontal perforated faux leather stripes and more stretch knit fabric. Social/party type dress- not school/work.

It looks adorable on smaller models, at size 13/14- meh. And in my male torso shape- I'd never wear it outside. But I love the style.

So what is the issue really? I'm not even sure what questions to ask... I do like getting a bit overdressed while just hanging around the house (especially during the Christmas Break), I would imagine more than a few of us also do the same.

I guess part of me is worried about being seen as some kind of letch, trying to associate with people inappropriately younger than me, but I just said I don't go out like this! It's almost like some kind of weird archeo-CD-guilt or something...

Does anyone else care to comment? Anyone else dress like this?

I know as we grow older, we do try to project a youthful image of sorts in defense of aging, I don't think that is specifically what i am doing, or at least not the majority why i am doing it.

[JanePeterson]

Depends if you're trying to pass in public... If not, then who cares? Wear what makes you feel happy 😀

[Sky]

I'm pretty conscious of my age. I can wear a miniskirt, but only in -ahem- private circumstances. Out in the street, it's knee long skirts. Same with heels, makeup, etc. Not only I don't feel bad about it, I like it. I never looked like a hot young girl, but now I look like a moderately attractive mature lady.

[reb.femme]

I'm also in the category of wanting to wear some of the cute stuff I see out and about. Absolutely head over heels with this dress at the moment http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp...atalogId=33053.

We have a saying for older people dressed in younger clothing, "mutton dressed as lamb". So I always try to keep my style reasonable, but never too old either. It really is difficult getting older, but so long as you aren't dressed as a hooker when out, we're free to dress as we wish, so long as the wife can stomach it in my house. However, if we want to look like hookers when out, we are free to do that, but watch out for unwanted attention...or wanted attention?

I'm 56 right now, but always describe myself as being one that sees the world through the eyes of a 25 year old. The body may be aging but my brain doesn't want to accept that, so I don't. I also get that letch worry, so whilst I get on with the youngsters at my local group, I'm always conscious of being thought, the oldest swinger in town.

Becky

[Laura912]

Got called a cougar by one of our friends here based on a Valentines posting. In private, who cares what one wears? Go for it. If out and about, maybe a little caution is necessary. Maybe that mini skirt you wore during the construction would be interesting!

[kittie60]

There are alot of stylish dresses out there for us older gals group. I have a few above the knee dresses and skirts I'll wear depending on what I'm going to and some short shorts for summer but that again depends on what I'm doing. However as the rule I dress in my own age bracket and I really do love it.

[CynthiaD]

I have a couple of very short dresses that I wear as house dresses. But when I go out, it's knee-length or longer.

[pamela7]

if there's a part of us that wanted to dress when young but didn't, then that desire will remain inside, the cd will bring it out, you just gotta do it, then hope you get over it and feel happier dressed more age-appropriate. honestly tho, i reckon age-ism is another issue, while mutton dressed as lamb is still mutton, it enjoys feeling lamb again and there is nothing wrong in that, except in the eyes of the judgers ...

i'm really into short skirts at the moment, and frankly i don't care whether other people don't like that, i do like it!

[Adriana Moretti]

I'm guilty of that too....if I'm home who cares right? nobodys looking anyway, and this is suposed to be fun right? I will rock real silly outfits at home I wouldnt dare wear in public like short leather flare shirts with crop tops and ankle boots with too high of a heel, slinky tops and short skirts are usually in order. In public its a totaly different story...but at home who cares...

[Kelly63]

I know the feeling. Now that I am over 50 I have purged a bunch of very very short dresses and skirts. I did keep some mini skirts to show off the legs

[Stephanie47]

Ok, I'm in my late sixties. It's difficult to get a good feel of the attire a woman my age wears, because, it is difficult to find a woman in a dress these days. Most fashion magazines or ads seem to be selling to younger women. Style wise I stay with dresses that are usually knee length, plus or minus two inches. I wear midi length, but, not mini length. As a senior I do not have to dress like my eastern European grandmother. I have a fifteen year old granddaughter, who is very fashion conscious. If I were to dress like her I'd be a candidate for the old folks home based on a clinical diagnosis of absolutely no fashion sense.

[MissDanielle]

I'm 31 and don't plan on ever wearing things that make me look like I'm in high school...

[Bunty]

I prize elegance. I believe that an age-appropriate look is fundamental to elegance, and that elegance is not limited by age.

That's not to say that a cross-dresser cannot dress up or down (if that makes sense), given the right circumstances.

[bridget thronton]

I tend to dress my age - for the most part (uncomfortable in really short skirts and skin revealing tops)

[Rhonda Jean]

I'm going the opposite direction. As variable as these things tend to be I could go back to dressing too young, but I've really been transitioning out of that for quite a while. I never dress just to stay home. I've always felt like it was either mini dresses or frumpy. A couple of years ago I tried long dresses in the summer and found that those were harder to look good in than a mini dress. Tried pleats and A line skirts, sheaths, you name it. I just couldn't make it work.

I've always loved jeans and heels. I've expanded that to slacks and leggings and heels. I lean more toward tunic tops. It's rare that I spend more than 20 minutes on makeup, and often half that. I was a freak for big hoops and other really big earrings and necklaces for a long time. Now even my jewelry is understated.

I think some of this is due to me cutting my hair. I'm just not as into it since I don't have to spend such a ridiculous amount of time on my hair. Part of it is I can dress anytime I want (except work) and I don't feel the need to be so over the top with it. Another thing is I've been doing this for so long that it's just not the event it used to be.

I'm not a slouch. I get my nails done, brows done, and I wear nice stuff that fits and is appropriate for where I'm going. I'm just not looking for attention like I used to be. It was getting to where I was reaching, to say the least. A great benefit of my toned-down look is I'm apparently a lot more approachable. I get a lot of compliments, even on my 20 minute makeup.

[Krististeph]

... As a senior I do not have to dress like my eastern European grandmother. I have a fifteen year old granddaughter, who is very fashion conscious. If I were to dress like her I'd be a candidate for the old folks home based on a clinical diagnosis of absolutely no fashion sense.

A CD friend from Rockford told me of a story at an outlet mall we both occasion:

She was dressed, doing the rounds for the holidays, three teen girls walked to pass her on the boardwalk, one made a comment to the effect of "nice dress there buddy..." (this mall was out farther than the far suburbs, hence the less-than-normal-attitude).

At this, she turned to face them square, and proceeded to tell them off:
"I may be wearing a dress, but it is a $300 dress. At least I make the effort to look decent and attractive. My face is not pretty, but I cannot help that. Look at the clothes you are wearing- do you not have any sense of pride? You think you can pass judgement on how I look, when you look like lazy slobs?

The three hoodlums turned tale and left quickly with no words...

Thanks for responding!!!

[Angela Marie]

I began to dress more age appropriatly as I started to go out more. It just makes it easier to blend in. I love leggings and tights and usually try to pair them with a nice top.

[Teresa]

Krististeph,
If it's only round the house why worry too much, if your legs can take a mini skirt go ahead and wear one, I still slip mine on with a Tshirt and find a quiet spot in the garden to soak up some sun, just have to be careful of the give away tan line.
I admit I don't wear my maid dress too often but it hasn't been thrown out. I will admit most of my heels are too high .
Up to point if you feel good in yourself and your figure can take it wear what you enjoy, maybe it needs a rethink if passing is your goal . I wouldn't say just own it is the correct answer because you do risk looking a p*** !

[sherri]

I think there is a little bit of PC in the CD community about age appropriate dress and blending in etc, but I rarely see anything overbearing on the subject. I think appropriate dress is important in mainstream circulation, although I think there is too much of a conservative expectation for older women, be they GG or CD. I mean, I luv it when I see an older GG stylin' it in a shorter (but not too short) dress and heels and stuff. At any rate, most of my outings are at the clubs and I think in that environment a gurl should be able to wear whatever is fun for her, regardless of age, as long as she doesn't take it to the absurd. I recently had a conversation about this very thing recently with a club owner and some other patrons who have seen my look evolve over the last 15 years. They were very complimentary and one mentioned my age appropriate dressing, to which I replied that I feel like I tend to wear skirts too short for my age, but since my legs still look okay and it's fun for me, I have no plans to change. They smiled and assured me I looked fine, and even remarked that it's actually nice to see someone with some fashion flair as most of the crowd around here tend to dress down for some inexplicable (to me, anyway) reason. Anyway, I think attitude and friendliness are way more important than what we wear, so be nice and be yourself, I say.

[reb.femme]

...honestly tho, i reckon age-ism is another issue, while mutton dressed as lamb is still mutton, it enjoys feeling lamb again and there is nothing wrong in that, except in the eyes of the judgers ...

Oh dear, good old British PC restrictions rear their head again. Ageism? Sexism? Whatever ism? Keep the socialist agenda and finger pointing out of a post about age appropriate clothing. And who is judging the judgers? It's called the right to an opinion and should not be dumbed down with stock issue, PC nonsense.

If a person is happy to go out and stand out, fine and what they do at home, fine. But from what I see here in the main, most people want to fly under the radar, not set off the Claymore trip wire.

Becky

[Katey888]

I guess part of me is worried about being seen as some kind of letch, trying to associate with people inappropriately younger than me, but I just said I don't go out like this! It's almost like some kind of weird archeo-CD-guilt or something...

Yeah - it is... You've been absorbing too much of the weird, blindingly dogmatic, PC-correct (surely an oxymoron for this community?) dictats from folk that need to convince everyone (and themselves) that we're all completely normal and should therefore dress as completely normally as regular GGs (who vary hugely depending on location, social strata, personal attributes, etc. etc.)

Clearly, you can wear what you like at home - in fact, you can wear what you like anywhere, but it's more the venue appropriateness that will grab you over the age thing - or in some cases get you grabbed by someone else..

Even GGs seek fashions that can edge them towards youthfulness - no need for anyone to be shy of desiring that universal whim...

Katey x

[samantha rogers]

It strikes me as funny that after a lifetime spent in fear of being ourselves that even when we accept ourselves and venture out we still live in fear... Is this outfit age appropriate? Is my dress to short? Etc According to who and why care?
From my point of view it's a matter of dressing to look good according to what you like.
No, I don't mean dressing like a tramp or a teeny bopper lol or wearing spike heels to Walmart giggle
But isn't it really a matter of trying a look and seeing if you can pull it off?
It's about style and elegance for sure, but that doesn't mean one needs to look like an old frump. Many beautiful GGs in LA or NY pull off styles that you would never see a woman of a similar age wearing in Peoria. If it works for you then wear it.

[NicoleScott]

Oh the plight of the out-and-abouters who strive to blend. Fashion rules to be followed. Ecstasy is being un-noticed.
Closet dressers have it better. Not bound by rules, we do what we want, which is dressing to please only ourselves.
I'm no teen, but I have a schoolgirl sailor uniform that I love to wear. Don't worry, I won't wear it in your favorite restaurant or shop, only at home. You're welcome. Still want all of us to come out of the closet? Be careful what you wish for.

[Krisi]

Yea, I wondered about that avatar photo. I suspect many of these are not actually the person writing the posts.

There's no law telling you how to dress and if you're dressing in private, you can wear clothes designed for hot young teenagers or even dress as a baby (or six year old girl).

If you're going out in public or want to see yourself as a "real" woman, you should dress appropriately for your age and body type. Someone will probably come along and make a comment about "granny dresses". That's not what I'm talking about. Older women who are not overweight can often look good in clothing intended for women younger than themselves but the line is looking respectable and classy. Dress yourself up and take photos. Now study the photos and ask yourself what you see. A classy woman or "mutton dressed as lamb".

[jenniferinsf]

as i was seeing my therapist about my trans/cd issues she explained that jennifer was still an adolescent in my mind and therefore the desire to wear sorter and more revealing clothes...the therapist was slightly younger than me and dressed neutral (i am not a big fan of the look) and my wife keeps on me about more appropriateness

my wife and i agree that black leggings with my shorter skirts is more acceptable to society/her. so when she and i go out...leggings it is.

i have some loner skirts but don't really like the feel/drape

wrt to tops she bought a gorgeous eileen fisher pull over blouse that to me is a bit frumpy to in her eyes it is what i should be wearing.....at a minimum i try to keep the number of buttons done up on my blouses when she is around...although i do like a hint of bra showing

what can i say....it is how i see myself