age and attire

[McKenzie]

I'm in my 40's and I wear clothes that teenagers would wear. Hardly any of my friends dress like me because they would be embarrassed at wearing cotton ethnic baggies, mohair sweaters, Docs etc.

Does being 40+ require sober dress? I think I know the answer but I'm interested to know if DUer's of my age dress like they would have done 20 years ago. Maybe the position is blurred because Americans have different attitudes to us sober Brits.

[American Tragedy]

1. I think it's just fine, provided that you can pull it off.

In my opinion, clothing that truly looks good will generally always look good, regardless of the passage of time and trends.

By the way, what are baggies?

[McKenzie]

6. loose cotton pants

no zipper, tie-cord waist and tight ankle cuffs.

[bettyellen]

12. okay, gotcha.... see around here is mostly weight lifters

that wear 'em as casual wear because, i'm not sure why. a lot of them a brightly printed. it's a weird jersey thing.
i'm guessing your look is a little more boho than steroidal. and that's fine, mcK.

[roguevalley]

2. My rule has always been, it must look nice on you. Nothing is

more pathetic than people wearing fashion as opposed to clothes. Nothing is more pitiful than an old face on a body swathed in young clothes.

[seriousstan]

3. Should I dump my elephant bellbottoms and nik-nik shirt?

I just love the feeling of silk.

[Droopy]

4. I wear gym shoes, t-shirts and jeans and I'm 32

I've dressed that way since I was a teenager and I don't see any reason to change as I don't have a job that requires me to dress nice.

[Skittles]

9. still dressed that way at age 47

never in my life went for the fads, never

[steely]

11. same here - can't say it's had a positive effect on my career,

but, damn I feel comfortable.

I remember the first 2 "fad" items I was given by my parents in the 60's, a nehru (spelling) jacket and a green beret - I don't think so.

[Skittles]

13. LOL

I still remember that day I sat in a park in England - 1970, looking around and thinking THESE PEOPLE LOOK F***ING RIDICULOUS. The striped pants, the fringe jackets, the weird hair. I remember thinking in the future they'll look at themselves in pictures and laugh. Was I right or was I right? :D

[fluffernutter]

16. and that's why i adore you, Skittles

you are your own person and i love that.

[cags]

5. I share clothes with my 13 yr old. If you feel good wearing it, wear it

If someone doesn't like it they don't have to look. The only time I would change the way I dress would be if I was embarrassing my kids.

[bettyellen]

7. what are ethnic baggies???

:scared:

as long as you feel you're not attracting the wrong sort of attention... go for it.
i think i should take my own advice and probably should dress more grown up, but my co workers disagree. but they're 15 years younger, so........ i really shouldn't listen to them now that i think about it.

[McKenzie]

10. see above bettyellen n/t

[Left Is Write]

8. Er, well....

I'm 38 and the majority of my wardrobe came from Express. The rest of it came from Gap, American Eagle, Old Navy, and the Buckle. Okay, yes, I do have a few Ann Taylor and department store pieces for days when I absolutely, positively have to dress like a grown up.

Most "grown woman" clothing stores/lines don't actually carry my size anyway.

[fluffernutter]

17. agreeing with everything except the last line.

i wear a size they carry, but would love to be in your predicament :pals:

[baldguy]

14. You should be *able* to dress well, when its appropriate to the occasion.

Its not *required* though.

And what the hell - if you look good, who cares?

[n2mark]

15. I'm 62

and here is how I dress, jeans and big t-shirt. or baggie pants and t-shirt, or when it is cold either jeans or baggie bottoms with a large sweatshirt. This is my usual everyday dress. Most seniors don't dress this way but I don' t care, this is the way I am comfortable. I wear no shoes in the house. Love going barefeet.

If I am going out for entertainment then I dress more dressy. Today I went out with senior friends, wore sweat pants and a fancy sweat shirt, wore hose and loafer shoes and a necklace.

Heck, I wear what makes me comfortable. You should see me in the summer. On second thought, you may not want to see me in the summer, it is hot here so I dress comfortably. I don't really care what people think, this is me. This is me! I'll dress as I damn well please. You dress the way you are comfortable that makes you happy!

As long as I am comfortable, warm, or cool in the summer or winter months I really don't care what people or my family think. I dress what makes me happy. Dress the way you want!

[WCGreen]

18. 47 and I am an accountant so I have to have a few suits...

But, I usually wear tweeds, cords, jeans and solid dark sweaters....

Love to feel omfortable instead of dressed....

I hated running for office because then you really had to "look" the part.....

[demnan]

19. You know what -

it really doesn't matter. I could care less what anyone wears. For myself I mostly wear my work "uniform" black knit pants and conservative knit top, comfort being the main emphasis. On weekends I wear stretch jeans and tee shirts.

If someone dresses nice, I think it's great. If they don't - I look beyond it, always have, always will.

[Kat45]

20. I'm 49 and I still wear miniskirts. Just bought a leather one on sale.

I'm small (around a size 6) so they look good on me. Problem is, I don't have as many places to wear them any more! :shrug:

For casual, it's jeans that fit and t-shirts/jerseys/tank tops (depending on the season) that fit, i.e. not loose/baggy. Pretty much the same way I always dressed. And when I turn 50 in a couple of months, I'll still dress the same way I always dressed.

[Piperay]

28. I'm 50 and I wear miniskirts too

like to wear them with boots. :-)

[Lizzie Borden]

21. Hey, just wear whatever...

the hell you feel comfortable in. Screw fashion. It's just something somebody invented to get you to fork over some of your bucks.

[ikojo]

22. I'm an adult and not in my 20s...I WILL NOT say where I

land...I don't dress like many of my contemporaries. I wear tie dyes and birkies (when the weather permits). When the weather is ugly and cold I wear hiking boots. I don't carry a purse but instead carry a backpack. I ride a bike and don't drive.
I also do not wear makeup.

[no name no slogan]

23. There's only one TRUE rule of fashion:

NEVER wear anything that you know will look utterly ridiculous in ten years from now.

Because some day, somebody's going to pull out some of those old snapshots of you in plaid denim trousers and a polyester striped shirt with lapels like pennants, and you're going to have to explain why the hell you were wearing that.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

24. Oh yes!

My case; acid washed, tapered leg, high wasted jeans, a fuzzy sweater and ankle high spiked heel boots.

My daughter looked at that and told me to never criticize her wardrobe. LOL!

[no name no slogan]

25. Yeah, mea culpa

Unfortunately, I have not been able to destroy the photos of me with 80s "New Wave" sculpted hair, a skinny pink tie and a shiny silver shirt. However, they are quarantined in my mother's basement and will hopefully never see the light of day while I walk this earth. :dunce:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. Part of my mothers revenge was turning them over to my daughter.

I've already started my secret collection with which to shame my own daughter later in life. I see it as a family tradition now.

Oh, and I have video, too! :evilgrin:

[Bok_Tukalo]

30. 80's influence

I still button my shirts all the way to the neck. I have been unable to break that habit.

[Bouncy Ball]

40. Who cares though?

There are old pics of me in stuff that looks silly now, but why in the world would I have to explain it? Who cares?

I say wear what you want, EVERYONE. Seriously. If you feel like wearing some bunny ears and a neon green jumpsuit, wear it.

Life's just too short to worry about it. Imagine how colorful the world would be if we all dressed exactly the way we wanted to all the time.

[mitchum]

27. I quit wearing incredibly tight jeans when I hit 30...

"even though I still have the figure for it" :) It just seemed kinda...grotesque.
I NEVER wore shorts or sneakers.

[ghostsofgiants]

29. 19...my attire...

Jeans...skate shoes...snug fitting thrift store t-shirts...and I have a fondness for striped polo shirts. Pretty standard emo-kid attire so I'm told, haha.

[SarahB]

31. I hope not.

I'm almost 33 and I share clothes with my daughter that is 20 years my junior. I tend to shop in the junior's department as opposed to the misses department. My hair is still relatively long. I'm not sure when I'm going to start dress "old", but I'm not exactly ready at this state of the game. :D

[amazona]

32. dress how you like

I'm in my 40s and I wouldn't dream of wearing baggy clothes because they make people of any age look fat. I don't say anything to the kids, but my thinking in my own head is simple: There will always be time to have a fat a$$.

As long as I still have a good figure, I intend to wear clothes that fit properly.

Clothes don't have to be baggy or trendy to be colorful. The issue of clothes being "sober" and clothes being too baggy or inappropriate are two different issues, in my view.

Your experience may vary.

I'm only sharing this opinion because you asked. In the real world, I do not give fashion advice to family or friends unless they specifically ask me what I think. And even then, if the purchase is made and can't be returned, I might play it down what I'm really thinking if they've committed a true fashion disaster.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

33. I'm 42 and love my jeans and t-shirts

My husband says I need to dress more "professionally" because I'm going to be a professional. I say, I dress in suits, etc. for work and court appearances; while I'm still in school I'm going to be COMFORTABLE!! I'll spend the rest of my working days dressed up once I pass the bar and get a job; let me be comfortable now!

[tjdee]

34. Being 40+ requires that you dress like you have some sense.

That's all.

I know a quite attractive 48 year old who dresses quite fashionably, and wears things that I would (except for her shoes), and I'm a good 20 years younger than that.

I think for women it's slightly different though.

[barb162]

35. what are Docs

[no name no slogan]

38. Dr. Martens shoes and boots

Very comfortable and quite popular amongst the punk and gen-x crowd

Here's a pic of the classic "six-hole" boot

[barb162]

42. they don't look comfortable; they look like a boot and heavy and as

if they would be cutting into the skin of the back of the leg. Oh well, my thing is slides, so you can see where I am coming from.

[Deja Q]

36. I'm 32.75, starting to see my hair thin, and I'll still highlight it.

:crazy: Mayber I am schizo-something... :think: :7

Be an individual. Not a lemming. Not a cabbage.

[trof]

37. I've always dressed more-or-less preppy.

We used to call it "ivy league" in the 60s.
Preppy works OK if your 30 or 60 (like me).

[Bouncy Ball]

39. I find I care less and less what other people think of what I wear.

Seriously.

Wear what you want. You start to die when you start to wonder what others think about something as ultimately unconsequential as what you wear.

My rule: if all your bits are covered, I don't care what anyone is wearing.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. No, wear what you want

You'll know when you're "too old" to wear something.

I still remember the times I decided that I was too old for knee socks and too old for pig tails.

[Catbird]

43. Go for it!

As long as it doesn't break any laws, wear it if you feel good about it. I have clothes from high school and college (not many) that I still wear.

Our Democratic senatorial candidate spend the 2004 campaign in bright red suits, hardly somber. She didn't win, but it wasn't because of her choice of clothes.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Bertha Venation]

44. Wear what you want. Be comfortable. Dress for yourself.

:bounce: