Would anyone mind if I started a new thread as we do each year?
This is such a fun one!
Bringing forward the discussion of luxury becoming cheap. 6 years ago I bought a GG belt for my birthday. It feels substantial and well made. Not sure if this is apples to oranges, but this Xmas, my husband bought me a LV belt. It feels much cheaper in all respects than the Gucci one.
Yay - a new thread!
A few months ago, there was a lot of social media chatter about some of the luxury handbag brands allegedly being made in the same factories as the cheap knockoffs. LV was one of the brands mentioned (also, Hermes 
). Not sure if there’s anything to it. I own a LV bag which was purchased from one of their stores as a gift. I am by no means an expert on luxury bags. The one I have is lovely and seems very well-made but is it worth the price tag - I would say no, but I gladly accepted this bag as “payment” from DH for shouldering all the family drama and hassle of planning my MIL’s 80th birthday party 
I like a nice handbag but it’s unlikely that I would spend at that level unless it was found money from somewhere.
Just talking about this with my H who had an expensive pair of leather gloves wear out after only a few seasons whereas I still have my leather gloves that my mom bought me in Italy when I started interviewing back in college 30+ years ago.
My best made bags are the ones I inherited from my MIL (Gucci and Channel) or that my mom bought me from Italy.
I feel like a fuddy duddy saying this but they don’t make things like they used to ; )
I was hoping to find some tips here about dressing young. Maybe a new thread or title change? Sounds like this discussion belongs back on the old thread or elsewhere. 
What’s the youthful dress for 2026? I’m sure it’s not what I’m wearing now.
I would like to see a return to shoulder pads, the soft ones, not the boxy football armor. I think they give an appearance of good posture/tailoring which I think adds youth to age.
Here’s what Vogue says are the style trends for spring 2026: 10 Spring 2026 Dress Trends Sweeping the Runways | Vogue
Hard no for me on some but I love seeing the lime colors! I have a ruffly lime top from 15 years ago that I love that I can feel comfortable resurrecting!
That’s the problem with “trendy” for me. There isn’t a single item in that article I find appealing (at all). I don’t think trendy=youthful. To me, those all scream Halloween or “I don’t own a mirror.” As we age, I think it gets harder and harder to let the clothes do the work. At some point, I think wearing what’s clearly targeted to youthful models exaggerates age on an older body. I like to see images of clearly older women owning their years and seeing how they pull off the clothes they do wear. I think there is a way to dress that exhibits a spirit of youth that is much more successful than simply mimicking what the young wear, and I’d like some examples of that.
But I do like lime, too.
To be clear, this is the part of your post that I’m laughing at.
I agree with this for most of those dresses but there are a few that appealed to me.
Short skirts with puffy sleeves are a hard no for me. And I think those small print florals are aging unless you are in your 20s.
I’m mostly a hard no on runway fashion. So much of it looks unwearable.
For ideas on dressing young (depending on how young you’re looking to go), I would peruse some of the websites that are frequented by Millennials/Gen Z: Aritzia, Zara, H&M, Reformation, Anthropologie, etc. On sites like Anthro, you can often find brands that maybe you weren’t previously familiar with and then go directly to their website to see more.
On another note, I would love to see a name change to the thread, so we can address all things fashion. I am not really looking to dress young per se, but love seeing fashion ideas that won’t make me look older than I am, as well as seeing what other posters in my age range are wearing. I also like talking shoes, bags, etc., which may or may not have an age range attached to them.
Like “How Not to Dress Like a CC Parent in 2026?” 
Me, too. And I don’t care anything about brands. I’m not a walking billboard.
How about, Dressing with Style 2026?
I’m just glad to have these “dressing” threads, I don’t care what they are called or if I have to click more than one “dressing” thread.
Others might not feel this way but I think some “ownership” of the thread/thread title goes to the person who started it and what they want the thread to focus on. I know, I know, the thread is nothing if there aren’t people posting on it - but being that the 2025 thread had nearly 2000 posts on it, the title didn’t deter us!
I don’t care about the title either but don’t want to ruffle feathers by going off topic.
Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about finding tips on this thread after years. Like all threads, it veers now and then.
I think it was Deb22 who started it. I honestly think it does stay within the title boundaries for the most part.
That’s a nice one if the other bothers people.
I know the title was originally (and still is) “Dressing Young.” But I have always thought of it as a discussion about clothes, fashion, style….not necessarily trying to look younger. I like clothes, though am not trying to look younger by my clothing choices.
How about “Dressing Young When You Are Actually Sagging and Old”
Since it’s the start of a new year how about sharing the name/account you follow on any social media venue that you follow for dressing and style even when you’re middle age or older. I’d love to check some of these out.
Me, too. I also felt it was a place to talk about styles that are considered on trend at the moment and also that look just, well, out of style. I don’t care if you wear it or not or even care , you’re still out of style. I like a place to come to for that. I suppose a name can encompass everything.
I don’t mind the title. I love this thread not so I can dress young but I enjoy seeing what everyone is wearing and I’ve discovered brands and pieces of clothing that I’ve purchased. When I start seeing ads that look interesting I know I can ask here if anyone has tried them.
I’m flattered at myself if I actually did think of this long term conversation about style. 
I really don’t remember
I was thinking about this and how my style has evolved.
When it started, I think I was wearing more leggings with tunic tops. Skinny jeans and boots. Big necklaces.
Now my jeans are more straight legged or even wide leg. Much more comfortable than this skinny jeans! My tops are shorter but definitely not cropped!
I’m also a few pounds heavier than I was even 2 years ago. I’ve gained weight, mostly in my middle that seems stubborn. But I’m more comfortable with that.
People I follow. I’m an Instagram person. A new follow is