Someone on another thread mentioned dressing young. After 30 years of living in business suits, this winter I'll start a far more casual job, move across country to warm weather and get to redefine my look for semi retirement.
I love what the young girls are wearing including skinny jeans, leggings, tank top under everything, all of the cute boots.
What's appropriate these days when you're 50 something?
Well I live in Los Angeles and dressing young is usually dressing in whatever your 14 year old daughter is wearing.....:)
(APPROPRIATE?---what does that mean? ;) )
Skinny jeans are fine if you truly have the figure for them. If not, and you want to wear jeans, a mid-rise boot cut in a dark wash looks good on most people. The look of leggings with a long top/short dress over them is very cute, but only on the young, IMO.
What about leggings with a top that comes about an inch above the knee? Agree that old ladies like me look pretty silly in them with a short dress.
Anyone else forget their old while shopping?
I'm 52 and wear skinny jeans (dark wash). I love boots and tank tops. I wouldn't wear leggings though.
I no longer wear hose except tights with boots. I go with bare legs (made possible for me by sunless tanner).
Hate to admit it, but I shop at Plato's Closet (consignment store for upscale/trendy teen clothing).
I go for what flatters my figure and try to stay away from the 'super busy' stuff or outright girly/girly (e.g. ruffled mini-skirts, although I did wear them in my early 30s, for better or worse).
I like the low rise jeans in a boot cut or slight flare. My gf runs a Plato's and says the trick is that all shirts are longer (nothing short). I don't think empire waists flatter anyone but the pregnant (and maybe my 7 yo?) but that's just me. I like fitted shirts that go over the waist band of the jeans somewhat (so you don't flash).
Have fun & good for you hmom5!!
Skinny jeans, boots, tank tops all are fine if you've got the figure for them. This is true too, for women much younger than are many of us.
I think leggings, though are too young for people our age.
I used to hate What Not To Wear, but now I love it. They have great tips for dressing and looking your best for your body, skin tone, etc.
I try to purchase clothes that are a 'classic' look that will last for many years. I also enjoy purchasing a couple of more trendy items to update my classic (I hope) clothing occasionally.
That being said, I could never go for the leggings and a long top. The leggings remind me too much of stirrup pants shudder. I do think the leggings, skinny jeans, etc. do look cute on the right figure, but I would personally leave those to the younger set.
I own one pair of very skinny jeans and they are frankly too uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time. I also have several pair of thin cut jeans that feel better and still work with the tops.
No leggings for me. Our newspaper occasionally publishes pictures of "people in society" (for want of a better term) at various parties, charitable events, etc. I have not seen any pictures of ladies my age or older (50+) in leggings that actually looked good. Even though these are beautifully groomed, wealthy, slim ladies, they still look like fashion victims in their leggings.
Agree--I don't really thinking leggings flatter anyone except the little girls in the Hannah Anderson catalogues. Even photos of super-skinny starlets -- just not an appealing look!
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That being said, I could never go for the leggings and a long top. The leggings remind me too much of stirrup pants shudder.
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My general rule for trendy clothes is that if you wore it the first time around, you're too old to wear it the second time around.
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Agree--I don't really thinking leggings flatter anyone except the little girls in the Hannah Anderson catalogues. Even photos of super-skinny starlets -- just not an appealing look!
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I encourage my teen Ds to wear the shorter leggings when I think their dresses are a bit short.
"My general rule for trendy clothes is that if you wore it the first time around, you're too old to wear it the second time around."
you beat me to that Missypie! Anyways--I didn't like eighties fashions when I was a young woman in the eighties, why would I wear them now?
OK, the leggings go back. My DD encouraged me, and the top is long--but I think you're all right.
Who's wearing heels with jeans? Not too high in my case.
I would have agreed about the leggings until I went to New York & Co. this weekend. The tops are VERY long (really they are dresses) and with leggings and boots it is really the same as wearing a dress with tights. At our age you really can't wear the ones that show skin between calf and ankle (except to the gym). I got some cute leggings that are a denim-look and with a long sweater (really a sweater dress) they are very cute. They are just tights without feet. The important thing with leggings is that, under all circumstances, your butt must be totally covered.
I don't wear heels because I'm not good at walking in them and I don't think they are comfortable. I will wear a higher shoe like a clog or platform something or other (not the real platform shoes). I have a few low heels (comfort brands) that are chunky and comfortable. I like cowboy boots and other Frye boots.
If your job will allow jeans, then OK as long as not too tight too low cut. Leggings, no; nice casual skirts or dresses (flowered, other prints?) or not young enough? I have to say that a woman I knew (same age range) looked ridiculous in her "young" clothes - leather pants and skirts, Juicy sweat pants and jackets - her problem was not her figure but that she looked like a middle aged woman who did not realize that she was not 20. And although you don't mention it, I also do not think that yoga pants are proper except to class and to and from the house. Some people don't know that the pants with the flower on the rear end are yoga pants, and will wonder why anyone would wear pants with a flower on the rear.
Is it so casual that you can wear shorter pants like capri or long nice shorts? We saw some of the BCBG nice shorts on sale in the outlets - but you have to be very slim to fit into what is left (good for D, not me:()
I am wearing heels, boots with jeans.
I am not into dressing like my kids, been there done that. I have nicer things now, even for leisure. Instead of sweat suit, I have cashmere top/bottoms for at home. I may wear jeans out, but I wear a jacket or nice shirt on top. I am not a casual type of person, so when I go out I like to be put together. Even pool wear, it's not a T shirt over bathing suit. Cut off jeans, casual T-shirt or wife beater shirt would look strange on me.
I do believe not dressing old. I don't mean to offend people, but I won't step into Chico, or any place that sells elastic pants (especially jeans). I'll buy jeans with stretchy material, but not elastic waist.
Well, my problem with leggings is that if the top is loose it does nothing to flatter your waist. Perhaps I am vain, but since I am fairly slim, I don't want to wear something that looks like I am covering up my tummy. On the other hand, I can't wait for cold weather so I can hide my darn goose neck with one of my many turtlenecks!!!!
I just returned a pair of skinny jeans from White House/Black Market because I wasn't sure I would wear them very often. I decided to buy a cheaper pair and see how it goes.
I will be teaching at the grad school level and the vast majority of my peers, like throughout my first career, are male. I have seen them wearing everything from shorts to suits. I'm not planning on wearing the jeans to work for the most part, but do wonder about a dressed up pain with a nice top and flats or boots.
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Well, my problem with leggings is that if the top is loose it does nothing to flatter your waist.
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I like a lot of the long tops out now that tie in the back or have a belt. With leggings/tights it's a very slim look.
So am I hearing that tights are OK but not leggings? They seem the same to me.
In my part of Ca many 50 something women wear skinny jeans, boots and yes even leggings. Also a tank top under just about anything. Look at Blue Bee dot com and you will see what many women in my area are wearing.
In my part of the world jeans can be worn most anywhere. A dark wash with a pair of boots or heels to dress it up. A tank top that peeks out below your top.
I just ran into a friend who had on black leggings with flat black boots worn with a longer sweater. She looked great. I ran into another friend who had on a longer T shirt with a tank under with white leggings and sandals. While she definitely had the body the white leggings were a bit young.