My D2 asked why there was a whole long wall rack of ponchos at TJMaxx the other day. 
Not a poncho person myself - are they a new rage???
Maybe they are to accompany the tunic tops! 
I think ponchos look best on tall people. (my standard answer)
Anything drapey, layered, and long looks best on tall people!
Agree. I’m 5’1" and can’t wear anything drapey like a poncho. I was in TJMaxx yesterday and also saw a lot if ponchos. I did buy a longish black chennile sweater which will look cute with skinny jeans.
I can wear layers as long as they are form fitting. So I’ll wear skinny jeans or leggings with a long cammy under a slightly shorter but still long tee under a shorter sweater or short jacket.
I am also very petite but I have" short" ponchos. They fall way above my knee . With jeans and boots it is a great look. They appear to have had a “resurgence” and I like them for this in between Fall weather.
At 52, I’ve decided that if it looks good on me, I will wear it, regardless of the age group it is designed for. So I wear skinny jeans, because I am still slim, but not Chico’s clothes, because they don’t flatter me at all. I don’t want to look like Bea Arthur, lovely as she is/was.
I have a straight up and down figure with wide shoulders, so those sheath dresses, so pretty on many women my age, make me look like a cardboard box. I’ll wear a long tunic, as long as it drapes and clings enough to give me a shape, but I won’t wear the massive ones that are designed to hide a tummy. And yes to short and tall boots, but heck no to heels. They hurt!
That CostCo poncho thing is cute and affordable! Ponchos were big about 7-8 years ago I recall, and now they are back. Not something that I would spend a lot on as they are trendy IMHO.
I am tall and I do love skinny jeans with a tunic. Although I prefer the feel of bootcut jeans, and I do wear them a lot still.
I have a black poncho my beloved late grandmother knitted or crocheted for me 40 years ago. I took it out and I believe I can wear it still today, looks current all the sudden!
I don’t find short jacket over long top so much an issue as the pervasive use of short tops with leggings that I saw on a recent campus visit. That should just not be a thing.>>>>>>>
I know! They are not pants!
Leggings = butt has to be covered, unless you are in a yoga/exercise class or are out running.
I’m not entirely sure what “leggings” are any more, at least at the margins of the term. Are skinny-legged ponte pants with a zip-up fly and regular trouser-type closing leggings? What about the same pants in the heavy ponte material but in a pull-on style with an elastic waist? I might wear either of those with some asymmetrical combo of tunic or thin sweater layered over t-shirt with short jacket, where my butt is mostly but not completely covered. Same with skinny jeans that have quite a bit of stretch. Not sure if I’m breaking the legging rules or not!
If they are thin enough so they can be worn as tights under a dress, they should not be worn with a short top - this is my personal rule for leggings. If they have a zipper and pockets, they are no longer leggings.
One problem is there aren’t that many nice tops that completely cover the butt. I have 2 pairs of stretch ponte pants with zipper, back pockets and fake front pockets. I pair them with longer tops that cover part or all of my bum. Have seen folks oozing out of their similar pants with short tops and don’t like that look at all. I do look at myself critically and have D and H also–they like my outfits.
I personally think that it’s not only about leggings but ANY pant that is so tight in the rear that you can see muffin top legs or panty lines is a problem. Leggings get the bad rap that way, but I see PLENTY of people wearing denim, polyester and everything in between too tight and it’s NOT pretty!
If they aren’t snug at the knees they aren’t legging. DH got me something the catalog said were leggings, but they didn’t have enough spandex throughout. They kept creeping down, and bagging at the knees.
Himom, I agree that it’s difficult to find a variety of tops that are long enough for leggings. I do love them, though. I just bought a pair made by spanx. And, actually, one of my favorite pair is from Old Navy. I find I’m wearing the few long tops I have too often since they make such comfortable outfits.
On another topic, I live in CA and don’t have much need for gloves. I have two Ds, one in college in upstate NY and the other a young professional in DC (you may recall helping me earlier as we bought her a new work wardrobe) who need gloves. Both Ds spend quite a bit of time outside commuting/walking on a large college campus. Can anyone share with me gloves that are warm but age appropriate?
We and our kids like gloves that allow texting and using touch screens while wearingbthe gloeves. We have found them on sale at a lot of different places–shoe store, Macy’s, REI, even Costco!
FYI, mittens are actually warmer for hands than gloves. Get a pair of both. The space between the fingers in gloves is actually not as warm as a mitten that brings the four fingers (not thumb) closer together for warmth. But if they are driving (and for other reasons) they will also want gloves.
My girls do both like the running gloves that Costco sells for everyday gloves that aren’t expensive (cause hint: gloves and mittens get lost easily!!). This years version seems to come in a nice selection of grey/black/navy heathered colors.
I still say the big beef with leggings is what they show in the rear end area. And so, ANY pant that is too snug is NOT OK!!!
My D likes the mittens that the top part comes apart. I like gloves that are cheap. I think the gloves with the texting thing on them are pretty useless myself.
True story I bought my H a pair of gloves for our race this weekend. I ran the 5k and he ran the 10k an hour later. He lost the gloves during my 5k, hadn’t even had them for an hour.
@nottelling, I hereby give you permission to wear your ponte pants, particularly those with the trouser closing, as pants. They are not leggings. You may not wear the elastic waist pontes as pants, unless they could be mistaken for trousers if the waist is covered. Otherwise, they are leggings and must be worn with a tunic long enough to cover your tush. If your skinny jeans have pockets, they are jeans and may be worn any way you choose. If they do not have pockets, they are leggings (technically, jeggings) and the tunic rules apply. Unless, of course, you are under 30.
This is my ruling. 