Fashion fads you love, miss, or wish would go away

I said that lagenlook to me seems like a hippy crunchy “goddess” version of Eileen Fisher. It’s drapey and works on fabrics and “hang” and seems to work better on more statuesque women. I did not intend to imply that Eileen Fisher is dowdy. I just meant that it doesn’t work on everyone and relies on that mix and match layered thing.

http://jeans.yournextshoes.com/2014/08/wear-drop-crotch-pants/

^ the drop crotch pants look very uncomfortable!

I hate seeing bare arms on women of a certain age–especially newswomen in their 40s to 60s. Even if the person is super thin, there is sag, or a lack of muscle. Please ladies, 3/4 length sleeves look so much more professional. If you are at a summer wedding in Tucson, fine, but mid-winter with a million viewers, grab a cute jacket/blazer.

Second gripe–long hair (below shoulders) over 40. No, it does not make you look young.

Oh my and no thanks on the drop crotch pants and I have scary super long legs.

That’s a silly rule. There are plenty of women over 40 who look fantastic with long hair. For example:

Gwyneth Paltrow
Heidi Klum
Sandra Bullock
Jennifer Aniston
Julianne Moore
Meryl Streep
Julia Roberts
Nicole Kidman
Penelope Cruz
Tina Fey
And a zillion more …

Oh and all those 80s models who are now 50 or even 60+ (or maybe late 40s for some):
Cindy Crawford
Cheryl Tiegs
Christie Brinkley
Brook Shields
Etc.

It all depends on the hair, face and body. I don’t think this supposed rule makes any sense at all.

Drop crotch pants, no!! OMG.

Totally disagree on longer hair/sleeveless on older women…both look so feminine, and if both are in good shape, why not? Many of my fifty something friends rock both and look great.

On the lederhosen…or ledenwhatever look…I had no idea it had a name! I know someone with this sort of style and I could never understand what’s going on - lots of layers, including leggings, skirts, underskirts, vests, etc., with some tulle usually involved. A hot mess…well, not really very hot at all, but definitely a mess.

I think stylish women know how to keep long hair looking good after 40. When I look at my own social circle all of us have long or longish hair. Mine is mid back and still very healthy. Needs a few highlights once in a while but it still has that cornsilk texture. I actually think women who simply chop their hair off for the sake of ease and do little with it look much older. Short hair needs to be styled and cut really well. Few women want to take the time to do that so many of those cuts look the same - drab.

As far as sleeveless I think it depends on the woman. Gloria Borger looks great in sleeveless and so does Michelle Obama. Borger is over 60 and Michelle is certainly over 40. CNN’s Dana Bash has great arms:

http://www.glamour.com/images/inspired/2015/09/dana-bash-1-square-w352.jpg

Some women work at it and can pull it off quite well. But I agree it is not a great look if you aren’t working out.

I do not have the arms to rock sleeveless but if I did, I totally would. My hair is to my shoulders; I value being able to put it into a ponytail for exercise or frankly when I just can’t be bothered. Lots of people look good with short hair but I’m not one of them.

I think long hair works if it works with your face as you age into your 50s and even early 60s, but I’ve seen very few 65 to 80 year old women that can pull it off and not look just wrong. Chin length or just above the shoulders looks better when you are old in my opinion. Mine had gotten to my shoulders and now it’s more like my avatar and I felt like i dropped a few years in my face when I cut those inches off. The only “problem” and it’s a third world problem is I look like I have no hair in my ski helmet :wink:

Guess I better keep working out cause I cannot imagine getting to the point that I can’t wear sleeveless casually or for dress up occasions!

Wondering if that dig in post # 183 was aimed at Michelle Obama? IMO, her arms (and more) SPEAK in terms of fashion!

Perhaps, But my husband did say she looked pretty large in the bright yellow dress at the State of the Union and he rarely comments about women or fashion. I have to admit it was not my favorite look.

She is large - she’s 5’11"

I thought it was a glorious moment when Aretha Franklin dropped her fur coat and raised her spectacularly wobbly arms straight into the air when she sang at the Kennedy Center honors! That’s one way to rock it.

I have the longish hair and wear sleeveless a lot, but then I’m in FL, and I do work out. I wore a black cashmere sweater today and was too warm.

I wish the faux “sewn by an 11 year old” darts at the necks of sheath dresses would go away. I first remember noticing it on the dresses of that woman from Florida, Jill Kelley, who was peripherally attached to Gen. Patraeus. That trend seems to have quite a bit of staying power.

http://images.politico.com/global/2012/11/121014_jill_kelley_ap_328.jpg

Dropped crotch? Reminiscent of old folks bottoms or the look of toddlers with a full load, per the photos above.

Being from Phx and spending time in Bangkok, much less summers in the humid Midwest without air con, I can’t imagine life sans sleeveless tops. Sometimes, manytimes fashion trumps function. Weights are the ticket, which sometimes I get to, sometimes not enough.

I think pleats are already starting to make their way back in.

No long hair over 40? Why? Women have worn our hair long for almost all of history. Still do in many cultures. (How many short-haired older Indian women will you ever see?) To me, short hair risks making an older woman look like a gym teacher. It can really emphasize wrinkles. Obviously short hair can also look terrific on an older woman if she’s got the right face, or if she just really likes it and it goes with her personality and sense of style. (Exactly like long hair.)

But I suspect the idea that long hair is invariably “aging” comes from the time when fashionable women all cut their hair short and styled it – 1920-1965 or so – so only dowdy, matronly, very old women kept long hair. Hence it was perceived as “old,” and that idea got into the style books, and is now repeated as if it’s “fact.” Particularly by hair stylists. Who of course would very much like to cut and style your hair as often as possible, LOL.

I cut my hair short once, around 1986. It was kinda cute. But it’s not me. I grew it right out. If someone thinks my long hair makes me look old now, so what? Neither short nor long hair is going to make me look 20!