Today marks the first day back to school for many students. While I’m no longer getting a formal education or sending a mini-me off to do the same, this time of year usually gets me in the mood for one thing (well, besides wanting to lecture people on carpooling)…that’s shopping.
Photo credit: ashley rose from Flickr
I think it’s something ingrained from an early age when I looked forward to a new collection of binders, loose leaf paper, other school supplies and, of course, new clothes. In the past few weeks on my regular walk from bus stop to work, I’ve been passing by window displays with some really pretty things. One of which is a sweater dress.
A very short, close fitting sweater dress.
So what, right?
Well, since I hit the mid-30 mark in life, I’ve been a little hung-up on the whole question of what’s age appropriate. OK, maybe it’s still early to start thinking about that but I’m convinced there must be some kind of slippery slope to go from fashion savvy one day to prowling cougar the next. (Did I mention that Cokebaby is a couple years younger than me?)
Having worked in retail while in university, I’ve seen my fair share of fashion train wrecks. And I always seem to find myself in a work environment where there’s the one 50-something woman who seems to buy her clothes from Garage.
It’s not for me to judge. If you want to wear wool socks with your Birkenstocks, go for it. I’m sure I’m guilty of having committed a number of fashion crimes over the years (mostly on my way to bed). Maybe I’m just having a fashion crisis moment and just need to get a grip. It’s just clothing, right?
Well, here’s what some of the ladies on Twitter had to say about the subject:
How do you decide what's "age-appropriate" when you're shopping?
What do you think, ladies? Is there such a thing as dressing “age-appropriate” or should we wear whatever the heck we want?
Men, do you have the same hang-ups? For instance, is there an age where you start tucking your shirts in or is that just crazy talk?
P.S. I splurged and bought the dress.
Kimberly Walsh is a social media and online community manager. You can follow her on Twitter @AliasGrace.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I stick by the rule that “I will wear whatever I damn well want to wear, unless she says I can’t.”
So far, so good.
Darlin. You’re only considered a cougar if you’re on the prowl for the younguns.
themikestand: Come to think of it, I think that’s the rule that I have in place for the man of the house.
witchypoo: Haha. I stand corrected. My fear is not of becoming a cougar but of dressing like one..!
I just turned 33 at the end of August and yes, for me there is age appropriate. Anything that stops midriff and shows tummy, or rides low to show thong, anything micro-mini are some things I consider too young to be wearing. To me it’s about class. In high school or even early twenties you look for guys who maybe a certain type, say a jock or a guitar guy. By the time you hit 30′s you really want a Bond type guy who could wear a suit if he had to. Clothes are the same way to me. It’s time for something more grown up, more classy. Less bubblegum more brandy. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. You can be comfy and look appropriate and classy, it just may take more tailoring than it did at 19. I would think the sweater dress is fine if you are comfy in it and it looks good on you. Me, I can’t do something that clingy- my hips would just look huge! It’s a nice color though if that’s it in the pic.
Jenni: Thanks for stopping by the blog. My thoughts are more along the lines of yours. I love the “less bubblegum more brandy” rationale! Body type comes into play (I think that should apply to all ages) but the micro-minis, no matter how lovely your legs, are probably are better suited to the 20-something crowd.
I definitely feel like I should start being a little more dressed up when I’m out and about… the flip flops, jean skirt and hoodie on a Saturday afternoon just aren’t working for me anymore.
Or for the past five years, probably… whoops.