- Share This Post
- submit
- 5
-
Sparkle (0)
I recently sent my boyfriend a link to some shoes I desperately want, with a note that said "I MUST have these shoes!" At first he said something like, "Uh, because you are five years old?" But then he laughed and said, "Actually, I can totally see you wearing those." I'm closer to 40 than I am to any other of the vaguely nearby milestone ages, but most days you maybe wouldn't guess that if you just looked at my clothes.
You might also not guess that I have some actual rules as to what I will, and will absolutely not, wear now that I'm somewhere over thirty five (which I know is not old, but you have to admit that it's grown-up territory).
For the most part, I think the notion that women of a certain age should dress a certain way is bunk. I mean, honestly, we should wear the things that make us feel comfortable and fabulous and happy. (Except for Formal Shorts, which are just wrong on anyone, right?) On the other hand, maybe the more realistic hand, we aren't doing ourselves any favors if we are hoping to be taken seriously by someone who just can't focus on our brilliance because of our eyebrow-raising outfit. That said, I once had a Very Important Meeting to go to and I decided to dress like I thought an adult should: slacks, pumps, buttoned-up cardigan, and conservative jewelry. I wasn't dressed like myself, though, and ended up feeling (and acting) uncomfortable. Looking back, I can see that I'd have been more relaxed if I'd at least had on some fun jewelry, and I'd definitely have been better representing myself, which would have made for a much better meeting. Oh, well.
Every once in awhile, I will walk out my front door in a funky skirt (maybe this one), stripey tights, chunky shoes, and pigtails. It's really not so different from what my girls wore to preschool, back before they decided that clothes like that were for babies and they needed High School Musical t-shirts and jeans with sparkly stuff on the butt. And, there's my first rule: I'll dress like a toddler (sorta) but not like a preteen. I believe grownups ought to stay away from trends that have taken over the preteen, and I'm thinking teen here as well probably, closets at large. In other words, I will happily steal from the children's classics: mary janes, funky tights, plaid skirts, stripey socks, swingy skirts, cardigans with hoods, mittens, an old skool lunch box for a purse, winter hats with ear flaps, bloomers, and maybe a well-done pair of overalls, but you won't find me dressed in anything that my daughters wear, unless it's the stuff I have picked out for them and forced them to wear. (I only force them if it's really, really cute.)
The other rule is balance. If I'm going to wear my red, fitted miniskirt with vintage embroidered gas station name tags (oh, yeah: Gus, Robert, Peter, Ned. . . ) then I have to have plain everything else to go with it. Usually I go with a black top, black tights and black shoes. Otherwise? Too much with the wacky and it all looks wrong. Sometimes I just want a tiny bit of something to show that I've got a sense of humor hiding in my closet. Last weekend we went to the symphony in San Francisco and I wore a vintage black dress with lace trim, my favorite vintage shoes, and black and white striped tights just to remind myself that I used to be sorta cool. I guess it's the Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla, Rainbow Sorbet 4-Scoop Cone approach to dressing.
The only other thing that I'd consider a rule is to not pass something up because I think I'm too old for it. If it speaks to me, I'll wear it (so long as it doesn't force you to view my naked knees. I'm super considerate that way).
Okay, what are your rules for dressing once you've passed a certain age? Do you have any? Do you think everyone should just throw them out the window and run around in midriff bearing tops and giant sunglasses? Spill!
