Can you be too old to dress a certain way?

[MsHopey]

I've tried out quite a few different looks. Mostly alternative but settled into a "I can't really be arsed" look at the moment.
I miss my amazing outfits and loving my wardrobe, I'm literally a leggings and plain, baggy(ish) dress person at the moment. While it's comfortable it doesn't really do anything for me and I feel like my personality isn't coming through.
I miss my alternative style, mixing things up, feeling confident and just living what I wear.
He's the problem, I keep coming back to a gothic/Victorian type style.
I love it, I love the lace, I love the shape, my head just keeps screaming I want it and I want it now.
I'm going to be 27 this year and a mom of 2.
Am I being ridiculous? I've attached pictures of the clothes I want.
You only live once and all that.
What do you guys think?
I'm worried if I'm already feeling a bit hesitant about the comments I might get (I have low self esteem and high anxiety) then I might already be setting myself up to fail. But on the other hand I want to express myself, experiment and give it a go.
You only live once after all.
Imagine with tights, or black skinny jeans, a nice pair of ankle boots.
It won't all scream gothic, but a nice nod to the culture I grew up with and have always loved.

Those clothes read “52 year old dinner lady on a weekend trip to Whitby”

WTAF

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Liz MacDonald

Every rule has an exception

*Think Kate Middleton coat dresses with a hood that you can pin with a statement brooch

Truly what every goth/alt aspires to*

Well, what reformed goth wouldn’t aspire to own something like this? They are edgy but normal enough for daily wear; you don’t want to look like you’re heading off to a cosplay convention!

BIWI you can’t exactly be outraged by that when you’ve just said a leopard print skirt is “incredibly tasteless and tacky”.

I said that's my personal view. Which is absolutely nothing to do with ageism!

I love that grey coat, the third one @PineapplePower. Where's it from?

It’s not ageist to point out that it’s mostly middle aged women who go for that ruffled ‘sexy’ ‘Victorian’ stuff, and that said middle aged women are often found at Whitby around Halloween. It’s just a fact, sorry if you don’t like it.

I do encourage the OP to experiment though, it’s not like I want her to live in leggings and tunics for the rest of her life.

She says she doesn’t have the confidence yet, why not start small and build up both her wardrobe and confidence with small, bold pieces and go from there?

I also have friends in Medieval Re-enactment/SCA type groups, and that’s definitely a safe space to experiment with this type of fashion and see what suits you and get inspiration from others. My experience is that they are very kid-friendly too!

That said, they never wear their full “garb” outside of gatherings and formal events, but their daily fashion choices are definitely influenced by their hobbies!

"you don’t want to look like you’re heading off to a cosplay convention!"

There you go again! You don't want to look like you're heading off to a convention. Neither do I, come to that, but from time to time I do see plenty of people who do look that way, and I think they look great. I like it when people express themselves through their clothes - it's irrelevant whether they're clothes I personally would wear.

Leopard prints only look good on leopards. Even so, I prefer the non patterned lion/black panther look.

ah, cross post with your last post - I do agree with that point, starting small might be the way to go if confidence is the issue.

I remember many, many years ago, feeling that I absolutely couldn't have long hair past 30. Utterly ridiculous and the kind of thinking which prevented me from enjoying all sorts of things, which were actually only closed to me through my own stupidity (and socialisation).

So, wear what you want and try not to self-impose limitations on doing things which bring you joy.

I quite like that green skirt outfit. I would wear it myself. (I like to rock all sorts of clothes)

(except leopard prints, had I mentioned that?)

The coats are also great.

Sally two are from a Chinese designer on Etsy named xiaolizi (reviews are good but I’d do plenty of research before purchase!) Her collection is fab though

@MsHopey - erm, any chance you could link to these clothes at all? My middle aged and unrepentant goth self needs to buy a couple of them...

@crivit
They are all off eBay. Some only go up to a size 16, but some up to a 24.
I literally typed in Victorian lace and did p&p lowest first for most of the items under the "women's clothing" catergory, just typed in goth for some of the others.
I haven't got a massive budget for any of my clothes and I do love a good eBay bargain.
I do check most sellers feedback for the corresponding eBay item number to check what other buyers have thought of the item if some of its from China. 😁

Oh, every item is around £15.

I'm in my early 50s. There's one rule for anyone wondering if they should wear something 'at their age' - the rule is 'wear what the fuck you like'

It doesn't matter what other people wpuld wear themselves, you should wear what makes you happy!

The middle one doesn't seem very goth but it's summery & bit impractical (everytime I wear white I spill something down it within minutes). You aren't dead yet 27 is young. And even when you are older you can work in goth elements here & there to oufits(hair/make up/jewellery/accessories)

@MsHopey - marvellous, thank you very much

pineapplepower where is that grey coat from?????
I'm 38 and would look tremendous in that.

I don't think it's necessarily age but attitude with clothes. You also need to wear things that suit you. Know yourself and dress for it, regardless of age. I don't wear crop tops anymore as I don't want to see my wrinkly flabby stomach. But I will wear fitted stuff or a crop jumper over a t shirt.

If your soul is crying out to be a goth then be one. It's who you are. My neighbour is one in her mid 40s and looks fab.

My daughter wears lolita and Victorian style anime type dresses. I wear them sometimes too and I'm much older then you. There are loads of every day versions.

Wearing what you want at any age is what you should be doing.

I know lots of older ladies and I mean 60s and 70s that wear all types of fashion and look great.

27 is still super young and age should not even enter your head.