To think I can wear what the fuck I like at 47

[Midlifelights]

My (judgmental) mother thinks I ‘shouldn’t’ be wearing dungarees at my hideously old age of 47 🙄 I should also not ever wear a bikini again and should now have transitioned into tankini’s or a one piece. Animal print also apparently not appropriate.

Aibu to think WTF? I feel like I look ok for my age (not that it fucking matters anyway) and that i can wear whatever I want to wear.

I like nice clothes and shock horror I like wearing bikinis too and genuinely give zero fucks what anyone else thinks.

Is it a generational thing? You must transition to m & s stretchy wear by 45?

Agree with you

Yes yes yes!

No no and no. Your mum is ridiculous. I bet she thinks you cant have long hair either. Wear what you want Op

If course YANBU but I don't think it's generational. DM is late 70s and she'd say, wear whatever the hell you feel great in.

@Cheeseandlobster is long hair a ‘thing’ too?! Jesus, what are these ‘rules’ that people invent?

YABU. You should not criticise your mother for her opinion and M&S clothes are fine.

Of course you should wear what you like, but when your mother says it just nod nicely and do what you like.

You can wear whatever you choose. Hopefully you are also one of the very few people in the UK with some sense of style.

Dungarees are a fabulous outfit! At any age! Tell her to bugger off!
I love dungarees, just cannot pull them off at all 😂 I just end up looking like a toddler 🤦🏼‍♀️

Long hair is a thing. My gran has been telling my DM since approx 25 that she is too old for long hair. Finally at around 50 she said long hair was her thing and she was glad she had kept it. Now at 33 she has moved on to me. I need to start thinking about cutting mine off. It's only at my shoulders as it is.

Wear what you want. You could be 100 with fat rolls and saggy skin but wear a bikini if you want!

I'm sure you've seen the saying. They only thing a woman shouldn't wear once she reaches x age is the weight of other people's expectations and judgement.

@MikeUniformMike

YABU. You should not criticise your mother for her opinion and M&S clothes are fine.

Of course you should wear what you like, but when your mother says it just nod nicely and do what you like.

So when your mother sets down arbitrary rules and criticises your dress, you shouldn't disagree, and should then modify your dress when you see her to avoid further criticism? Aye right.

Fuck that

Obviously YANBU. I'm 47 too and wear what the hell I like (although I do tend to dress for comfort these days, but that's my choice). I'm also growing my hair down to my shoulders from its previous crop. I'd love a pair of dungarees.

I've also got a fabulous, slinky, one-armed body-con dress from Modern Rarity that I'm dying to wear but since I only go to yoga and the supermarket these days it might be overkill. I'm sure most people would consider it 'too young' for me but who the fuck cares?

However do prepare yourself for posts telling you that you should be in head-to-toe M&S Classic range with a nice bob.

YANBU. Wear what you want. Your mum would be despair at me in my 40’s with dungarees, long hair, skirts above the knee

Wear what you like
If you like it and feel good, that's all that matters

My mum wears bikinis in her 70’s. It’s just her ‘ beach wear’ Also wears animal print . I, on the other hand at 47 wear thin but long clothes so I don’t burn . I think age doesn’t come into it- enjoy what you like to wear.

My mum wears dungarees all the time. She's 78. Although I haven't seen her in a bikini..

YANBU

@Veterinari exactly. Why feed into it

It’s probably kindly meant since it’s coming from your mum (unless she was an abusive mum). Of course you can wear what you want, but also close relatives are more likely to be honest about how you really look in that animal print or dungarees or bikini, etc.

Wear what makes you happy Op. I'm 46 and have just treated myself to my first pair of dungarees after wanting some for years... After catching sight of myself in the mirror I do start singing Mamma Mia on occasion but that film makes me happy too

Visit her wearing an animal print bikini under your dungarees and tell her to piss off.

Completely agree.

That's one of the reasons why I sometimes post about the appalling ageism in S&B

If you look bad in dungarees now, you probably did at every age. But different people like different looks, so wear what you feel terrific in.

YADNBU. Wear what you like. Clothes are an expression of personality.

@PlanDeRaccordement but what does it matter how the OP 'really looks'? And what does that mean anyway?

Maybe her arse 'really looks' absolutely huge in the dungarees, but so what? (I'm sure it looks peachy OP ) Who is harmed by a huge arse?

What's often meant by this sort of judgement is either 'you don't look pleasing enough to men' or 'you look as if you are trying too hard to attract men'. It may not be a conscious thought but it's usually the case.

YANBU, m 46 I wear dungarees, bikinis (I have an inbuilt horror of tankinis, they are grim), short dresses and skirts have long hair. Wear what you like!! Everyone round these parts wears dungarees now... They seem to be the thing.

Time for me to bust this out again...

show your mum this, OP

YANBU. MIL is forever remarking on my long hair. FIL used to tell me dyeing your hair makes it fall out. Olden rubbish.

Doesn't matter a jot how you 'really look' in what you bloody well like to wear. So? Wear it.

How to get a bikini body: buy a bikini and put it on your body.