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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

430 replies

Midlifelights · 23/09/2020 07:31

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
CeaseAndDesist · 23/09/2020 07:55

I've never understood tankinis. What's the point of them?

pussycatinboots · 23/09/2020 07:55

I had that.
And being told to get my hair cut.
And that I shouldn't wear trousers or "those denims" jeans
And that I should wear make up and try harder to look more "ladylike" 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣🤣

She would have had me sent back to the 1950s in high heels, a wool skirt, twinset and pearls, with cropped hair and looking like a painted crash test dummy.🤬

I just nodded and ignored her and lived in jeans which I think may have made her worse.🤣 The rattling noise you can hear is my Mother spinning in her grave as I got married in......Trousers! 😛😎🤣

Dungarees are fab, until you need to pee Grin
Carry on wearing what you like.

MikeUniformMike · 23/09/2020 07:56

@Veterinari, my mother either likes my clothes or doesn't really comment. She rolls her eyes sometimes. We give each other clothes regularly but have different tastes.

Branleuse · 23/09/2020 07:58

judging by my latest animal print dungarees, I totally agree with you.
If we cant wear them now, then when? We are only going to get older, and will get no medals for only wearing shit clothes we dont even like that much

pussycatinboots · 23/09/2020 07:58

FIL used to tell me dyeing your hair makes it fall out.

I take it he's bald then? 😂😂

Octopus37 · 23/09/2020 07:58

I am 45 (nearly 46) and still wear bikinis (including push up ones from Ann Summers), short skirts and dresses, cold should tops etc. I also have turquoise hair, it isn't long but that's just through choice.

MinnieMountain · 23/09/2020 08:00

@CeaseAndDesist it's easier to go to the loo in them according to MIL. She likes to keep her stomach covered.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 23/09/2020 08:00

When I wanted to buy a hairband at 48 - and a leopard print one no less - I asked my teen dd if I was too old for it - she said I wasn't too old for anything!!
So I bought it. May wear it today actually and I am now 49!!
Rebellious or what?
My dm is 70 and still wears jeans!!

LunaNorth · 23/09/2020 08:01

[quote MinnieMountain]@CeaseAndDesist it's easier to go to the loo in them according to MIL. She likes to keep her stomach covered.[/quote]
I’m struggling to envisage this Confused

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 23/09/2020 08:02

Jesus you're only 47 not 87. Although you can wear whatever you like at 87 too!

SillyLittleBiscuit · 23/09/2020 08:02

I’ve never really understood why different generations judge each other’s clothes. Of course tastes are going to differ.
Wear what you want and enjoy the freedom some never had.

JohnMcCainsDeathStare · 23/09/2020 08:02

I still have long hair - it's not as long as it was since the actual growth cycle is shorter now than it was 10 years ago. That and I have a big undercut.

So short hair could be to disguise thinning hair and more brittle hair - less of a thing if you combine being well-nourished with keep up your muscle mass/bone density.

thegcatsmother · 23/09/2020 08:03

I have a tankini and like it more than a one piece, and at the time, the bottoms had the low cut leg as I look hideous in a high cut.

I'm 54 and my DM doesn't approve that I wear bikini knickers...I should wear something that covers my tummy button at my age. I just tell her to get a life. I also point out that her Mum wouldn't approve of her wearing jeans at 80.

Original poster
Midlifelights · 23/09/2020 08:03

She’s also really horrorstruck if I have a grey hair (she still dyes hers at 73) and really comments a lot if I show any grey! It’s SO weird!!! I quite like the odd grey hair to be honest

OP posts:
SardineJam · 23/09/2020 08:04

When I had DS1 at age 23, I was told by mine that I needed to start dressing like a mum, with no this and no that... All these years later I still wear what I like

stickygotstuck · 23/09/2020 08:05

@CeaseAndDesist

I've never understood tankinis. What's the point of them?
Being able to go to the loo easily if you don't like bikinis! Grin
Margay · 23/09/2020 08:06

@LunaNorth I’m struggling to envisage this Confused

Why?

@Midlifelights wear whatever you want to. I can’t understand this obsession with matching clothes rigidly to age or worrying about what is or is not fashionable. If you like something and feel good in it, wear it.

Jayaywhynot · 23/09/2020 08:06

I'm 55 and I wear skinny jeans, off the shoulder tops and dresses, animal print, leggings and high heels (bunion allowing)
I am mutton dressed as lamb personified and I dont care what anyone thinks.
I have a short funky hair style.
Wouldn't be seen dead in M&S unless it's to buy their big knickers, I love their big knickers Wink
You can wear what you like, enjoy!

CeaseAndDesist · 23/09/2020 08:07

Oh god, she has Fear of Grey Hair too??

I let my grey come through 3 years ago and I now have an absolutely fabulous full head of silver which gets compliments all the time. And it looks even more beautiful now I can sweep it up because it's LONGER, the horror, the horror!

Women internalise so much utter bullshit about how they 'should' look. It's so depressing.

BrazenlyDefying · 23/09/2020 08:08

I'm pretty much the same age as you. My mother has similar strange ideas about what women can and can't wear. I have shoulder length hair, since I had my first baby at 30 she's been telling me that it should be short. Jeans are inappropriate on anyone over 25.

She has very odd and old-fashioned ideas about a lot of things. I put it down to the fact her own mother didn't have her until she was 40 so she grew up with very "victorian" ideas.

snitzelvoncrumb · 23/09/2020 08:10

I think my mums generation did get old a lot younger if that makes sense. The best part of reaching our 40s is that we are born with only so many fucks to give, and since we gave so many in our 20s we don't have many left, so use them sparingly!

StCharlotte · 23/09/2020 08:10

@LunaNorth

Time for me to bust this out again...

show your mum this, OP

Hurrah for that!

I'm in my 50s and am "generously proportioned". I wear a bikini when I go to Greece because I'd get more odd looks for wearing a one-piece Grin

CherryPavlova · 23/09/2020 08:10

I dislike a mutton look, but each to their own. I’d not be seen dead in an animal print, skinny jeans, stilettos, but that’s my choice. It’s your choice too. Plenty of quite elderly women have very long hair.

Kolsch · 23/09/2020 08:12

Of course you can wear what you want op.
Any style and any age.
Wear what YOU think is fine, not what anyone else thinks.
That goes for hair too.

VampireBill · 23/09/2020 08:13

To those struggling with the loo in a one-piece, just pull it to the side and wee.