To ask what age you should cover up?

[conceptionisdraining]

This isn't about what you think about others flashing skin, it's more a question about you personally - what age do you start to feel mini skirts and cleavage are inappropriate for you personally?

When I was younger I'd wear so much skin baring clothing (in many cases too much skin for sure!), nowadays I do still bare some skin but am much more conservative, and feel awkward in short skirts for a variety of reasons (not even mini just shortish ones)

What age did you start to feel age crept into your clothing choices?

[hangrylady]

I'm 42 and have a decent figure but tend to go for figure hugging on a night out, rather than revealing. I just don't feel comfortable showing cleavage these days because people will look and absolutely honestly I don't want to be seen as 'mutton dressed as lamb' as my nan would say. I know it's not the done thing, but I do care what others think to an extent. I might have the figure, but the lines on my face give away that I'm no longer 25!

[Worldgonecrazy]

Even as a teen I would go for the one bit on display, so either a mini skirt or a revealing top, never both at the same time. Approaching mid 50s now, my body is still looking good by societal standards (great legs and Boobs) so I am still happy to follow this rule.

Caroline Girvan helps keep the bingo wings at bay. My arms actually look better now than they did in my rather fat thirties, and she also helps me keep my body in a shape where I now feel comfortable wearing a bikini in public.

@trancepants. Thank you for sharing another inspirational woman. There are so many amazing women out there showing it is possible to be fit and have an awesome body into ‘old age’. I started exercise late in life but it has been transformative in how I feel about myself.

[GrumpyLivesInMyHouseNow]

Whenever you want really. I felt at my sexiest in my early 40s.

Now it's all about comfort, big pants, elasticated waists and flat shoes. I like to be warm too so no short skirts or crop tops. Cba with thick tights so it's long skirts with boots and a lovely jumper. Summer is long skirts as I find shorts really uncomfortable.

[MsAgnesDiPesto]

I’m 50, but I have always worn what I feel suits me and what I feel happy in. So, shorter skirts because I am short, always a bit above the knee (still have good legs!) , but with tights because I am soooo pale and prefer how I look with dark tights and boots. I can wear lowish cut tops but have never been one for full on cleavage - I always felt it looked best to have either your legs out or your shoulders and cleavage, not both. I have covered my upper arms since I was about 35. Otherwise, my basic style has never really changed, and I feel comfortable and confident when I am out. People rarely believe I am the age I am, and I think in part that’s because I don’t dress dramatically differently from how I always have, whether they have known me for 30 years or 5.

[thewhatsit]

@Exhausteddog

I don't really have a cleavage to flaunt but being short of leg, I still prefer to wear skirts and dresses above the knee because I think that's more flattering. (I'm 43)

Yes this.

I’m mid 30s.. . And I can’t imagine reaching a point where I DON’T wear mini skirts as being petite they just look so much better and I can’t wear maxi dresses.
I have good legs but they look awful cut off mid calf (I actually don’t think many people look great in this length) whereas nice showing knee or a bit more.
I’d still wear very short shorts in the summer but with a baggy top and plimsoles / trainers so I don’t think I look like I’m trying to show lots of skin or look 19.

[mewkins]

@Ducksarenotmyfriends

I'm 40 and still wear things from my early 20s. I have an alternative sort of style though (someone told me I look like a fairy the other day!). Anyone can wear whatever they want. I follow Baddie Winkle on insta, love her! She looks fab because she doesn't give a shit what other people think.

I am similar to you. I have a skirt that is 20 years old! I pretty much only wear short skirts with tights in the winter. I don't think that looks too young on anyone! I'm 42 now and totally happy to try new styles.

[Theplantisgrowing]

I'm mid 50's with good legs and zero boobs. Still wear short skirts/dresses with wooly tights and DM's and jumpers in winter. Wear super short shorts in summer but with Converse so very casual. I do a lot of sport so hopefully can get away with it still. Who knows what other people think tbh

[conceptionisdraining]

@pooonastick love, love love that dress! Beautiful

[conceptionisdraining]

@trancepants completely agree, she looks AMAZING

[conceptionisdraining]

I also think, some posts are saying it doesn't matter what age - wear what you want in one breath. But then in the next breath they don't feel comfortable showing skin! Which tells me subconsciously society is telling us to cover up past a certain age, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.

I also think it comes with maturity too, at least for me personally. I was very insecure when I was younger so wanted attention. I knew short revealing outfits got attention.

Whereas now I do wear short skirts etc from time to time but always make sure it's done in a sophisticated not tacky way because that's personally the image I want to create - and I think it looks nice! But then again I Guess I'm biased

[DarlingFell]

I'm 47, lucky to have a great figure and nice skin and am considered 'youthful', but despite these positives, l'm realistic. Bare legs and mini skirts would make me feel uncomfortable in the UK, like I'm trying too hard to be young, when I'm happy to be 47! And just because I can, doesn't mean I should.

I will wear a short ish skirt with thick black tights in the UK but will happily go bare legged when on holiday, but not with high heels, that just looks cheap on anyone. Same with cleavage, I have quite large boobs and don't like the 'barmaid' look so don't have my boobs out on display, rather I will wear something that shows my silhouette. At my age, I prefer to be understated and classy, it's so much sexier than tits out. Nothing worse than looking desperate.

[Tal45]

I stopped with short skirts the same time I stopped clubbing (as that's where I wore them) at about 25. Now it's all about comfort and ease.

[Newnameforabit]

I'm more comfortable with my body now than I was in my 20/30s even though I looked better then
I wear mini skirts and bikinis and don't care what people think. We're a long time dead

[thebabessavedme]

Oh God! this summer I bought a really lovely silk empire line maxi dress, I thought it looked really pretty and was very pleased with my swishy boho look UNTIL I met my dd in town, she burst out laughing and told me I looked like I should be carrying a basket of oranges and handing them out like Nell Gwynn I am big of bust and usually show a bit of cleavage or I look much bigger than I am but when she took a photo of me in said dress all I could see was aging, heaving, wobbly bosom that would look good in a bodice ripping sunday night period drama, dress went to charity shop

[thebabessavedme]

I'm nearly 60, for context.

[LucentBlade]

I don’t think age is the biggest factor it is looking in the mirror and being honest with yourself.

[rhowton]

My mum is 60 and has the greatest legs known to man...She still wears short skirts with tights, or without tights and completely rocks it. I follow my dad with short dumpy legs so would never wear a short skirt. I don't think age is relevant, just whether you are confident and comfortable enough to wear them.

[StarlightLady]

Not a direct skin issue, l’m a 36F, but apart from when at work, l leave my bra off in the hot weather too. Remember hot weather? I don’t find bras uncomfortable per se, except the tightness in the heat.

As with legs, cleavage, exposed tummies etc, those who don’t like it should look away.

[Stompythedinosaur]

Women can dress how they like at any age.

[goose1964]

I haven't worn a mini without leggings for so long I don't remember . I still flash a bit of cleavage though, when you're an HH it's almost obligatory.

[FateHasRedesignedMost]

About 30 I started wanting to cover up more. I’m not sure why but I’ve never found mini skirts or shorts comfortable, then there’s the hassle of waxing/shaving and fake tan. Cleavage seemed inappropriate unless it was evening, and I didn’t feel the need to go to many evening things once I was married with a baby. Clothes were more about practicality, comfort, colour, style and less about showing off my body/attracting a partner! I think a lot of women in their 20s wear revealing outfits because it’s the social norm under 25, and you’re often more focused on attention and parties than on things like work or raising kids.

I still wear revealing clothes if weather appropriate eg a short silk dress in a heatwave, or a bikini on a tropical beach. I’m not ashamed of my body.

But I do secretly judge women in their late 30s and beyond who wear tiny skirts or hot pants and low cut tops with push up bras and cleavage; just seems inappropriate past the teenage/student years. Unless they’re clubbing, but I’m not sure that’s a thing past your 20s either?

It just seems very try hard to flash a lot of flesh when older, like you’re either desperate to attract a partner, impress a partner, or have got stuck in a mindset of being 22.

[BiBabbles]

I know women who do so happily and well who are 50+. I don't think there is a universal age for those who enjoy it confidently.

The only thing I'm a bit 'that's sad' about is seeing women teetering and looking uncomfortable on high heels or tight clothes when working. I feel sad there still seems to be expectation that 'professional' for women means high heels and skirts that restrict range of motion - it's fine for those comfortable in them, but some look so unconfident in them even well into 30s+ that I can't imagine that doesn't play a role in the workplace. Women doing that on a night out is a different ballgame, if only because I've seen more often them end up barefoot which I imagine wouldn't work in most workplaces .

For me, I started to feel uncomfortable with it when I was about 17-18. Around the time I immigrated to the UK I started to develop a style with more layers, long sleeves, legs covered to at least upper shin. I joke that it was the change in weather - I'm someone who is already in wooly hats and wears thick gloves when out, but I come from the part of the US Midwest where there's often heavy snow at this time of year that I used to wear shorts through. I imagine many factors are involved, but I can't firmly put a finger on way - there was just a switch and since then, I've just felt better in layers.

[troobleflooble]

I wear whatever the hell I like and feel/look good in. I'm mid 30's but I can't see my attitude in this subject ever changing tbh. I have super long hair too and I'm not cutting that either 😁

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

When I began to think my bare flesh was no longer something I wanted to inflict on the general public. So maybe 50, but I hadn’t worn very short skirts for ages anyway, and I never had much of a cleavage so hadn’t made a ‘feature’ of it.,

Of course people can wear whatever they want, but seeing fat old women with vast bingo wings in shoestring tops does make me cringe inwardly. I don’t feel the same about skinny old leathery people, who’ve spent half their lives baking in the sun. Not pretty, but then thin, sun-baked flesh is IMO not nearly as unattractive as the fat, flabby, pink version.

[idontlikealdi]

I'm so much more confident as a very fit size 16 that I wore above knee shirts for the first time ever this summer. I'm 45.

When I was skinny back in the day I had so many hang ups.

There are no rules - baddy winkle on instal is just fabulous.