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?

[Theplantisgrowing]

See I hear the word 'classic' and just shudder

[IGotHam]

I'm 41. I'm slim and have great legs so in the summer I wear mid thigh denim shorts. When I was a teenager I would not have had the bottle to wear this kind of thing; now I'm older I care less!

I wear lots of mini skirts with really thick opaque tights. Loads of misogyny and sexism on this thread. Women Should wear what the fuck they like.

[RBunny]

Do what the hell you want. I'm 60 and wear short skirts, high heels, tops showing plenty of cleavage. Expect to carry on with same into my 80s.

[MrsSkylerWhite]

Theplantisgrowing

See I hear the word 'classic' and just shudder“

But I am 🤷‍♀️
Maybe boring works better

[Nomoreusernames1244]

See I hear the word 'classic' and just shudder

Me too. Hours of being dragged round country casuals and jaques vert by my mum looking at boring clothes.

I read an article today on this winter’s “must have” dress that everyone is raving about. M&s floral tea tea dress, so versatile, wear with boots or heels.

Sounded wonderful until I clicked on the link. Fucking awful. I don’t see how anyone would look good in it…

[BonesInTheOcean]

whenever you fucking want to

[lazylinguist]

This whole debate is terminally ageist and sexist - women must be free to wear whatever they like and not be criticised and judged - like men, in fact!!!!!!!! Wear what you like and leave other women alone to wear what they like ffs

Yes it is predominantly a judgement on women not men, because patriarchy. But until women stop setting so much store by how they look, and falling into the trap of thinking that looking sexy is empowering rather than appealing to the male gaze (good job patriarchy, convincing us of that), it won't change. Of course we should have the right to wear what we like and not be harrassed or insulted for it. But if we keep trying to project our worth through our appearance (more and more artificially) it's not surprising if that's what we continue to be judged on.

[Bluntness100]

Meh, there’s plenty of things men should stop wearing as they get older, tight skinny jeans being one of them.

[turnthebiglightoff]

I say 108.

[Siameasy]

45 and so far only starting to feel I won’t wear cami type straps as I have armpit fat which will not shift.
Still fine with short shorts (not really a dress person). Will continue to do so as am happy

[Musmerian]

I’m 55. I still wear mini skirts although with opaques and boots. I’d say it’s quality of clothing. I’ve been wearing Jigsaw since my20s but would avoid cheap flimsy clothes. I have huge boobs so need a bit of cleavage not to look frumpy.

[BustyLaRoux]

Went out dancing the other night and wore hot pants. (Though not the arse cheek variety) I’m nearly 45. I felt great. If you feel good then wear it. Fuck it. If you feel uncomfortable then you’ll look uncomfortably, so don’t wear it.

It’s interesting reading this thread because some are saying they’re in their 60s and still wearing short skirts or showing skin or whatever and others are saying they began covering up and feeling in seemingly showing flesh in their early 20s! Just shows what a range there is and how there isn’t really a defined age to stop doing anything.

For me, wearing confidence is the very best outfit I can see on anyone. Age is not relevant really. We all look and feel differently.

I feel it’s a shame that some people in their 20s felt a NEED to cover up. But then again you shouldn’t be forced to do something that makes you feel conspicuous and if changing the clothes you wear makes you feel happier then go for it. Just ignore that evil inner voice that tries to piss on your chips!

[5128gap]

People are a lot less tolerant of older women's flaws. If a young woman with less than perfect legs wears a short skirt, its barely noted. If an older woman does she's sad, deluded, needs to 'put them away at her age' etc. We all know these things are said, and most of us would prefer them not to be said about us. So I think you either need to be very confident in yourself or genuinely not care what others are saying to not feel any pressure to cover up a bit past a certain age.

[Imissmoominmama]

I genuinely couldn’t give two hoots what anyone else thinks. I wear things that I feel comfortable in, and in the summer, that’s shorts or shift type dresses. I do a lot of walking, so I wear what is most practical. I also don’t judge anyone else!

[StarlightLady]

My late mother would cringe at some of the ageist and sexist attitudes on this thread. Some of the comments on here make me want to walk down the high street naked but it’s a tad chilly.

She taught sister and l that we all have bodies, wrap them up when it’s cold and enjoy the freedom of summer clothes and not feeling forced to wear high necks, opaque tights etc when it’s warm.

[Shasha17]

I was born a bit of a prude. I've never worn miniskirts without thick tights and have never been a cleavage kind of girl. I'm not unconfident or anything like that, I suppose, just feel most confident in less revealing clothes. For example, I'd feel much more beautiful in something flattering but a bit more... Subtle, than in a miniskirt with my boobs out, which I'd feel really uncomfortable in.

[sofato5miles]

So glad the that the tide changed on this thread to a much more 'fuck it' vibe. I love women who put a bit of effort in and look like they have a style. 20/30/40/50/60/70 etc Clothes can be fun as well.as practical

[LolaSmiles]

Yes it is predominantly a judgement on women not men, because patriarchy. But until women stop setting so much store by how they look, and falling into the trap of thinking that looking sexy is empowering rather than appealing to the male gaze (good job patriarchy, convincing us of that), it won't change. Of course we should have the right to wear what we like and not be harrassed or insulted for it. But if we keep trying to project our worth through our appearance (more and more artificially) it's not surprising if that's what we continue to be judged on.
I agree with this.
Well done capitalism and liberal feminism for repackaging the same old sexist bullshit and selling it back to us as empowerment.

[StarlightLady]

It’s not all about appealing to the male gaze. Lesbian women can show cleavage or their legs too.

[WouldBeGood]

I dress to make myself feel better, and I’m always made up and done, whether or not I’m seeing anyone. Makes me happy. Might be age inappropriate to some, but I don’t much care.

[5128gap]

@Imissmoominmama

I genuinely couldn’t give two hoots what anyone else thinks. I wear things that I feel comfortable in, and in the summer, that’s shorts or shift type dresses. I do a lot of walking, so I wear what is most practical. I also don’t judge anyone else!

I don't judge either, but i think we're in a minority. Even on this thread we've had 'fat old lady arms' which are presumably somehow worse that fat young women's arms? Like everything else about women's appearance, the judgements aren't even restricted to whether a thing looks good or not, but extended to her character, she must be sad, desperate and so on. The number of people who wouldn't do a double take at an older woman in very revealing clothes is vanishingly small. If she looks great (which invariably translates to youthful) there can be a grudging acknowledgement she looks good for her age, but otherwise there is a lot of negativity. A lot of people who say they continue to wear what they like when older on here are talking about fairly 'modest' looks anyway, short skirts 'but with thick tights', shorts in summer etc, which are pretty commonplace amongst older women now. Fewer would wear what they like if what they liked was booty shorts and a cropped top.

[conceptionisdraining]

@5128gap completely agree. There is societal pressure to dress codes whether we like it or not as we age.

Part of me gets it another part of me doesn't.

When I say I get it, I mean (and shoot me down sure) it's really hard not to judge when someone is wearing tacky looking clothing past 30. In a sense of - we expect the mind to mature to a level where it doesn't need/want that sort of attention.

I'm just being honest, perhaps not very PC but I think many people feel this way.

[lazylinguist]

It’s not all about appealing to the male gaze. Lesbian women can show cleavage or their legs too.

Of course they can. But the point is, seeing women as sex objects, filling the media full of scantily and provocatively clad young women etc has historically been driven by appealing to the male gaze. Male-controlled companies, male film directors, male music moguls etc exploiting talented women by making them primarily a source of decoration and titillation for men. Selling the idea that, actually, being portrayed like this is empowering is a massive con, rather like the 'Sex work is work and is empowering for women' thing.

[ZenNudist]

My mum is 70 and can still wear a shorter dress. Usually mid thigh.

In my 40s and good legs so wear short skirts or dresses. Usually with thick back tights except in summer. I prefer shorts on summer. Not hotpant ones but not long shorts. No one has worn cleavage since 2007 surely? For the young its all side boob (or under boob!) Which definitely wouldn't work for anyone over 30 (unless you have amazing boobs!!).

[Lifewith]

Tacky looking clothing? And who gets gets to decide if it's 'tacky'or not?

Why would you think and judge a woman was doing it for attention. Maybe it makes her feel good. And even if she was, so what? Is a woman is supposed to become invisible at a certain age? Sorry 'mature '

Op there are so many things wrong with your last post, I wouldn't know where to start. There is some deep rooted judgements in you there.