Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think there's no upper age limit to wear jeans?

181 replies

RandomGeocache · 28/04/2023 08:13

My mum has always had some weird ideas about what's age appropriate for adults. Women over 30 shouldn't have long hair, for example.

She was telling me yesterday about having lunch with a friend who is in her 80s and turned up wearing jeans. "What's she doing wearing jeans at her age?" I suggested that she might be happy wearing jeans and comfortable in them and that there isn't an age limit. Oh yes there are, says Mum, "older people" shouldn't be wearing jeans.

Weirdo, isn't she?

OP posts:
Kenworthington · 28/04/2023 09:14

My dm wore skinny jeans til she passed away aged 82, she had really really long slim legs and she found the jeans ‘supportive’. She actually looked a bit odd in anything OTher than jeans!

KimberleyClark · 28/04/2023 09:16

I was born in the early 60s to an older mother for that time - 38 - so she’d grown up in the 20s and 30s. She never wore jeans in her life, but she did wear trousers up u til she died aged 93.

seratoninmoonbeams · 28/04/2023 09:19

Kyse · 28/04/2023 08:29

My grandad wears jeans. He's 97

Guessing with that generation and the post it's more of a 'women shouldn't' thing.

SallyWD · 28/04/2023 09:21

My dad wears jeans at 83 and my mum at 75. They clearly didn't know about this rule.

BreviloquentBastard · 28/04/2023 09:22

God that's just like my mum. She doesn't think women over 30 should have long hair either. I'm 32 and have bum length hair and she's constantly after me with kitchen scissors!

She also thinks it's heinously unladylike to eat while walking or standing, and tuts at any woman she sees scarfing a Greggs sausage roll while walking down the street. She slapped a twix out of my hand once walking down the high street.

I'll have to ask her opinion on jeans but I'm sure she feels similarly because I haven't seen her in jeans since the 90's!

Beanfield2023 · 28/04/2023 09:23

RandomGeocache · 28/04/2023 08:22

I am 50 and wear jeans almost every day. Mum probably disapproves enormously and thinks I should be in comfortable slacks "at my age". I disagree.

I don't think she's keen on my Dr Marten boots either.

Lol 😆 slacks . My mother says this too . Also frocks .

Spottycarousel · 28/04/2023 09:24

My mum is in her eighties and wears jeans. Her mum only ever wore a dress and petticoat right up to her death in the early 1990s. It just shows how times have changed.

Quitelikeacatslife · 28/04/2023 09:25

My late MIL never wore jeans her whole life I dont think . She had the same hairstyle from when she had her plaits cut off at 16. I think that she was 20 in 1960 and it was a time of such change in the country and I guess it depends if you embraced that or your family stayed more in the past and held on to the old values.

Londontrees · 28/04/2023 09:26

My DM was born in the 1920s and hated jeans on women of any age. She also hated long straight hair and would not let me grow mine and even permed it when I was around 10 or 12.
I'm a pensioner and most women I know of my age and older wear jeans. I do see a few women around with permed hair (like the Queen), formal skirt, thin tights and court shoes - these women look well into their 80s. I think that style will soon disappear.

DemonicCaveMaggot · 28/04/2023 09:28

Your mother would get on with the elderly lady, nicely clad in blouse, blazer, and pleated skirt, who took me to task in Covent Garden for wearing white jeans with gold embroidery. Apparently I shouldn't be wearing them 'at your age'. I was so taken aback I just gave her that simpering, weak smile one does when humouring the possibly dangerously deranged and backed slowly away. Based on the look on her face I couldn't have made a more annoying response if I'd thought really hard for a fortnight.

Beanfield2023 · 28/04/2023 09:32

Spottycarousel · 28/04/2023 09:24

My mum is in her eighties and wears jeans. Her mum only ever wore a dress and petticoat right up to her death in the early 1990s. It just shows how times have changed.

I think petticoats have had their day . I think you can only get them in m and s now .

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 28/04/2023 09:33

Mum would never say directly to her friends "you are too old for jeans", she's too polite. No hesitation in voicing the same opinions to us though.

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 28/04/2023 09:37

Doggymummar · 28/04/2023 08:50

My mum was the same re long hair on over 30s I had mine cut and regretted it. When I wasn't pregnant by 28 she said you wouldn't eat a 28 year old egg so why do you think it will make a decent child. She had me and my brother at 21 and 22.

I never did have children as I was so affected by this comment, which I now realise was rediculous.

How disgusting. And how illogical too - so a 20 year old egg would make a lovely omelette??? You’re right that it’s ridiculous.

I would say you’re too old for jeans never. I will say I think you can be too young for jeans - I don’t like seeing babies and toddlers in jeans as they don’t look comfy!

Sissynova · 28/04/2023 09:38

Women over 30 shouldn't have long hair, for example.

Your mum is obviously unreasonable. What a depressing way to live.

Clymene · 28/04/2023 09:39

Someone should tell my mum and Mary Berry as they're always in jeans

Quitelikeacatslife · 28/04/2023 09:44

I read in an article that Mary berry had a bit of a style epiphany when making first bake off series and Mel and sue were wearing jeans and she really embraced that look, it freshened up her look with the nice blazers and blouses

Wilkolampshade · 28/04/2023 09:46

BreviloquentBastard · 28/04/2023 09:22

God that's just like my mum. She doesn't think women over 30 should have long hair either. I'm 32 and have bum length hair and she's constantly after me with kitchen scissors!

She also thinks it's heinously unladylike to eat while walking or standing, and tuts at any woman she sees scarfing a Greggs sausage roll while walking down the street. She slapped a twix out of my hand once walking down the high street.

I'll have to ask her opinion on jeans but I'm sure she feels similarly because I haven't seen her in jeans since the 90's!

This is, if course, awful, but the image of your cross mum and the Twix did make me laugh....she sounds 'a lot'.

CoinsinaJar · 28/04/2023 09:49

69 year old here .... sitting here in my skinny jeans, and intend to keep wearing them as long as I can get my aging rear into them.

OTOH, my 76 yo DH has 2 pairs of denim jeans in his wardrobe but doesn't wear them as he feels he's too old!! Each to their own.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/04/2023 09:50

DM is 80. She wears jeans, but had her very long hair cut just after her 45th birthday as it was no longer age appropriate in her head.

BreviloquentBastard · 28/04/2023 09:51

Wilkolampshade · 28/04/2023 09:46

This is, if course, awful, but the image of your cross mum and the Twix did make me laugh....she sounds 'a lot'.

Show quote history

Oh it was very funny, I don't take offence to her mad ways. She is a lot but she's also done a lot for me so I forgive her for her twix slapping and kitchen scissors stalking.

Wilkolampshade · 28/04/2023 09:54

@BreviloquentBastard well, you've gotta love a determined woman 😂

barbrahunter · 28/04/2023 10:05

My mum never wore jeans in her life. She said that to wear jeans was like a uniform and she didn't want to 'conform'. Yes mum, you were a real hell-raiser in your crimplene orange trousers and tricel patterned blouse! 😂

OldTinHat · 28/04/2023 10:05

My mum is also the same regarding long hair and over 30s. I'm 51 with long hair and she hates it!

My neighbour is 89 and lives in jeans. So do I.

paradoxicalfrog · 28/04/2023 10:13

I am 70. I live in jeans. I have longer than shoulder length hair.

Wear what you want.

BitchFaceResting · 28/04/2023 10:14

Those of you who are over 30 and think you (or you bf/mum) look good in jeams, are sadly deluded
Jeans are never flattering apart from about 20 minutes when you are 16, just the right height and have the right body shape. After that, ridiculous
Just because you 'can' doesn't mean you should...