Am I too old to wear that? Triumph of fashion over dignity etc

[MandyD]

Well now, I am nearing the Big Four Zero. Most days I'm told I can pass for around ten years younger, and exceptionally my builder's wife (in her fifties) told DP she thought I was around 21.

I have shoulder length hair because IMHO it hasn't started to make me look like a mad old bag lady yet...

But I have a real craving to buy a pair of those really baggy combats with all the pockets and straps and hangy bits and hoojamiflips. I normally wear jeans, black joggers, Adidas pants or fake Maharishis (embroidered but not very baggy).

So to buy or not to buy? And what was your "crisis" garment, your real moment of truth?

Hee hee, what a brilliant thread! I've been living abroad for a while and have lost touch with UK fashions. Now I know what 15 yr old DD1 is wittering on about when she talks of the mini kilts and vests she's just bought!

Oh, and to answer your query, Mandy, definitely buy! You'll give me courage as I've decided to wear a bikini again after donkeys years. There were some sights in bikinis on Bali recently and I decided that even after four babies, my 8.5st body isn't so bad after all.

Judetheobscure - you are so right about low-waisted bottoms, I started a thread recently about jeans, as I was finding it almost impossible to find a pair which fitted on the waist, apart from a pair from M&S which my mum had (she's 64!!!!) Please, please, please, manufacturers make some trendy looking trousers which fit on the waist for old bags like me whose stomachs are not fit for public display!!!!

As for the tassley combats, I think they're really rather horrid, BUT who am I to say what's nice or not. If you like 'em, go for it!!!!!

They'd be useful for walking with small children in a crowd. "Just hang on to one of mummy's straps"

slug, bet that's not what the manufacturers intended! It could push them into the realms of unfashionable entirely!

I have never been able to work out why you never see old ladies with long hair. What on earth is wrong with long grey hair...or any other colour on older ladies? I would imagine it would look quite nice if its in reasonable condition.

?????

I really want some khaki combats (without dangly bits!) but am a bit of a shortie (only 5 foot 2) and all the ones I've liked (esoecially in next of all places) have been miles too long for me - any ideas please?

hi candy i`m short too,i got mine from top shop and jasper conran at debenhams

so mandyD did you say a big DOD IT !! and went and bought them?

Lara2, I am inspired by your piercing. I so want my nose done, it used to have a stud which looked fab but I took it out after the hole got infected and pusy . I'd love to have another nose stud but dh hates them and keeps dissuading me.

No, I haven't bought them yet, still trying to work out what sort of top to wear with them as I really don't think my present collection of shapeless faded band T-shirts and one FCUK men's top will pass muster. Did find quite a nice fitted black T-shirt in the drawer today tho'...

I won't, however, be wearing string vests AGAIN! Also, anyone remember neon fishnet ankle socks worn with a contrasting neon plain pair underneath, teamed with black high heels? Must have thought I was Madonna I think!

Loved the "hang on to one of mummy's straps" idea Slug!! And, a hoojamiflip would be a loose description of anything else you can't describe, IYKWIM - for instance, a bit of velcro, a D-ring etc

i never wore the neon socks but i was a teenager in the 80s and i cringe at what i used to wear like them horse riding troussers the really wide at the sides and thin at the bottom ones,argh!mind you i look like that now without wearing them

MandyD the socks are on sale in Topshop again. All the sales assistants were wearing them teamed with their string vests. Looked awful in the 80's and still do today.

slug - lol - my kids DO hang onto the dangly bits - and as there's four of them (although admittedly they're not all hanging on!) the earth mother impression that I'm told I "exude" will I'm sure put off all the teenages in our area from wearing their combats

Thanks Whymummy - can't wait for Debenhams to open here in brum, might even be tempted to get those pink ones! In the meantime, I'll try TopShop (i've not been there in years, thought I might be too old (33) and fat (size 12) - am I wrong?

When are Rara skirts coming back? I was very proud of mine at the time

Me too Soupy! I had a LOVELY drop waist dress in blue and white lengthways stripes. I loved that dress sooooo much.

Well Candy if you are too old then I am, cos I'm 36 and spent a fair bit there earlier this month! Yes they do size 12, cheered me up no end because I discovered I could even get into their size 10 at a pinch (I really need an 11). I think they go up to 16 now.

Eh??? Is a size 12 fat now??????

It is in some shops like MS Selfridge and Pilot.

cheers lou - that's exactly what i meant - don't worry I've not got a seriously distorted body image at size 12; just FEEl fat looking at some of those itsy bitsy clothes!

Bring back granny shoes I say, teamed with royal blue satin trousers and a sparkly boob tube.

Candy I know exactly what you mean!

bring back shoulder pads and big perms too!!