My DDs have laughed me out of the house - all I want to do is wear

[NigellasGhost]

this leather skirt
I am 48 years old and size 10.
Is it so wrong???

Not the red, please not the red! And I think the black is too shiny. Might work in a more matt brown with thick tights and naice boots.

I used to have a red leather mini skirt. I looked fucking amazing. But I was 17 and a size 8, and I wore it with fuck off biker boots. I still have that skirt

I think it's fine. I've got the figure now that I never had in my twenties and I want to make the most of it. I'd wear it, I am 40.

arf
at the idea of looking better than them.
If only.

country casuals here I come

For me it always depends on the hair and footwear. I said this before on the 'can I wear animal print thread?'

I can imagine that skirt looking great with lace up brogues, thick black tights, simple sheer black shirt, black cardigan, metallic cuff bracelet.

Or, chunky cable knit oversized jumper, black tights and biker boots.

Where I live, eyebrows would raise, where my sister lives, many people of all ages would rock that without so much as a second glance.

Order it and try on with some of your clothes at home.

Le Chat Rouge I love you.
This is what I was thinking of.
Where do you live? Clapham?

I mean, where does your sister live?
sounds like you live next door to me!

Buy it! Seriously. Don't live your lufe for others.

I've ordered one (in black), also planning opaque tights and biker boots, chunky knits. I am also almost 40 and size 8, obviously I say go for it, just not bare legged!

Bloody hell, I was out in leather trousers last week. With cuban heeled boots. And I got asked out by the bloke I've been flirting with for the past 6 months. I did not resemble mutton... Hourglass shaped Size 10, 5'8" and aged 43.

Ignore the naysayers and wear what you bloody like. There are more important things to worry about than others fashion opinions and we're along time dead!

nigella I love you too.

My sister lives in a cool part of our capital city with lots of cool people in a cool house with a cool life and cool friends and a cool job.

I live in a village in the middle of Somerset.

When I visit her I wear things I would like to wear all of the time....but just don't. But having turned 40 last year and changing jobs earlier this year, I am suddenly wearing things I wouldn't have before. And it's ok. People don't point and stare.

A long....

a long??

you're right chatrouge -
I'm going to buy the skirt and wear with chunky cable sweaters and boots
in town only- not the country and sod the DDs!

200 quid?
faints

I'm really fighting between a) genuine belief that you might look good and stylish in it b) genuine fear that you might look like a terrifying old slapper. Truthfully, it's impossible to say from here. If you're one of these women that looks great and high fashion luxe in everything that falls on you as you push through a jumble sale, you're shining. I wouldn't and I'm 30.
If you want to wear it, wear it and enjoy. Don't wear it in a city centre at 8am with full makeup and looking knackered or people will assume you've worked all night

I know a woman in her 60s/70s who is an unknown style ICON. Most days she has something amazing on. She would probably wear a leather pencil skirt and look edgy and cool and amaaazing. I think she'd say something biting about this being too short.

If your husband wants you to get it, why not get it and wear it in the house first to see how you feel?

I don't want to be rude. I think the disaster ratio is high here, but you sound braver than me.

Ah, I re-read the last bit and see you'd decided. Full power to your elbow! Hope you like it and it suits you. I think the cable knit, wooly opaques and flat biker boots sounds like a winning combo.

My Aunt is 55 and she could get away with that. She looks like a film star though. I am 40 and would look like a mistake.

Oh I think that could look amazing worn as you described.
Sadly I couldn't have got away with that even in my 20's!
I say order it and then see how you feel when you try it on - its a good sign that DH likes it.

I think how you're going to wear it sounds fine. I don't really get the slapperish connotations with leather. PVC, yes. But leather's just practical.

Quite tempted myself actually! I keep getting those catalogues in the post but the prices terrify me. Have you ordered from them before, and are they worth it?

What about this?

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_003010760560_-1

Looks better on than in the pics as is a true pencil skirt. I have it, and am 5'7. Couldn't quite face a leather mini, so hopefully it looks more Carrine than Shirl off 'Enders...

I think how you're going to wear it sounds fine. I don't really get the slapperish connotations with leather

Same here. As long as you don't wear it with bare legs/stilletos/low cut top/anything remotely saucy, I don't see what the problem is :)

No there was a time in the '80s when a stunningly good looking older lady with good legs could get away with a really really expensive leather skirt or leather trousers.
But that was when leather jackets were also very common.

I don't think it works now, sorry.

I think you should go for it!

I cannot even remotely see a problem with that skirt and your age - sounds very much to me like you have a very good idea of how to wear it to make it work.

Bet there's loads of stuff you don't think your DD's should set foot outside the house in so I wouldn't worry too much about them

I think it'll look great dressed down as you propose. I'd love one, but am currently closer to Somerset village than edgy city in lifestyle.

That Debenhams one is frumpy!

But leather jackets are everywhere now! I'm not old enough to have a sartorial memory of the 80s though, so not sure what images/memory people are reacting to.

Knee-length pencil skirts - including lots of leather ones like that Debenhams one - were everywhere about 10 years ago, and then all got replaced by minis as a standard skirt shape. I suppose that's why I see a leather mini as a natural progression. I like minis cos you don't have to wear heels with them and they work best as a casual skirt, whereas a knee-length pencil needs heels to avoid frumpiness I think.