what are you really actually too old for after about the age of 35, even if people say you aren't?

[Peggotty]

Converse?
Superga?
biker jackets?

I'm nearly 37 and would probably wear all of these, but am I really basically too old for them?

[MerlotAndMe]

lol at "is that the fashion?" :-|

[DontmindifIdo]

BTW - this does effect men as well. After 35, a man needs to be spending a lot of time in the gym or a lot of money on his suits to avoid looking like a failing estate agent when in the office.

No man over the age of 25 can get away with wearing sports clothing for anything other than sport (with the possible execption of a rugby shirt) without looking like either a thug or one of life's losers.

[BIWI]

How did you know I was wearing hot pants today, Hanne?

I don't want 'nice'. I want reasons. Beyond what people think, subjectively, is OK.

Not that much to ask, is it?

[AlanMoore]

Exactly corygal, I don't want to look 20, I want to look 36! I want to show the confidence and experience my age has given me.

[MardyArsedMidlander]

The only thing I would avoid is anything 'baby doll'- it can get a bit 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' after a certain age (abt 22)

[MarshaBrady]

I like my wardrobe now more anyway. I don't feel limited but my style isn't that way out. I don't do docs / leather jackets etc but never have.

It's younger than the sloane look we adopted at 16. Scarf, head bands and blazers, so funny. I don't wear that now.

[MarshaBrady]

I've chucked the ironic - granny chic. Better on students.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

But style is totally subjective isn't it.

What I like and what you or Hanne like are going to be different.

I suspect what you and I would consider to be mutton are pretty different anyway.

God I'm normally on here arguing that people can wear whatever they want whatever their age but you know sensibly. So bikinis fine whatever your age, white denim daisy dukes not so much and do you really need a reason as to why that's the case?

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Mardy - I so agree re. baby jane

I also think its quite hard not to dress too old at my advanced age. Formal blazers make me look about 20 years older than I am.

[lljkk]

I think it's prudent to cover up your worst bits.

That principle applies regardless of age. Some people still have fantastic upper arms at 50+ and some people have rolls of fat around their tummy that are best kept covered at 16.

[MerlotAndMe]

yeah granny chic on a 43 year old! not gonna look so chic. it is a fine line for sure! a tightrope!

[BIWI]

Oh, yes, I totally agree that it's subjective. Which is why someone saying you shouldn't wear something after a certain age is silly!

[MarshaBrady]

Haha I know Merlot. Went back to Melbourne at Christmas and the amount of irony took me back to '92. Ironic slick mullet on boys and granny socks on girls. Still happening.

All those Japanese trends- Disney, that kind of cuteness looks best on a young person.

But I do feel more confident in choices now and love all the stuff I get. So it's not bad at all.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Right I'm going out on a limb but this should not be worn on anyone over the age of 40.

No matter how good your body.

[AndSheRose]

It is all fine, so long as you can carry it off eg short skirt - good legs etc. But as someone else said, just tone it down a bit - so wear a mini but a slightly longer one, rather than a microskirt. Also, to avoid mutton - or looking tarty/ try-hard at any age to be honest - stick to one 'interesting' item/ area per outfit - so short skirt OR low neck-line. Bright converse OR statement leather jacket, etc...you will feel more confident too as it is only 1 thing to 'carry off' in an otherwise outfit you are more comfortable of. In this context DMs and so on are fine. The fact you are aware of the potential problem means you will probably naturally avoid it :0)

[Grockle]

No-one tells me what I can/ can't wear - it's no-one else's business. I wear what I like and what feels comfortable.

I'm 35 and I wear

converse (2 pairs: grey/ black - worn with jeans)
onesie (it was a gift, I am ill & I never wear it out of the house!)

I won't wear shorts over tights because I hate shorts - short dresses/ skirts are fine, short shorts are not. And no slogans or pictures - but that's a personal decision.

I'm not too old for anything, except maybe going down the slide at the park, but that's more to do with size than age.

[HerBigChance]

I agree that men need to take greater care with style as they get older (men in their thirties attempting the skateboarder look, anyone?)

[50ShadesOfMaybe]

MrsCampbell - I'd wear those shorts. I'd wear them with thick opaque tights, but I'd wear them.

I wouldn't wear the top, however. And I wouldn't have at 17 either.

[ArbitraryUsername]

BIWI I have reasons for my suggestion:

(1) Disney princess dresses rarely come in sizes big enough for 35 year old women to wear (and those that do are weddin dresses, which probably aren't ideal for everyday wear)
(2) Your small daughter will cry if you're allowed to wear a Disney princess dress anywhere you like but she isn't (I can envisage tears from reception children asking why mummy is allowed to wear her belle dress to work but she has to wear school uniform)
(3) the matching plastic shoes cannot be comfortable or good for your feet.

However, if anyone wants to wear one, they should feel free to go ahead. I'm not going to stop them. (Ill probably just think they're odd).

The buzz light year costumes you get in the Disney store probably aren't a gat bet for adult women either.

(I'm bemused at the fact that 35 is still considered 'old'; it really, really isn't).

[ArbitraryUsername]

• great bet not gat bet

[noddyholder]

I still suit short as have good legs and I think some people just do look ok. prefer dresses to skirts though. I also like scruffy from time to time I think it depends on your general 'air' iykwim. Some people have a youthful vibe eg sadie frost I saw her recently and I think she is about my age but she can 'do' vintage/denim jackets dresses etc whereas carol vorderman has an older vibe and looks terrible in those sort of clothes. It is definitely an individual thing. I think anything fluro or too revealing looks wrong as even if you still look great older just doesn't look as good in those things. You need to be selective. If teenagers are looking great in it you probably won't! And I find if lots of older groomed looking women start wearing something en masse it starts to look mumsy eg biker jacket/boots/leather

[Wishiwasanheiress]

I'd say all of these are fine. What u really need to be careful of is ur rear view. From the front most people look ok. However the back can either look ill fitting, fat or horrors like 25 til u turn round and then ur true age appears.

Basically the back view should compliment the front view. If it looks better or worse there is an issue!

[AlwaysReadyForABlether]

I think the beauty of getting older (and 35 is not old) is that you can tread your own path. Find out what suits you and what you like - if that's shorts then go for it. I think lots of girls look terrible in what they wear because they feel pressurised into following fashion whether it suits them or not. I am glad that I can wear what I like and think my wardrobe is much better now than it ever was when I was in my teens or 20s.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I meant the whole ensemble not just the shorts.

[ujjayi]

There is definitely an element of granny chic about my wardrobe - midi dresses, ankle boots & cardigans etc. so clearly I must look ridiculous, age-inappropriate etc etc



I think what some of you are saying is correct - it isn't about age but more about body shape/height etc. but then why start a thread based on age?