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Original poster

What are you "too old" for, but do anyway?

80 replies

freddiefrog · 02/06/2013 21:36

I hadn't realised that getting older involved so many rules about what you are supposed to wear/do with your own body Hmm

I was told today that now I'm nearly 40 only 37 thank you very much I should 'stop being vain' and cut my hair. No one over 30 should have long hair apparently.

My hair is currently the best it's ever looked, bra-strap length, and thanks to copious amounts of lotions and potions swishy and glossy with lots of oomph and volume

I love my hair right now (shallow) so I'll be damned if I'll cut it off

My outfit was also up for discussion, but I'd fight tooth and nail for my hair Grin

OP posts:
LadyRockingham · 02/06/2013 21:38

Walk around town with holes in my jeans (both knees). And trainers. (aged 44).

BelleDameSansMerci · 02/06/2013 21:44

Oh everything... Who gives a flying what anyone else thinks anyway? My crimes are:

  1. Long hair
  2. 1950s dresses with a leather jacket
  3. Wearing anything I want
  4. Driving a sports car

I'm 47.

Showtime · 02/06/2013 21:49

Had my long-ish hair smartly cut into easy-to-manage and "suitable" style in my forties, but soon re-grew it into something like OP's style (apart from colour, which is silver-blonde). Twenty years later,I still think it looks good, worn up or down, and am old enough and vain enough not to care what anyone thinks. Best of luck, freddiefrog.

peggotty · 02/06/2013 21:51

freddiefrog who was 'discussing' the way you look?

MrsKoala · 02/06/2013 21:52

I'm 37 and i wear long socks AND i have long hair too.

I understood cutting long hair when you are 'older' as being in your 50/60s, when it can sometimes lose its lustre and often thins a bit. But 37! erm NO!

I get loads of compliments on my hair and it suits my frame (i'm tall and broad and flat chested - so it softens a 'manliness' i can have). Am i supposed to cut it because i reach an arbitrary number? Likewise mini skirts. I have good long legs, so i wear above the knee skirts and over the knee/knee socks.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 02/06/2013 21:57

I was at a garden party with DH's company. I was sitting at a table with some other women that I sort of know from company events I haven't been able to avoid in the past.

They didn't bother me, I will continue to grow my hair, wear skinny jeans and do what the heck I want with my own body/clothes/hair/whatever. I just couldn't believe the nonsense about what you can and can't do after a certain age

OP posts:
LadyRockingham · 02/06/2013 21:57

I am probably too old for no make up. But no make up it is! (I am sounding very scruffy!)

dancemom · 02/06/2013 22:03

I wear my bra strap length hair in plaits sometimes! And I'm 33!

I usually use sleep rollers and it goes all wavy so I wear it loose but if its a bit messy I put it in plaits as I don't like it scraped back in a ponytail.

peggotty · 02/06/2013 22:06

You mean they actually sat and picked apart your clothes and hair?!? Shock bloody rude cows!!!

Coffeeformeplease · 02/06/2013 22:06

Hahaha I started to let my hair grow at 38. Am 40 now with long hair, and love it!
I wear Converse and leather jacket, and tight jeans. Probably all no-nos but I don't care Smile

Ignore them, they are just jealous!

undervalued · 02/06/2013 22:07

I bought my first pair of Converse this year ( I'm 46)
I have long hair.
I wear what I want to.
I don't understand why there are 'rules' for older people. I don't dress like a teenager, but after losing four stone, I will continue to wear my skinny jeans!
Grin

Drywhiteplease · 02/06/2013 22:11

Freddie and I bet those women were grumps. Ignore. It's about what suits you as an individual surely?
47....skinny jeans,sleeveless dresses, leather biker jacket, above the knee dresses.......I do all of that and I'm hardly wild.

Fairylea · 02/06/2013 22:17

Wow they were rude! Should have told them well it's never too late to learn to be polite.

Long hair looks fine on any age as long as its well kept and styled well. Even a messy grey bun on a 70 year old can be beautiful.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 02/06/2013 22:20

You mean they actually sat and picked apart your clothes and hair?!?

Kind of. But in that very sweet sing-song/faux-concerned but pointed way.

One of them said, referring to one of the staff's 20 year old partner 'oh, X is so lucky, young enough and slim enough to wear skinny jeans' while looking pointedly at my 37 year old skinny jean clad leg.

Or

'don't you think at nearly 40 you should cut your hair into a more manageable style? It's so vain at our age to spent that amount of time and money styling it'

It didn't bother me, I hardly know them, I won't see them until the Christmas party. Part of me wanted to laugh and the other part of me wondered why the hell I should cut my hair/stop wearing certain clothes/whatever just because I'm over a certain age. It's a bit sad really

OP posts:
KikeriFreedomCastle · 02/06/2013 22:23

Long hair, also bra strap length. In fact I've been growing it back, as was previously much longer than this.

I like long socks too, the more unusual the pattern the better. They're only mostly hidden by long boots. And above-knee skirts and dresses.

curiousgeorgie · 02/06/2013 22:24

I'm 30 and wear my hair in pigtails fairly often...

I'm too old to do it but I don't care. I like it and its easy when I don't want to dry it and my husband loves it Wink haha...

Drywhiteplease · 02/06/2013 22:26

Op they were being v bitchy....normally caused by envy!

EccentricElastic · 02/06/2013 22:31

Freddiefrog - it's your life, your body - just be you!

I'm 53, I wear jeans, leathers, ride a motorbike, have dark blue/copper coloured hair ....and don't give a stuff what anyone else thinks....neither should you.

We're all individuals - hurrah!Grin

ladyrock - I don't wear make up either - through choice , as I simply don't like it but I do love my big, blingy Diamante/Dichroic/OTT rings

Ujjayi · 02/06/2013 22:57

They sound very bitchy insecure OP. Ignore. I am 42 and wear what I like. I am thrilled to tell you that the young women (late-teens) on my course think its great that I don't feel restricted by age and tell me they fully intend to be the same.

blueshoes · 02/06/2013 23:15

I have much younger women asking me where I get my clothes. I am 44.

BTW 37 is not old.

Foosyerdoos · 02/06/2013 23:17

I'm 42 and I wear animal print and things with skulls on and wedge trainer ( which are comfy and give some much needed extra height).
I don't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks.

Original poster
freddiefrog · 02/06/2013 23:26

Oh, I don't give a shit what they think

I love clothes, and make up and fart-arsing around with my hair. I have more disposable income now than I have in the past so have a bit more freedom to enjoy clothes and style and fashion, and I feel more confident

I just thought it faintly ridiculous that on this gorgeous sunny day, wih our kids running around having a great afternoon, that these grown women were sitting around, coming up with these stupid rules about what other grown women should or shouldn't wear, how long their hair should be or whether they should be 'vain' or not "at their age"

I feel hot Grin

OP posts:
KikeriFreedomCastle · 02/06/2013 23:34

Shorter hair, in my experience, required more trips to the hairdresser and more styling.
How rude of them, though. Yes, and 37 is not old.

AnyFucker · 02/06/2013 23:36

I wear bikinis

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 02/06/2013 23:43

I'm (probably) definitely too old to go clubbing and/ partying until the wee hours - but I do it!

I share steal from each other clothes with my teen DD (or at least I did before getting pg and now trying to lose all my baby weight).

I wear whatever I like and 6" heels to match.

I smoke.

I have long hair too, and won't be cutting it short anytime soon.

Fuck the haters Wink