Can a 40 year old wear...

[Loonytoonie]

...denim shorts and thick tights? Possibly with chunky boots, maybe with ballerina shoes (black), and a fairly plainish long sleeve fitted top.

I have a fairly muscular build and decent legs. DH reckons I'm too old for that....

You can be sure that JLo, Tess Daly etc will not be wearing sequinned hot pants at the age of 70, Annieorangutan.

Unless your dh frequently puts you down or criticises you then I would be inclined to take his work for it.
Perhaps try a different material for the shorts as denim shorts are pretty teenaged IMO.

uh no def a look for teens

who would want to look like c moran?

I know but op isnt 70 shes only 40. At 20/30/40 as long as you are slim and great body you can wear whatever you want.

I thought this style was well out of fashion now, unless you're 13? Rather ridiculous on anyone over the age of 19 IMO.

But I'm no fashionista. If you like it OP go for it.

I wear black or lace shorts for going out (with opaques and heels) but don't think I'd do denim ones tbh.

I know nothing about fashion but the woman in the link looks nice. Also Caitlin Moran rocks them and she's late 30s. If it's your style, go for it.

I'm 42, size 8 with good legs but would not wear it. I don't look 42, but I think I'd look a bit desperate tbh. I'd wear tweed, black or checked shorts and thick tights.

There are lots of things you can wear without looking like an old woman or trying to look like a teenager.

Yes you can but why would you want to wear the same thing as a load of sheep teenagers who have not developed their own style yet. Its just not a good look and am surprised its still in fashion.

If a 70 year old woman wanted to wear sequinned shorts and a bra top, more power to her.
Fashion is supposed to be fun, not just following a bunch of arbitrary rules.

I'd rather be a 70 year old in sequinned hotpants than a 40 year old in Hobbs.

Not every woman wants to stop trying different things and looks because 'she knows her style and what suits her' ---- zzzzzzz

Depends, if you want to look like a women trying to dress like a child/teenager go for it. If you aspire to be a stylish women then definitely not.

fashion is fun, go for it. or be a bore and wear per una or white stuff

why does every 40 something woman i see have a gilet?

I would not want tot look like Caitlin Moran, but if you want to - why not? The great thing is that herw, and now, we women can do whatever the hell we like. So do it! And be grateful, and do it as well for those women the world over who can't.

Yeah, you CAN wear whatever you want. It's entirely your prerogative if you want to look ridiculous. The OP may or may not look like mutton in her denim shorts, who knows? But to say that anyone can wear anything "if they like it and it is their style" overlooks the fact that doing so risks looking absurd, or at the very least not as nice as they could look.

yes don't risk not looking 'nice'

I wouldn't and i'm 40, I also wouldn't wear shapeless tunics.

Noddy the lady in that link looks fantastic but it does help that she is beautiful and def not the wrong side of 50! .

I have great legs (without the face to match sadly) and wear woolly tights and fairly short skirts but would draw the line at shorts esp denim (in my late 40's).

Yes, of course you can. Caveat - I'm assuming 'shorts' is not 'hotpants'.

MrsYoung, I like your point about us being so lucky that we can wear pretty much whatever we like in this country without fear of reprisals .

Wear what you like. We only have one pop at this life.

No. It would look tragic - like you're desperate to be 15 again.

If you will feel comfortable (physically and not self conscious) in it, then wear it.

I think it would probably work better with boots than ballet flats personally though.