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....

Presumably because the OP likes the look

Agree southeast the 'she turned round and aaah the 40 yr old face" is always churned out on these threads. I have never seen it happen irl. If you feel good wear what you like. Some people also have a young vibe I can't explain.it but its just there

Op, do you like this look still? Does it make you feel good? If the answer is yes, then stuff what anyone says or thinks. The first rule of fashion is that it should make you happy.

But if you're starting to feel uncomfortable then you could tweak that look quite easily. As other posters have said, just swap the denim for tailored shorts and you're good to go for years to come!

Wear what you want!

My rules for myself and myself only is not to wear anything remotely similar to what my sons 19 year old girlfriend would wear. I'm 40, quite stylish (40 year old word for trendy) and proud to be my age. I don't want to look like i'm trying to be 20 again, been there done that.

'Lotta, it isn't that it's not ok it just looks daft and a bit tragic'

off to get 'daft and a bit tragic' printed on a t-shirt to wear with my denim shorts and tights Shall we put in a bulk order?

'I shall wear what I want to'

Well you go ahead and do that MrsDeVere but don't come crying to me when FinancePrincess is 'critical of your appearance' as you will only have yourself to blame Or maybe you won't give a finger of fudge

I love that I've been called 'facile' on a thread about denim shorts and tights

Surely your reaction to the jaw drop scenario is just down to whether you are a glass half full or a glass half empty person.

I would think either an excuse for a laugh with the person who's inadvertently done it - or if their response is bad-mannered, then an excuse to think they are a twat.

Lotta, in theory I love the idea of wearing what ever you like at whatever age but in practice in can look a bit sad though.

Saying that I do wear short skirts and woolly tights, just can't quite take it to the denim shorts!

I don't think so. that's my 11 year old dd's go to uniform but cant imagine wearing it myself

Banoffee, noddy, Sliced: I'm definitely a glass half-full person.

If I ever walk up behind someone and, when they turn around, seem older than I assumed, I think Wow! Great figure for 40+. If you've got it, flaunt it or some such - rather than How dare she dress from Top Shop? Doesn't she know it's time for Hobbs the terrible disgrace to womankind?

I have stuff from both Hobbs and Topshop - so what does that say about me?! I still wear shorts. I have (gasp) an over 40 face. Some of the comments on here are ridiculous - I've got a nice pair of legs and a half decent arse - what the hell does it matter if I turn round and reveal my 40 something face?

I actually WANT to wear denim shorts and DMs now! :)

There is definitely a problem if someone's jaw drops when they see a forty something face.

But the problem is with them

Oh dear goodness no! But then its a look that baffles me on people of any age over about 10

You can argue that some more revealing styles look better on tauter/smoother aka younger bodies. I subscribe to that myself, mostly (although I would still defend anyone's right to wear whatever they want). For example, I now avoid anything sleeveless because my arms don't cut it any more. But the look the op describes covers you from your neck to your toes. You would have thought that all it required was a pair of shapely legs. But no, apparently you have to have an under-40 face as well. Well I know which attitude I think is 'sad'.

And while I'm at it, there are some strange things being said about said about Hobbs, Phase 8 etc as well. Lighten up people, they're only clothes!

Anyway I'm way over 40 and I'm off to work, wearing H&M, Boden, Me & Em and Top Shop. Quick, someone call the police.

I read this thread yesterday and in honour of it, dug out my denim shorts and wore them with thick tights and suede boots on the school run this morning.

I am 45 and quite a chubster.

I really couldn't give the tiniest hoot what anyone thinks. Like mrs dv I remember punk and I can dig my outfits from that era out of the loft and wear those if you want something to really look at.

Hear hear for Doris! Now where is my tartan mini skirt .....

This thread has made me feel old!

If you have the figure for it and it makes you feel good wear what you want. I hate Hobbs, monsoon, Mary porter stuff and a lot of m&s just so frumpy. And guess what I'm nearly 49 - quick hide my over 40s face.

It isn't men that are ageist it is women against other women!!

The Mary Porter stuff is mostly really, really horrible.

I agree Remus. It is advertised for the over 40s but I think it is a lot older - or perhaps I'm just not sophisticated enough.

Have to agree with Floisme, don't get the issue with clothing stores like Phase 8 and certainly not White Stuff (more akin to Fat Face I would say rather than Hobbs) It isn't about what you wear so much as how you wear it IMO.

Just as an example example from Hobbs - IMO (at 22 not Frumpy at all and would look great on anyone!)

Also LOOOOVE Monsoon!

Well done to this if you who think there's no such thing as mutton dressed as lamb or who dont care if there is. Loonietoonie obviously doesnt feel the same though, or she wouldn't have asked the question.

My understanding was that Loonietoonie felt fine until her DH made a comment. That's not the same thing at all.

Anyway where is the op? I want to know what she's going to do

I think it is a bad look on most!

Regardless of age.

Though possibly worse on an 82 yr old than on a 12 yr okd.

To me this style is like dungarees, cute on kids only.

Mary Portas knickers are AMAZING