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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Can a 40 year old wear...

162 replies

Loonytoonie · 01/12/2013 16:24

...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....

OP posts:

DorisHerod · 03/12/2013 21:21

I think 'mutton dressed as a lamb' is such an anti-women phrase. It's specifically used to put down older women who won't go quietly into middle age as society seems to require.

Well b*lls to that !

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 03/12/2013 21:41

Totally agree Doris. What a vile misogynist phrase that is.

I need to go and channel some Samantha Jones quotes after some of the ageism going on this thread.

Karbea · 03/12/2013 21:41

I'd definitely like to know if I were mutton dressed as lamb, wouldn't care if it was a man or women or someone younger or older than me, as long as I was told if I was making an idiot of myself.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/12/2013 21:42

Doris - you made me think of, 'Do not go gentle' with that post. Indeed.

DorisHerod · 03/12/2013 21:53

YY Remus that's what I was trying to think of but it wouldn't pop into my head!

I just looked it up and read it with tears in my eyes...what a great passion and fire he had.

'I will burn and rave at close of day', for sure.

Darna · 03/12/2013 22:35

It think it depends if you look 40 in the face whether you can get away with it

kaumana · 03/12/2013 22:47

Ah hell no to fitting fashion to your face! That is complete bollocks.

Karbea · 03/12/2013 23:34

I actually don't understand why people would want to dress age Inappropriately. Younger girls clothes are often so tarty, whereas women's clothes are more classy, surely as you age you learn what looks good rather than trying to rebel, test things out, scream out for attention etc... All things young girls want to do.
I'm often bemused by some of the things people ask if they should wear...

Rojak · 04/12/2013 00:31

I live in the tropics and often wear denim shorts (short, not mid-thigh, and no tights) with a t shirt - I wear this doing the school run too.

I have great legs and am in pretty good shape for mid-40s.

It would be a shame not to wear it while I can

Floisme · 04/12/2013 06:54

Good point about 'mutton dressed as lamb', I have never once heard it said of a man. Some mumsnetters (not just on this thread) seem scared stiff of older women. Do they think wrinkles are catching??

Floisme · 04/12/2013 07:36

Karbea, older women choose clothes for all kinds of reasons, bit like young people really Yes, it can be nice to look classy and wear what suits you but sometimes it's also fun to take a risk, rebel or just have a laugh. And isn't that what fashion's all about?

MrsDavidBowie · 04/12/2013 07:43

I am 53, six feet tall with 34 inch long slim legs and am size 12.

I like fitted short (24inch) length skirts, thick tights, knee length flat boots.
But as dd 17 wears shorts and tights, I would feel strange wearing her uniform. If I didn't have a dd I might feel differently.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/12/2013 08:08

Classy? If I try to look classy I just look dowdy. I'd rather look a bit daft tbh.

intitgrand · 04/12/2013 08:11

i think it just looks like a look put together on a teenagers allowance.a different fabric would be fine

Karbea · 04/12/2013 08:19

Oh I think men can, an older man couldn't carry off some clothes younger men do. You can still have fun with fashion without trying to look like a child. It seems people think you can only either look like a teenager or Barbara woodhouse...

50ShadesOfMaybe · 04/12/2013 08:50

Remus, Floisme, you've both summed me up. I can't carry off "classy" I always feel not me whenever I try. I choose clothes to have fun - at least out of work. And don't see why I should stop because I'm over 40.

Anyway, I still want to know what the OP did. Am hoping she's been strutting her stuff in shorts for the last two days!

Calling Loonie, calling Loonie

Freddiefrog · 04/12/2013 09:56

The rule I follow for myself is that if my 12 year old DD is wearing it, I don't.

She, and all her mates, are currently sporting shorts and tights at the moment, so I'm leaving that look to her

I don't normally subscribe to can't wear this/that/the other over a certain age, but there are some styles that do look rather silly on me, and I can't say I'm a fan of denim shorts over tights

SteppedOnaFrog · 04/12/2013 10:09

I just remember seeing Nigella in this look when she did a clothes swap thing with Caitlin Moran and she looked grim- not because she doesn't have the figure to pull it off, because she does, but it just looked incredibly tacky.

Caitlin Moran could do with a refresh frankly and leave the 1990's behind.

PoshPaula · 04/12/2013 12:57

It's so simple - wear what you want.

silverangel · 04/12/2013 13:00

Nope. See Caitlin Moran in the Sunday Times. Too try hard.

FiscalCliffRocksThisTown · 04/12/2013 19:56

Caitlin isstuck in the 90s fashionwise.

Somehow I don't think she gives a fuck though.

writingquestion · 04/12/2013 19:57

I'm 40 and slim. generally told I look much younger than my age. I wouldn't.

MrsYoungSalvoMontalbano · 04/12/2013 20:37

Denim shorts over tights on anyone looks ridiculous, difference is, 12 year old girls can look ridiculous and they don't know it - 40 year old woman oughta be able to see it.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 04/12/2013 20:45

I don't think you should dress for your age. You should dress for your life, your interests and your character.

My mum is 67 and lives in ACDC t-shirts and jeans as she has done for most of my life. I can't imagine her in a tailored dress!

Same for me, I am nearly 40, work in a creative / media environment and spend the weekends chasing a 5 year old around the woods. I have spent most of my life in short skirts or jeans. It would look weird if I started wearing court shoes and LK Bennett just because of some arbitrary date on the calendar. Whereas nobody would bat an eyelid if I showed up at work in denim shorts and tights.

PoshPaula · 04/12/2013 21:50

Tondelayo I couldn't agree more.

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