If you are 40 something, do you wear denim mini skirts?

[PolyesterBride]

Just bought one because I have always had a short denim skirt for winter with tights. Bought it online and this one is a bit mini-er than I was planning (mid thigh rather than just an inch above the knee) and I'm not sure I can get away with it. If I was 25 then maybe but I'm 41. Will everyone think I'm mutton dressed as lamb? My legs are ok but not super toned and I'm short (5'2").

Does anyone else wear mini skirts in their 40s?

It's like shorts they have to be short really.

Right, coming round to it now. I don't want to dress like most of my colleagues / fellow school gate mums anyway because what they wear wouldn't suit me. Definitely agree that age shouldn't mean immediately switching to a demure range of sensible neutrals!

I struggled to find anything to wear last winter when my previous (not so mini) denim skirt gave up the ghost. Jeans look weird on me with most closed shoes and I felt really dressed up in smart trousers/skirts. Maybe I'm just scruffy at heart and it's this that doesn't reconcile with being over 40...

I think my problem with the skirt I've bought is that it's really really short, which threw me into doubt. I might look for one 2-3 inches above the knee.

I don't like demin skirts. It isn't an age thing, I think they look naff and dated on everyone. At a push, in the summer with acres of tanned leg they could look ok - but only because the acres of tanned leg would be distracting from the unpleasant, failed 8os, denim mini.

So what do people wear in the winter then if not a short denim skirt with tights and boots? On a day when you don't want to be smart but you need to go out (so you can't just wear track suit bottoms). Like you have to go to work but you don't have a meeting. And you are a short person. Appreciate this is a bit of a moronic question but I always find summer clothes so much easier than winter.

Blimey Whatthe thus is fashion not politics no need to be nasty!

I don't think I was being nasty Noddyholder - just commenting on an item of clothing I think is naff & vile. Not on a person, just a skirt. i really don't think a denim mini has feelings that can be seriously hurt?!

OP, I am short like you. In winter I wear mainly dresses with cardies, with tights & boots, which I find cosy & easy to pull together. I also have wool straight leg trousers with a boot underneath, or a skirt with tights & boots. I have tweedy type short skirt and a tartan slightly kilt style skirt. None of my skirts are denim. I'm not clear why you need a denim skirt - there are other materials.

True. There are other materials. But denim just goes with everything! And I find things like tweed look weird with jersey type cheapo tops.

Ok .

And also looking a bit odd, and probably attracting attention

Odd in your opinion, maybe, but why should anyone care about that if they like what they're wearing?

And what on earth does 'attracting attention' mean??

I think if you have the legs for it do it and if you don't then don't. You can only dress the body you have. Someone might look great in a denim mini and someone else might not

I hate the invisible 'rules' that seem to exist for women re clothing appearance and age. It's a sexist construct and it's outdated. Wear what you like, what suits your body shape and appearance and your lifestyle, not what your peers deem to be 'acceptable'. If the skirt is too short for you to feel comfortable and you'll be tugging on it all the time when wearing it, then take it back. But if not, why not?

I totally get the feeling of looking in the mirror and realising something doesn't look good any more. I've had it a few times: with minis, short sleeves, floaty stuff and it's a very chastening moment. Or sometimes you just kind of mentally outgrow something that used to be a favourite and you want to move on.

But if something still suits you or/and still makes you happy then why the hell not?

Churchillian, those "rules" are a very British concept though.

Was in Holland this summer, lots of ladies in their 60s in shorter skirts, fitted leather jackets in jewel colours, quite fashion forward. Not dowdy/frumpy.

The phrase "mutton dressed as lamb" is quintessentially British too, in a sad way.

A few years ago in Argentina, women of ALL ages dress sexy, lots of older women with flowing manes, short skirts, whatever.

Dress as you like, don't be down on yourself!!! I flash my sun damaged wrinkly knees with pride

Oh yeah, there's definitely a lot of stuff I don't wear any more (after two children I'm afraid I won't be baring much of my midriff), but that's more because it doesn't suit my current body shape/tastes than because I feel it's too "young".

My winter wear is:

Tights and boots with short skirt, could be tweed, wool, cord, doesn't have to be denim, plus jumper or t-shirt and cardie.

Same but with a fuller, knee-length skirt.

Tights and boots with a fitted print dress

Or a simple knee-length jumper dress - I think a good quality long-sleeved jumper dress, that fits well and isn't too short, is a great grown-up look, with tights, boots/shoes, a bit of jewellery.

Casual suit trousers (ie not part of a suit, but made of suit-type wool) with top and cardie, plus boots or trainers.

Or just jeans and jumper. I like the ankle/chelsea boot thing this year, they work well with slim/straight jeans. I previously only had knee boots which was a faff with jeans.

I find winter much easier than summer!

I don't think this is about rules it's about taste. I don't have a rule about denim minis I just don't think they look nice. They generally have that weird sticky out A-line look which is not particularly flattering.

British rules are nothing compared to French & Italians. In the UK it's perfectly acceptable to be fat and messy and crumpled & for nothing to match...

Britain was recently voted worst dressed nation in Europe with 44% of the vote. The French got 6% and the Italians 3%.

Well this thread has made me decide to go out and buy a denim mini for this winter.

I turned 40 in June, much to the shock of all the Mums at the school who, when I said it was the big birthday coming up, all thought I meant 30 .

Even when I was younger, I was skinny and the one thing I hated was my legs because I thought they were too thin. I love them now though, not much fatter than they were 20 years ago but I never ever wear short skirts/dresses.

I'm going to let my legs out for the winter.

Thanks OP!

Now I realise that if everyone else was wearing denim mini skirts, I would happily wear one too. Argh! I am such a sheep!

Do it, op. I could weep when I think of all the years I spent in jeans and trousers when I had legs to die for.

My mum is 65 and still wears shorter skirts as she's got good legs. She's short so longer styles just look frumpy on her. There are no rules, obviously fashions change and what you want to wear changes but style has nothing to do with this and certainly not with age.

www.hush-uk.com/assets/+v:2d524e/product/BCSK-BLKM-01.jpg styled like this I like minis in general. Been in town today and saw so many denim ones when I never usually notice

Commenting purely on the OP (I've only briefly scanned the thread), I tried that skirt and yes, it's very short. But this one from the Indigo Collection is a perfect 18 inches long and sits beautifully above the knee on me at 5' 3"! I'm 39 and I love it with thick tights and yes, leggings!

FFS some of the comments on here are ridiculous and bitchy

Speak for yourselves anyone over 40 who thinks wearing anything other than slacks and sensible shoes from M&S is 'mutton'. It doesn't matter what age a person is, the important thing is that they look, and feel, good. Some people in their 20s and 30s shouldn't wear mini skirts because they don't have the body for them. Simple as that really.

I'm 40 and have better legs and figure than a good deal of 20 odd year olds I see walking around with skirts skimming their fat arses, my face is in good nick too, so until I start looking like an old bag I will wear what I bloody well like, and look bloody fantastic too. So there!

Agree there is no point putting in the effort with health fitness diet etc only to wear a beige tent once you hit 40!

Good for you NoImSpartacus!