Should I be dressing my age?

[SausageSmuggler]

I'm 30 this year and found myself wondering this. I live in jeans, converse and band/film t-shirts (currently sporting a Batman t-shirt). I'm not overly bothered but I've noticed that in the baby groups I go to and on the school run that other mums seem to dress a bit more 'grown up' or a bit smarter. At 30 should I be doing the same? I don't think I look my age but I worry slightly that I might look like I'm dressing like a teenager.

Of course you should! Get thee to Edinburgh Woolen Mill and buy decent 'mature lady's clothes'. These, if you don't know, are elasticacted of waist and roomy of bust and sturdy in the ..ahem...undergarment. None of this young flighty thing of faffing around putting a hair bobble on your jeans button to make them fasten!

Hmm I think, after my rather indulgent Christmas, I might make a visit there myself...

I wore vintage dresses with dm's for years before the fashion industry decided I was actually trendy.
I remember my nanna when she was my age and she looked like in my childhood mind an old lady. Even at 40 she wore the pleated calf length skirts and frumpy shoes. But she was from a generation that didn't have the choice we have.
My mum wears jeans all the time. No granny pants.
I look at the 'new' 80's and 90's stuff as a reminder that I lived through it and never have to wear that crap again

By the time you're an aged woman of 30 years Margaret Rutherford should be your style icon. Encase your buttocks and bosom in tweed and be done with this batman t-shirt nonsense.

I am very old and wear jeans and Converses but draw the line at T shirts with motifs.

You can wear anything at 30 and look good.

Nooo! OP, don't change! Don't become one of the uniformed mummy masses!

(Stick with the post-90s student look like me! )

I once did a bit of reading about the teenage tribes of today (well, 5 years ago) and discovered that actually, my 'style' is a thing: Anti-Fashion. Welcome to the group! Don't go changing (unless you want to).

at validate me!

I'm 40 this year and would love to young and gorgeous at 30 again! I'm wearing jeans, t-shirt (plain) and a hoodie with a pair of Supergas today. Most of my friends look similar away from work.

Come on Remus, that's essentially what we do when we try to convince someone to do the same as us!

This whole thing about dressing your age seems to imply that everyone over a certain age looks the same, has the same lifestyle, likes the same stuff. It's kind of bollocks.

I'm very careful about what I wear. I know I don't look the same as I did when I was 30 or 40. But if I want to know if something still suits me I look in the mirror, not at the calendar.

From reading this thread skinnies, band t shirts and converse does appear to be the mummy uniform

I don't wear band T-shirts but I have recently got my nose pierced. Much more suitable for a mature laydee of 52. (And it looks fab.)

Swap the band t-shirt for a Breton top and I'd say it's definitely a mummy uniform.

I want a batman t shirt

My girls are adults now - I don't view myself as a 'mummy' - but for my lifestyle out of work, this is the kind of 'uniform' that fits. It's comfortable, fairly flattering on my frame and can be adapted to most weather situations. I'd look an idiot done up to the nines whilst out with my dp, who is a complete scruff.

I think most people have a uniform of sorts. You work out as you got older what suits you and what works for your lifestyle.

I suppose 'Matronly' was the old 'mummy' regarding fashion. Matronly does sound a bit Margaret Rutherford, now, though but she was brilliant, imposing. Hmm I might prefer 'matronly'.

My 'uniform ' is jeans and t (either band or superhero, though I've had to stop wearing some of my Metallica t's) and converse. Or navy jumper and jeans. My favourite thing in the world are my wonder woman converse. I'm 37.

Im mid thirties and feel i am coming out of a few years of frump. Im starting to enjoy clothes again and am not sure how to dress my age. I do try before i buy and i can soon tell if i look good or ridiculous. I dont even know if im fashionable

I too am old [48] and frequently wear short skirts, thick tights or leggings, skinny jeans, trainers and dm's. Sometimes i do question it and then think...well what the hell. My legs are good and I am a size 12, have been told I am wearing well for my age :) so not too bad and as long as a wear it right [ not too tarty] then all is fine :) I quite like the rock chick look but a biker jacket has never been me. I do like a logo t-shirt but have never done the band t-shirt thing.

Meant to add at 30 please dont worry about it. You will kick yourself when you are older that you ever gave it headspace then.

I'm wearing sequinned Converse today and I'm 38

Omg I'd love to wear band tshirts to work and the only reason I don't is because I'm currently a bit too chubby around the hips and waist to wear tshirts. They just cling in the weirdest way.

What you are wearing sounds totally fine. Whatever the age!

But only if the bands are good, obviously.

Glad I'm not the only one that's had a moment of self doubt! I think I'm embracing that I am more of the grungy/rock style but wondered if it was just me trying to claw back my teenage years.

What set me off on this thought wasn't actually clothes but a comment made by someone about my choice of pictures in the living room (framed retro superhero tin signs). They assumed DH had to coerce me into having them up and were rather surprised when I said I'd bought most of them. They thought I was a bit more grown up than that. Ah well different folks and all that.

Also, one of my best dressed colleagues always wears band and festival t-shirts with expensive tailored jackets and jeans, and some kind of trainers. (no one has worn a suit in our line of work since 1955). He looks like an off duty film star it helps that he is Scandinavian and he's almost 50.

You are in good company, op!

Might be time for a change. It very much depends on your shape,hair etc if you are still able to pull it off. There might be a better style out there for you.

What looks do you admire?