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.

and the fashion gurus are marketing granny shoes and dresses for young 'uns! So how do us grannies dress our age?

I hate shopping at the best of times and prefer buying online but walking down the high street I look at the likes of miss selfridge and think i'm too old for that, but look at wallis/marks and think i'm not old enough!
I would love those superhero pics on my wall.

I'm trying to get out of the mindset of leggings which just bloody stretch so you don't know if you're putting weight on! ( and look awful on me ) but not really into jeans so I'm compromising with skinnies but am not a dress/skirt type.
Am 38 and have recently had my hair completely changed, upped my beauty regime and sometimes wear dd's bobbles/clips and she's 5!!
Love a little bit of bling and currently wearing wizard of oz style silver glitter shoes from next which make me feel about 15

YY to the pp who mentioned teens wearing frumpy 90's fashion. I don't get it! Maybe because I wore it the first time round I realise how crap it looks.

I really don't agree with this idea that we're trying to copy young people. The worst we are guilty of is carrying on wearing the kind of clothes we wore when we were young but every generation does that.

It's up to young people to rebel and go out and find their own style but for some reason this generation hasn't done that. They seem to be quite happy dressing like their parents.

So yes Crevice maybe with frumpy chic, young people are kicking over the traces at last! It's certainly about time they did.

I think I'm more concerned about wearing clothes that suit my shape rather than what I think is considered to be age appropriate.
I'm nearly 40, very petite and slim. I wear lots of skinny jeans, slogan Ts, stripes, ankle boots...
Agree with a previous poster that I lost my way a bit in my early 30s. I'd had kids, thought I should look more grown up and wore a lot of Boden and White Stuff. These days I mostly shop in Topshop.

I used to worry about dressing appropriately for my age and having shorter hair when I got to 30.

Now I'm 50 and don't care.

I am 40 and wear jeans and converse on my days off (not a fan of slogan t shirts but that's just my taste, not my age) - however on work days I look totally different - could the other women be on their way to work?

Totally agree with myrtle about women losing their way in the early thirties. This certainly happened to me. Now I'm 37 and waking back up to myself. I think I'm going to look like my old self again by 40 (crosses fingers). Excess weight from boredom-related carbfests aren't helping

My t shirt today has Star Wars written on it. I am 45.

If you're comfortable in your clothes (which it sounds like you are) you'll carry it off and it will look "you" and not of an age.

If you purposely dress like younger people, to try to look young, it won't work. You'll look like you're trying too hard to be someone else.

I wear short skirts quite a lot, especially since taking up running at 50. With thick tights and DMs. Nobody has fainted in horror yet.

This picture says it all really, I think he looks great.

DP is 58 and dresses the same. He likes the ska look, always has.

I always wear skinnies or leggings with boots or Converse. I am 50 and this thread is the first thing that made me think about "dressing for my age". Obviously didn't bother me before and won't bother me now. Dress in your own style, age shouldn't come into it.

Grown up? Wossat, then?

OP if you are starting to feel awkward in your batman Tshirt then maybe it's time to update your wardrobe? It's not an age thing, I've found that every few years my style evolves & what used to work doesn't anymore.

I don't think it's about age but about adapting what you love and feel comfy in, to any of the changes that happen to our skin, hair, bodies as we age.

My happy clothes are slightly punky hair, skinny jeans, boots, sportsweary stuff etc. In the last few years though, my hair has thinned more and my face is starting to look more jowly. What looked a bit Suzy Quatro before, just didn't fit my 'new' face, hair etc. So I've adapted it. Hair in style that is a bit shorter than I'd like but makes it look thicker, smarter versions of the tops and coats I am drawn to usually and ecco trainers because my feet and ankles are shot. I reckon it's about being yourself but being aware that because you are still a big fan of ripped jeans and cropped tops, that they might not look ok indefinitely. But then, its even better if you can just say "Screw that" and do it anyhow :) Im not brave enough

I only worry about this for work and smart occasions like weddings or interviews, then I try and find some sort of compromise that suits me, my figure and personality and is conservative enough.

The rest of the time I dress like I always have, jeans- tshirts, hoodies and boots.

it is shape and size, not age. Bunches and babygros are best left to under-fives, but beyond that just consult the mirror.

the real ageing thing is the wrong footwear. Huge clumpy high heels are frumpy and ugly, and the resulting sulky face adds decades.

clean, tidy, comfortable, appropriate for the occasion. Age is not on that list.

Theyget to their late 20s and seem to suddenly feel that they need to dress more sensible and "grown up".

This is exactly what I did. Got to 27 and started buying bastard Per Una in an effort to be taken seriously Now I dress like I did when I was 17 most of the time. Skinnies or short skirt over leggings + band/ cartoon T-shirts + DMs (I'm 38).

Dress how you're happy. I get lots of compliments about looking younger than I am so it works for me.

I think most of us dress 'age appropriately'. But we do it unconciously. What suited us when we were 20 doesn't suit us anymore, so we don't wear that and move on. I don't know of anyone IRL that sets out to dress 'age appropriately'. Everyone's style evolves with time. And so what if it doesn't. As long as you don't get your death of cold

But if there were rules for dressing age appropriately, well, fuck that.

I think it really depends on your style, not your age. Look at Kate Moss.
Kate Middleton on the other hand is classic ... er... classic!

I'm 48 and wear skinnies and Converse.

Jeans, tee shirt and Converse?

I doubt anyone's going to think anything at all. Practically everyone I know dress in a variation of this, from teens to women in their 40's anyway.

Merch/band/cartoon tee shirts aren't my thing, but loads of people like 'em.