Is dressing in a super feminine way middle aged?

[GreyOwls]

I've just been on another thread and someone posted something really interesting.

They said that dressing in a super feminine way is very middle aged, unless that is you manage to do it in a fresh way.

Is this true?

I'm not super feminine as I'm more natural / athletic in appearance and wear jeans and trainers generally (but can glam up at night when necessary) but am interested in how others see women who dress in a super feminine way. When I hear someone say 'dressed in a feminine way' I think of someone like Michelle Moane, as opposed to say, Pink or Victoria Beckham.

Well, I've just had a look at the hourglass thread and it's been quite an eye opener. I'd never have imagined that having an hourglass figure could bring so many problems. It's always touted as the perfect female shape. I'm an inverted triangle so broad shoulders, normal boobs, only a slight waist and slim hips/legs so find dressing in a feminine way difficult as it's at odds with my body shape. I might have found a new appreciation for my lack of curves though.

Very interesting to see what constitutes 'feminine dressing' from differing perspectives too.

For me, my ideal dress style (and I do my best to channel this) is Robyn Write Penn in House of Cards for formal/work wear and Hermione Norris for casual. I think both look stylish and feminine but not overdone. They are both very beautiful and slim though so it could just be that they could wear a sack and look incredible.

‘Super feminine’ at work makes me think of Alexis Carrington.

Funnily enough, in my last job there were a few senior women who kind of followed the Alexis vibe. Always wore skirts and heels, always wore sheer tights, always had a 1980s ‘power jacket’, always had ‘done’ hair and long painted nails. I thought that they looked far more middle aged than women of a similar age who dressed more simply.

Although she hasn’t been in the public eye much recently, I always thought that Natasha Kaplinsky had that look: she dressed much older than she was, although it was undoubtedly ‘feminine’.

Each to their own, though. Wear what you like.

I steer clear of florals in the main. Those lovely pretty floaty tea dresses in summer, with ditsy prints, look lovely on 20-30 yr olds but mumsy on me.
I tend to go for fitted shifts in plain ish colours.
I've just bought a lovely Whistles dress- stretchy jersey type fabric, plain navy, long sleeves and a slightly skater type skirt.

Generally I wear jeans, 'smarter' biker type jeans, boots, nice knitwear or a top.

I'm 62 but petite and people say I look late 40s.

What’s wrong with just wearing what you like and what suits you. I don’t get the endless beating down of women by other women. Even in this thread, the misogyny is apparent because Michelle Mone has the audacity to wear what she likes.

As for the hourglass thread - I wish a teeny weeny waist and big “norks” (barf) was my only problem worth getting in a state over 🙄

I don't think I really understand what 'dressing feminine' is. I've been reading this thread, but the only posts that make sense to me are about wearing what you like.
I don't really wear florals, makes me feel a bit twee, it just isn't me. Although I think other people look nice, I say people because I'm including men. Men do androgyny very well. I'd love to dress like some male bloggers who pull it off very well.

That's the trouble with androgynous fashion - it only works one way.

Ugh the whole "mutton/lamb" thing is gratingly ageist , and I'm not even considered "middle age" but damn. Unless we are talking about wearing my little pony and hair bows , then ok. But I think styles that look good has much more to do with body type than age. All these rules for what older women can wear ..don't do that you'll look frumpy and stuffy! Don't you dare wear that, you're a lump of aging mutton!