Mid 30s - what are items are definitely no longer suitable?

[Shopkinshurtlikelego]

Mid 30s, size 6-8, lost my way a bit.
Chucked out a lot of stuff (all too big) and buying new. Love some of the current fashions and finally feel I can wear them due to the weight loss but now I might be too old?
I’m guessing short dresses and mini skirts are a no which is fine, I don’t want to wear them anyway. What else is a definite no?

There is, btw, nothing wrong or shameful or pitiable in being MIDDLE AGED.

Ffs.

Yeah if you're late thirties you're not that far away from middle age. This is a fact not a character assassination.

I'm 34, a mum, and currently spending a lot of time in rolled-up dungarees. Wear what you want and ignore your mum - she obviously self-imposed frump rules on herself the moment she hit 30 but you don't have to.

Wear whatever you like - short dresses are fine! The only rules I set myself (and I'm older and fatter than you) is than the showing of underwear is not a good look when you are any age so I choose skirts than are closer to the knees or wear shorts underneath. I also am big chested so buy appropriate fitted clothes

The only post I disagree with on here is the one that said clothing must have pockets. Wtf. No it doesn’t!

Don't listen to your Mum! I'm 30 and I would definitely wear either of the dresses you showed us. I prefer the 2nd one I think.

For years I never wore sandals or flip flops, even to the beach, since my Mum said that my feet are so horrible no one would want to look at them. Look around OP! Plenty of people who don't have 'perfect bodies' wear whatever they like! Wear what makes you feel good... No one else in the world will be as critical as you or your Mum!

I thought middle aged was fifties and old was 70 onwards!

I always think of 40 onwards as middle aged as most people live to about 80. Not that it matters, however, nothing wrong with being middle aged! (I consider myself to be middle aged - I’m 39 this year).

There is, btw, nothing wrong or shameful or pitiable in being MIDDLE AGED. Who is saying there is? The fact is that people live longer, have children later and work for more years than they did, so middle age is now considered around 45 or even 50 to most people, so the OP is a fair way from middle age.

Anyway, regardless of the semantics about middle age, I really dislike these kind of posts. People can wear what they like at any age. Of course their are going to be fashion trends that are aimed at certain age groups, but bearing your arms or legs is fine for any age. What are people supposed to do in the summer?

Nothing is a definite no. Wear what suits you. You aren't even old, never mind too old for anything.

I'm tall with slim legs and skirts that sit above the knee suit me better than longer ones, so I wear them. And I'm 47.
Can't show your arms? Wtf is your mum on about. What does she wear when it's warm?

No-one has explicitly said "middle aged is bad" but OPs mum is definitely saying she's 'too old' for some clothes and plenty of people have said 'you're not m-a, you're young' in a way that implies one is good and one is bad. These are the ideas I'd like to see die out.

Oh OP you are young enough and slim enough to literally be able to wear whatever you want, don't waste it. I'm late 20s and my only rule about clothes is does it suit me? Cut, colour, shape etc. Does it emphasise my good bits and disguise the bits I want to hide? I used to wear a lot of crop tops but since my second dc they are not so flattering on me any more so I've stopped wearing them, nothing to do with age.

Nothing wrong with being middle-aged but 35 isn't middle-aged!

I’ve seen other posters talking about how they lost loads of weight then realised they were so used to using their clothes to hide in that they had no idea what to wear. Sounds to me like this is where op was coming from.

But don’t substitute size with age as a reason for ruling yourself out of fashion.

Incidentally telling the op she’s too young for those dresses is just as much horse shit as her mum telling her she’s too old. Let people like what they like.

But if you’re a fan of floaty dresses op you’re in luck as they’re in fashion at the moment. There are quite a few dress threads on here so I’d read them and look at places like Zara, River Island and Warehouse for starters. Go to real shops and try on things you’d never have tried before. Take photos.

I recommend leaving your mum at home or let me take her shopping - it sounds like she needs an intervention more than you do

Also please don't take any more fashion advice from your mother, because if she is saying that your too old to wear that dress thrn she clearly doesn't know what she's talking about.

Have you got a friend who you think always looks really well dressed that can go clothes shopping with you? They might help you to try on stuff that is way out of your comfort zone and you'll be pleasantly surprised. If not then just grab stuff that you would never usually wear (still think is nice obviously) and try it on, this usually works for me. Or what about one of those style consultants in big department stores?

If you're middle aged at mid 30 then wtaf does that make me in my 50's? I'm an oap aren't I, I'll go and put my skinny jeans and all my other younger looking clothes in the bin

Your Mum has some very outdated ideas. I wonder if her own mother filled her head with this nonsense, and now because she followed the 'rules' she expects you to do the same. It has been decades since women in their 30s and 40s were 'expected' to dress frumpy. The world has moved on!

I'm also mid 30s and I expect your mother would disapprove of half my wardrobe. Met up with a friend of the same age a few days ago and she was wearing a 90s style dress (yellow, v neck, big buttons down the front) and choker and she looked fab!

I like the lipsy dress. Lipsy clothes tend to be good, im a size 6 so theyre a good choice. Most of their stuff is ok. Im 43 and buy from there. Its not so much what ypu wear but hpw you wear it that counts. The same thing looks completely different on diffeent people depending on how you wear it. I like the animal print dress. I looked for it but they didnt have it in my size!!

I'm 10 years older than you, and my legs are still better than my teenage daughter's (has sadly inherited MIL's peasant legs and cankles). I still rock a shortish skirt, but if I get my legs out I keep my shoulders and cleavage covered.

I'm 10 years older than you, and my legs are still better than my teenage daughter's (has sadly inherited MIL's peasant legs and cankles)

What a horrible thing to say about your daughter!! I hope you’ve never said this to her.

Agree Shirley

Sounds like one of these mothers who likes to compete with their daughters. It's very sad.

What is everybody's fascination with telling women what they can and cannot wear?? If it suits you and you like it wear it! They days of wearing aprons and having blue rinces has long gone!!

You don’t see many models over about 25 either. I think that’s part of it - it feels like it’s not ‘for’ me.

Erm ... Twiggy?