What do you need to be older to pull off?

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

Inspired by the mob wife thread and various ageist comments I was hoping that we could have a nice thread where we talk about looks or trends that seem to look better as you get older.

I said on the other thread that when I was in my teens and early 20’s I always wanted to wear bombshell style clothes and makeup but I’d always end up wiping the red lipstick off before leaving the house as I just looked like a kid playing dress up in my mum’s clothes. Now I’m in my late 30s red lipstick suits me well and gives me a glamorous, put together look- especially if I’m wearing something casual.

I think tailoring and especially oversized blazers look better as you get older. In teens it can look like your mum’s brought your uniform “with room for you to grow.”

No one is saying you can’t wear these things when you’re younger but in the same
way that someone might still look good in a mini-skirt at 60 but probably looked better at 20, you probably look even more stylish in your scarf and pearls as you’ve aged.

I never wore black until I got to 40. Looked like a waitress whenever I wore it (when working as a waitress!) I think of it as a Coco Chanel thing. Wore a lot of pastel colours when I was younger, and jewel colours & patterns. Going more muted now, but I can’t do the sleek camel / grey thing. It’s not me!

I like the autumn college trend, or whatever it’s called. Burgundy, navy, dark green. Corduroy, velvet blazer, denim. Which are all things I wore as a teenager, now I think of it…

A blue rinse

Dark monotone colours, elegant & fitted but skimming rather than floaty. Dark navy or black with a bright lipstick, red, bright pink or coral according to skin tone, with pure white hair not cropped severely short. Stylish accessories, always earrings & several bracelets one arm, not beaded ones but gold, sliver,
pearl etc

Anything navy or camel

I think a very structured bag with metal clasps etc looks wrong on a young person but smart on an older one

I agree about the boho luxe look, also blazers and structured bags. I wonder if it's just that we associate more expensive things with older women so they look right?

Librarian chic.

the cord, tweed, velvet in autumnal colours.
dark academia really. Younger people often look like they are making a statement in this, so it looks a bit awkward.

Diamonds.
Chanel perfume.
Loafers and brogues.
Wide leg trousers.
Tailoring.

I found things looked good when I was young (19-30 ish) then good again post 50 but not the in between years. Things looked fashiony and unexpected when I was young. That lovely contrast that can work so well as it's unexpected and cool. Now I'm older the same sorts of things look suitable and chic.

In the in between ages these things just dated me. I just looked frumpy
-midi length anything
-pearls
-stilettos
-tweed
-fancy and structured updos

-neck scarves
-architectural fashion (dries van de notes, Rick Owen's, Belgian & Japanese designers)

I keep trying to dress like Miss Marple now, I love it. My dh thinks I'm dressing 40 years older than my age!

I wear a lot of dresses - because I’m hot!!!

Kind of changes your style, hot flushes. Happy to choose things the younger generation would touch.

Now that I'm mid fifties, my neck is getting scrawnier, my wrists are more boney and my legs are skinny. I think I can really rock the boyish over sized jumper + ripped jeans + biker boots look now. Only 5 years ago it just made me look frumpy.

@Coffeeandmarmaladetoast I don’t think my Dh would like it either. Trouble is , I am Margaret Rutherford era Miss Marple in shape. I keep looking at the Brora catalogue though. Someone on here said the quality has gone down so I keep repeating that to myself. But there’s a coat. I don’t need it but I want it.

My lovely late mil used to wear her hair in plaits around her head and little silk neck scarves held in place with cairngorm brooches. I loved that. She also favoured crimplene and nasty orange tights, but it’s not the whole look I like, just elements.

This is exactly how I’d describe my favourite art teacher at college.
She also wore these little rectangle specs with a chain on them, she always looked so effortless & cool. I feel like if a younger person had that look, they’d look too try hard and not nearly as good.

I have a few things that... I am not sure they look better on me now but more so that I am more confident in wearing them (I am 37.... but these are things i always wanted to wear in early 20s but never felt brave enough for whatever reason)

red lipstick - always felt silly with it on when I was younger but now I love it
Pearls - same again
Cashmere roll necks - felt frumpy when I was younger but now an absolute staple for me
An old long waxed style jacket

I often dabble in wearing the Dark Academic aesthetic, but if you're in your mid fifties it can all too soon veer into Menopausal Librarian. DH really wasn't keen until I decided to incorporate authentic, period undergarments. So, cami knickers + suspenders belt + opaque stockings!

Chanel classic flap bag. Looks like an old lady bag on a young person, middle age upwards looks classic. Maybe subconsciously when I see a young person carry a 10k bag I assume it's fake

@superplumb I was coming on to say the same re: the Chanel flap bags 😂.

Yes I’m sure stockings and cami knickers would make a difference, but suspenders make me feel like a trussed up Turkey. Never gonna happen!

I’m loving this post. I’m at the age where I wear most of the items mentioned. I’ve a substantial collection of cashmere, linen and pearls.