Dressing to cover rather than style

[letsgoooo]

I see a lot of older women (I am nearly 60) who dress with the main intention being to cover up bits they don't like rather than to dress in a certain style that they do like.

Sleeves that reach the elbow to cover upper arm flab or loose capri pants that hide legs but are cooler than full length in summer. Waterfall cardigans to cover the bottom. Strange cut outs at the shoulder to show a little skin where they feel their skin isn't looking so aged.

I think this all results in frumpy looking old lady dressing style.

I don't think anyone else is really noticing a bit of a bingo wing or a wrinkly knee and dressing to cover bits of you just results in an overall unstylish look which everyone notices. I feel the discomfort at our aging bodies is leading women feel they need to cover things up even if it leaves them looking like stereotypical old ladies

It’s much cooler to be covered in cotton or linen than it is to have sunlight directly on the skin. Also skin cancer.

I'm not suggesting exposing a lot of skin for the sake of it. I'm talking about wearing clothes with the main criteria being covering bits of the body they don't like.
Inevitably the bits are the same bits that many women don't like so they end up dressing in a sort of uniform. Which immediately makes people look old and lacking in style.

I think women can wear all manner of fabulous stuff and no one will notice the bingo wing or wrinkly knee. I just think it's sad that women end up dressing to hide bits of themselves rather than dress with pleasure at their clothes and style

How old are you OP?

How do you know that these ladies are covering up bits they want to hide and not either liking what they wear or don’t give any thought one way or the other about style?

Is that a serious question? 😂

This^^

I'm 40 if it matters and I've always covered up since I was in my teens. I think it looks better on me (and a lot of people). I don't hate my body - I actually quite like it. But that doesn't mean I want to share it with everyone I meet 🤷‍♀️

I'm slim and toned but like clothes which cover my skin. I wear sun hats and big sunglasses too. I've got pale sensitive skin. I manage to find fashionable clothes to suit my requirements. Not frumpy at all.

Maybe it's a self conscious vibe you are spotting, @letsgoooo

You are being quite judgemental OP.

Maybe they are wearing comfortable, practical clothing. Maybe they can't be bothered investing time and money on the perfect look.

results in an overall unstylish look which everyone notices

no, they really really don't, it's just you, Op.

Also, many of these women that you're so critical of may well have decided they'd rather wear clothes that are comfortable and practical, and aren't at all bothered what other people think of them. Which is not sad at all, is it?

Some people just dress for functionality and not to be the centre of attention, to each to their own rather than trying to theorise

Is this frumpy?

Yes because my response is different if this is a 65-ish woman judging others of the same age or a twenty year old not understanding what it feels like to be in that aging body.

It's in the first line of the op - she is nearly 60

Read the OP...

Ah fair dos I was skim reading it in the car.
Sorry.
Well I'm interested, why so critical of other people's personal clothing comfort zones? It is hard as the body ages to still feel good about one's appearance. Maybe OP doesn't feel like that about herself- in which case she's lucky really.

They might see you and think blimy mutton dressed as lamb.
They might have never had style, have limited budget, do not care about fashion or have a poor self esteem after being judged or bullied about their body parts. Have you seen Those shows like Gok Wan and Trinny and Susanna? People have all sorts of body issues, adults in front of the camera sobbing in tears at their mirror reflection.

@letsgoooo let me be the first to agree with you OP. I am early 60s. I constantly question what I am wearing, and yes I do some of those tactics you are suggesting.

I am conscious of parts of my body (I have been for many years) and yet I don't judge others (well maybe a little because I'm not that confident) for what they wear. I stopped my car the other day in a side road in my work uniform (NHS) to tell a 'mature' lady (think 80ish) how fabulous she looked. Her dress was brightly coloured (that was what I was complimenting her on) and she looked stunning. She appeared to love my compliment, which was utterly sincere. I was blown away by the confidence she had (or appeared to have, who knows) and it made me think.

In my rational thoughts I couldn't give a flying *$%# what people thought, but my irrational thoughts dominate unfortunately.

I hope I am learning to just be me, and not be determined by age/size etc.

I have great respect for those happy in their skin. That truly is the happiest place to be🤗

A Swedish comedian once pointed out that “it’s through the camouflage you see the problem” - he said this on radio in the 90s and his examples at the time were men who wore long-line blazers open to disguise their tummies or scarves to disguise their ageing necks. Is this what you mean, OP?

I don’t know if I agree with your examples bar perhaps the shoulder cutouts. But I agree with your statement that women should be allowed to explore clothes and fashion for the pleasure of it without feeling they don’t look right.

I also think this is probably a frustration at them not dressing to the male gaze anymore. Unless you're young, willowy and dressed from an expensive brand then wearing oversized is frumpy! 🙄

I do think you sound a wee bit judgy
But I do kind of see what you’re saying.
and I think sometimes covering something can draw more attention eg those swim dresses
but ultimately people should wear what they want and feel most comfortable in!

I dress with great pleasure and wear clothes that I know suit me. I'm in my mid 60s and have no desire to look like mutton dressed as lamb. I don't consider that the way I dress looks like an older person's uniform in any way and I dress to please myself and no-one else. I love bright colours and natural fabrics, care very much about my appearance, and I'm comfortable with my body - however, I have never in my entire life followed fashion and don't give a toss whether what I'm wearing is fashionable or not.

Which immediately makes people look old and lacking in style.

A lot of people don’t care if they look old or unstylish. Why does everyone have to dress stylishly? You can dress however you like. What does it matter what other women do?

I'm really interested in this topic because I didn't give ageing a second thought until my 60s. Now I've started to feel a bit self-conscious about crepey arms and knees.. the sudden appearance of vpl when I wear tight-ish jeans... trousers looking a bit droopy...not looking that great in shorts any more... generally a shift towards an older-person silhouette.

I could say I'm not bothered, I only dress to please myself, what's the alternative, this is what 60 looks like, yadda yadda. But it wouldn't be true. I'm having to adjust to this new body just as adolescents have to adjust to theirs. Like then, this change wasn't a gradual thing, it hit quite suddenly. Except this time you can see you're on a downward slope, literally and metaphorically!

I know there are a million blogs and websites about what to wear when you're older. I've seen lots of them but I don't think I've figured out what kind of older person I want to be. Outdoorsy type who dresses for comfort? Ex-professional, wideleg trouser woman? Artsy craftsy drapey lady? Still-got-it-shop-at-Cos lady? Or I-give-up woman in crops, waterfall cardie and fleece?

I've been all of them, so I don't begrudge anyone having an off day and just wanting to cover up.

I know exactly the look you mean OP, because I have been in danger of falling into that trap myself.

The clothes are often Italian made, and in linen- look cottons. There’s a small boutique on our high street that sells it.

See also, market stalls.