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

So your photo examples. The frumpy women are showing more skin than the stylish women. Total contradiction to your other posts?! The only thing glaringly obvious to me is that you seem to be linking style with weight. Your frumpy examples are all a little overweight and your stylish women are all taller and slimmer. Not a coincidence if you ask me. Why do you care what other women wear? You do you and leave everyone else alone.

So has the woman with the red scarf (second group). Arguably far more than the woman in the pale pink floaty top (first group). That's confusing.

The women in the first photo are thinner, that's all. That's why they look better, and have shape and definition.

I think this might be key.

Also the mum jeans - just no!

3/4 length trousers and tunic tops plus a cardigan are really practical for the British climate - our summers aren't warm always and they do for spring and autumn warmer spells too. I see women of all ages wearing them.

What I personally think looks awful is things like leopard prints, skimpy dresses and tight leggings but we are all entitled to our opinion.

Actually I'm in a sea salt dress today, something I've read on here as aging get my 23 year old dd wears them to work too!

I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks of what I’m wearing. Not one tiny weeny fuck.

Im 60 and mainly wear a Cos vibe.

This thread is horrible.

I think it's just that your better examples are of slim women who seem spritely, the same outfits just wouldn't look as good if you had huge saddlebags or low apron belly, people will stare and comment. if you are on a walking holiday, have troublesome skin or feet, it's hard enough to find something, anything to feel good in. Ortho footwear in multiple styles and a few good supportive big cup bra cost a fortune so there is a money element.

It feels a bit like some comments are judging older women who prefer to dress in a way that won't draw attention to the unwanted changes in their bodies due to more serious health issues, not because of having wrinkly knees, or whatever.

I get what you are saying OP (although I don’t really understand the pics).
I was in France recently and was struck by the number of 60+ women wearing quite short skirts. I mean as a nation the French have nicer legs than the British I think but even when their knees were wrinkly or they had thread veins they were chic and sexy looking.
My mum always wears long sleeves and roasts in Summer because she thinks her arms are gross. Women should wear clothes they actually like rather than clothes whose only purpose is to shield the world from their ageing bodies!

Women should wear what makes them feel good and if that's covering their arms because it makes them feel good then let them alone

I mean the whole idea of what looks good is so warped anyway - and why even js looking good so important

Let women wear what they like , stop judging

I don’t wear ultra short sleeves as cba to shave armpits.

Not everyone feels comfortable exposing their skin/bodies. I don't.

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'm in my 30s, size 8-10 and reasonably toned. I have a few tops with elbow-length sleeves because it means the sleeve stops at the narrowest part of my torso, which is flattering. I also have some wide-legged cropped/ ankle length trousers because they're cool and comfortable and (at least a couple years ago!) are in fashion. I have some waterfall cardigans because they're easy to throw on if it's chilly and I think bring a bit more movement to an outfit - especially if the rest of the outfit is very body-hugging - than a regular cardigan. The only thing from your list that I don't own is those cold shoulder tops.

But I also wear body-con or pencil dresses, leggings, sleeveless tops, cropped tops with high-waisted trousers... the point being that you can't possibly know, unless you spend a lot of time with someone, why they've chosen that clothing that day, or what other kinds of clothes they wear.

For me, the clothing you mention has nothing to do with hiding bits of my body, and everything to do with drawing attention to bits of it, or complimenting the rest of the outfit. And I suspect that will be the case when I'm 60+ also!

Exactly

Controversy those long shorts have come back into fashion.

So it's not fashion? Not body shape? It's the hiding? But how would you know?

Does older person who is a bit out of shape and wearing loose clothes = hiding?

Would they look better in short tight clothes?

Not that the woman in the pic just posted is out of shape but she is middle aged and her outfit looks a bit 'off' to me.

‘I think women can wear all manner of fabulous stuff and no one will notice the bingo wing or wrinkly knee’

Sorry, OP but I disagree. I’m 53 and have dressed modestly all my life (not religious, I just think it looks nice). I don’t want to see a bingo wing or a wrinkly knee, mine or anyone else’s, thanks. Wanting to cover up a bit is normal and healthy. I wouldn’t wear a waterfall cardigan though, as I just don’t like them.

I'm afraid I dont think any of these women look 'stylish'. They're all dressed terribly.

I'm 72 with only one boob. I like bright colours and always wear comfortable clothes so usually elasticated trousers or loose midi/maxi dresses - never shorts. I don't disguise my mastectomy so it would be silly to worry about my crepey arms and little tummy. If I'm in trousers I tend to wear scoop neck boxy tops that end on my waist - never long cover ups. On the beach, I wear bikinis with big-girl bottoms and bandeau tops to hide the scar - I'm not into swimskirts and suchlike. I've found a style that I'm happy with and enjoy wearing which is all that matters.

And I think it looks off because it somehow looks like she forgot to put a skirt/trousers on. The top is quite covered, more wintery but the shorts very short. And the high heeled sandals and necklace look too formal for the clothes.

But some would say that is high/low dressing. I don't know what other people think. Maybe it's an unconscious ageism but there again I see older women in body con outfits that look stylish and loose outfits that look stylish. I see them in current fashion outfits that look stylish and retro outfits that look stylish. Maybe it's body shape but I see bigger people looking stylish and slender people looking stylish.

So what is it?

That lady has a nice body but regardless of that and whatever her age is (I can’t tell and don’t care) She just looks like she’s forgotten to put her skirt or trousers on to me.

And the woman in that last pic I posted looks smiley and confident. So it's not that she looks uncomfortable. So I don't know what it is really.

That lady has a nice body but regardless of that and whatever her age is (I can’t tell and don’t care) She just looks like she’s forgotten to put her skirt or trousers on to me.

@Catnipcupcakes, yes, that's what I thought. But other people don't look like that in shorts.

This doesn't look as bad to me, for example.