Style at 40

[ToadRage]

Did you change the way you dressed at 40? My Mum was a young Mum so I remember her at 40 but she always seemed older to me than I feel now at nearly 40. She would often talk about the fashion rules for over 40's and stopped wearing certain things, like vests, cap sleeves, shorts, skirts and dresses that were above the knee. This encompasses most of my clothes and I don't feel the need to change them but should i ve heavily modifying my wardrobe for 40? My Mum is very judgemental and will often comment on what I am wearing if she dislikes or disapproves.

No. Absolutely not.

I think post 40 it’s better not to change. That can be a one way ticket to Frumpsville.

No. I’m 42 and haven’t ever consciously changed, although my taste has changed over the years.

I did change the way I dressed in that I STARTED wearing tighter clothes, tops showing my midriff, mini skirts, see through tops for nights out, high heels. I started working out and giving no fucks 🤣
Mid 40s and no sign of stopping. My mum did the “cut hair off at 40 and start putting weight on, frumpy clothes” thing, we don’t have to do that anymore.

I’m getting close to 40 and have recently had a wardrobe clear out. I don’t think that being 40 is cut off for anything, but at the same time, I don’t want to turn into one of those delusional women who walks around dressing like she’s still 20 something and thinking that it makes them look youthful!

I’m thinking along the lines of this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DfNeFfPSlF4&pp=ygUQd2hhdCBub3QgdG8gd2Vhcg%3D%3D

I haven't changed my style since I was 26. The only thing I've changed is the amount of make up I wore and my skin care routine.

I've only been 40 for a week but I get it, my mum also hardly ever says anything positive. Nobody ever said anything nice to her so she doesn't really understand it.

Wear what makes you feel good and what makes you feel beautiful because only your opinions matter when it comes to you.

Meh, I’m mid fifties and wear shorts, vests, cap sleeves. I don’t wear short skirts and dresses, I’d feel a little like I was dressing too young, plus midi is current, so a fresher look.

wear what you want.

no I tend just try and dress for what I like/relatively in fashion but with what flatters my body shape same as I have done for last 20 years.

Nope I wear what I like and have fun with it!

I turn 40 this year and I have absolutely no intention of giving up any of the things you’ve mentioned! (I’m quite horrified by the suggestion that I should to be honest!) I think people should dress in accordance with their individual style, comfort, personality, body shape & colouring, but age is just a number!

Why look old & frumpy when you don’t need to!

I don't know if its because growing up in the alternative subculture my outfits were a bit out there when I was younger but I feel these days everyone over 20 wears the same clothes unless its for going out.

I dont think we change our wardrobe because of age these days (there really doesnt seem to be much age bias towards certains clothes left anymore!).
I think middle age and menopause can sometimes alter your shape and sometimes your confidence and thats what makes us dress 'old'.

Im pretty sure my style hasnt changed related to my age. I still wear Converse, overly baggy things and am attracted to mad patterns regardless of wether they are considered age appropriate. I dont think I look like Im dressing young though, just abit....odd!😆

Your post is hypocritical

Why? There is a big difference to wearing shorts on holiday or out with friends on a hot day in a beer garden, or round the house, than wearing a mini skirt. I didn’t say anyone else couldn’t. I’ve a friend my age, who does. I personally don’t

not everything on here needs to be a fight. You dont need to always attack people for their opinions.

Absolutely not. I’m 50 and wore a Reiss bodycon dress at my firm’s party last Christmas. Lots of 20 and 30 somethings were telling me that I looked amazing. Who wants to look like a frump?!

I don’t think my style has changed much; if anything, I’ve become more confident in what I wear, able to afford better quality clothes and have a much clearer idea of what suits me and so I don’t follow trends just for the sake of it unless they actually work for me.

I’m 58 and I love and still wear the same styles as I did 1997-2005. Considered vintage now 😆

You said you think it’s dressing too young, then say “wear what you want” So you’ve put a negative judgement on it. Just say the last line.

Nope. I wear what I like. My only 'boundary' to my clothes is whether it suits my body ie I hate my knees so I've never worn skirts above the knee, at 20 or now at 50.

Wear whatever the hell you want. I’m 42 now and still have the same key staples in my wardrobe that I had at 39. There’s no rule to follow.

Not at all, except I’ve become much more confident in wearing these quite often clothes I like, rather than worrying about them being ‘too young’, ‘too old’ or ‘frumpy’. To be honest, a lot of the styles I’ve always loved work better for me now. I’m leaning into cashmere sweaters, trench coats, silk shorts, tweed (mini) kilts, boucle jackets etc. But I’m still (at 48) cheerfully wearing short shorts in summer and my suede miniskirt (wore it yesterday to dinner in London with a cashmere boatneck) . I’m loving feeling confident in the styles and colours I love rather than second guessing myself.

This is what I said “I’d feel a little like I was dressing too young*

what part of that did you feel made you wish to attack, derail a thread and thay I meant everyone. Which part of “I” did you fails to understand.

I'm sure I never consciously thought "I'm too old for that" but even when I was a size 6 I was never interested in shorts, mini skirts, body con, vests. It's not a style of dressing I've ever found interesting. Nor do I think not wearing it makes anyone "a frump"