Have hormones changed my fashion choices?

[outdamnhot]

I am early 50s. In this hot weather I am wearing loose, cool, floaty dresses that cover my shoulders and upper arms. Its great, love it.

When I pass younger women in tight little tops and shorts, I think, ' that looks hot.' But then I remember that is how I used to dress.

Its not embarrassment about my body. I am pleased with how my body is and would be happy to wear a tight strappy top aesthetically, I just don't want to.

Its made me think that my hormones were probably influencing my clothing choices as a young woman more than I realised - to attract men.

Now I'm menopausal, I don't have such a drive and I'm happy to cover to protect myself from the sun, and wear loose clothing to keep air circulation to keep me cooler.

Just a thought.

I’m the same, and I think it’s because once you get to this age you care more about comfort than being ‘sexy’.

Same. It’s liberating.

I dunno, surely it's more to do with the fact your in your 50's and generally 50 year olds don't wear tight shorts and tops? I'm 34 and have been single for 5 years, have no interest in being "sexy" or attracting a man and I wear shorts and tightish tops.

Hmmm, are you assuming we don’t wear tight shorts etc because we think we shouldn’t? I wear stuff like that for going to the gym (not ass skimmers but short cycling short type things) because in an air-conditioned gym it’s comfortable) but out and about I’d wear harem pants and a vest, not because I’m ashamed of how my body looks, but because loose light fabric is more comfortable.

That's a lot of assuming on your part, I didn't say anything about anyone being ashamed of the way they look

• ironic that this thread is about assuming younger women wear tight clothes to be sexy 😅 and you've got offended because you assumed I meant older women should be ashamed. How bizarre

I think when I became a mother I became avoidant of the male gaze. I became more modest in my clothing, and I never reverted to my earlier way of dressing… at least partly because I don’t think my children want to see me with loads of flesh on show, and I don’t want to embarass them in front of their friends.

I think it’s definitely cooler to wear looser, floatier clothes. Maybe it takes us a while to realise that?

Interesting thread.

I was never interested in wearing shorts and tight strappy tops even as a size 6.

That had nothing to do with embarrassment about my body or being "modest". (hate, hate, hate that word used in connection with women's clothes) I never found dressing like that an interesting aesthetic. I suppose because the amount of clothes involved is so little and for me it was always about clothes, not showing off my figure.

I’m 52, definitely past courting the male gaze, but I’m wearing a stretchy ‘bodycon’ cotton jersey mini-dress today, because I like it and think it looks good on me… I couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks 😆 Also, finding this London heat more bearable in shorts and vest top than acres of even super lightweight natural fabric, but maybe that’s down the individual 🤔

Edited to add: I’m also wearing it because I’m finding it nice and cool (in both senses of the word), not just because I like how it looks.

It's interesting. I think it's a mix of hormones and just age really.
In my 20s, I was all for showing my bum, legs, my arms, etc, because a) it was a bit the done deal in summer for people my age, and b) somewhat I guess I wanted to look "attractive"

At 46, I'm lucky that I still have a very decent body, but the styles I'm interested in are not the same at all. There's a bit of trends of course, but mostly just my tastes have changed. And of course, the male gaze being at the bottom of my priorities, so comfort kind of takes over.

But there's also a hormonal cause. Last winter, despite not gaining weight or body shape, I have felt my clothes against my skin more accutely, don't know how to explain but suddenly I was very aware of the contact with my clothes and it was annoying, so I have adopted more ample items, with less pressure points on the skin.

I know what you mean about sensitivity to clothing! Loose, and soft, is really the only way for me, now. And all scratchy labels removed. And I simply can’t comprehend that I wore underwired bras for so long! Uuurrggh.

This seems a huge leap... It seems more likely to me that you were influenced by trends and by your peers. This week I've seen lots of younger women in looser floatier outfits, bermuda shorts, oversized shirts etc, looser clothes are in fashion. I've also seen lots of younger women in tight tops and hotpants, so there is a mix.

I do think comfort, life experience, maturity and also probably disposable income has something to do with it. At 20 I shopped in New Look and Boohoo and mainly wore polyester as I didn't really know the benefits of natural fibres, and I certainly wasn't spending as much per item as I do now. I'm also a lot more comfortable showing skin as I get a bit older, I'm a lot more confident in myself. So I really don't think it's got anything to do with men. Who dresses for men? They don't even notice.

@owlpassport a lot of us dress to avoid men. If I wear anything figure hugging I get intrusive looks, random comments. God forbid I should wear anything remotely bosom - revealing… trust me.. men notice.

Comfort. Plus when I was young and wore tight, short stuff it was mainly cotton. Now there is waaaaay to much synthetic fast fashion. This summer I have two linen dresses, a shorter cotton dress, two shorts and a few tops from a fair-trade/ethical source. All nice to wear and I will keep them until they wear out.

I was at Park Life festival last weekend. The young women, most of whom were 17-20, were all in tiny shorts, small bikini tops, lace tops with no bra so you could see nipples etc. etc. Whether it was to attract the opposite sex or to follow trends is irrelevant, they looked fantastic and I’m sure they’ll look back at this era of their lives with fondness.

I’m 36 and I wore short shorts and a crop top on one of the days, and an oversized football shirt as a dress on the other day. Not to attract men specifically (I’m not single) but to look attractive and my best, and to just have fun with clothes.

I don’t think it’s hormones at all. Plenty of times I wear something short, or that doesn’t cover my arms or my shoulders and it’s certainly not so I can attract men, perhaps that was just your case.

Many women of an older age simply dress in modest linen outfits and the like because they feel more comfortable without showing their changing body, and it’s actually the more fashionable look within that demographic.

I think it’s partly hormones, I’m 50 and been curious about this for a while.
its not even that I’m no longer bothered about the male gaze - I feel that I want to actively repel it. It’s a new and strange process.

I think it's more the increase in common sense as you get older. Younger people don't believe you will feel cooler in loose and longer clothing.

I think you’re right.

I dont think it would bother me about wearing skimpy clothes over 50, not that Ive ever cared about attracting men!

For me its more that the older I get the more aware I am of skin cancer risks, not to mention looking like an old leather handbag. I tend to cover up for health and (slightly) beauty reasons.

The thing with hormones is that the act subconsciously so no one could admit or deny the impact based on personal experience?

I favoured skimpier clothes when younger because I wanted to maximise tanning but I never really did very skimpy or tight as that wasn’t the look i’m into. I have always liked to be comfortable in my clothes & that feeling has increased as I got older. I also became far more conscious of protecting my skin etc.

Incredibly true about health priorities. I have a huge ‘ avoid skin cancer’ motivation these days. It’s much stronger than my ‘ look nice’ motivation, actually!

Looser clothes are the fashion now, for young people too. They're generally more aesthetically appealing too.

Agreed.