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.

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"

Do you think women who don't show bums and legs are unattractive?

Personally think "showing your bum" is the sign of a simple lass and not in the good way

Agree, particularly about the use of the word "modest" in this context. To me it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

Absolutely not, I don't even get how you can get to that conclusion.

I should have said "appealing to the male gaze" maybe but I'm sure you're going to manage to be offended anyway.

Is dressing that way designed to appeal to the male gaze? Posters often get offended at the suggestion they dress for the male gaze.

I think young women like to look good to other people in general, including to potential mates, it's not exactly breaking news.

And I don't know what you mean by "dress that way".
Personally I was just wearing shorts or mini-skirts and tank tops, nothing very original there.

Only reason at 51 I choose loose stuff is because I can’t stop sweating, and if I put on a sexy tight vests within seconds there will be big underboob patches and back patches! My termostat is totally broken.

Not sure why you don't know what I meant by "dress that way" I was referring back to what you said yourself as how you dressed,

In my 20s, I was all for showing my bum, legs, my arms, etc

Are you saying if "young women like to look good to other people in general, including to potential mates" that it means dressing the way you did?

Is it controversial now to say some people flash the flesh to attract the opposite sex? One of my friends got a boob job in her early 20s and those bad boys were out all the time. So what?

Is it just experience of overheating and sunburn? Knowledge of the skin cancer risks become realer as we age. Personally as a very pale person Ive always gone to floaty loose route, as I need coverage.

When I was younger I wore short skirts. Now I’m older I wear short skirts. I just prefer them. I never really wore shorts before, but having young children I find them easier as I’m more active. They’re still very short though!!

Yes! This is also true! When I take my dress off, in this heat, it’s wet at the back, all my upper back is sweating into the dress! If I wasn’t wearing patterned fabric, I’d look as if I’m at the gym! Urgh. Thermostat up the creek.

The way I dressed was like a lot of 20yo in Paris in the 2000s, really I don't get what you want me to say. And yes I was young and lovely and wanted a bit of attention so a strategy was to show a bit of skin, call the police

Why are you going in so hard on PP? There's nothing wrong with what she said. She even put "attractive" in inverted commas, it's clear what she means and it's absolutely on topic (unlike your posts). Back off.