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 remember reading a body language book once and it stated that floaty, relaxed clothing was considered sexy, probably because the body is free under it. So, it's not necessarily true that a loose dress is less sexy than tighter clothing.

God I abhor this attitude of thinking women always dressing for fhe male gaze, and irs always older women who think it. Women, any age, tend to dress for fhemselves first and foremost and secondly for other women, to fit in, compete, impress, they only dress for men when trying to attract a mate or with one.

these young women are wearing what’s fashionable what their mates wear. You’ve no idea of the sexual orientation of the females either. 25 percent of young people are lgbtq.

I’m in my fifties, I don’t wear short shorts and tight little tops as I prefer to,look elegant. When I did when younger, it was never for men, it was as it was fashionable.

give women more credit op. And how on earth would it be hot to wear less clothing that you.

This.

It's pretty much accepted that women dress more sexy when ovulating, but hardly anyone is conscious of doing that.

For me because I prefer to look elegant, so I will wear mid thigh tailored shorts and a round neck silk vest top for example. For others it will be due to body hang ups. For others as it’s not very fashionable for women in their fifities to do so, who cares, everyone is free to do as they please.

"And how on earth would it be hot to wear less clothing that you."

Tightness is hot, which I presume is what she means.
Also, if it's very hot, it can be better to cover up to avoid sunburn and also your clothes can soak up the sweat. This is for very high temperatures though and possibly not what UK youngsters are used to.

I don’t find that, and I tend not to sweat either, so I don’t need to wear clothes to avoid that,

You don't sweat? I'd like to see you in 38 degrees not sweating!

I said I tend not to sweat either, I am also not outside in 38 degrees. In fact I’ve not been anywhere that’s 38 degrees ever.

That's why you don't sweat lol.

Um ok,

Exactly, they are.

It’s my experience.
its not your experience and that’s completely fine and expected but I find it very narrow minded, ignorant and rude to say my experience is a load of crap.

And omg, this thread
OP ‘I feel like this, wonder if anyone else does?’
response - ‘you’re wrong’

It's not ageist to say there comes a point when someone (male or female) can no longer carry off hot pants.

Fair enough someone can wear them at any age and they certainly shouldn't be banned/discouraged etc because of age but its disingenuous to say generally younger people don't carry them off better than older people.

No, it isn't. I can appreciate beauty in others. Britz on Tour aesthetic ain't it.

I definitely don't feel like that!! Who wants to purposefully look unattractive FGS 😳
Have you given up washing/grooming as well in your quest not to attract?

It's not ageist. It's just this weird assumption by some posters on MN that any women who doesn't like short skirts, hot pants, strappy tops is only saying that because they are too old and/or too fat and/or too hideous to wear them and they're just jealous of those who can.

So you get comments like "Tbf that's probably because you're no longer young enough to carry off something like hotpants" in response to comments like "Personally think "showing your bum" is the sign of a simple lass and not in the good way"

Neither comment is particularly nice and both are judgemental.

I never wore shorts, strappy tops, etc, even as a size 6 as I thought they were really, really boring. I've always been a hippy, dippy, long dresses type. Not showing skin didn't cause the slightest difficulty attracting men

Yes but that that’s exactly what the thread is about - why don’t they wear tight shorts and vests anymore. You’ve said yourself that they don’t - so why?

That is what OP is putting forward a theory for. What’s your theory?

I’m exactly the same, I can’t even stand the feel of my long hair, when I get in from work I immediately put it in a top knot and no I can’t cut it short because unfortunately it doesn’t suit me.

Good - you don’t feel like that
I do
end

A lot of it is just doing what those around you do-a lot of younger people dress like that as others do-and they like compliments from both male and female friends, so it's not necessarily about male gaze, regardless of your sexuality.

It is true that a lot of people are looking for a partner when younger, and then once they're settled, prefer not to dress in certain ways, just as it's true that hormonal changes to do with age make certain clothing less comfortable.