End of an Era

[The Dragon]

End of an Era.
Sounds dramatic doesn't it.
But for me it's true.
There comes to a point in a womans life when youthful, cute and quirky fashions simply look tragic and ridiculous.
I'm sure this phenomenon happens to men as well.
I was reminded of this fact in a very startling way the other day.
I had passed a little boutique that specialises in up market surf clothing.
A little t-shirt with an edgy, grave yard humour motif caught my eye.
With out a seconds thought I had brought it and took it home.
The sight that greeted me in the mirror was not the one I had pictured in my head and it was a huge shock.
I looked like mutton dressed up as lamb.
I had passed being young and moved to old.
Is there anyones else ( man or woman) who has found the same thing?

 

[speshk]

How old are you? If you're a hot forty-something (not your opinion, mind - others) then the old "mutton dressed as lamb" (american: an old broad trying to look like a kid) doesn't apply. If you're younger than that and still not sure, well, send me pics and I'll give you my opinion . . .

You can dress conservatively and still be fetching, ya know.

 

[Pecker]

But I love mutton!

 

[midlifebear]

Dear Dragonfly20:

I hear you loud and clear. Imagine the wake-up call many of us flower children had when, walking happily down the street one day, we saw our reflections in store windows only to run home as fast as humanly possible in our platform shoes and bellbottom trousers so we could immediately change into Levis 501's and never look back. Yes, even Goldie Hawn admits to getting uncomfortable chills thinking about the end of that particular zeitgeist.

Love to love ya, baby!

 

[RedScrotum]

you may have passed young...but that doesn't mean you're old

 

[NightFish]

don't think of it as getting old, you just out grew that phase in your life, holler next and prepare for more fun

 

[DeeDee36dd]

PLEASE! I'm well past 40 and I wear what I want. I wear tight, low cut, logo t shirts all the time and I constantly am propositioned by 20 somethings. Age is a state of mind! Work out, stay in shape...and wear what you want. (If your pictures are any indication of your current condition, I say wear it!)

 

[goldbearMark]

A very interesting book that deals with this subject is the late great Doris Lessing's The Summer Before The Fall

I heartily concur that these metabolic downshifts can be jolting (to some traumatizing)...just going to prove the old truism about youth being wasted on the young. One day (if one is, to a degree, lucky - for some don't get to be alive) everybody will be forced to say "Why doesn't my body respond to my command the way it used to? Why isn't every task easy?" And - on that day - the looksist snobs who just couldn't be bothered with the less than Herculean or godlike become just a bit more human (and a lot more wistful...).

 

[psidom]

you may have passed young...but that doesn't mean you're old

i completely agree,i would not say you are old at all.
you are a 30 something which is excruciatingly hot for many of us
young pups.

:wink:

 

[B_Demention]

End of an Era.
Sounds dramatic doesn't it.
But for me it's true.
There comes to a point in a womans life when youthful, cute and quirky fashions simply look tragic and ridiculous.
I'm sure this phenomenon happens to men as well.
I was reminded of this fact in a very startling way the other day.
I had passed a little boutique that specialises in up market surf clothing.
A little t-shirt with an edgy, grave yard humour motif caught my eye.
With out a seconds thought I had brought it and took it home.
The sight that greeted me in the mirror was not the one I had pictured in my head and it was a huge shock.
I looked like mutton dressed up as lamb.
I had passed being young and moved to old.
Is there anyones else ( man or woman) who has found the same thing?

This might sound like a backhanded compliment, but it isn't - we like women better when they can no longer get away with wearing those sorts of things.

 

[dong20]

The sight that greeted me in the mirror was not the one I had pictured in my head and it was a huge shock.

I've experienced that sensation most of my adult life, and it's rarely been sartorial in origin.:smile:

I think one instinctively knows if one (or someone else) has crossed the line beyond what merely appearing youthful will cover - and arrived firmly (or, more likely not very firmly at all) into the realm of the vaguely (or quite clearly) absurd.

This applies to men and women, and I'd say it's a toss up which sex exhibits greater denial when it finally occurs. But it's sometimes fun to watch as they battle the inevitable. Some choices really do help sort the mutton from, as you say, the lamb.

For myself, I'm just relieved that these days the upper age limit on wearing jeans is into 3 digits. Beyond that, and never having been a slave to fashion, I don't give it much thought.:biggrin1:

 

[Yorkie]

It felt like the end of an era when I decided my black leather motorcycle jacket didn't suit me anymore.I wore it for a good few years after getting rid of the motorbike,I think I was about 30 when I decided it had to go.
I didn't see it as a sudden transformation into old age,it was just time for a change of style.
You're in great shape Dragonfly,don't let a change of clothes get you down!

 

[135145]

End of an Era.
Sounds dramatic doesn't it.
But for me it's true.
There comes to a point in a womans life when youthful, cute and quirky fashions simply look tragic and ridiculous.
I'm sure this phenomenon happens to men as well.
I was reminded of this fact in a very startling way the other day.
I had passed a little boutique that specialises in up market surf clothing.
A little t-shirt with an edgy, grave yard humour motif caught my eye.
With out a seconds thought I had brought it and took it home.
The sight that greeted me in the mirror was not the one I had pictured in my head and it was a huge shock.
I looked like mutton dressed up as lamb.
I had passed being young and moved to old.
Is there anyones else ( man or woman) who has found the same thing?

Old? never! from your gallery you still look young, gorgeous and very perky to me anyway.

 

[dong20]

It felt like the end of an era when I decided my black leather motorcycle jacket didn't suit me anymore.I wore it for a good few years after getting rid of the motorbike,I think I was about 30 when I decided it had to go.

Damn, I'd clearly blotted that particular trauma from my psyche - thanks for reminding me. I still have it somewhere though, the jacket that is. As for my psyche ... who the hell knows.

 

[Bbucko]

There's an old saying that, as one ages, one goes lighter, not darker.

Keep in mind the basics of being well dressed as any age:

1) Fit supersedes all other considerations. I still get things tailored.
2) Fabrics need to be comfortable and wearable, especially as one gets older.
3) Cut needs to flatter the positives you've got and downplay your negatives.
4) Keep grooming simple and easy to maintain.
5) Confidence comes from comfort.

When I was in my 20s in the 80s I wore some pretty crazy stuff: enormous shoulder pads; tight-tight jeans, aggressive patterns...lots and loads of trendy stuff.

Plus I (usually) spiked my hair, had it highlighted occasionally. I even went Madonna Blonde for about two years (think JP Gaultier). I had the look and attitude to carry everything off.

These days I'm much more low-key, but still keep up. I can wear low-rise jeans, but fitted, not tight. The same applies to my shirts.

I keep colors simple (nothing bright) and patterns to a minimum. One outstanding accessory suffices now. I favor belts now, with is odd, because I was always a shoe guy. But it's much easier to wear a studded belt than trendy shoes, and much more comfortable.

I stopped playing with my hair in my mid-30s. Now it's short and neat: no spikes, no colors.

 

[speshk]

There's an old saying that, as one ages, one goes lighter, not darker.

Keep in mind the basics of being well dressed as any age:

1) Fit supersedes all other considerations. I still get things tailored.
2) Fabrics need to be comfortable and wearable, especially as one gets older.
3) Cut needs to flatter the positives you've got and downplay your negatives.
4) Keep grooming simple and easy to maintain.
5) Confidence comes from comfort.

When I was in my 20s in the 80s I wore some pretty crazy stuff: enormous shoulder pads; tight-tight jeans, aggressive patterns...lots and loads of trendy stuff.

Plus I (usually) spiked my hair, had it highlighted occasionally. I even went Madonna Blonde for about two years (think JP Gaultier). I had the look and attitude to carry everything off.

These days I'm much more low-key, but still keep up. I can wear low-rise jeans, but fitted, not tight. The same applies to my shirts.

I keep colors simple (nothing bright) and patterns to a minimum. One outstanding accessory suffices now. I favor belts now, with is odd, because I was always a shoe guy. But it's much easier to wear a studded belt than trendy shoes, and much more comfortable.

I stopped playing with my hair in my mid-30s. Now it's short and neat: no spikes, no colors.

Thanks from all of us, Bbucko.

 

[lonestar692000]

The transition from "Kitten" to "Cougar" is life-changing, and it's magical. My best advice is that you should accept it and revel in it. It's freedom.

Aging is beyond anyone's control, including yours. I personally love it. (I will qualify that statement by saying I love all of it but the eventual death part). But again, it's beyond your control. It's not worth stressing about. Invest your time and resources in more productive things.

My EXTREMELY HOT wife will be celebrating her 47th birthday this year and she gets better and better as time goes by...no end in sight. I wouldn't have it any other way.

You're okay.

 

[Stretch]

If you didn't know how old you are...How old would you be?

 

[SurferGirlCA]

...There comes to a point in a womans life when youthful, cute and quirky fashions simply look tragic and ridiculous.

I know exactly what you mean. Wearing certain clothing can make someone young look older, but wearing something made for teenagers/college kids can make someone older look ummmm even older. I also work as a stylist so have to be constantly aware of who I'm fitting and what will or won't work for them, in terms of their body shape and their age. It's not about downplaying your vitality or sex appeal, it's recognizing that some things make it look like you're trying too hard - and that's never attractive.

It happens for guys, too, though. I live in CA and we have no shortage of 40/50something guys who would be perfectly handsome, distinguished-looking men but who seem to shop only at A/F and Hollister. I'd like to hope they're all suffering from a passing midlife crisis. :wink:

 

[Gillette]

A logo tshirt made you feel old?

<<< This cat did a wet tshirt contest years after discovering grey pubes!

What's that expression? "I'll never drink that much again."

I didn't win (that went to the 19yr old perky Parton impersonator) but I got my share of cheers and whistles. I'm sheepishly proud of myself.

You've got the figure, DF, flaunt it.