DF, if I haven't misread her earlier posts, works around the water with marine animals where a demure sweater set would be equally inappropriate. Active endeavours call for active wear, and if you're likely to get wet, 'dry clean only' isn't a sensible choice.
Exactly, which is to the point I've been trying to make. I'm not saying that once you hit 25 you have to wear pearls, sweater sets, pleated khakis, and docksiders. Far from it-- that can look just as ridiculous as the aforementioned tube top and surf shorts. As women (and men) get older, they are put into different situations than when they were in their teens and 20s. Dressing to those situations is important.
I also think that as you attain various milestones in your life, it's healthy to want to express that in your personal style. I think one should be proud of the fact that they aren't poor, 20 years old, and spend most of their free time in clubs and bars, so why look like it? We're an age-obsessed culture, and right or wrong, when you see someone who is 40 dressed like a 18 year old going to a club, one gets the feeling that they aren't very comfortable in their own skin. They don't want to be the age that they are, which seems to speak to some sort of insecurity.
I realize that I am somewhat prejudiced because I find teen clothing to be either bland, tacky or both and always have. I much prefer dresses and tailored pants to jeans and tube tops. Also, there's an element of quality to it-- when I have the money to spend $600 on a well-made, tailored suit, I want it to be something that I can wear for more than one season. That's a practical concern.
Even a young woman with the figure to carry off a mini skirt and tube top will look ridiculous wearing that combination to a wedding. (I've seen it done)
Agreed. I go to more weddings in 3 months that you'll probably attend in your whole life (unless you're a wedding professional), and I've seen more innappropriate clothing than I can remember (including a groom's father in boxer shorts on the dance floor). The interesting thing is that most of the time fashion mistakes are much better tolerated in young women-- be it chalked up to inexperience or whatever. The 40-something who is shitfaced with her tits and ass falling out of her dress is usually more of a spectacle than the 20 year old doing the same thing-- and whether that's fair or not, I don't know. I think it's just expected that someone who is older will be a little more experienced and reserved. Again, it's also because we are an age-obsessed culture and younger women by default are more desirable than older women. I think it's kind of bullshit, and maybe my whole attitude is because I'm pretty sick of the Cult of Youth coupled with the fact that I'm feeling old lately.
I don't act my age, according to my friends, and they tell me that's what makes me seem younger than I am. Not that I act immaturely (although that could be up for debate) but my outlook on life is generally positive and I don't think good music stopped after I hit 30.
My circle of friends vary in age considerably (several of my friends are 50+) but many are younger than me.
I'd describe it not that you don't act your age but that you're timeless. I know that may sound cheesy, but I get the feeling that you're not essentially too much different now than you were 15 years ago.
That said, the Billy Idol look I sported when i was twenty would look more comical on me now than it did then. :tongue:
This reminds me of something else-- style versus fashion. The Billy Idol thing is, apparently, coming back into style, but in general wearing things that looked good in 1990 look stupid to us now. Call it being a sheeple, but (almost) everyone is to some extent influenced by fashion. I lament that in 15 years the work I do now is going to look outdated to one extent or another because fashion changes, and it's not just limited to clothing.
Absolutely. Dressing appropriately for the occasion makes a bolder statement about one's style and common sense.
In this spirit, I'm going to wear my Hello Kitty jammies to Wal-mart. :tongue:
