The aging gracefully thread got me wondering: A few people said they don't want to get older and look like the stereotypical old woman (or for me, the stereotypical middle-aged woman). But I have the hardest time finding casual clothes. At 46, I don't want to dress in dumpy polyester pants on the weekends. On the other hand, I feel like most of the stores (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, to name a few) sell clothes that are designed with 20-year-olds in mind. Not that I can't fit into them, but they're way too young and trendy or skimpy, and they don't appeal to me. I hate to have that mutton dressed up as lamb look....So where do you shop? And how do you figure out what sort of clothes to wear? (I don't mean clothes for working in the office--that's pretty easy.) I feel like there isn't any standard to follow, somehow. (Hrm...maybe I should read some women's magazines??!)
Speaking of Aging...Clothes?
- Thread starter Bunbun
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lala1
Cathlete
OH yes, the "age-old" problem of how to dress 
I have 2 teenage daughters that keep me in line. Basically, stay away from "mommy jeans" and REALLY low rise pants that would brand you as a teenage "wannabe" I live in WI and the biggest problem here is that women tend to dress "dumpy". . .baggy clothes. I also stay away from "teacher" clothes (I AM a teacher BTW) which are sweaters etc with snowmen, halloween pumpkins, apples, etc. What I find I love are Eddie Bauer stretch low rise bootcut jeans. They are low rise, but not too much and look great (my DH ALWAYS compliments me) I also stay away from what I call the "bedroom" look (lacy camisoles) but that is my personal opinion. I do like more fitted tops, which just takes some looking around. I'm 49 and think I've found a good medium. I also stay away from too much trendiness, but allow myself one or 2 items that may be out of style in a year or two. The biggest thing is to find clothes that fit well. . .good luck!!! I loved Petite Sophisticate which is now out of business. I buy a lot from catalogues. OK this was long, but I do like clothes. Oh yea, and maybe watch "What not to wear" ! You can get good ideas!!!
I have 2 teenage daughters that keep me in line. Basically, stay away from "mommy jeans" and REALLY low rise pants that would brand you as a teenage "wannabe" I live in WI and the biggest problem here is that women tend to dress "dumpy". . .baggy clothes. I also stay away from "teacher" clothes (I AM a teacher BTW) which are sweaters etc with snowmen, halloween pumpkins, apples, etc. What I find I love are Eddie Bauer stretch low rise bootcut jeans. They are low rise, but not too much and look great (my DH ALWAYS compliments me) I also stay away from what I call the "bedroom" look (lacy camisoles) but that is my personal opinion. I do like more fitted tops, which just takes some looking around. I'm 49 and think I've found a good medium. I also stay away from too much trendiness, but allow myself one or 2 items that may be out of style in a year or two. The biggest thing is to find clothes that fit well. . .good luck!!! I loved Petite Sophisticate which is now out of business. I buy a lot from catalogues. OK this was long, but I do like clothes. Oh yea, and maybe watch "What not to wear" ! You can get good ideas!!!Hi Bunbun,
I am 51 but love the young looks. You just have to try things on and make sure they look good. I like TJ Maxx, Anthropologie, Guess, and department stores such as macy's. Chico's targets the middle age woman.....they have some nice clingy stuff that is really flattering....I also peruse Nordstrom Rack and Ross Dress for Less...always looking for style at a good price. I also like Overstock.com. Alot depends on your body type also. I am 5'3" and in good shape so that helps. Good luck. I'm interested in what others have to say.
Lisa
I am 51 but love the young looks. You just have to try things on and make sure they look good. I like TJ Maxx, Anthropologie, Guess, and department stores such as macy's. Chico's targets the middle age woman.....they have some nice clingy stuff that is really flattering....I also peruse Nordstrom Rack and Ross Dress for Less...always looking for style at a good price. I also like Overstock.com. Alot depends on your body type also. I am 5'3" and in good shape so that helps. Good luck. I'm interested in what others have to say.
Lisa
That's basically what I do right now, Lisa. Not so much the department stores because I'm too lazy to go to them...but I search through other stores, trying on all sorts of stuff to try to find something that looks good. It's just frustrating, though--you would think that there would be stores that target middle aged women who are in good shape and like to dress nice.
I do love the clothes ideas on What Not to Wear, even if I would never wear heels and a jacket and great jeans on the weekend--unless I was doing something special. Who wants to run errands and hang out when you're all dressed up?
I do love the clothes ideas on What Not to Wear, even if I would never wear heels and a jacket and great jeans on the weekend--unless I was doing something special. Who wants to run errands and hang out when you're all dressed up?
twosquared
Cathlete
Gap supposedly came out with a new store geared for 40+ women. I have not seen a store, but think a few have opened.
I have been very lucky at Anne Taylor Loft, less expensive than Anne Taylor still pricey unless you catch a good sale. They even have some "warmup" type outfits that are great!!!.
Good Luck!!
I have been very lucky at Anne Taylor Loft, less expensive than Anne Taylor still pricey unless you catch a good sale. They even have some "warmup" type outfits that are great!!!.
Good Luck!!
JeanneMarie
Cathlete
I will be 50 this year. One of my absolute favorite places to shop is "White House/Black Market". The clothes are great quality and stylish, but not teenager looking. Just about my whole wardrobe from jeans to skirts to dress up dresses to shoes comes from this store. I love it!
Cocomac
Cathlete
I just read an article about stores like American Eagle, Talbots, and the Gap coming out with clothes targeted to women in their 40's and 50's.....due to the fact that "us" baby boomers will now represent the largest percentage of the population. So it is a good marketing strategy. I am 51 and love the clothes in J. Jill. I get the catalogs but they also have a website, jjill.com. They're a little expensive so I will only buy one or two favorite items once in a while. But it looks like there will be more for us to choose from in the future!!
Donna M
Donna M
nancy324
Cathlete
I agree that it's not easy to find weekend wear, Bunbun. What's sad is that I buy tons of stuff and don't wear most of it. I have this one pair of pants from LLBean which I wear ALL the time because they fit well and are comfortable. They're called "perfect fit" pants. I just wear a scoop-necked cotton t-shirt with them, and that's it. Every single weekend and all my cute, adorable "outfits" just sit in the closet and I wear the same outfit all the time. I do the same thing at work too.
Weird, huh?
-Nancy
Weird, huh?
-Nancy
4
40something
Guest
Argh, BunBun. I am having this quandry right now. I have a wedding to go to soon...very soon...and I am sick of trying to shop for something to wear because there are no clothing designers who are designing with us in mind. It is either a whole lotta skin exposed with spaghetti straps and no built-in bras which I don't do...or I shop at Christopher Banks and dress like my mother. Good Gawd Gertie.
I also am NOT into the 60/70 retro look. I didn't wear those styles back in the day...why would I want to now in the year 2006?? I just hate the peasant blouses that make any girl look seven months pg or all the loud awful prints. And I'm not into the low-low rise jeans so the crack of my arse is out for all to see when I sit down. I just don't get why girls like to have their G-strings hanging out ABOVE the waist of their pants. Ack! I just don't care to see everyones underwear.
Oh and one more thing...I prefer to buy dresses and skirts with the hem above the knee. I have nice legs and I want to show them off plus I'm on the short side so more exposed leg makes me look taller and less dowdy...but just try to find that hemline on anything aimed at the over 40 market!?! No, apparently we are supposed to dress like Quakers and the dresses/skirts all go to your ankle and make you feel like a pioneer woman. I just hate shopping anymore.
I also am NOT into the 60/70 retro look. I didn't wear those styles back in the day...why would I want to now in the year 2006?? I just hate the peasant blouses that make any girl look seven months pg or all the loud awful prints. And I'm not into the low-low rise jeans so the crack of my arse is out for all to see when I sit down. I just don't get why girls like to have their G-strings hanging out ABOVE the waist of their pants. Ack! I just don't care to see everyones underwear.
Oh and one more thing...I prefer to buy dresses and skirts with the hem above the knee. I have nice legs and I want to show them off plus I'm on the short side so more exposed leg makes me look taller and less dowdy...but just try to find that hemline on anything aimed at the over 40 market!?! No, apparently we are supposed to dress like Quakers and the dresses/skirts all go to your ankle and make you feel like a pioneer woman. I just hate shopping anymore.
For formal clothes, I've actually had a lot of success at Ann Taylor. A bit on the expensive side, but then they're also always having sales. They tend to have a lot of cute dresses that are knee length (or above) and not necessarily with spaghetti straps, which I can't wear.
I hate really low waisted jeans, too. I've had a lot of trouble finding a pair of jeans lately. I have two nice pairs that I wear to work, but they're rather low waisted and form fitting and not the most comfortable thing in the world. On the weekends, I never wear my nice jeans and cute tops. I wind up wearing t-shirts that are a bit too old/tight/shrunken for work and a pair of jeans that are ripped in the upper inner thigh area--they have a patch on them but it is sort of coming off....in other words, I wear my old, beat up clothing because I don't feel like getting my "good" stuff dirty!
I hate really low waisted jeans, too. I've had a lot of trouble finding a pair of jeans lately. I have two nice pairs that I wear to work, but they're rather low waisted and form fitting and not the most comfortable thing in the world. On the weekends, I never wear my nice jeans and cute tops. I wind up wearing t-shirts that are a bit too old/tight/shrunken for work and a pair of jeans that are ripped in the upper inner thigh area--they have a patch on them but it is sort of coming off....in other words, I wear my old, beat up clothing because I don't feel like getting my "good" stuff dirty!
toastythemosty
Cathlete
I buy the same clothes that teenagers wear because they fit me the best and I like them! I don't care HOW I am suppose to dress for my AGE...that is just a number anymore to me. For formal clothes, same thing. I remember recently shopping with my SIL who directed me to a certain dept in the store. I just laughed to myself and caught up with DD and we were practically trying on the same clothes together.
Charlotte~~
Charlotte~~
darli ann
Cathlete
I'm right there with you ladies, buying clothes is not easy! I'm 46 and short. I live in a middle size "town" and our franchise stores are all scaled down in merchandise from the bigger versions in the cities. The petites section in ur JCPenney's and Macy's consist of a few racks, and most of that stuff is u-g-l-y! One day I was looking through a rack of clothes and I glanced at the lady next to me who was going through the same rack. She was about 80 years old. I wanted to scream, WHERE'S THE CLOTHES FOR MEEEEEE?!??!!
toastythemosty
Cathlete
I must admit. I do have a hard time finding the right shorts. I am not into the bermuda kind. I don't like the kind where your butt cheeks hang out either and I don't like the kind that make your butt look like a pancake. Then there are the kind with the back pockets that are too small and too far apart...those kind make your butt look very gross. I look for bigger back pockets and closer together, low rise and at least a 2 1/2 inch inseam. Am I picky or what?
Charlotte~~
Charlotte~~
I shop in all the departments! OK, maybe not the toddler section . I like some of the younger clothes but depending on the store there *are* attractive, stylish clothes for women who want to look good but not overly trendy or teenager-ish. My biggest problem has always been one of size. Everything is cut for big women or super skinny ones. Try finding something that is made for a short muscular woman with large breasts!!! Finding the Holy Grail is easier.
Sparrow
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
. I like some of the younger clothes but depending on the store there *are* attractive, stylish clothes for women who want to look good but not overly trendy or teenager-ish. My biggest problem has always been one of size. Everything is cut for big women or super skinny ones. Try finding something that is made for a short muscular woman with large breasts!!! Finding the Holy Grail is easier.Sparrow
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
LauraMax
Cathlete
I'm with you Charlotte--as far as I'm concerned I'm in better shape than most 25 year olds, so I have the right to dress young. ;-)
I love What Not to Wear--Stacey & Clinton are awesome. However their rule about not being able to wear skirts above the knee after age 35 kinda makes me mad. Why shouldn't I? I mean, I'm not talking micro minis here, but I don't see why I can't wear a skirt 2-3 inches above the knees.
Anyway, I have no problem with low rise jeans, navel bearing shirts, etc., as long as they're worn appropriately & aren't cheap, trashy kind of clothing (i.e. I'm not wearing any cut off T shirts). If they fit right & I feel like I look good, I'm wearing them.
I love What Not to Wear--Stacey & Clinton are awesome. However their rule about not being able to wear skirts above the knee after age 35 kinda makes me mad. Why shouldn't I? I mean, I'm not talking micro minis here, but I don't see why I can't wear a skirt 2-3 inches above the knees.
Anyway, I have no problem with low rise jeans, navel bearing shirts, etc., as long as they're worn appropriately & aren't cheap, trashy kind of clothing (i.e. I'm not wearing any cut off T shirts). If they fit right & I feel like I look good, I'm wearing them.
JAFitMama
Cathlete
Ann Taylor Loft and Ann Taylor ans Talbots have all worked for me. Except for skirts. I only wear above the knee skirts and have found the best slection at Cache. However the tops at Cache are generally too tight for my taste. I don't prefer my tops to fit like a bthing suit unless I am on a tropical vacation.
Judy "Likes2bfit"
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
Success is acheived by early preparation
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Judy "Likes2bfit"
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
Success is acheived by early preparation
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