Telling women over 40 what they can wear

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BlestOne - sorry to hear about your m/c - 😦 I had one in May so I can relate to what you are going through.

:hug1:
 
I am not a fashion statement! I wear shorts in the summer (mid-thigh length) and tank tops with flip flops nearly every day. In winter, it is usually wind pants and sweatshirts or tshirts with tennis shoes. My hair is mid-back and I usually have it in a ponytail.

Yesterday as I was examining the ends for split ends and finding quite a few, I said to my 15 year old that I should get my hair cut (meaning the split ends trimmed off). He warily looked at me and said, “What do you mean - CUT? NOT like grandma, right?” Grandma has really short hair. I said, “Why not like grandma?” He said, “Why do all old people think they have to go butch. It just doesn’t look good.” :rotfl: He insisted I keep my hair long. I love that kid!
 
I’m 57. I wear t-shirts, bermuda shorts and capris in the summer. Right now it’s 94 and I’d burn up otherwise. I am in pretty good shape, a size 10 and I never wear anything too tight or too lowcut.
I don’t like crocs - they just aren’t comfortable for me. So I wear Teva sandals.
 
Biblioassistant said:
I’m 57. I wear t-shirts, bermuda shorts and capris in the summer. Right now it’s 94 and I’d burn up otherwise. I am in pretty good shape, a size 10 and I never wear anything too tight or too lowcut.
I don’t like crocs - they just aren’t comfortable for me. So I wear Teva sandals.
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I just saw an ad in a catalog for Teva sandals, how comfy are they?

BTW we have an emergency heat warning here, and last night our central AC broke!!! :eek: So we’re all in the rec room downstairs, cooling off. Its 98 here!
 
Speaking of function over fashion:

I can’t remember if I posted the link earlier, but these adjustable Chaco sandals (in the Jupiter stripe with Unaweep soles) are the ones I bought for my recent camping trip. These things are super awesome and comfortable. I wore them hiking (good traction and no blisters), on the beach, in the water (they’re waterproof, machine washable, and dry quickly), and when I cut my big toe on a piece of driftwood, I could adjust the toe loop to fit over the bandage while still keeping the rest of the sandal snug. They’re really cute on my feet, too. 👍
 
I’d like to thank Biblioassistant for the mention of TEVA sandals!

I was curious because the word “teva” in Hebrew means, “nature”. (I guess the guy who started the company is either Jewish or an Israeli)…anyway, I did a websearch and when I saw the price for them I went :eek:

So I went to pricegrabber.com and they found me a model for 30 bucks (no kidding!)…I just had to be willing to choose from the sizes and colors they had left, which was just fine for me (I got size 8–my size— and grey/light blue, which are my favorite colors anyway).

I have them on right now and are they EVER comfortable!! They feel better than the Crocs and what’s more, I don’t have to deal with dirty feet (ugh) like I did with Crocs.

Grazie!!👍
 
My daughter (21) thinks Crocs are of the devil, but then again she wears 4-5" heels (ouch!). My (41 year old) opinion is this: why on earth should someone cares what’s on your feet? (unless you are extremely heavy and wearing stilettos and damaging their good wood floor). And unless you are wearing a Hello Kitty backpack (please, please say you’re not;) ), a nice leather backpack could be useful for any age. I also have long hair although I almost always wear it up (personal preference). I see no reason to practically shave your head because you reach a “certain” age. My only real fashion rules are that I never wear anything that is immodest, childish, or makes my backside look in dire need of a wide-load sign. I agree that checking one’s rear view is always a good policy in any outfit. Otherwise, I wish the fashion police would take a rest and let the rest of us keep our hard earned money instead of wasting it on their trivial fads.
 
Sepharad said:
OK, I know this is a Catholic forum, so I hope this thread is Ok here…I just felt maybe somebody here could help me with this.

I just read an article online that says women over 40 “must not” wear certain things…included in that were Crocs shoes, and backpacks!

Can anyone explain to me why this might be? I’ve never been one to let anyone tell me what to wear just because of my age, and I have always preferred backpacks to handbags so it keeps my hands free (I went back to backpacks when I had to take daily care of my elderly mother…I needed my hands free to push her wheelchair and the handbag kept sliding down my arm!)

And Crocs are very comfortable, so why not? I also have long hair down to my rear, and they say women over 40 shouldn’t do that either!

Of course I don’t listen to stuff like that, but I’m curious as to the “why” of it. Anyone know?
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To whom was the article addressed? It’s one thing if you’re advising people on how to appear in a professional venue – or even if you’re aiming for credibility on the social level in a social setting. But crocs (yuk) and backpacks have their place. As you note: hands free for necessary tasks.

People who study these things show pictures of people dressed in different ways and ask questions like: Which one of these three people would you trust? Which . . . do you think has the most power? Which . . . has the most credibility? Which . . . is the manager?

Things like hair length factor into that. Hair longer than shoulder length shows up “low” on the credibility scale. Hair color goes into it also. Women over 40 in professional positions who color thier hair and have well-done makeup appear to be more “credible” and competent than women (like me) who do not color their hair and who have invisible makeup.

Crocs? We use them in the lab where they can be dunked in Clorox.
 
mercygate said:
Things like hair length factor into that. Hair longer than shoulder length shows up “low” on the credibility scale.
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I grew out my hair a bit when I retired from the Army. Basically, I rebelled after 20 years of biweekly “trim around, clear the ears, taper the back”. So I grew a pony tail. Just for the heckuvit.

Didn’t like it. So I got it cut off, before I went hunting for a job. Now, every 3 weeks, it’s “trim around, clear the ears, taper the back”. I’m such a rebel. :cool:
 
Ghoti said:
I grew out my hair a bit when I retired from the Army. Basically, I rebelled after 20 years of biweekly “trim around, clear the ears, taper the back”. So I grew a pony tail. Just for the heckuvit.

Didn’t like it. So I got it cut off, before I went hunting for a job. Now, every 3 weeks, it’s “trim around, clear the ears, taper the back”. I’m such a rebel. :cool:
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DH had planned to do the pony tail thing when he retired. It lasted about 3 months then he couldn’t stand the hair around his ears. Since then, every 6 or 7 weeks it’s a buzz with a # 2 clipper.

OTOH, he’s only shaved off his beard once in the 10 years since his release and that he did for $1000 for cancer research.
 
Phemie said:
DH had planned to do the pony tail thing when he retired. It lasted about 3 months then he couldn’t stand the hair around his ears. Since then, every 6 or 7 weeks it’s a buzz with a # 2 clipper.

OTOH, he’s only shaved off his beard once in the 10 years since his release and that he did for $1000 for cancer research.
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Good for him!

I had a beard for a few years while I was in (medical exemption), and had a moustache from about the time I made Corporal in the mid-80s (moustaches seem to be far more prevalent in the CF than in the American forces). I have had a beard now since my release. Donna loves it, my mother can’t stand it, my father has no opinion. I might shave it off for a good cause, but other than that, I don’t expect to have it removed before my funeral.
 
Ghoti said:
Good for him!

I had a beard for a few years while I was in (medical exemption), and had a moustache from about the time I made Corporal in the mid-80s (moustaches seem to be far more prevalent in the CF than in the American forces). I have had a beard now since my release. Donna loves it, my mother can’t stand it, my father has no opinion. I might shave it off for a good cause, but other than that, I don’t expect to have it removed before my funeral.
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I hope DH expects the same. Truth be told, he’s on the chubby side (read, compulsory PT size;) ) and the beard deemphasizes that. A benefit of the beard: he’s sometimes mistaken for Santa by the younger set, even though the beard is not snow white.
 
Phemie said:
I hope DH expects the same. Truth be told, he’s on the chubby side (read, compulsory PT size😉 ) and the beard deemphasizes that. A benefit of the beard: he’s sometimes mistaken for Santa by the younger set, even though the beard is not snow white.
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Aarrgh! Bad flashbacks!

Yes, I was also a victim of a somewhat “enhanced” BMI…

And yes, a nice beard can effectively camouflage that extra chin. I’m just trying to grow it long enough for a decent “combover”…😃
 
puzzleannie said:
I also think we probably all need that 360 degree mirror before walking out of the house in the morning–it sure stopped me from wearing shorts in public, the long suffering world does not need that affliction.
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I’m not sure I would survive the 360 degree mirror (possibley it would be the mirror which would not survive?) I would, however, throw most of my clothes in the trash bin - just to save Stacy and Clinton the work. 🙂 🙂 🙂
 
joamy said:
I’m not sure I would survive the 360 degree mirror (possibley it would be the mirror which would not survive?) I would, however, throw most of my clothes in the trash bin - just to save Stacy and Clinton the work. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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While I do enjoy watching Stacy and Clinton, and think they have good ideas, my respect for Clinton’s sartorial smarts is tempered by the fact he wears argyle sweaters.
 
puzzleannie said:
the whole point of being over 40 is you don’t have to listen to this c–p anymore and don’t have to obey the fashion police.
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👍
Sepharad said:
One clothing issue I have is: in my religion (as well as in yours), modesty in dress is very strongly encouraged. Yet much of the modestwear makes a heavier woman look frumpy! I’m a size 12-14 (used to be lots bigger), and I find that when you are larger, modest clothing doesn’t do much for you.

How does one dress modestly without looking frumpy? Any recommendations?
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You know, that is true…But, my dear woman, a 12-14 is NOT “heavier”. A 12-14 is :gopray2: “Please God, just once before I die let me fit into one, even if it rips apart when I wear it!!!”
I wear 2X on the top & 3X on the bottom (and y’all have not lived until you’ve tried dressing that combination!)

I wear crocs (generic knockoffs, but the same shoes), & they are comfortable, & at 61, I am entitled to comfort!!!
I wear what is comfy, including jeans. I wear broomstick skirts…whatever!!
I think that the key is, to find your own style, & stick with it. Long skirts are comfy & very “me”. (So are the gold gypsy hoops in my ears, and http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/22.gif woe be unto anyone who tries to get me to give those up!!!)
No, you find your own style, & as long as you wear it, you will look–not frumpy–but like yourself!!

My hair is short. Very short; its easier to take care of…something I discovered when, some years back, I was washing my near-to-waist length hair in the kitchen sink (I am 😛 really old!! I have always washed my hair in the kitchen sink!!)
My hair managed to snake on down the drain, leaving me :bigyikes: permanently attached to said sink. (Did you know that human hair is the strongest fiber known to man??).
I scrabbled around blindly in the knife drawer (thankfully in arm’s reach!!)until I found the poultry shears, and just cut all that hair off…I felt lighter. I felt freer. I felt that I had let go of a terrible weight that I never knew I had…Of course,:hmmm: I had never been:blush: tethered to a sink before, either…

We will quietly pass over the incident when I caught an unexpected glimpse of my own backside in a ladies’ room full-length mirror, & turned around to see “who on earth that** fat** woman was, wearing a dress just like mine”…http://bestsmileys.com/blushing/2.gif
 
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