Age Appropriateness & Personal Style

Sorry for the blog absence this week....we were on vacation and then once we got back the inevitable combination of backlogged work plus my own self-imposed (and must be completed right now) projects shoved the blog to the back burner.  Now I'm back with more ruminations on being feminine and appropriate in our clothing choices as we age.

My last post was on aging gracefully and I am all for accepting the years and experiences (and wrinkles ) accumulated as we get older. Over the past year, I've been on a journey to define my own sense of style and then purposely direct that style in a manner that suits both this current period of life (late 30's) and the years to come.  I found a very inspirational blog last year in which a woman and her husband sold the large home in which they'd raised 3 boys and downsized to a tiny cottage.  Her blog illustrated how she streamlined her life by getting rid of all excess "stuff" and how this simplified life was so much more appropos to who she really was and how she wanted to live her life.  Her sense of style was also incredibly simple, classic and perfectly appropriate for her age.  I wanted to be this woman!  I wanted to have the house with no knick-knacks to dust or worry about breaking and the wardrobe pared down to the bare minimum.  She was ruthless with her closet purge, leaving herself only those items she absolutely loved, would wear often and fit into her personal definition of style.  I purged my closet, too...but was not nearly as ruthless partly because my own sense of style is still in development.  The main thing I've taken away from her blog is that she has perfectly defined her style and that style perfectly suits her age and station in life.  This tied directly into my desire to be both feminine and age-appropriate while trying to develop my own personal style.

Do you know what your personal style of dress even is?  It may change slightly over the course of your life, but you can usually pin it down to a few particulars.  What colors do you enjoy wearing and make you feel beautiful?  Do you enjoy more tailored clothing or loose peasant-style garments?  Are you a heels or flats girl?  Lots of statement jewelry or just a few small sentimental pieces?  All of these things, and more, play into your personal sense of style.  It's worthwhile to sit down and figure out what looks best on you and what you truly enjoy wearing.  Sometimes we wear things because they're fashionable, trendy, or suit an occasion - but they're not really our "style".  I have a pair of black 6" platform heels with spiked studs running down the heel and a bow on the vamp.  These shoes are not "my style"...however I loved them instantly, stalked them on Ebay and wear them occasionally.  I don't ever feel like myself when I wear them.  It's almost like I'm playing a part...the edgy New Yorker in the cool shoes and leather jacket.  Nothing wrong with dressing outside the box every now and then, or including a trendy piece or two, in your wardrobe. But be very careful of building your wardrobe around trendy pieces that will look dated and silly in a year or so.  It's best to spend the majority of your clothing budget on items that are true to your personal style and are relevant regardless of the fashion trends.

There are some items of clothing that are always classy and transcend age.  A perfectly fitted black pencil skirt will look great on a 22-year-old office worker and a 70-year-old grandmother going to church.  A dark rinse bootcut jean looks good on everyone - big, small, old or young.  A classic white button down shirt is a staple in most women's wardrobe.  These are items that will stand the test of time and you might consider putting some money into buying quality pieces if you plan to wear them for 10+ years.  It will be well worth it.  You can also find classic clothing that fits into your personal definition of style.  A very no-nonsense dresser will have no problem with a classic no-frills pencil skirt. However, those more romantically inclined might opt for one with a fishtail or ruffled kickpleat in the back. Still appropriate at any age, but just slightly modified to suit personal taste.

One thing to really consider as we get older it to be age-appropriate with our clothing.  I know that this greatly depends on how in-shape you are, how old your face looks, and many other factors including your job, lifestyle, etc. However, take a good hard look at what you are wearing and ask the opinions of others if you have any doubts about it.  I am well aware that there is a limited amount of years that I will be able to wear my sky-high studded heels.  There are just some styles that should be left to the teenagers or younger crowd.  Very low-rise jeans, high platform shoes, babydoll dresses, spaghetti strap/strapless sundresses, tanktops.  At a certain point, we older (or aging) women just look silly in these items.  They are no longer appropriate.  Even if your body can wear the styles, your face (no matter how well your skin has aged) will give you away.  As the years go by, spend some time evaluating your style and what makes you most comfortable and beautiful. Then throw away the items in your closet that don't fit that style and be calculating and ruthless when considering future purchases.  You'll end up with a smaller, but more workable, wardrobe and project effortless femininity and age appropriateness at the same time.

**The shoes pictured are my spiked heels...Vince Camuto Jamma, in case you were wondering.**