Dress My WHAT?

One night last week, I was skimming web pages when I stopped cold at an article entitled “Dress Your Age.”

Dress your age, in this day and age? Are we still defining and maligning who can wear what based on the year of their birth? Apparently so. Take a gander at Google on this particular topic. Everyone has something to say. But I think the guidelines are simple: attire should be respectful of occasion and profession.

Otherwise? Keep your nose out of my drawers, your eyes off my birth certificate, and your opinions to yourself!

Do first impressions count? Do we judge based on appearance? Of course. But aren’t we entitled to dress for public (and private) consumption according to mood, personal style, and regardless of age – or for that matter, body type?

Our own worst critics

Like most women, I’m my own worst critic when it comes to my assets and liabilities. Naturally, I dress to accentuate the positives, and minimize the “also-rans.”

That’s what we do in life; we play up advantages and downplay challenges.

I will admit I’m curious. Ladies – do you dress for a man, for other women, or for yourselves?

And gentlemen, what about you? Who do you dress for? Or is it the last thing you think about before heading out the door? One uniform for work (with variations), and another for play? Ever give a thought to whether or not you look “fat” or if your attire is age appropriate?

(Care to admit to one or the other?)

The sexy underthing

And “Women of a Certain Age” – would you wear the gorgeous corset above – assuming you could afford it, and it was comfortable?

I would, and do so without hesitation. I would and do wear beautiful lingerie and feel divine, totally at home – regardless of my age, my non-size-two status, or any other factor.

Doesn’t every woman deserve to feel good about herself – attractive, sexy, and confident?

The good, the bad, and the you-know-what

Some of us admire our favorite celebs, as displayed in magazines, on  television, film and other media. We’re impressed, distressed or pressed to look  a certain way. We emulate their style, picture ourselves in their fashion choices. But in the real world, we balance those desires with a sizable dose of practicality (budget and lifestyle), as over time, we shape our personal style.

We also secretly enjoy those pictures snapped when public figures don’t look their best; they look like us! Check out Gwyneth, caught by the paparazzi, and looking just fine as a “regular person” though we usually see her decked out and glammed up.

Lifestyle pronouncements

When I hear “Dress Your Age” – in any context – I can’t help but get hot under the collar. Who says we must act a certain way at 20-something or 40-something? And then dress the part? And when it comes to 50+, it appears we’re just one giant, homogeneous disappearing group to be bagged up and tossed over the counter!

Did anyone notice the First Lady was photographed wearing shorts to the Grand Canyon? Bravo to Michelle Obama – for a display of normalcy despite life in the media fishbowl. I suspect she’s a woman who knows and owns her style in all its changing modes, any time and anywhere.

The “Mom” factor in fashion

What else insinuates itself into our self-limiting selection of styles? The Mom factor.

You know – the subtle (and not so subtle) messaging that motherhood exempts us from wishing to incite a smidgen of sexual interest, much less ignite a wildfire. Who says pregnancy and postpartum can’t be hot (and I don’t mean hormonally), even if there’s a little more of us to love?

My preference – the smart and smoldering, ever elegant kind of hot… perfectly fitted lingerie and “foundation” garments. In other words – beautiful underthings to look and feel great!

Rules shmules

Mini-skirt at the office? Bad news, at any age. Ripped jeans at a formal party? Of course not.  It’s common sense.

And remember those stunning mature women with their luscious locks – Susan Sarandon, Sonia Braga – and their confidence in how they look and who they are?

Ye of the fashion police – let us be ourselves! In a world with too many rules as it is, I say wear what you love, whether it’s a flowing white dress (that would make any woman feel dreamy), or a sultry bit of lace and luxury.

Screw the “shoulds.”  Just do you.

 

Click on lingerie images to access originating sites (merci Plurielles.fr).