I Do the Don't
Well, shoot me now. I just read a list of fashion "don'ts" for women over forty, and I'm afraid I'm a sinner. Truly on the wrong side of decision-making!!!! I raise my hand and confess.
No horizontal stripes (throw out the cute green and dark blue narrow stiped t-shirt)
no jeans with low waist (HAH! My favorite jeans are ones my neice cast off in my direction)
no thigh length coats (just waist length jackets) (!!) (I LOVE tailored coats that are a bit long!)
no capris (we are supposed to wear skirts, instead),
no flat panel pants-
and some other dastardly mis-steps that I don't remember.
*sigh*
I am so highly inappropriate, it would appear!! I just knew it!! *smirk*
I want to laugh, but maybe the guy has a point. A little point, anyway. It's not as pointy a point as he thinks it is, but I'll grant him a little dull point that isn't enough to make me bleed, but I feel it a bit, I do.
I'm well over forty and I struggle with that thing where I don't want to look matronly, and yet I certainly don't want to look like a teenager. I live in a casual city, working in a casual, arty sort of atmosphere, mixing with people of all ages as my peers. We also work outside, so there is no prissy kind of dressing that works. (Ha ha, heels??) So in my life I usually dress very casually (best with a dash of something a little off-beat), or occasionally, I have to dress up. I do both extremes pretty well--but that middle ground? The grown up everyday look? Maybe I'm not so good at figuring that out. I need a fashion consultant in my middle age. Wendy? Where are you????
I gaze around me and there are some pretty fine looking women out there also breaking the rules. But there are occasionally places I go where I'd rather be a little more grown-up. That's where I flounder. Do I have the shoes to go with those slacks (oh, and they have to be non-leather shoes, which is a bit of a obstacle, as well *smile*)? The coat? A black that goes with the same black as my skirt???
It will always be a bit of a mystery to me. Perhaps for the rest of my life I can just avoid places where I have to establish my maturity. It's easy to do in Seattle, but kind of weird when I go to meetings in LA as mother of actress--but now that she's over 18--I can mostly avoid such things.
I want to look elegantly alternative in a casual sort of way --that is also grown up. HAH!! I am so totally lost. Lately I look at pictures of myself and I am definitely not reaching my goal!! Getting old sort of creeps up on a person. Where as I used to look sexily tousled, I think now I look scruffy and haggard. LOL But it's okay. I can embrace that if only I can find the right clothes!!! I really don't want to have an old face and be stuck in teenager clothes!!
Maybe I should pay attention to some don'ts.
Oh. And I hate shopping--so likely I will never succeed without real help. Wendy? You should live here and be my personal consultant, and I will make ceramic pins for you in exchange. Does that sound like a deal???
I've been on vacation--swimming with seals in Canada. Really. Will post pictures next time!! We had a great time!!! Life is good.
Love and all to everyone!!