Walking the Tightrope

Walking the Age Appropriate Tightrope

 Recently a friend of mine was cleaning out her closet and I had stopped by to help.  As I looked at the clothing that did not make the cut, I noticed that she had discarded all of her fur vests.  “Why”, I asked, “Are you getting rid of those vests?”  “Because they are too young for me,” she replied.

How many times have you had that conversation with yourself?  You look at a piece of clothing, something that maybe in style this year or something that has caught your eye and you say, “I can’t wear that – it is too young for me.”  Are you using this excuse as a reason not to update your clothing or try something new?

Deciding what is age appropriate in this day and age is tough.  Just because you are fifty does not mean that you do not want to look stylish and your best every day. Let’s face it; what our mothers and grandmothers wore at fifty is different than what we wear today. How do you make the decision on what is age appropriate for you?  So before you begin that closet purge or put down that stylish sweater you saw in the department store, ask yourself some soul searching questions.

Do I look good in it?

Do I look like my mom?

Am I trying too hard?

Does it fit my body type?

Does poor construction or materials make the garment look cheap?

What will you wear it with?

Does it make you happy?

 One time when I was shopping with my mother, I asked her if an outfit made me look “too young”.  She then asked me a very simple question. “Do you think you look good in it?” When I answered yes, she told me not to constantly worry about whether or not an outfit made you look too young or too old.  If you look good in it – wear it.