Are white skinnies age-appropriate for a 45-year-old?

Okay, here's the situation. I ordered two pairs of white Rich & Skinny jeans from the huge premium denim sale on SmartBargains: one flare, one skinny. The skinnies fit as skinnies are supposed to fit; I'm not in doubt about that. My question is whether white skinny jeans are too young for a 45-year-old.

Kendall Farr says the following: "Fit: Buy white a little looser than usual. You want skim between the fabric and your undergarments. Too tight and white is both revealing and fattening." "The cut: Should fit you as described above. Not even the slightest tapered ankles, or you'll create a light-colored barrel on your lower body."

Since skinnies by definition are both slim-fitting and tapered -- what is the verdict here?

I am deliberately not posting a photo at the moment, because my question is not whether I "have the body" for white skinnies. As I said, the skinnies fit as skinnies are supposed to. My question is whether this look can be made to work at my age.

If so, what are the keys to making it work? Tunics? Volume on top? And what of the underwear? Kendall says no white underwear, but since jeans have pocket linings that show through the white, it seems to me that white underwear (e.g., not a bikini, but a low-rise boyshort with coverage that reaches the top of the thigh) would make the "see through" factor *less* conspicuous, not more.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

I see no reason why you shouldn't wear them.

I think it will depend on body type as to what you wear on top. For instance i'm a pear so have to wear a tunic top with skinnies.

Nude underwear would probably work for no show depends how thin the fabric is. I guess these are denim? so underwear wouldn't show through anyway? so i'm guessing you'd be ok with white. I think nude underwear is best if the fabric is thiner say linen x

Edit- i've had a peek at some of your photos on your other threads and definately think you can pull off white skinniesx

Anonymous

April, I'll be interested in what everyone has to say on this topic too. I've tried on some great priced Hudson white skinnies at a consignment store and would buy them in a second if they were not white. I think the white ones might need to be a bit looser than dark skinnies or worn with a long tunic or dress like leggings. I'd love to find out.

As for the white pockets showing through, I believe you are supposed to sew up the pockets and cut off the lining so it doesn't show through for a polished look. When I first joined YLF there was some discussion about this.

chewyspaghetti

I don't think that there is an age limit on white skinny jeans. Like others have said, I think it's more about your body type and what you pair them with. Pair them with a flowy tunic or satiny top and they will look really sophisticated! I have done the sewing up the pockest and cutting out the lining on pockets of white pants and it really helped to streamline them. I did it to front pockets, though- they were really obvious.

taylor

April,
I have white skinnies, and I am a bit older,,,remember nude panties under white pants. Also , I tend to wear them with longer tops with cardis or most often a jacket . I tend to dress them up alot rather than casual:)

In April when it was still raining I wore them with a short black sweater dress.

April

LouLou - thanks for the compliment. I guess I was really wondering not if they *look* okay, because I think they do, but if they give a (I know, I hate this saying too) mutton-dressed-as-lamb impression. I think that that is not about whether one has the right body shape for something to be flattering, but whether it seems appropriate.

For example, to me, a middle-aged woman who has fantastic legs and wears very short skirts still looks wrong, and it's not because she doesn't have a "good enough" shape for the skirt. IMHO, Goldie Hawn looked so wrong at the Oscars this year -- not because she doesn't have an enviable body, but because she looked like she thought there was something wrong with being her actual age (mid-60s) instead of being a teenager.

Joy - I love that idea of sewing shut the pockets and removing the linings! That's brilliant. Actually, though, I just checked those jeans and I was wrong about the pockets having linings. Like most jeans, the back pockets are an extra layer of denim sewn onto to the pants part, so I guess the "show-through" problem is not what I thought.

Taylor and Khris -- got pulled away from writing my response for a while and hadn't seen your replies when I posted mine. Good to know that you both think the skinnies are not automatically a super young look. I guess it's a bit like leggings: keep the look sophisticated, keep the tops on the long side, and all will be well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thumbs up from me!

Category