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Ripped jeans?

Minnie

I like the look of ripped and heavily distressed jeans, but am unsure if they are
ever appropriate for the not so young?
I have a casual life-style and would combine them with dressier tops and shoes.
Too juvenile? Better to stick to regular non-distressed jeans?

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Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from reno jose

Susie

Veteran

I don't mind a very small amount of distressing but, at 52, I probably wouldn't wear the ones pictured. I don't want to look frumpy but anything that skews too young makes me feel like I am trying too hard. But that's just me; it doesn't mean that I judge others who are comfortable wearing 'young' looks.

cciele

Veteran

What do you mean by "not-so-young"? Actually, I think people of ages can wear distressed denim, but it depends on the denim and the wearer.

Denise (CocoLion) is a great example of how "not-so-young" can rock the distressed jean. Annagybe is younger but she also owns the look.

(Oh, and me at almost-49, I've been known to wear distressed jeans )

Echo

Veteran

I like distressed jeans, but not heavily distressed jeans for myself. I don't think age has much to do with it, but then I don't subscribe to age-based dressing much, either. I've always felt that the things people say "older women" shouldn't wear are things NO ONE should wear (too tight, too revealing, too casual, too sloppy, etc.).

I really like the idea of pairing distressed jeans with dressier tops, Minnie. I like the juxtaposition of casual with refined or slouchy with structured or even girly with tough. I am not terribly fond of the last pair in the pictures you show, but that's more because I prefer distressing on a more relaxed fit.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on the person and what their usual style is, more so than their age. It also depends on where/how the jeans are distressed (for me at least). I find the knee slashes a bit odd at any age. And to be honest, most of the distressed jeans I see are *actual* distressed from working in them - jeans worn by contractors and ranch workers, etc. - so it's hard to adjust my eye to wanting distressed just for the sake of fashion.

A little distressing goes a long way for me.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I got a Killer to the Power of Killer with these jeans

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....the-garden

Diana

Veteran

I don't think ripped jeans are a look reserved for the young at all. It's all in how you style them.

You may see more younger women wearing them but I think that is more of a lifestyle thing than anything else. (i.e. younger women tend to have more casual lives, such as going to school etc rather than working in an office). But if it fits with your lifestyle I don't see why you can't wear them at any age.

Aquamarine

Veteran

A lot depends on how you wear them, with what, and where. Paired with a dressy top and nice shoes, I'd say they would be fine for a casual lifestyle if they fit in with your surroundings. I would wear *some* distressing but not too much because I would feel inappropriate and messy regardless of what top I wore. But that's me...

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think it depends on personality more than age. I think if you love them & feel great in them ten wear them.

Minnie

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate it.

Anna, you rock that outfit. Those R13 are great.
You carry your outfits with such confidence.
I'm less adventurous and will be much tamer in pairing my ripped jeans

kkards

Veteran

I think it's how you wear them that matters. I'm 50,and I have a pair from the gap that I really like. If you have any concerns, buy a pair, style them, and post a few pictures. You'll always get honest feedback here.

viva

Veteran

Agree that it is personality and personal style more than anything that determines whether the look is right for you. I am 50 and would definitely wear looks 1 and 2 of those you pictured.

Anonymous

I love to see the way some of our fabbers wear ripped jeans and I just think you need to feel like *you* and feel confident in them.

Jules

Veteran

Marley is killer in distressed denim. So much so I still remember and consider inspirational, even iconic 2013 (2014 for me!), this post from last summer:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-and-1

I mean, LOOK AT HER FABNESS!!!

Read the comments too, Angie weighs in with some helpful guidelines.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I guess I have to come down on the side of it being a personality thing. I think you have to have a bit of the rebel in you to begin approaching appropriate. I think Betsey Johnson could do ripped jeans, but not Linda Evans.

It's funny, I think a person can look good and fashionable and yet still like a fashion victim at the same time.

karymk

Veteran

I have my ripped BFs on now with some black dorsay flats and a purposely wrinkled Frank and Eileen white shirt. Sometimes I feel they might be too young for me, and other times they are the roughness I need to bring my polished tendencies down a bit.

Catnip

Veteran

I love what Echo said and am shamelessly quoting her here. "I've always felt that the things people say "older women" shouldn't wear are things NO ONE should wear (too tight, too revealing, too casual, too sloppy, etc.)." I'm 70 and I don't wear distressed jeans because I figure I already have a distressed face. That doesn't mean you shouldn't wear them if you like them and feel comfortable wearing them.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love distressing and have been wearing distressed jeans regularly for the past 2 years. I am in my 50s. I have a few rules though. First, very little bare skin peeking. I prefer a patch behind the rip. Second, I don't do distressed skinnies. Only boyfriend or slouchy skinnies.

Golden

Veteran

I really like distressed jeans but I won't wear them unless it is just a teeny bit distressed. I feel like it is a young look.

Marley

Veteran

Well, I hope they're not too juvenile - because I wear them a lot! I think it's all in what you style with them - with classic, dressy, more structured pieces can make them work for a woman of any age in my opinion! I remember a thread I posted last summer about distressed jeans and because of the way that I styled them, I got a thumbs up from Angie. (I'm 62.) I'll see if I can find that thread and link it here.

ETA: Oh - I guess I should have read the other responses first - I see that Jules linked to my thread - and wow, I am flattered by her comments! Thank you Jules!

rabbit

Veteran

I think I'm with Rachylou. Distressed jeans are distressed. That's the point of them, they say 'I'm a little rough around the edges, not afraid to get dirty'.

Pairing them with pink heels and a blazer could be a little rebellious from the POV of the wearer if it's like a 'nah nah world, irregular outfit juxtaposition, I do what I want' thing. Or if it's like a shadow side to your personality, something that feels comfortably you, but you just don't show as much and it you find the right balance with other style tendencies and preferences.

But if it's a 'I'm clean and crisp and proper, but I think I'll try it because it's a trend thing, but what will others think?'

IMO before they became trendy, distressed jeans were rock n' roll. Rock n' roll doesn't care what others think. Iggy Pop doesn't care how old he is.

leopardluxe

Veteran

I'm with everyone else here. I wear the hell out of distressed jeans both dressed up, with heels and a dressy blouse or jacket, as well as down with my more RATE rocker style.

I think it's all in the personality. Some folks of any age are comfortable carrying it off and others aren't. So if you're comfortable and feel good wearing them... then wear them

reno jose

(website)

Member

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