Fascinating observation, Jody! I have not noticed such a strict age divide around here, but I do know what you mean about the 50+ uniform of cropped pants. And worn the wrong way, it can be frumpy, no question. Although I'm quaking in my (pewter) sandals at rabbit's comment -- since today I am wearing long white shorts and a linen sweater. I guess I have resigned myself to boring old-ladydom.....

Suz I think as long as you avoid a fuchsia and white hibiscus print shirt and visible white socks you are good :D. (Actually Anna or someone sufficiently inventive of any age could probably pull that off just fine). I'm right there with you as I ponder wearing a floral shirt with white cropped pants. You are way ahead on the style curve with your linen sweater

But I LOVE fuchsia!!!

It is funny, because while I totally understand your fears/ preconceptions about the whole white bottoms thing....I also associate white bottoms with a certain sophisticated and elegant simply luxury....sort of St. Tropez or something. Not that I necessarily want to be associated with that, either. But at least it is better than the alternative.

I associate white bottoms with luxury too - because everyone else would get them dirrrrrrrty!

Interesting! I wonder if having kids contributes to the divide. When I was carefree and had only myself to take care of, I often wore dresses, with cute sandals or heels. But among my moms friends, the consensus seems to be that dresses limit mobility and require a bit of a heel, and heels are not kid-chasing friendly. So I know I've gotten out of the habit, and am now much more likely to wear shorts/crops/pants. Maybe after kids, 30-year-old+ women don't go back to dresses?

And I love fuschia too! But not visible white socks

My adorable 17 year old niece loves skirts and dresses in funky patterns - she wears a lot of f21 and Pac-sun styles and looks as cute as can be. I think it's a nice trend!

I love fuchsia and turquoise too, I think it's more a print than color thing for my eye, and about the shirt cut. Man all the little details really make things read in different ways don't they? Fashion is so packed full of symbols and signifiers, only a fraction of which I think I even begin to understand...

Apologies for the digression ;). I think if you like wearing dresses in the sun at any age, and the material and cut works for your body, do it! You can casualize a dress pretty easily.

Speaking of white + bright top - that's what I am wearing today (white straight jeans and a silk t-shirt in a bright abstract pattern). I have gotten many compliments from DH on this outfit so hopefully it is not frumpy. However, I have definitely seen many older women in a "cropped light-colored pants + pastel or bright top" uniform, so I do feel slightly self-conscious about that.

One interesting observation - my mother is almost always wearing cropped pants + top in the summer, so she is firmly in the "uniform" camp. Yet whenever she sees me wearing white jeans or off-white jeans, especially in the winter or early spring, she always asks me "What did they think of your white pants at work"? It seems that white full-length jeans, especially in the colder season, are less of a uniform and more of an "unexpected fashion statement", at least to her.

Gaylene - I'd hate, though, to see a stampede of 40+ women towards flippy little dresses. We'll never wear them as well as a 20 something with shiny hair
and tanned smooth skin.

Man, I've been thinking about this, and I still don't know. Is it the baby fat or the giddiness that makes young people look OK in a skater? And mind you, I'm not sure they do. To me it's part of the New Ugly / New Drab look - which is fashionable, but not flattering.

Truth, I'm not in the mood to see what's above anyone's knees these days. I'm tired of knees.

ETA: I'm not liking floor-length maxis either - albeit I was wearing one this weekend... I'm peevish

Interesting reading and observations. While I can mostly admire 20 year olds in their pretty dresses and not be envious, sometimes I do feel pangs for my youth.

Lots of dresses are more suited to younger people in styling, length, cut....I love dresses but I have to aim for a bit more sophistication now, and a quality fabric. I also think more practically now whereas in the past that was not a priority ie how much standing, temperature, uneven ground.....at 20 my feet coped with stilettos and I was happy to shiver!

I do like and agree with what Gaylene said, to be proud of who and what we are now!

Maybe I'm deluding myself, but doesn't ANY outfit have the potential to look dated?

Suz, you don't have a frumpy bone in your body so your version of cropped white pants, fuchsia top, and pewter sandals isn't anything like the "uniform" that rabbit is referencing. Which brings me back to my point--switching from crops to a dress and sandals isn't going to rescue anyone from frumpiness; a dress and sandals, or a midi skirt and T, can be every bit as frumpy as cropped pants and a print top. As Angie keeps trying to drill home, it's the DETAILS that switch an outfit from frumpy to current, and the rest of the package--hair, eyewear, watch--that turn the age switch on or off.

It's that sense of knowing your own style, being comfortable in your skin, and giving a nod to what is currently going on in fashion in your outfits that distinguishes a fashionable older woman from a frumpy one.

ETA: Rachylou, I think it's that giddiness and aura of potential that imbues even the strangest of outfits with such charm when worn by a young woman. Maybe, as older woman, we ought to love that about them instead of trying to emulate or re-capture it?

I realize that the photos of a recent bridal shower in the mid-west shows the younger women--20s and 30s--in dresses, while the Moms--cropped white pants and a pretty top. If you all hadn't pointed this out, I wouldn't have noticed the generational divide.

Gaylene, you're so right. But as someone who struggled most of my life to look even partway stylish, I still fear sometimes I'll miss the all-important details! Luckily I have YLF to steer me straight. (And thank you for that compliment, by the way!)

It's really interesting how one cropped pants outfit will be frumpy while another will not.

I also want to point out that those of us who may experience pangs of envy for the young things in their dresses...if we really look closer, often we wouldn't want to be wearing those dresses anyway! Or at least I wouldn't.

Anyway -- I agree with those who said that as we get older we tend to look for a bit more sophistication in our dresses. Which can be difficult but not impossible to find in a sundress. I have one cotton summer dress that I save for precisely that reason. It really seems to fit the need for a casual but not too young looking day dress for hot weather.

Interesting observation Adelfa! Now that you've mentioned it, I too notice the trend around here. For every-day wear and casual going-out, I see more 30ish-and-unders wearing dresses than the over-30ish crowd. Myself included.

I really like wearing dresses; I'm forever searching for a flippy throw-on-and-go dress. Then why do I not wear them as often as the young ones?

When I look in my closet, I have part of an answer. Most of my dresses skew toward the fancy, special-occasion side. So dresses are not my first choice when dressing for casual events. The flippy dress and the maxi dress don't work for my style (or age, in some cases), and I guess I have this mental block that other dresses are more fancy.

I'm going to try to see how many dresses I can casualize with sneakers

Such an interesting discussion, since I just recently tossed my shamefully large collection of cropped khakis (after looking back over old photos of myself in said khakis and bemoaning the "frump factor" that I saw). It would be really helpful if some of those here who have the style thing down could show an outfit go from frump to fab with a few tweaks.

I love dresses at events because they can easily dress up or down, but recognize that pants are much more practical (esp if chasing after grandkids or cooking in the kitchen). Also at my age (60+) I'm not that happy with my pasty bare legs anymore which makes dresses in the summer a challenge at times.

Well, especially in summer I'm definitely of the dress-wearing persuasion and always have been. (I'm 34, by the way). They're breezy, comfortable, and cooler than pants in the summer. Plus they are easy to style - just put on some shoes and maybe a topper and you're done. It's the epitome of effortless summer dressing IMO.

And especially for events like the ones you're describing, which are casual but still sort of a party or special event (not like just going to the store, or going to work) I think dresses are perfect because they are easy, casual, but still feel a bit fun and festive, KWIM?

For the record, most of my loungewear is dresses (with the occasional skirt) as well. I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing dresses no matter what age I am.

My daughter is 14 and she wears dresses a lot, throughout the year. Being a native New Englander she doesn't get as cold as I do. I do agree that girls are much more into dresses these days ... now that we're in the warm weather I'm seeing so many out in the strappy baby dolls, or the maxis or whatever.

In the past I have not been much of a dress wearer, largely due to frustration in finding ones that suit. But I've been making an effort to wear dresses more, because it makes husband Abulila happy, and I'm having better luck with it this year since I'm focusing on casual and comfortable rather than special occasion

As Gaylene suggests, I think the cropped pants thing became an issue because so many people used it as an excuse to wear ill fitting pants and not hem them to a flattering length, and didn't update their look. I might have seen Tim Gunn or some such fashion arbiter of taste decrying them.

Interesting observation!
This coming Summer I will probably be sticking to my cropped pant uniform, but still paying careful attention to length, fit and shoe-choices.
You are right that young women seem to either wear full-length/ankle pants or shorts or dresses, and nothing in between.

Adelfa, I have noticed this trend. Recently at the symphony after a hot day, the older women were most likely to be in Capri outfits although quite a few were in dresses. I think all the young women were wearing dresses. This summer young women are wearing skirts and dresses to church too instead of jeans or shorts. Their moms are more likely to be in those wide cropped pants that look frumpy and stumpify.

Well I seem to be oblivious to things people are wearing across age groups but huh. This might explain why my husband, who much prefers that I wear dresses when I'm a pants/shorts gal through-and-through, thinks I dress "older" (I'm 33). Interesting!

Yesterday I was at an eatery near the University. Did notice one young woman in a cropped top and short skater skirt.
Hmm, I'm 41, about to be 42 in the fall and have some short summer dresses. Two are by the brand Sea in fact that are that probably skew young. I never lie about my age. Although I know I don't look it. I may be inappropriate to some here, but I'm completely single with no children so the expectations placed on me are zilch.
In fact today I wore a short t-shirt dress and felt fine.
Though I remember reading an article over ten years ago about women dressing at semi-formal event. The older women were all wearing short dresses to show their legs. The younger women were wearing sleeveless dresses that showed off their toned triceps. The young will always do what the old cannot.

Huh, interesting article Anna. It does seem like the triceps get less toned faster than legs -- hadn't thought about it like that!

Anyhow, even at my age I have no problems wearing short or sleeveless dresses (my SO always jokes about how my biceps/triceps are larger than his, ha!). I think for me it's more the fact that the dresses I see on younger ladies skew twee or festival -- again, not really my look.

I associate capri looks with a certain "I may garden any minute" attitude - implying that practical no-nonsense comfort means abandoning any sense of style. I KNOW it is possible to wear capris (or whatever is in between shorts and pants) and look killer, but I can't say I ever see it outside of YLF.

I only started wearing cropped pants recently, maybe the last year. I don't know how I was unaware of them before that. Until then I wore long pants or shorts. I try not to wear short shorts, so cropped pants seem a little more decent when I don't want to wear long pants. Well, it was 102F a couple days ago!

I would wear dresses but most that I see are too short. In spite of my age (50s) I don't mind showing my arms, but I refuse to wear a mini skirt!

Fascinating observations! I've enjoyed reading them! I am very glad that younger women are recovering dresses for casual wear. Perhaps the rest of us can set a trend wearing versions that work for our lives and lifestyles!

This is a great story and so interesting. I will pay more attention and see if I see anything similar.

Yup, DD20 wears a lot of summer dresses, and it seems this summer from her descriptions, maxi dresses. And she's so cute: "Mom, it's so flattering. You'll have to try mine on when I get home." She forgets that although we are less than an inch different in height and maybe within five pounds in weight, that Mom61 has a lot more jiggle and wiggle!!! She just sees me post-YLF as very stylish.

I don't own a single casual summer dress since I haven't seen any that have appealed to me until now. When Nordstrom has their double points weekend next week, I think I'll order a regular sized 3/4 sleeve tie dye linen dress that looks like it might be long enough for a petite. Maybe by then it will be marked down. Or will be sold out.

Crops do my short fat legs no favors, so I am more apt to wear a skirt in summer. My coolest is so loose at the waist it tends to spin around.

One thing I notice is that every Spring/Summer has a different style of cropped pants that are in. I rarely keep crops for a second summer because I do try to adopt the current look. So for instance this season it's the ON Boyfriend Skinny Khakis, which are very long on me if I cuff them once--they just meet my ankle strap. So I guess I was thinking that with that type of attention to detail, they might be okay and not frumpy.

I truly think I can live with not looking like a 20-year-old in a dress. What I'm having more trouble with is choosing outfits that instantly brand me as belonging to the 50-80 age range when in fact I've barely entered it!

Indeed a very interesting observation! I can't begin to take into consideration all the theories and variables that could exist, but my first thought is that skirts and dresses are just super trendy right now. I don't think it has to do with any type of etiquette or whatever, just trendy. Especially the maxi skirts, skirts and boots...

I will pay more attention to this from now on...

Interesting indeed and makes sense to me. A pyt can totally get away with an inexpensive, skimpy dress and sandals. Coming up with a stylish outfit around cropped pants involves more effort and investment. Why would they bother?
Personally at 40 I've been wearing cropped pants for a longgggg time, and I have no desire to fit in with the younger crowd. I used to wear a lot of summer dresses for comfort and ease, but am very self-conscious about both triceps and legs right now. That leaves me with basically zilch options.