https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:50:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1300543 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:39:02 +0000 rachylou 1300543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b><i>Gaylene</i></b><i>: Rachylou, I think it's that giddiness and aura of potential that<br /> imbues even the strangest of outfits with such charm when worn by a<br /> young woman. Maybe, as older woman, we ought to love that about them<br /> instead of trying to emulate or re-capture it?<br /> </i></p> <p>I can try, but love is a tall order. Lol. Youth strikes me as a wretched <i>affliction</i>. </p> <p>This feeling may be, come to think, a reflection of Asian genes. I got mistaken for high school well into my 30s. It's a big creep out when larval high school boys ask you out. Giant, six-foot larvae... eeww </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1300489 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 15:43:04 +0000 Day Vies 1300489@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow -- I don't claim to speak for the young set at 39 yrs, but I do feel I am on the bubble. Before this summer I can definitely tell you when summer comes I am looking for ANY excuse to <i>wear</i> a sundress, <i>dress up</i> a sundress or <i>buy </i>a new sundress. I forgot who pointed it out on this thread but dresses are so EASY. Just add a bag shoes and jewelry and done. I also like the fact that dresses provide the same level of coverage as shorts but look more polished. As far as wearing crops/ capris I have noticed the preference more experienced women have for them in the summer. They seem to stand in for shorts, skirts and dresses. I personally don't care how light weight they are they just look like instant sweat to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1300259 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:25:36 +0000 Lyn D. 1300259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You look stunning in your emerald dress Shiny, and I had the same light-bulb moment myself in my late 40's!<br />Seize the day I say and wear dresses at any age </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1300195 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 03:49:30 +0000 shiny 1300195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Catching up on this thread, I have to say it's really bothering me how many here who are younger than me are worried about their triceps and legs etc. </p> <p>OMG! Please get over that, and fast!!!!</p> <p>I do remember going through that stage myself in my 30s, but something changed once I hit and slid past&nbsp;my&nbsp;40s: it hit me that no matter what, today, this moment, right now, is the best my skin/body etc is going to look. It is all downhill from here on out. That wasn't a depressing thought. It was a moment of clarity, which made me LOL... like the Buddha laughed...&nbsp;</p> <p>And it wasn't too long after that when&nbsp;I began to&nbsp;appreciate dresses -- for the first time in my life!</p> <p>Dresses weren't something I embraced in my younger days because I thought I wasn't thin &amp; toned enough. And I can assure you I was way more thin &amp; toned then, than I am now!!!!</p> <p>I remember when I first joined YLF that Angie helped me get over this idea I had that my arms were too fat and flabby to bare. She and this forum helped me re-train my eye to realize that sleeveless is actually a lot more flattering than short sleeves. What a revelation. NOBODY is looking at your flabby untoned arms. They just aren't. </p> <p>One thing I dislike about current fashions is that I see way too many short sleeve tops and dresses. Those are unflattering and frumpy on me .&nbsp;As are ankle length/cropped pants, unless worn with a heel and rolled and styled VERY specifically... which honestly is too much work. Give me full length pants, or clams at the knee.</p> <p>Or a dress that hits at the knee, a little above, or a little below....&nbsp;</p> <p>It is exactly a month and one year before I hit the big 5-0.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1300184 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 03:36:15 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1300184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a really interesting thread. I'll have to look around; I haven't really noticed the yt dress thing except for lots of shapeless, quite unattractive patterned maxis that don't actually look good on anyone and some bad juniors dresses worn with tasteless high platform sandals. Except for those wearing typical "edgy" looks, most young ladies I notice are "fashion behind" compared to the ladies on YLF. I'll have to keep my eye peeled.</p> <p>What I wore recently on a hot day was a tube-type midi, gray tee, and dark metallic Birkis. As a 50-year-old who just will not brook frump if I think I can help it, I now feel fortunate that I think my petite stature has kept me away from crops. I don't own a single pair. Phew! ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1299763 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:02:34 +0000 Beth 1299763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una said: "<span>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."</p> <p>This is exactly the way I feel. I've come around to the ankle crops, but capris/clams remain a poison eye for me outside of the fab styling seen here on YLF.</span> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1299406 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 12:36:45 +0000 EveningMood 1299406@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think a skater is a very short, flared skirt, krishnidoux!<br />This thread is giving me a bit of&nbsp;anxiety. I am 39,&nbsp;I&nbsp;always worry that my casual clothes make me look younger,&nbsp;and I constantly wear dresses in the summer. I am wearing one right night, it is a linen midi with bright poppies and I love it.&nbsp;I never thought of dresses&nbsp;like this&nbsp;as "young" before. If they are, what about my new short jumpsuit? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/3#post-1299379 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:29:42 +0000 krishnidoux 1299379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Please what is a skater (English is not my native language) ?</p> <p>This thread is very interesting to me. I am a teacher to young adults, and had intuitively been noticing that somehow, this summer, my capri/clam diggers and cropped pants&nbsp;suddenly seemed to cast me in an "older woman" catergory. As well as some cotton&nbsp;round knee-length skirts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not that it is bad, after all, that's what I am (46), but that there was indeed a big divide. I don't like divides like this, it's much better when differences are more subtle.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299370 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:04:56 +0000 Jules 1299370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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?<br /> 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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299350 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 07:23:21 +0000 VernieJane 1299350@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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... </p> <p>I will pay more attention to this from now on... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299309 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 04:32:28 +0000 Adelfa 1299309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.</p> <p>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! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299301 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 04:19:25 +0000 DonnaF 1299301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yup, DD20 wears a lot of summer dresses, and it seems this summer from her descriptions, maxi dresses.&nbsp; And she's so cute:&nbsp; "Mom, it's so flattering.&nbsp; You'll have to try mine on when I get home."&nbsp; 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!!!&nbsp; She just sees me post-YLF as very stylish.</p> <p>I don't own a single casual summer dress since I haven't seen any that have appealed to me until now.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Maybe by then it will be marked down.&nbsp; Or will be sold out.</p> <p>Crops do my short fat legs no favors, so I am more apt to wear a skirt in summer.&nbsp; My coolest is so loose at the waist it tends to spin around. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299284 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:51:36 +0000 cheryl 1299284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a great story and so interesting. I will pay more attention and see if I see anything similar. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299257 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 03:01:35 +0000 Beth Ann 1299257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating observations!&nbsp; I've enjoyed reading them!&nbsp; I am very glad that younger women are recovering dresses for casual wear.&nbsp; Perhaps the rest of us can set a trend wearing versions that work for our lives and lifestyles! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299248 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:43:49 +0000 JAileen 1299248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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!</p> <p>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! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299240 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:29:17 +0000 catgirl 1299240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299150 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 01:14:23 +0000 cciele 1299150@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Huh, interesting article Anna. It does seem like the triceps get less toned faster than legs -- hadn't thought about it like that!</p> <p>Anyhow, even at my age&nbsp;I have no problems wearing short or sleeveless&nbsp;dresses (my SO always jokes about how my&nbsp;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.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299136 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 01:05:24 +0000 annagybe 1299136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yesterday I was at an eatery near the University. Did notice one young woman in a cropped top and short skater skirt.<br />Hmm, I'm 41, about to be 42 in the fall&nbsp;and have some short&nbsp;summer dresses. Two are by the brand&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<br />In fact today I wore a short t-shirt dress and felt fine.&nbsp;<br />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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299023 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:59:54 +0000 Aida 1299023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I seem to be oblivious to&nbsp;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! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299014 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:41:40 +0000 Anonymous 1299014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299007 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:31:02 +0000 Lyn D. 1299007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting observation!<br />This coming Summer I will probably be sticking to my cropped pant uniform, but still paying careful attention to length, fit and shoe-choices.<br />You are right that young women seem to either wear full-length/ankle pants or shorts or dresses, and nothing in between. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1299001 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:20:08 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1299001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.</p> <p>In the past I have not been much of a dress wearer, largely due to frustration in finding ones that suit.&nbsp;But I've been making an effort&nbsp;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</p> <p>As Gaylene suggests,&nbsp;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.&nbsp;I might have seen Tim Gunn or some such fashion arbiter of taste decrying them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298983 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:46:52 +0000 Diana 1298983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, especially in summer I'm definitely of the dress-wearing persuasion and always have been.&nbsp; (I'm 34, by the way).&nbsp; They're breezy, comfortable, and cooler than pants in the summer.&nbsp; Plus they are easy to style - just put on some shoes and maybe a topper and you're done.&nbsp; It's the epitome of effortless summer dressing IMO.&nbsp; </p> <p>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?&nbsp; </p> <p>For the record, most of my loungewear is dresses (with the occasional skirt) as well.&nbsp; I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing dresses no matter what age I am.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298969 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:03:48 +0000 Anonymous 1298969@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298953 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:45:54 +0000 cciele 1298953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.</p> <p>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?&nbsp;</p> <p>When I look in my closet, I have part of an answer. Most of&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.</p> <p>I'm going to try to see how many dresses I can casualize with sneakers ;)</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298951 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:44:44 +0000 Suz 1298951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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!)&nbsp;</p> <p>It's really interesting how one cropped pants outfit will be frumpy while another will not.&nbsp;</p> <p>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.&nbsp;</p> <p>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.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298948 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:41:06 +0000 MsMaven 1298948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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. &nbsp;If you all hadn't pointed this out, I wouldn't have noticed the generational divide. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298947 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:39:39 +0000 Gaylene 1298947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe I'm deluding myself, but doesn't ANY outfit have the potential to look dated?</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298921 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:20:47 +0000 Sal 1298921@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.</p> <p>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!</p> <p>I do like and agree with what Gaylene said, to be proud of who and what we are now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-the-young-things-wear/page/2#post-1298908 Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:08:39 +0000 rachylou 1298908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i><b>Gaylene - </b>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<br /> and tanned smooth skin.</i></p> <p>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. </p> <p>Truth, I'm not in the mood to see what's above anyone's knees these days. I'm <i>tired </i>of knees.</p> <p>ETA: I'm not liking floor-length maxis either - albeit I was wearing one this weekend... I'm peevish :P</p>