Age appropriateness post

Reading Angie's post got me thinking....you all have welcomed me and made me feel so comfortable that I wanted to confess that I am 40 years old. So I was wondering if I should still be crazy pattern mixing and wearing sweet dresses?

Examples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w.....168731522/ (silly graphic tee)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w.....168731522/ (crazy pattern mixing)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w.....168731522/ (too girly?)

I have so much fuin when I come up with outfits like those. Should I give it up and stick to clean lines and mature prints?

16 years ago

General

44 replies

Latest reply was from AJ

RoseandJoan

Veteran

AJ, you are 100% fabulous at 40 and in my opinion dress both beautifully and age appropriately. I think it is that old adage of 'it's not what you wear but how you wear it'. If you were combining the Paul Frank t shirt with ripped jeans and cons, you would not be dressed appropriately for your age IMO, but teamed with the pencil skirt the tee adds an unexpected twist to your ensemble.

I love your experimental approach to fashion and see no reason why this should EVER change.

16 years ago

Tricia

Veteran

First of all, WOW. I would never have guessed you were 40 - I'm 33 and based on the pictures I've seen of you, I thought you were younger than me!

Second, I think your clothes look fine - I love your outfits and like Julie, I see no reason for you to change.

16 years ago

Christie

Active Member

I had no idea you are 40! I mean that in a good way ... you are very youthful. I'm 35, and thought you were younger than I am.

I love your pattern mixing ... wouldn't call it crazy at all. Artful!

Honestly, I wouldn't wear the cartoony tee, but I wouldn't have thought of how to dress it up like you did. I would wear your outfit with a more subtle tee though.

16 years ago

Anonymous

AJ, you always look fabulous in your outfits and look younger than 40! I had a similar response when thinking about today's blog in that I wonder if some of my outfits are not really appropriate and have a great desire to post some to see what the forum thinks. I look forward to reading the responses you get.

16 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

AJ !!! First of all, saying you are 40 is not a "confession " ! A confession would be, oh, you bought a $600 pair of sunglasses, lost them on day 2, and never told your husband - to this day ! ( Not that I ever did that ! )

You look fantastic and are "timeless" !!!!!! ( I often flip through your flickr photos for inspiration; I'll be 46 in 5 weeks )

16 years ago

JennyK (NC)

Active Member

I can't see the pictures right now because I'm at work (shhhh!) but I've never seen you wear anything that I didn't think was fabulous, so my opinion is: Don't you DARE give up being exactly who you are, and if that includes a cartoon T, then I expect you to rock it like only AJ can!

16 years ago

garmenta

Active Member

I really liked what someone wrote as a response to the original post--that maybe it's about persona (and person!)-appropriate dressing. Your look is right for you--fun, playful, quirky and tasteful all at once. What a shame if you gave it up just because of a number!

16 years ago

rute

Veteran

it's not all about the patterns, but also about the fit. I remeber most of your posts and you look amazing totally age appropriate but still fun and young!
40!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are amazing!

16 years ago

Christie

Active Member

I hope I didn't sound like *you* couldn't wear the tee ... I only meant that I personally wouldn't (its never been me) and that I liked how you've styled it. I'm sorry if I came across wrong!

16 years ago

Anonymous

Amazing AJ. We should have had a guessing game on how old you look. I swear I would have guessed 27! You look fantastic. You're beautiful. How old are your children? On the blog one wise woman said that she had teenage sons and wouldn't want to dress inappropriately young for that reason. I'd say the same for you, you look young enough to wear just about anything you feel is stylish, as long as it doesn't conflict with your childrens ages and the friends they have coming around.
I do advise to never wear your teenage daughters clothes when that time comes!

16 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Pleeeease don't change a thing! I love your youthful style, and I think you pull it off better than many younger people do. I think you must have a young soul; the outfits you posted look like they match "you" perfectly.

16 years ago

Veteran

See, I knew this was the right community to get involved with! You all are bringing joyful tears to my eyes! I don't know why the number 40 should bring such strife to me.

Julie - Thanks for that perspective of "HOW you wear it." I do TRY to make my items look pulled together.

Cricket - Thanks for your clarification! I did at first think you meant that I needed to put the Paul Frank shirt away. So I'm glad to read that you thought it was fine on me! Yeah, because I might soon be sporting braces myself! Still debating about whether straighter teeth are worth the pain and trouble.

Joy - If you really want to know about your outfits, then I say post and ask us! I have found these ladies to be genuinely and kindly truthful!

Isabel - : ) I suppose I thought my physical appearance was a "lie" of sorts to my age, thus I felt compelled to "confess." What is 40 suppose to look like anyways??

Jenny - Can I hire you to be my personal cheerleader when I'm feeling down?

Garmenta - Well, in addition to age, there's the mother role that is a part of me as well. When I dress in that girly example and am walking around with my 3 kids (11, 9 and 6) does that look right? I really liked the french girl vibe of the outfit, but next to the kids, does it look less french and more grown up Gymboree? I don't know.

Rute - Well I have to credit both my parents genes for the youngness factor and my amazing husband who I get along with great and he is such a big help to me with the kids!

San - What if my teenage daughter loves Ann Taylor? : )

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

OMG i had you down as early 30's

Edit i was so shocked i forgot to comment properly!! Please keep dressing like you do x

16 years ago

Anonymous

You got me there AJ!!!!! That would be an exception to the rule!!! You would be a very lucky Mama!!!!

16 years ago

agrace

Active Member

You look fantastic! Seriously, I love how so many of you on here make me excited to turn 40 and beyond.
I think your outfits are fun and completely appropriate!

16 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

AJ,
I think more comes into play than chronological age when determining what is appropriate. I think that because you do look younger, you can get away with some more playful looks. Your body type and overall look also seems to handle it well. Another gal in her early 40's would not necessarily be able to pull this off. (like me

Also, you temper your playful stuff with sophistication. The monkey shirt with a bubble skirt and mary jane shoes probably wouldn't translate nearly as well as the way you have it styled here.

16 years ago

Marlene1

Active Member

I think one reason I thought AJ was much younger than 40 is the youthful way she dresses (and she wears those playful styles very well.)

16 years ago

Veteran

Rae, Louise, Marlene1 & Queenie - Thank you for the encouragement, but just because I look young and can get away with more playful looks, does that mean that I should? This is what got me worrying in the first place.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

You most definately should keep doing them, I need you as inspiration if you can do it at 40 i've got no reason not to do it at 30 (i turn 30 in a couple of months and was worrying about age appropriateness of leg warmers etc)x

16 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

Well, what do you think?
Do you feel that you are trying too hard to keep things young looking?
Are you feeling out of place when you're with other mom's your age?
Are you trying to stay young looking with your clothes, or just enjoying your style?

I think you have to grapple with these questions and do what you feel most comfortable with. I think your style will always be evolving to a more mature place-- it's just how fast you feel that evolution needs to take place is the question you have to answer. (did that sentence make a stitch of sense?)

16 years ago

Veteran

I don't feel that I'm purposefully making things look younger. I'm just drawn to what I'm drawn to. I don't choose items because of its "youthful" appeal.
The moms I hang around with are not fashion/style conscious so I guess I feel a bit like I stick out. But for the most part, I just toss those fleeting insecure thoughts to the wind and I remind myself how much fun I had putting it together and try to enjoy it instead.

16 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

then it sounds like you're a happy camper, confident with your style and I don't think you need to change a thing

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

AJ, you have great style. It works for you and who you are. As long as you don’t look like the teenage baby sitter, you’re probably safe :0)

I have been thinking about the “persona appropriate” comment on today’s blog post and as much as I like the analogy – I cannot replace the word age with persona. I’m more comfortable with persona acting as a variable in the mix as opposed to it completely defining what is appropriate to wear at all ages. For example, your persona can be just as fun, bubbly and quirky at 70 as when you were at 32. But your body does not look the same. You’ll need to make style adjustments.

16 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I also would have pegged you as much younger ! I love your fun sense of style, AJ. I think it is age-, as well as persona, appropriate. It sounds like you like to express yourself through your clothes, and I think that's awesome.

That being said, I totally know where you are coming from (speaking as a mid-40s woman). I just try to dress true to my self/style, but age appropriate in the sense of being aware of my body and my lifestyle.

16 years ago

PalmFronds

Active Member

AJ, first you look amazing as all the ladies here have said. I think 40 is young anyway, but you definitely don't look even close to it

Second I love your style.It is playful but with a lot of style(sophistication, as Queenie said above) without going overboard. I agree with Angie's comment above that persona plays a role but is not interchangeable with age. You seem to be doing it just right: having fun with fashion, doing it in a stylish way, AND keeping your ear to the ground to know when it may be time to tweak your style a bit. You're an inspiration to us Moms

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

You are adorable and look perfect for your age:)

16 years ago

shana

Veteran

Wow, 40, no way! I totally thought you were late twenties!! I just figured you had kids really, really young!!

My question would be what image are your trying to project? Do you want to be taken for late twenties? I look at your photos and think playful, fun & adorable. What matters most is how you feel and whether you are comfortable with your look.

I know for myself, I spent most of my mid-to late twenties dressing like I was 40 because I was trying to be taken seriously in the workplace and with my diminutive stature and youthful looks, it was tough. Now that I'm in my late 30's, I'm more conscious of wanting to be age appropriate (not 20's but no longer 40's either) and trying to incorporate some more trendy looks into my wardrobe. But I still have this totally conservative bent and ylf has pushed me to try things a little more out of my comfort zone.

16 years ago

Jean Gray

Active Member

I think you have the "appropriate" balance of youthfulness and polish. I don't think you should change a thing! You have a natural flair for looking pulled together but always with a fun and sassy edge!

16 years ago

Vani

Veteran

Get out!! You're 40?! Now, I am not saying any of this as a reflection of your style or adorable outfits. I love your youthful, stylish and fun outfits. Please remain true to your style and enjoy the journey

16 years ago

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