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Aging and Trying New Trends

Dee

Veteran

After seeing Angie's post about her fab new High Curve jeans, I kind of wondered whether or not this type of jean trend was really for me or not. Its now something I think about more often since I'm in the 60+ age bracket. I'm no Iris Apel, I don't have that level of confidence with my fashion choices but I still want to look current.

This was definitely not something that I ever worried about back when I was younger. Back then, I was always game to try any sort of trend that caught my fancy. Ahh...to be so bold again. These days I'm pretty conventional IRL, comfort is a consideration too, so its always a bit of a challenge figuring out how far I want to go with some of these trends because I also don't really like to stand out too much either.

Well I decided to challenge my concerns yesterday and give the barrel/balloon jeans trend a shot after I found these Mango balloon jeans while shopping . They are not too exaggerated in their shape and they seem to look fine with my most comfiest shoes (always an important consideration for me) and I'm happy to say that I do actually like them now that I've tried them.

Does anyone else feel like their age sometimes holds them back from trying new trends?

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Dressing

47 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Dee, I'm glad you got past your concern about trying this style. Those jeans look fab on you!

I would say it's not my age so much as what parts of my body I want to show (or even show off) at this point. And the answer changes back and forth a lot! For example, I was at first self-conscious about the spider veins in my legs, but now that I've lived with them for quite a few years, I have become less concerned about them.

Irina

Veteran

They look fantastic on you! I love this style of jeans, too.

My changing body keeps from wearing some styles. I don’t feel confident to wear tucked tops as I once was, for example. Or go braless

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER JEANS

GLAD YOU CHALLENGED YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING THESE JEANS, DEE.

YOU WEAR THEM WITH VERVE AND EASE!!!

Making my point loud and clear

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To answer your question - what Sharan said.

I had the same spider vein shyness about 10 years ago when I was 43. I am wiser at 53 and showcasing the veins. Why should I hide them, I thought? Who for? I am no longer concerned with them!

Dee, also, my 70 and 80 year old clients are trying on the Everlane and barrel jeans, and rocking it!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Well those jeans look fantastic on you!I think it’s very easy to lack confidence in one’s fashion choices as we get older for all sorts of reasons but yay for you tackling the fear head on.The modern cut of the jeans gives you a very youthful air.

Joyce

(website)

Dee, you look great in this new for you style. I had the same concerns about age appropriate that you expressed. Well, I wasn't 100% happy in my closet so had to ask myself, who am I and who am I trying to please?
If it suits my body, feels comfortable and looks current why not try it. If others think it isn't age appropriate, that is their problem.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I do like these jeans on you.
For me, I no longer care about looking “current”. The styles of pants I like are overall slimmer or straighter. Even for me though, what is available in retail will change what I wear slightly. I am only buying pants now when my favourites are beginning to actually wear out. This happened with a favourite pewter pair last year. They’ve had 165 wears and feel a bit tired, plus I am a little tired of them as well. The knit grey pair I bought to replace them ( although the originals are still in the holding zone! ) are a bit wider, not as wide as most, but I guess my eye must have adjusted enough to cope with them.
Comfort is very important to me and then probably the overall look of the outfit as in something interesting about it. As I still get compliments every week at work on my clothes at now 63 years old I feel happy that judicious purchasing over many years has kept me “current” enough.
Sorry, that’s an essay! Trying to answer your question thoughtfully

Runcarla

Veteran

This is just so good!

nuancedream

Veteran

Those jeans look great on you! My teeth are on edge whenever there's a whiff of age appropriateness in the air. The opinions of others regarding what a woman my age (62) should wear are never considered. In short, I dress to make myself happy. If that is a romper, short shorts, or barrel leg jeans, so be it.

Brooklyn

Veteran

They look great on you Dee!

I find the older I get the more practical my concerns are. How often will I wear this? Is it easily laundered? Does it show the marks? Can I walk long distances in it? Is it breathable? So I would be reluctant to buy, say, a trendy linen jacket. I wouldn’t wear it often and it would probably need to be dry cleaned. A classic linen jacket I can keep for years would be a better choice. But a trendy, washable long skirt would be another story. I wear skirts all the time in Summer. Trendy winter jeans are fine too because I wear them almost exclusively in cold weather. When I was younger that wasn’t as much of a concern - my main concern was could I wear it to work or wear it out.

I do try to resist second guessing myself about what is age appropriate. I plan to wear my “wild jeans” this winter even though I suspect they will be divisive!

But I do still struggle with certain aspects of body self-confidence that I’ve had all my life. Eg I am unlikely to try any trend that highlights my thighs or shows my back. I had hoped this would get better with age but it hasn’t. I just accommodate that now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

OMG, these look AMAZING on you! Best jeans I've seen on you yet!

I haven't read the comments yet but I wanted to say that right up front. I will be back to answer your question.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I dress trendier now, in my 60s, than I have dressed since my mid-20s. Between my mid-20s and around the age of 50, I didn't have a lot of disposable income, so I wore whatever jeans and tops I could find at the local Winners. They were rarely on trend.

I don't think at all about age appropriateness. I do think about practicality, as Brooklyn mentioned; about my own preferences (do i like this trend? If not -- I don't think about it); and I think about which parts of the body I may not want to exhibit to the air.

Some of that is constant. For instance, I've almost never worn mini skirts. I've always been self-conscious about my thighs, and I feel exposed in a short skirt. But I will wear shorts when I need to (garden, bike, etc. ) and don't care what others think then. So practicality overcomes other considerations.

But -- to give a different example -- I might have worn a midriff baring top as a teen or 20 something, and would have worn a tube top or a skimpy cami. I wouldn't do that now, not out of fears about my age, or flattery considerations, exactly -- more out of a feeling that I don't want to put my skin so much on view. Increased modesty, I guess.

Dee

Veteran

Firecracker(Sharan) Angie, Irina, Brooklyn - Oh yes, feeling self conscious about certain aspects of our bodies as we age can certainly play into our reluctance to try something different if its exposed in some way. Not always easy to overcome. I myself don’t like wearing anything sleeveless anymore, just not happy with how my upper arms look now.

Joyce,- great questions to asked ourselves about who we really are and what we want for ourselves reference our wardrobes.

Jenni NZ - Looks like you’ve answered the questions Joyce posed, and are totally comfortable with how well your wardrobe is working for you.

Runcarla, Cardiff girl-Thanks for the enthusiasm for the jeans.

Nuancedream- I believe everyone, no matter their age should have the freedom to wear whatever they are comfortable and happy wearing. The age aspect for me relates more on how I can interpret a trend to suit me as I am now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like that phrase "how I can interpret a trend to suit me as I am now" because it feels honest and grounded, somehow....if we like the look, how can we make it work for us, not just visually, but practically and in other ways? For some, it might mean a less exaggerated version, for others, a version with an elastic waist, or without heels, or more covered up...lots of ways to think about it.

Dee

Veteran

Suz - You definitely know how to make the trends work so well for you in your 60s. I also find that modesty and practicality do play a much larger role in deciding if a trend will suit me now compared to when I was younger.

avicennia

Veteran

These look great on you!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Dee. And, as you see, you do SO WELL with trendy items, too! A bland of trendy and classic seems to be your sweet spot (and mine) and while we might choose different trends to play with, letting all the trends go would probably make us sad.

slim cat

Veteran

Great jeans - keep rocking!
I get some "is it too much on me?" from time to time ( about certain pieces/combos ), or just "Am I getting too old for this? ( 58 this spring )". I think it's more about our own confidence, enjoyment and way of caring ourself. Some days I'm brave, and some - playing it safe.

Bijou

Veteran

They look brilliant on you and authentic in a fashion forward way. I don't let my age bother me and will always try different things on in the changeroom. That said, I know my own style and only choose current trends that appeal to me.

Dee

Veteran

Suz - i think you’re so right, its trying to get the right combination of classic and trendy that helps me feel more comfortable with a new trend. Otherwise it doesn’t feel authentic on me
Excellent points on how we can adapt new trends to suit us as we age such as more stretch in the fabrication, wearing a longer length or less exaggeration in the silhouette etc..

Slim cat - Yep, the is this “too much on me” question definitely creeps up in my psyche whenever I try a new trend. Or the “am I trying to be something that I’m not” question as I experiment with a trend that’s a little different from my usual style.

Bijou - Feeling comfortable with our own style certainly helps to overcome any anxiety about trying new trends, but I’m also finding that as my body changes with ageing, my perception of who I am now is changing too which often causes me to question my fashion choices more.

April

Veteran

Dee, in under 3 weeks, I will join you in the 60-and-up category. As many others have said, I now focus much more on practicality and comfort (also quality and sustainability) but almost never think about my age when considering trends.

Will let you know when my own Everlane barrel legs show up. And as I assemble the pieces, will model my wedding-in-May outfit.

Eliza

Veteran

Dee- those are a great look and I find a denim update both fun and impactful in my usually casual, driven by comfortable shoe needs (high five) wardrobe. I am likely older than you and when I think about it, it’s feeling like myself in outfits that drives my choices. And seen through that lens, it’s no different than it ever was. There are always trends ignored and some to try. Enjoy the jeans. New silhouettes can propel us to try different pieces that work well them and a side benefit is feeling more current.

BrieN

Veteran

Those jeans looks great on you! My gosh. It’s funny to think you might have hesitated on the style when they look that good. And I like the whole outfit too

Dee

Veteran

April - Haha, welcome soon to the 60+ club, I agree that along with practicality and comfort, I want to be more sustainable and so any purchase I make should be something that will work for me for a long time. Hope you enjoy your new barrel jeans.

Eliza - I agree that feeling like myself in a new trend is really key in deciding whether to adopt it or not and they’ve got to work with most of my comfy footwear now or its a no-go for me.

BrieN - Thanks so much, I think my hesitation with this style was because when I explored some other trendy pants before like the cargos, they actually looked and fitted okay but I felt like an imposter wearing them and I feared the same for this style.

Style Fan

Veteran

Dee, the jeans look fantastic on you. I don't worry about my age to answer your question about aging and trends. I am getting close to 70, and I wear what I like. My jeans and bottoms are usually more trendy than my tops. I would not wear a cropped top these days.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The jeans are a homerun! I am not sure how I feel about the new trends issue. On the one hand, I am all in on trying new things when I have the chance, and certainly wear things that lead people in thrift shops to hand me some pretty loud and out there pieces to try . On the other hand, I am self conscious about certain body parts that weren't really an issue when I was younger which does affect what I will wear. I am trying to get over it though.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Super great jeans! They look fab on you and you look very happy wearing them.

As for myself, my age has very little if anything to do with my clothing and wardrobe choices. Maybe the most influence is that I’m fortunate to now have a little money for splurging, which wasn’t so much the case when I had kids at home or otherwise lived on a tight budget.

Joyce B

Veteran

Those jeans look fab on you! Enjoy that great find.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Dee...those jeans look GREAT on you, especially with the sneakers you chose. They look easy.

As I age, I find I have to be careful about what youthful looks I choose. I do live in a town that is rather allowing of older men and women to dress young. And I say young, because not all trends are young, but it's the young ones you have to be careful with.

I bought some orange Nike sneakers, and everyone loved them. I got a black mini-dress from Forever 21, thrifted, and my (ex) boyfriend thought I looked great.

Trends like square toed pumps are probably easier for all ages, but for anything more youthful, you have to decide if it matches your personality.

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