Kiss goodbye before you turn 30? - YouLookFab Forum

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Kiss goodbye before you turn 30?

rachylou

Veteran

This kinda made me laugh because I find it kinda true. Although, I think there are those who walk among us who *are* Sarah Jessica Parker and can do the tutu.

I also sorta think ya gotta pitch the Ambercrombie stuff more like before you hit senior year of high school. (Or save your endocrine system and don't go in at all...)(jus' sayin is all...)

And, um, I love my leggin's. Not giving em up. They are really good for the bakery. Everybody wears them there. Or is that the same as yoga leggings and ok anyways?

Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from T

viva

Veteran

This was so funny and reminds me of my daughters, who wear a lot of this stuff now (and are quite south of 30). One day they will have to let it all go - novelty headbands, bodycon dresses, fancy tights and all. Oh well.

Leggings will always be controversial. It's all in how you wear them, really. I'm pro-leggings well-styled.

But if you really want a chuckle, just read the defensive comment section. It's so cute. I can see all these girls standing in front of their tutu and body con-dress stuffed closets screaming, "Leave us alone!"

deb

Veteran

I read this earlier today and wondered where they were coming from. Some points were good but ditch the interview suit for track pants? I do not get it.

Anonymous

Shoot, most of their "age appropriate" alternatives are also too young for me! I just got rid of my last low-rise clams, but I'm hanging on to a tasteful bodycon dress. Come on, it's from Ann Taylor so you know it's not club wear!

cciele

Veteran

Heh, agree with the Ambercrombie stuff Rachy!

But, meh, some of the examples don't work for me. The backless dress they show as a replacement for a bodycon dress? How is it more age-appropriate?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

As with everything in personal presentation, it is not about age, but about being aware of what looks good on you, and even more importantly aware of who your audience is. And likewise: what is your desired reaction from said audience.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I just bought a novelty headband for an upcoming wedding.

Gracie

Veteran

Ha, rolf here seeing the photo for "Instead, try: a sexy, backless cocktail dress." It looks back-less, front-less and length-less... a body con dress would be a lot more demure.

Neel

Veteran

That was a good read and I did nod my head along a lot of points there. But I don't get the backless dress either. Why stop wearing bodycon if it suits your body type?

If tutu skirts and tulle skirts are the same ... Then leave me alone please rule makers, I am 33 and I will wear mine no matter what you think

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rabbit

Veteran

30 is so young nowadays. There are plenty of hipsters north of 30 as well as people taking good care of their incredible bods. Some of these I totally agree with because it's like, those didn't work for you after you passed age 12 :D, but others I'm like meh, what kind of life do they think 30 year olds are living now? Some are still living at home or sharing a house and saving money, some are just getting out of grad school, many in the arts or humanities are just getting started. Tons are single and mingling. Thirty is still smack dab in the age of exploration in my book. Heck, so are the forties! ;).

rachylou

Veteran

I'm nodding my head to all y'all's comments. Some of it, to me, is where you wear this stuff. When you're kid you wear it to main place of business - i.e., school. But when your main place of business is the workplace, it's *eh, not so much.*

Also I thought it hilarious they replaced fringe with... fringe.

Thistle

Veteran

Hmm, I agree with some of it. No interview suit, though? Not sure how that would work in Finance.

gryffin

Veteran

Rachy - I am singing the leggings song with you "....you can pry my leggings off my cold dead legs....doo dah...." Although, to be honest, I don't think I'd wear most of the things the writer nixed, what annoys me, is why anyone would let someone they don't know, whose personal style they do not emulate or at least respect, tell them what they can or cannot wear? I love leggings. I style them in a similiar way to Vera Wang, with long tunics or dresses and I adore them. Always black and in good shape. Gosh that kind of thing makes me mad and I go into my "nobody puts Baby in a corner mode!"

Gaylene

Veteran

These kinds of attempts to set down age-related rules for "do this, not that" types of dressing always crack me up. Fun reading, but they say so much more about the headspace of the authors than anything else. Of course, wearing a backless dress that shows "pelvage" ( my husband's term for those sky-high celebrity hemlines) instead of body-con cleavage is so much more tasteful and age-appropriate. LOL.

Dee

Veteran

I'm 31 and I love my leggings! And I also recently bought my first bodycon dress from BR and I'm looking forward to wearing it... Although I do agree with phasing out ill-fitting or unreached-for fast fashion items, but that seems like common sense at any age?

E

Veteran

Haha! I've never worn anything on their list to get rid of except for clunkier shoes. And I do have a couple pairs of flat t-straps, but according to them only mary janes are creepy. You know, I've got 2 more years, so clearly it's time for me to acquire some novelty tights...and maybe a tutu...

Also, their suggested cocktail dress terrified me. Is it really a dress? Perhaps they should have kept a pair of leggings.

MsMaven

Veteran

The list is good for a chuckle.

I thought the old big black line between 29 and 30 had been banished. It seems to me that the people who need--really need--advice like this are the ones least likely to read it, much less take it.

Helena

Veteran

As someone turning turning 40 in less than a week, I am going to be bold and say that you should wear whatever the bloody heck you so choose that works for you and age be damned!!!

But perhaps I am a little too close to it right now ...

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Oh, yes--I think I'll go out and get a backless dress that shows a little side boobage. Right away!
Some good points here, and like you, Rachylou, I'm scratching my head at leggings and other ix-nays.

Niki Lea

Veteran

That Kenzo dress is a glorified moo-moo.

I'm betting that a woman in her early 20s wrote that article. Just kidding. For me, as I rapidly approach 40, there are definitely some retailers that I avoid because they're not marketed to me anymore (I've "aged out" of them). But not specific articles of clothing I feel too old for. It's more about what works for my body and what doesn't, regardless of my age.

Now, can we talk about the men please?

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm... maybe this list should have come out a decade ago. I was wearing mary jane strap shoes up until a year or two ago... Love the term *pelvage* btw - hilarious!

I suppose it was good I couldn't find a novelty headband I liked the other day... I was wanting one, but they were all overdone... noooo, I'm serious!

These lists always entertain me immensely. I can't imagine anyone writes them in a serious frame of mind. Not when they're telling you to wake up and smell the Abercrombie & Fitch.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Meh, most of this stuff is either not news (why keep holey underwear at any age? ) or just plain silly. That cocktail dress (looks more like a cocktail napkin, IMHO) is particularly absurd. If the reason that a body con dress is not age appropriate is because it's too revealing, then how does showing that much side boob help the situation?

rachylou

Veteran

Haha, Mander! The side boob also gave me pause.

MsLuna

Veteran

Wow, Neel you can rock that tutu!

HAAAAAAH! I will NEVER give up them leggings! The only thing that seems to be nice to my ginormous belly these days

Kristin L

Veteran

Wow. I'm completely behind getting rid of holey underwear and learning the power of tailoring. But not so much for the others. Especially that cocktail dress. Where is that even appropriate?

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

That was a fun read, as are the comments on this thread. Yeah... I'm not too crazy about letting go of my leggings in favor of short leather shorts. And the backless dress that can't be walked/moved in without flashing the unsuspecting passersby with side boob or booty... (But a body con dress is horrifying?) Of course I wouldn't be caught dead in many of the things on the don't list... But I agree that there are a number among us (Neel) who can rock the tule skirt! Thanks for sharing.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I'm reaching the tail end of my 20's and let me tell you what:

My interview suit is awesome and no, I'm not letting go of it.
I'm not wearing slouchy boyfriend jeans.
Those pointy flats look like they hurt.
HAHAHA, that camisole ... man; my boobs would be like WTF.
HAHAHAHAHA, ditto backless dress.
I'm not giving up my tutu skirts.

Who wrote this?

Anonymous

Yeah, I kind of think the sort of woman who has the shape and confidence and social life for micro-minis and bodycon dresses and still feels connected enough to her college sorority to wear their t-shirts at 29 won't suddenly look ridiculous doing any of that just because she's turned 30.

But I'm not sure that particular woman and I are even the same species. So I'm not even sure I can judge whether this article is useful for anyone. I did like the leather espadrilles you're supposed to give up flat mary janes for, though.

Kaelyn

Veteran

Some of the things on this list have NOTHING to do with age. Nobody should ever wear worn out socks and underwear--replace those things and feel better about yourself!

Others, I'm really just rolling my eyes at, because 30 is NOT a magic line that you cross and are suddenly a totally different person. 21 wasn't like that for me, so I doubt 30 will be, either. I find it really hard to believe that the day before you turn 30 you can still pull off a tulle skirt, hippie/bohemian style fringe and headbands, and patent leather boots, and then your birthday hits and BAM, you're not allowed to wear the things you love anymore.

Deborah

Veteran

Fun read and some truth depending on your perspective:)

BUT my wardrobe would crash down around me without leggings and I'm well over 30!! Leggings can be chic, elegant and edgy so on that account they are just wrong lol. And while I don't have one, I do think tutu skirts can look fabulous at any age..it's all in the styling:). And I had two very considerate brides who allowed me to actively source suitable bridesmaid dresses, both of which I wore more than once to other functions. One dress was navy satin, the other was black crepe with a draped neckline. Both were unfussy, streamlined and elegant. I donated the blue to a charity providing girls with formal dresses and sold the black one...good value IMHO x

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