Is my hair too long? Are my skirts too short? Do I have to give up sleeveless tops? Are these shoes still OK for me? It’s a minefield. I don’t want to dress or appear younger. I just want to wear what I like and be mostly age-appropriate so people don’t stare and whisper. I want them to look at me because I’m radiating good energy and a beautiful smile not because I look like a clown. I’ve never chased trends and my wardrobe is mostly ‘classic’. It has to feel right on me. That means soft, comfortable but not shapeless, light on make-up, light on jewelry…
The workplace, of course, dictates a lot of what I judge to be appropriate. There is a dress code that is routinely ignored by many women in the summer, but I obey. No leggings; no flip flops – at least at work. The restrictions on women are a lot greater than those on men. Why is ‘age appropriate’ only a term used on women anyway? Age-appropriate for men means they stop wearing the fat tie that was in 30 years ago or the shirt with frayed cuffs – things that only refer to the actual age of their clothing.
Here’s to not being boring and wearing what makes me feel confident! Today that meant purple tights.