Admittedly, I have an ongoing conversation in my head when I get dressed. “Am I too old for this”. Shopping and getting dressed at 46 is far different than it was a decade or even 5 years ago. I do question SO many things the minute I step into the dressing room.
The reality is, we don’t have to dress for our age. I believe that in midlife we should dress for how we FEEL. Whatever you put on your body, should make you feel your absolute best! Gone are the days when we need a closet FULL of clothes. I almost feel like less is more these days. I would honestly rather invest in some essential great basics, and the rest on bags, shoes and fine jewelry.
There is a lot of talk that you shouldn’t wear tight, short, or cropped if you are over a certain age, and I think that is a bunch of BS. I think you should wear what looks great on you, and what you are confident in! If I had great legs I would be rocking short skirts and shorts all day long!!!!
I like to dress for my body type; playing up my best features. I have decent arms, back, and shoulders, and I am not self-conscious of my stomach…yet. We all know this is a challenge in midlife! If I show skin, it is usually in my top half. I love a backless top, I do a lot of high neck sleeveless, and I will still show a little midriff here and there. I have no chest, so I can do things that are a little low-cut. I can do tight if the skirt is midi or full-length.
On the flipside, my legs are my struggle spot; always have been! So, I tend to keep them covered in pants, or long dresses/skirts. But, I do love shorts, styled up, so occasionally I will throw my insecurities to the wind and just go for it!!
I don’t want to dress like I am 25, and I don’t want to feel older than I am. I think that the sweet spot is finding a mix of sophisticated and sexy. When I get dressed to go out, or say on a couples trip I want to wear something fun. I will show a little more skin, but I try to balance it all out. I feel like I can no longer do tight, and short, baring every inch of my skin. So, if I am in a skin-bearing top, I will pair it with trousers or a long skirt. I always have some sort of blazer or cardigan to throw over my shoulders, which also seems to balance out the look.
So what do we wear “going out” in midlife?
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