Age Appropriate Dressing - Should there be rules??

A recent article in a Manila publication, Manila Standard Today, started me thinking about the subject of when one is too old to wear particular clothing and why there is a need to define rules for who should wear what when.  Usually these articles are written by younger journalists or stylists whose fashion sense peters out around 50 years of age in articles such as 'What to Wear at Every Age.  Invariably the 50, 60 and 70 year olds are depicted in tweed jackets with sensible shoes and often pastels, suggesting maybe we should develop a uniform as we age.

I am of the opinion that we develop ways to express ourselves through clothing as we mature. I find it depressing to see a room full of mature women looking uniform in clothes that are neither flattering nor feminine. 

Imagine telling Ines de la  Fressange (the women voted as being the most chic French woman,) that Converse sneakers are only for the 20 year olds.  Or telling Susan Sarandon that long hair is simply not appropriate after 53. 

Style is so individual that what one woman looks amazing in, another just would not countenance wearing.  Long live individuality I say and let's tell all those bossy journalists and stylists we will wear what we feel good in.  One thing I do know is that our girlfriends will soon tell us what works and what doesn't.  And, that is because they care about us not because they want to stifle our creativity.

Below  is the offending article where the author blames the brands for age inappropriate dressing and is appalled at seeing saggy skin on the beach - love to hear your comments at the bottom:

Age-appropriate dressing

by Malu Fernandez

The Philippines is considered to have a young demographic, which is why most of the retailers focus on that market. Brands like Forever 21 and Top Shop clearly recognize that. With all these youthful fashion brands leading the way, the influence on the local women is inevitable.

The problem with this is that more and more women in Manila are not dressing right for their age. Just try looking around when you’re at the beach. You’ll find a lot of mature women, who should really not be wearing bikinis anymore (unless your Madonna or Helen Mirren). At a certain age, bikinis are not flattering to a stomach with old saggy skin. Even if you have a flat stomach your skin will still reveal your true age. This is due to the fact that we loose skin elasticity as we age so wrinkly saggy skin on a flat stomach is just unsightly.

There is the proverbial mini-skirt and shorts that look adorable in your 20’s but resemble hooker wear after you turn 30. Even stiletto heels that look so beautiful on a woman have a shelf life. But that’s more self- imposed because as we get older body parts degenerate, which make it impossible to wear high heels. Also, as the years pass women who constantly use heels end up with a lifetime of podiatry problems that can be seriously painful. As a result, they are forced to wear sensible shoes.

Then there are those women who were rebels in their 20’s, those who still have tattoos and piercings. But what happens when your tattoos fade or get unsightly (which happens by the time you hit your 50’s)? And what about the body piercings? Seeing a 40-year-old woman with her belly button pierced just reminds me of an ageing stripper.

A perfect example for all of this is Pamela Anderson. She still has a sexy body but she is clearly at that age where her tight-fitting clothes and Ugg boots don’t make her look like that cute California beach bunny anymore. She is becoming an ageing caricature of herself. Sometimes it can be difficult for women to move on because they often stick to a style or era that they feel they are at their prettiest.

Women who stick to their era can be spotted quickly just by looking at the way they fix their hair and make-up. Eighties women still have an affinity with big hair and heavy eye makeup while women from the 70’s still have a love for tube tops and jeans. Whatever the case may be women should progress naturally to their present age and accept the fact that they cannot dress the same in their 20 but they can look even better if they know how to dress appropriately for their age. Sometimes Forever 21 is just the name of a store and not a fact of life. Below is a list I found in several publications which defines the cut off for age-appropriate clothing.
• Bikini, 47
• Miniskirt, 35
• Boob Tube, 33
• Stilettos, 51
• Belly button piercing, 35
• Knee high boots, 47
• Trainers, 44
• Leather trousers, 34
• Leggings, 45
• Ugg boots, 45
• Swimsuit, 61
• Tight vest, 44
• See-through chiffon blouse, 40
• Long hair, 53
• Ponytail, 51