STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

age limit?

relrel · Marc Jacobs

This probably isn't quite the answer you were looking for since it's not very specific, but every one of those items you listed can be worn by just about anybody given that said clothing item is tasteful and worn in an appropriate manner.

Example: A miniskirt with spike heels and low cut top shouldn't be worn (really by anybody!) by say, somebody in their fifties. But nice spike heels with a great pair of jeans and a well-fitted button down could look really great on any age. Or a mini-skirt with tights and flat boots with a great sweater could look amazing.

Any of those stores you listed have great items- you just can't wear an entire outfit by them or you risk looking like a high-schooler, and a dweeby high-schooler at that.

It's really how you put the items together that makes them look too young, not the actual age of a woman.

Kelly · Hermes

agreed. And I definitely think it matters if you're in good shape or not. I don't like it, but the fact is that some bodies don't look as good in a bikini and mini skirt as 17-year-old bodies do. So if you're not toned to begin with, and also feel you may be pushing an age limit, it may look too much like you're in denial of your age.

I agree with relerel, though. Don't go out in a mini skirt, hoodie, and uggs all at once. Just tone everything down a little more than you'd have to if you were a teenager.

But IMO the cartoon character t-shirts are one thing that you can't keep wearing for ever and ever. I think of cartoon characters as a thing for kids, and whenever I see a grown woman wearing them it just seems out of place.

-- Edited by ttara123 at 15:57, 2008-01-22

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

I think, for those stores you mentioned, that there is an age limit for wearing anything that has their logo emblazoned across it. But I agree with Relrel that it's more about how you put things together than the specific items themselves that make them age appropriate or not.

kealoha · Kate Spade

i agree with relrel. it's not the age, but the execution of the outfit is what's important.

atlgirl · Gucci

I agree with everything posted here *except* the cartoon character shirts. I think there should be a mandatory age cutoff on those...I'd like to say about age 8! But I think cartoon characters can be *tastefully* done for a few years after that. JMO.

I am 40 and I still wear miniskirts occasionally...but mostly in cooler months when I can put tights and boots with them. Most of my skirts are to the knee now, and I'm fine with that.

I never really wore minis with high heels unless I was going clubbing, and I stopped doing that years ago. :)

I don't think there ever has to be a limit on spike heels, as long as they're not paired with something that looks tarty. I love my stillettos!

Elle · Hermes

atlgirl wrote:

I agree with everything posted here *except* the cartoon character shirts. I think there should be a mandatory age cutoff on those...I'd like to say about age 8! But I think cartoon characters can be *tastefully* done for a few years after that. JMO.

Agreed! Cartoon characters on a grown woman (who is not gardening, cleaning a bathtub, painting, or suffering from the flu) are one of the most horrific sights EVAH! Don't they just make you cringe?!

With everything else, I think as long as you're not going overboard with any one of these 'looks' and are dressing for your body type you can wear almost anything.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Elle wrote:

atlgirl wrote:

I agree with everything posted here *except* the cartoon character shirts. I think there should be a mandatory age cutoff on those...I'd like to say about age 8! But I think cartoon characters can be *tastefully* done for a few years after that. JMO.

Agreed! Cartoon characters on a grown woman (who is not gardening, cleaning a bathtub, painting, or suffering from the flu) are one of the most horrific sights EVAH! Don't they just make you cringe?!

Now wait, what's your definition of cartoon character? I can totally agree that a grown woman should never ever wear a Tweety t-shirt but what about something like the Jungle Book or Where the Wild Things Are? I own the first and am contemplating the second. Neither of them are very vibrant and have that cliched vintage look, and both are usually a pair of jeans and sneakers type of outfit. Ahem- however, I will admit to throwing the Jungle Book one on with a navy cardigan for work when I'm feeling particularly saucy.

Elle · Hermes

If it's a subtle, urban outfitters screen tee kind of way I supose that's more acceptable up to 35-ish or so. I mean things like this:

or

For shame!

Suasoria · Chanel

I think I'm more judgemental about this than some others, but I agree that if a woman is in great shape, it's easier to carry it off.

Lifestyle has a lot to do with it. If you work in a business office Monday to Friday, a hoodie is not that useful except as loungewear. If you're a personal trainer, a hoodie is probably a great thing to have. If you have tween or teen children, you'll look redonkulous dressing like them. If you're single and like to hang out in biker bars, you'd want appropriate clothing for that.

I think how you're treated can depend on how you dress, and it's not fun or profitable to be treated like a kid when you're past college age or so. It's normal to start stepping up your game in your 20s and get out of the junior department/stores except for very casual weekend stuff, and even then, sloppy isn't cute anymore. Also juvenile items like Uggs and logo tees aren't sexy, and I'm a big fan of sexy.

Cartoon characters should be behind you at puberty.

I'm almost 40 and will still wear a bikini among close friends but not in public, and the miniskirt days are way behind me! No more rubber flip-flops or knit pants in public, either.

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

I think certain stuff does have an age limit (like cutesy graphic tees w/slogans, etc.), but other stuff pretty much depends on HOW you wear and whether your body is in shape for it.

That said, I'm almost 29 and still wear miniskirts and have no plans to stop, so eh :P

kittenheels · Coach

I think everyone who commented on the fit of the clothing is right on. If someone is wearing clothing that fits them well and is flattering, I don't think age should stop them. I'm not too into cartoon tees myself, but I bet there are some people over 25 who could totally make them work. (I also live on the west side of LA, so I might have gotten a bit skewed on age because it's sort of flexible around here biggrin )

Hermes

relrel wrote:

This probably isn't quite the answer you were looking for since it's not very specific, but every one of those items you listed can be worn by just about anybody given that said clothing item is tasteful and worn in an appropriate manner.

Example: A miniskirt with spike heels and low cut top shouldn't be worn (really by anybody!) by say, somebody in their fifties. But nice spike heels with a great pair of jeans and a well-fitted button down could look really great on any age. Or a mini-skirt with tights and flat boots with a great sweater could look amazing.

Any of those stores you listed have great items- you just can't wear an entire outfit by them or you risk looking like a high-schooler, and a dweeby high-schooler at that.

It's really how you put the items together that makes them look too young, not the actual age of a woman.

well said, relrel.