The Impact of Aging on Style

[bagsnthings]

How many are in their forties?

Those particularly between the age of 40 and 45. Are you just as trendy and/or chic as you were when you were say 28?

Did having children (if any) or getting married impact your personal style?

 

[greeen]

interseting post! I'm still a kid but I'd like to know others' views on this.

It almost appears like a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' type thing when it comes to fashion and the aspect of children/marriage. If you continue to dress flawlessly with 3 kids and a husband, some accuse you of not being as involved (being more self involved) and say "who has time to worry about fashion when you've got a family to look after!?" But then if you dress really bland or like plain crap, they say geez put a comb through your hair and take off that scrunchie. I believe you can have the best of both worlds.

But I hope people reply

 

[bagsnthings]

interseting post! I'm still a kid but I'd like to know others' views on this.

So would I - if anybody cares to admit that they are forty.

 

[tott]

I'm not that far from forty... And I know of a few members that are in their forties...

I have gotten a lot lazier during the years, I hardly ever make an effort to look interesting... It just doesn't feel that important to me personally.

But I always have opinions (which I practically always keep to myself) on others, kind of hypocritical really...

 

[fashionista-ta]

I'm not yet 40, but I'm definitely more chic now than I was at 28

 

[classic1908]

Forty-one years old. And I think I look more polished today than I did in my late 20s. When I was 28 (1992), the Internet didn't exist and I had little knowledge of fashion resources. I was always appropriate, but my world/style refined as I got older and saw things such as NYSD, etc.

I'm not married nor do I have children, so that hasn't affected me. I will say, however, if I do have children, I will make sure that my fashion game is up w/in reason.

 

[bagsnthings]

I know I don't invest as much in my warerobe as I did when I was in my twenties because I rather put my money toward things that appreciate in value. I have more financial responsibilites and spend more of my income toward home improvements.

 

[mirrra]

i'm not yet forty and i have 2 kids - it didn't change my style or attitude, maybe because i was realatively young when they were born...

 

[Lily530]

I'm 37. I found that my style has gotten more chic and sophisticated in the past few years and I'm loving it! I don't focus as much on trends, but rather on timeless pieces.... like what they call "French style". I also buy more expensive clothing because of this. Quality over quantity. I don't yet have kids, but am working on having a baby now. I doubt very highly I will let my style and fashion suffer. It's too important to me!

 

[SophieKawaii]

Do you think people tend to find a mother in her 30-40s being well-dressed and fashionable a bad mother who cares about herself rather than about the kid?

This question came up not long ago when a mother in her 30s complained about her neighbours saying she should care rather about the baby and not her look.. So.. according to these people a mother can't be chic and pretty but smelly with dirty hair and used old clothes..

Have you ever had the same experience?

I'm still far from the 40s but about my mother i can tell she didn't stop caring about her look after kids. Naturally her style has been changing in the last 30 years, but of course a 58 years old can't wear the same style she did in her 20-30s..

 

[Curious]

Hmph Sounds like someone's jealous of the neighbor

I think it's certainly possible to be a chic mother... and I hope to be one

Of course, it's all relative.. if someone's buying designer goods over feeding/bathing their child, that's one thing. But you shouldn't have to be dumpy to be considered a good parent.

Like anything, it's about balance and putting your best face out there for the world is a great example for a kid in my opinion. Like it or not, people are influenced by first impressions and first impressions are mostly driven by your look. No problem with a kid learning by example how to look their best and get the most of that first meeting

Interesting topic!!

 

[shadow]

Do you think people tend to find a mother in her 30-40s being well-dressed and fashionable a bad mother who cares about herself rather than about the kid?

This question came up not long ago when a mother in her 30s complained about her neighbours saying she should care rather about the baby and not her look.. So.. according to these people a mother can't be chic and pretty but smelly with dirty hair and used old clothes..

Have you ever had the same experience?

I'm still far from the 40s but about my mother i can tell she didn't stop caring about her look after kids. Naturally her style has been changing in the last 30 years, but of course a 58 years old can't wear the same style she did in her 20-30s..

Like you, Verdana, I had a mother who was stylish until she died, and she had four children. I used to feel proud of her as a little girl!. Lack of time or money is a poor excuse for looking sloppy. Half an hour a day is all it takes to do your hair/makeup, iron that skirt and polish your shoes and nails.

I am over forty and I'll be damned if I am going to be ruled by mediocrity or jealousy

 

[shadow]

Having lived in Northern and Southern Europe I have noticed that women in the North become more "practical" with age: They grow their hair grey, have two perms a year, wear NHS glasses use "sensible" orthopedic shoes and clothes with an elasticated waist. In the South women go to the hairdressers weekly (it can be as cheap as 5 euros) colour their hair, wear sunglasses, high heels and tailored clothes.

...one of the reasons may be that in a more macho-like culture, women are supposed to look good all the time or at least make an effort to look your best. Another is that in the south you really do go out every day.

 

[classic1908]

Having lived in Northern and Southern Europe I have noticed that women in the North become more "practical" with age: They grow their hair grey, have two perms a year, wear NHS glasses use "sensible" orthopedic shoes and clothes with an elasticated waist. In the South women go to the hairdressers weekly (it can be as cheap as 5 euros) colour their hair, wear sunglasses, high heels and tailored clothes.

...one of the reasons may be that in a more macho-like culture, women are supposed to look good all the time or at least make an effort to look your best. Another is that in the south you really do go out every day.

Fascinating observation, particularly about a "more macho-like culture." I am AfAm, and some elements of my culture are rather machismo-fueled, so I see a few parallels in terms of how some women present themselves.

Speaking strictly to my experience and observations, AfAm women, regardless of age, body size, etc., do make a lot of effort to look their best. For instance, today is "casual Friday," and I have a casual piece (a jeans jacket), but it's worn with dressier items, including a designer bag (Michael Kors) and bridge shoes (Kate Spade).

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

Having lived in Northern and Southern Europe I have noticed that women in the North become more "practical" with age: They grow their hair grey, have two perms a year, wear NHS glasses use "sensible" orthopedic shoes and clothes with an elasticated waist. In the South women go to the hairdressers weekly (it can be as cheap as 5 euros) colour their hair, wear sunglasses, high heels and tailored clothes.

...one of the reasons may be that in a more macho-like culture, women are supposed to look good all the time or at least make an effort to look your best. Another is that in the south you really do go out every day.

I think this is a bit of a hasty generalisation.
I'm not sure what specific countries you're considering 'North' or 'South', but I know plenty of (northern) older women who take great pride in their appearance.. it's a bit unfair to suggest they all just... let themselves go...


I love seeing a 91 year old friend, who is always perfectly dressed and looking so beautiful you would swear she isn't a day over 60.

 

[shadow]

OK, I probably generalised too much but this is drawn from my observations through the years.
Sit on a terrace on a warm summer day in a mid-size city in the south: Lille, Valencia, Venice, Porto. Do the same in a mid-size city in the north: Bristol or Bonn or Rotterdam or Tampere.

Vanity is considered a flaw in protestant societies, more so than in catholic ones. Which brings me to Midori's comment. How can you be a good mother and be vain enough to look well groomed? You could have dedicated that time to your children?

 

[shadow]

Fascinating observation, particularly about a "more macho-like culture." I am AfAm, and some elements of my culture are rather machismo-fueled, so I see a few parallels in terms of how some women present themselves.

Speaking strictly to my experience and observations, AfAm women, regardless of age, body size, etc., do make a lot of effort to look their best. For instance, today is "casual Friday," and I have a casual piece (a jeans jacket), but it's worn with dressier items, including a designer bag (Michael Kors) and bridge shoes (Kate Spade).

I have a few friends from the Netherland Antilles and they do spend an amazing amount of money -and time- in their hair especially. And yes, impeccable at all times. Their children too.

 

[larien]

Johnny Deep,Cate Blanchett,Catherine Zeta Jones etc...there are many celebrities over 40 or very near 40.but everyone knows that they are really stylish as young ones.i think it is not because of they are celebrites or they have stylist.style and elegance must be in the soul of a person,if you have that in your soul you'll be both stylish and elegance whatever age you are inB)