'Fashion Can Be Bought. Style One Must Possess.'
'Fashion Can Be Bought. Style One Must Possess.'
Or Can I Wear Ripped Jeans? (Better Yet, Should I Wear Ripped Jeans?)
Years ago, I was on a treadmill and caught a young woman running next to me stealing glances my way. When I slowed to cool down, she piped up: “You look great for someone your age!”
Ugh. That’s not the compliment that you think it is, young lady.
Women of today are so much more fit and body-conscious then when our moms were our age — and that’s a good thing. Us so-called midlifers look damned good in the styles we choose to wear.
But just between us Pausers, let’s take a second to reflect at the intersection of fashion and self-esteem, at the moment of teetering on the brink of looking just.plain.wrong.
Either we’re a prisoner of our hairdo. 💁🏻♀️
Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash
“Clothes should not be the focus of attention, which is to say, they should not be what colleagues or friends remember after a meeting.” — Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times fashion critic, How to Dress Like an Adult
You can still show off your legs, your butt, your whatever — but as always, discretion is the better part of valor. (I’ve always wanted to use that phrase!)
Although I don’t always agree with (or heed) popular advice regarding midlife fashion — read: older women cannot/should not: have long hair, wear leggings out in public, wear ripped jeans — I still know, intuitively, when my outfit is dangerously veering into the wrong territory.
How? When I look in the mirror and I see a woman who is trying too hard to look like someone she once was, rather than celebrating the someone she has become. Then I know it’s time to try again.
For a Pause
1. These sure are weird times, and there are shoes that fit the description, too.
2. If you love your ripped jeans, here are 29 different outfit ideas. Let ‘er rip.
3. I’m not paying attention to fashion’s “rules” — and neither are these women.
4. Returning to your nail salon? Make white fun again.
One More Thing…
May we all grow up to be highly original Iris Apfel (who for the record, doesn’t like ripped jeans).
“I think you have to be original but not original to the point where you’re nutsy. You have to be true to yourself, and know yourself, and not be a trend follower. You’ve got to take a few risks.” — Iris Apfel
There's a very fine line
Between a groove and rut
Fine line between eccentrics
And people who are just plain nuts— Christine Lavin, Prisoners of Their Hairdo
Extra Credit: This week’s headline came from Edna Woolman Chase, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine from 1914 to 1952. Learn more about her here.
Know someone who could use a Pause? Share our newsletter and help us spread the word. We’re in this together!