1261. I am on the fence here. I am 49, giving 50 a good shove. Personally, I leave the young styles to the young. I had my heydey back in the day with ripped up sweatshirts, leggings, leg warmers, headbands and big hair.

Now I need a more sophisticated look. One that doesn't scream "I'm never growing up!" I think you can be stylish, sexy, and act like an adult.

Of course, some will disagree with me and say they will never give up thier duds. See aforementioned paragraph.

Great article. :D

Posted at 4:59PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Eisskween

1262. I agree with the comment about the crocks. They are fugly at any age and should be worn only for gardening and maybe not even then! I work in the fashion industry and see many trend come and go and then come back again like baby doll tops. I am 42 and confident as well as comfortable in my own skin. I no longer wear a string bikini and now wear a takini or svelt one piece BUT If I looked liked Nicolette Sheridan or Cameron Diaz do at the ages they are I would wear one every single day!!!! But since I dont, I wear what compliments me and my style and hides my flaws! Women do not dress for men, they dress for eachother. Another woman will comment on what you wear before a man will almost 9 out of ten times.

Posted at 2:38PM on Oct 18th 2008 by cyndi

1263. i pretty much dont agree with all u said except the bikini part and the writing on the butt
im 48 and have the body of a 20 year old but i have no desire to flaunt what i have i know what i have and thats all that matters

Posted at 3:19PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Theresa

1264. In many cases (not all) age has nothing whatsoever to do with appropriateness. I've seen many a sixteen-year-old sporting things that do nothing to disguise their disgusting rolls of fat/flab/cellulite. Goodness, girls, don't you own a mirror?! Then there are the young ladies who don't/won't acknowledge other figure problems. If you're cursed with stubby legs, the last thing you should be doing is cutting them shorter visually with capris or flood pants. I could go on but why bother?

Posted at 3:17PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Frenchie

1265. I agree with most of your comments. However, I exercise 3 times a week, wear fitted jeans and fitted t-shirts/blouses. If only someeee company would manufacture clothes for "older" women, then, maybe we wouldn't have to resort to teeny-bopper or Granny clothes! Oh, and, I'm 65 and wear a size 2.

Posted at 3:06PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Jackie

1266. I agree with everything except the Crocs -- for me. Yes, they are ugly, but I have arthritis in my feet and for me they are a Godsend. They are the only shoes I can wear that do not hurt my gnarled feet and toes. I've stockpiled enough pairs that I hope they will carry me through the rest of my life. Sometimes it isn't even a little bit about fashion.

Posted at 3:18PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Sue

1267. im 54 and i love leggins with a long top. im at the age where i dont care about what people think or about trends,i wear what i like and have fun wearing them

Posted at 3:29PM on Oct 18th 2008 by reva

1268. no jeans unless in your own back yard for painting ,yard work etc. they are SO unforgiving

Posted at 4:09PM on Oct 18th 2008 by helen hassey

1269. Age is only a number....size is what matters. I've seen plenty of teenagers wearing tight shirts and leggings with fat rolls hanging out all over...ick. I don't wanna see fat rolls on ANY person regardless of age. String bikinis should be outlawed for any person. Sometimes the imagination works better than letting everything hang out with nothing left to the imagination.

Posted at 4:10PM on Oct 18th 2008 by gs1970455

1270. I agree with most of the suggestions. But if you have it, and most women dont (be honest with yourself !) flaunt it ! GOT the body to wear that string bikini because you WORK OUT and have the body of a 21 yr old - why not ? Ive lost 90 lbs and still need to lose some more, so I shop carefully at what fits well and what doesnt. Women need to be attuned to their body at to what works on THEM - not just what they 'like' - a babydoll top may be all wrong for their body type, for example.

Posted at 9:03PM on Oct 21st 2008 by tinytoes

1271. what about the dreaded high waisted or classicrise "mom jean"? it should be banished.....since I discovered mid-rise i would not be caught dead in a "mom jean"!!
and fanny packs should be confiscated from everyone and burned!!!

Posted at 4:34PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Kelly

1272. I agree that there should be some restraint in dressing after age 40, but if your body and shape afford you to look 30ish or younger then why can't I wear my leggings??
A string bikini is out of the question and writing on my butt is a no-no yet most active wear bears writing somehwere. My reason for not buying it is I don't want the attention I could get by having writing on my backside. Age is a state of mind. Belly-bearing tops (although my abs look far better than most 20yr olds) I wont do out of respect for my sons who date women that 'should' be exposing their great bodies. Your list is extensive and a bit exclusive if you ask me

Posted at 4:59PM on Oct 18th 2008 by debbie l chaisson

1273. Don't agree with the backpack thing. I'm 74,have back/sciatica problems, and carry a tote purse that converts to backpack when needed.Age has nothing to do with it!

Posted at 5:19PM on Oct 18th 2008 by barbgalvin

1274. It is very interesting to read these comments, and note the thoughts and images that occur as we visualize the wearing of certain garments. We all have different views on "age appropriate" fashions, as well as "body shape" fashions, and yet, we all know that people are going to wear what is being sold. I have seen nothing mentioned about the fact that companies are ADVERTISING on the butts, torsos, and feet...we KNOW what companies are doing this, and yet, WE STILL BUY FROM THEM!!!

I liked the suggestion that one offered, that of buying at second-hand stores, finding the items that cannot be found currently in regular stores. Interesting. And revealing. Yesterday at the pool, I saw a woman come in wearing what I can only say was a 1960's style beach coverup...a zip front, knee length terry robe...yeah! It looked old-fashioned...but hey, if it is comfortable, and not obscene...I say, wear it.
Also, no one mentioned the wearing of extremely baggy clothing, or torn clothing, or mens clothing, or "scare wear", ah, that was a bad memory...someone wearing a one-piece lace net bodysuit that had seen better days...TALK ABOUT THAT, INSTEAD OF FROSTING US ON THE BACK PACKS AND THE CROCS, OK???

Posted at 5:41PM on Oct 18th 2008 by gloria81604

1275. I turned 45 on yesterday and I agree with all the suggestions. Add some more for men too. I am a real shopper and I will try on many outfits and leave them all in the store if they don't look right on me. I take my time and shop right and the end result is people think I am my daughter's sister.

Posted at 5:31PM on Oct 18th 2008 by jackie

1276. We do not have to be SLAVES of fashion...however, I do think some of the "suggestions" this article contains speaks to the importance of understanding that the passage of years does lend the body a most definite requirement for adaptation of certain garments.

Right, leggings do not look particulary good on the over 40 set...EVEN IF YOU ARE A SIZE 2...right! The fact that you have a body shape that allows you to fit into the garment means that you have the good genes and should have the good sense to know that this is a garment for the younger generation.

Baby Doll, says it all! So, why in the world would a woman with class and experience want to wear such a thing? There are many other much more attractive styles to choose from...Thinking the only reason people are upset about the backpack thing is because their own backs ache when they look at them! Nothing wrong with a useful carry-on...when you are hiking...why the heck would I want to be "Ms Bag Lady" and drag a huge canvas tote around?

I would appreciate hearing from others who are navigating this plethera of clothing disasters, and choosing what works for them, not what is on a specified list of do's and don'ts.....

gloria81604@aol.com

Posted at 6:12PM on Oct 18th 2008 by gloria81604

1277. The entire premise of this article is so lame that I would never let my friends know that I took the time to respond! Was this a high school project for a writing assignment? Hopefully by the time you're in you're 30's to 40's you've got some sense of what works for YOU. I'm 54 and my face looks great but I look like I'm in my late 40's or early 50's. My body on the other hand is slammin' and I've worked hard for it. I won't wear a string bikini because I don't feel comfortable in them. Something printed across my backside ...no thanks. Age shouldn't dictate what you wear and neither should the latest trends. If you're 25 and have a fat ass does that make it okay to wear a billboard on it? Yuk...don't think so. Wear what suits your body and make sure it fits properly. If you HAVE to buy the latest, trendiest clothes it doesn't mean you're in style or look good. It just means you have those clothes and you don't know how to style a wardrobe that has your personal signature on it. There's a reason why a Chanel suit or a Norman Norell gown will never go out of style but a babydoll top or Crocs or whatever's hot this week will. It's called fashion and good taste.

Posted at 9:43PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Carol

1278. No matter what a woman's age, she should dress to her body type. I am 45, tall and in good shape ... I wear a two piece at the beach and cropped sweats that say "LOVE" across the behind. It amuses me that you think that indicates I am not "classy". The only reason I will not wear the baby doll stuff is that it was invented to hide the chubby tummys of the generation X girls who tend to be more sedentary, and I would hate to put my great abs under all that pleated or puffy fabric.

Posted at 5:46PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Sherry B.

1279. Your list is only relevant to the stereotypical woman over 40 who gets out of shape and looks ridiculous in young people- clothing. BUT WAKE UP!! did you see nicolette sheridan at 44 in a string bikini??? stunning. did you see gloria steinem recently in jeans?????? gorgeous. THERE IS NO RULE ABOUT AGE..if you work hard to stay beautiful and fit, you can wear, do, and be anything at any age. I feel like you must be males who wrote this. what rubbish.

Posted at 5:51PM on Oct 18th 2008 by barbara

1280. So I guess, many will continue to wear what the advertising puts out...or...hey, what about a change? Like, say, we could all start wearing the clothing that our political gals are wearing...

OOH NO! That means that some of us are going to GOSH DARN IT...start wearing BELTED SUIT JACKETS and clip our hair up with banana clips...I hear there's a big run on rimless glasses these days!!!

No disrespect...think Tina Fey looks fabulous!!!

gloria81604@aol.com

Posted at 6:16PM on Oct 18th 2008 by Carolyn Andrews-Allred