Admit it: fashion sleuthing time

[NoNo]

I enjoy shopping. And I'm wearing a dress right now! Actually, I enjoy dresses, because they require zero thought when getting ready in the morning. No pairing involved, just throw it on! I'm short, so I'm confined to the places that have petites. Kohl's has everything from work to casual, I like Ann Taylor for work stuff, and Dress Barn has nice stuff too. I watch What Not To Wear to keep me in tune with styles, although if you stick with a classic look you'll be fine.

[bmccasland]

Wearing a dress and 3 inch heels at the office as we speak - but I also have meetings with public today (the men will be wearing suits). Next week, field work - with some of the same bunch. We even laugh about how we look all cleaned up, as most of the time we see each other doing field work.

[tulip]

I like wearing nice clothes, but I hate shopping. I recently browsed through a catalog at my mother's house. I can't imagine buying something from a catalog because how do you know if it will fit or even look good? Looks great on the model, sure. I do have to get a summer dress for a luncheon at the end of May. Knowing me, I'll put it off as long as possible and get something under pressure that I don't like. No wonder I don't like to shop!

[indigoiis]

Salvation Army is my boutique, and the occasional thrift or consignment. I hate buying anything new. My mom sent me a check for my birthday so that I could buy a Title 9 Dress I'd been eyeing, but at sixty bucks I hesitate... sixty bucks could buy a WHOLE LOT of clothes on consignment! LOL.

[Zen]

Wearing a dress and 3 inch heels at the office as we speak

I simply cannot picture you like that. Are you sure that's you?

Zen, who likes wearing dresses and skirts and makes weekly visits to the hospital thrift shop.

[Veronica]

Thom's 25th high school reunion is this year. We went to the same school, I was a year behind him. I've been perusing my dress options. I want to wear something that will show off my back.

I've also lost enough inches that NONE of my clothes fit properly anymore. I never use to wear belts, now I have to. So I've been looking at what to buy to replace some things.

These are the two dresses I'm considering. The reunion is in Maine in July and not super fancy.





Veronica

[ASammy1]

Veronica,

I like the second one! The black one is nice too, but the blue one really pops!

[Grog]

I love both, V, but I find the black one just a notch too simple. The straps on the blue one will definitely bring attention to your back. Show it off!

**

Oh, yes, consignment! That's one great thing around here. I have bought a few sweaters and even a pair of jeans on consignment recently. Makes me much happier being there than in the new-clothing stores.

[andtckrtoo]

I love the blue dress too! How cute!

I work in an office where I am not the oldest, but I'm up there. Most of my co-workers are mid-20's. (I'm mid 40's). They're a good group, so I don't mind. There is no dress code - when it's hot many of the guys wear shorts. Nicer shorts, but, still shorts. I wear many skirts because they are comfy, cool, and let me feel dressed up enough for my East Coast sensibilities (live in California, but born and raised in conservative Lancaster, PA).

I sort of agree with the advice that a 40-something, even with the body to pull it off (and that is so not me) should not wear the same thing a 20-something does. But there are trends that cross over well. I think skin-tight on a 40 something screams "cougar" (and I hate that word, too, but it's a great description). But I love some of the flirty little skirts with pretty cami and sweater sets. I don't go higher than knee length as I don't have the legs for it, but if you do, there's nothing wrong with a few inches shorter.

[channlluv]

Veronica,

I like the second one! The black one is nice too, but the blue one really pops!

Ditto. I thought the black one was a slip. Seriously. I have a slip I wear under my lightweight black dresses that looks just like that top dress.

Roxy

[smilingcat]

Wearing a dress and 3 inch heels at the office as we speak - but I also have meetings with public today (the men will be wearing suits). Next week, field work - with some of the same bunch. We even laugh about how we look all cleaned up, as most of the time we see each other doing field work.

reminds me of a time when one of the guys at the office decided to ge cleaned up and wear nice duds. I said to him, "well after a clean shave, haircut, SHOWER and new duds, will I recognize you?" He didn't miss the shower part and wasn't very amused.

Can you recognize your co-workers in suits?

3 inch heel? ouie ouie ouie. nope. 2 inch is about as high as I want to go. 3 inch tall would be nicer but not worth the pain.

[bmccasland]

I simply cannot picture you like that. Are you sure that's you?

Yup, it's me. And I seriously messed with the minds of the guys in the office.

3 inch heel? ouie ouie ouie. nope. 2 inch is about as high as I want to go. 3 inch tall would be nicer but not worth the pain.

The shoes I wore have a bit of a platform under the toes as well, so in reality only a 2.5 inch rise, which is how I can get away with it. That and remember my ballet lessons of long ago, "backs straight, shoulders back, stomach in, feel the thread pulling UP through your head." After toe shoes, 2-3 inches isn't so bad - so long has they have good sturdy lasts.

But today I'm wearing huaraches.

[lph]

okay, I did something wrong. P-shape? "Larger bust"??

*peers down at her little AA fried eggs and goes to find dh to help with measuring*

[cylegoddess]

your must be hiding with mine( peers down at little 'fried eggs'.

[Crankin]

I'm kind of like No No.
Don't really follow any celebrity stuff (in fact, I am totally not interested), but I do read Vogue and like window shopping. I love dresses for the same reason as stated above, although my work type clothes mostly consist of skirts, blouses, sweaters, jackets. I do wear dresses more in the summer; it's much cooler than anything else. I can't stand the feel of sticky waistbands on my skin.
I think my style is mostly classic, with some updated stuff. I like low rise pants, etc. But, I just read an article about how people over 40 should not try to dress too "young" and it's a fine line between fashionable and dowdy as you age, especially if you have the body to wear younger looking styles.
I still don't see myself as old, but I have tamed down what I wear. I guess no one wants to see skin showing on a 55 year old, even one with a flat stomach... and I'm talking about in casual situations, here; I have always been pretty conservative at work.