Admit it: fashion sleuthing time

[shootingstar]

Ok, since many of us pride ourselves as cycling affectionados instead of real runaway fashionistas, we just don't spend much perusing the dress shops, window shopping, looking at fashion mags., right? Come on admit, what you really do..

Found a not too cluttered website for myself to check the trends. (I think???) maybe every 3-4months. None of the women's mags nor brick 'n mortar stores.

http://www.myshape.com/shop/shapematters
I don't intend to buy anything from the U.S. when there are stores where we are..I just need to know..how out of date I might look.

My wardrobe is truly outta date.

[Grog]

I love the dress shops (local designers) here on Main Streets. But I mostly walk there at night when they are closed.

I almost never wear dresses these days anyway.

But the truth is: I don't understand the fashion in this town. Everything I see in the shops (except some big chains and the more outdoorsy places like Mountain Equipment Co-Op) looks wrong to me. I have no idea what I'll do when I have to wear "business casual" dress (which in my "industry" tends to be more casual than business). I have tried to buy new clothes many times but since moving to Vancouver (4 years ago) I have successfully bought about 2 pairs of pants and... a lot of Ibex wool!!

I'll have to spend some more serious time checking things out, soon.

[redrhodie]

I had on a tee shirt the other day that I bought at the Gap when I first moved to NYC in 1990 . 'nuff said.

eta: I do buy bike clothes.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[ny biker]

I had on a tee shirt the other day that I bought at the Gap when I first moved to NYC in 1990 . 'nuff said.

eta: I do buy bike clothes.

I love shopping for clothes. And yet right now I'm wearing a t-shirt that I bought at Old Navy about 8 years ago for $4.

[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

[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.