Who are the fashion police?
Graven Image
Shipmate
in Hell
Who are you to tell me at my age I should not wear Jeans, sparking clothes,
pins, flower prints, and colored eyeliner? You claim it will make me look old. Hells Bells ( old saying) I am 86 I am old and will wear what I please. Are you same people who are also telling me that the color of my walls in the house that I painted just three years ago are now outdated and I need to re-paint? So you are saying not only do I look old but my house looks old as well? Mind your own business.
pins, flower prints, and colored eyeliner? You claim it will make me look old. Hells Bells ( old saying) I am 86 I am old and will wear what I please. Are you same people who are also telling me that the color of my walls in the house that I painted just three years ago are now outdated and I need to re-paint? So you are saying not only do I look old but my house looks old as well? Mind your own business.
Comments
Almost as fun as stirring up the church police ( your knees/midriff/ armpits/ whatever are showing)
Just enjoy it.
Go ahead, wear that bikini, if you like.
I know I don't dare tell my wife what she can or cannot wear. That would be grounds for divorce--and the kids would support her.
2023 AD, Britain: hoop earrings are awful and tacky. The smaller the better. Don't be seen dead wearing them. Actually, get something else instead.
* * *
No idea who decides these things, or who chooses "Colour of the Year" (magenta, since you ask) but have what you like. I have absolutely no intention of fading into beige clothing and getting a shapeless perm with blue rinse because I'm older. I've also been told by more than one person that the Anais Anais perfume is a young person's perfume, but there's no label on it saying so or proscription on my buying it, and on the occasions when I wear it I do so to evoke the memories of those younger days.
And whoever chose grey, teal and mustard yellow as the predominant colours for the past few years needs to be taken out and had a stern word with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cACbzanitg
Enjoy!
The fashion police are a strongly gender and age biased cultural institution and women suffer from their opprobrium.
I don't know if I'm above or below a certain age but I may indeed be being saved from this by my gender alone.
But that leaves open the question of who they actually are and how they assert their malign influence.
Oh yes.
"Seriously, are you wearing that to an interview? First impressions and all that. You won't get the job."
"Not really suitable for the office."
"We want our employees to look smart and professional."
"No jeans or trainers please."
"Black tie event."
"Not at the wedding/funeral you don't. Save it for when you get home."
"You can't go out like that."
"You need a belt with that."
"What shoes should I wear tonight?"
"Yep, good, but pull it up/down a bit."
"You can't go wrong with black."
"What can I wear with ..."
"I've got to have a hat for this. What sort of hat should I have?"
"Mm, good, but you need a bit of jewellery with that."
"Read this to find out how to avoid looking like mutton dressed as lamb..."
... etc.
“She’s no better than she ought to be”, “mutton dressed as lamb” “should you go with xxx now you’re a woman of a certain age” “oh you wear still wear x, I wouldn’t dare !” Etc etc etc ad nauseam.
When I’m hiding from the sun on the top of an open top bus (various cities) and wearing a sun hat and various scarves round my shoulders/arms. They refuse to sit next to me. 😂
In normal times I use a sun umbrella, but that doesn’t on the top of a sightseeing bus.
They thrive on those who take notice of them; if no one does they wither and die
I've learnt that if I wear red I will get comments from men in the street. This happens almost every time. I now generally only wear my red jacket if I'm feeling particularly confident or if it's dark. My yellow jacket attracted attention from drunks one evening with a persistent "Hello darling, what's your name" until a passing policeman told them to stop. I didn't wear it for months after that in case they were still around and would recognize it.
I've learnt that if I wear pink suddenly I am much more approachable and everybody is more friendly. Old ladies talk to me, checkout staff smile and wish me a good day.
I've learnt to make myself look unattractive and unapproachable when out alone in the evenings. Equally, I was trained in how to make the best of what I have to make a good impression, particularly on dates.
Men do not have to do this.
I have had dates when I've dressed nicely, ensured hair and makeup were to their best advantage, turned up and found myself sitting opposite someone who'd made no effort at all. This is the way it goes.
Whatever I'm wearing it's accessorised with an invisible T-shirt saying I Don't Give a Damn What You Think.
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I dress according to the code mostly adhered to by the older members of my Family, to wit, Scruffy (/baggy shirt/pullover/tracksuit bottoms).
My niece says that the Family sometimes exerts itself to employ what she calls *Hobo Chic* - though I'm not quite certain what she means by that. In any case, she herself is usually well turned-out, and indeed (when *going out*) is best described as elegant...her kingfisher-blue dress is a beautiful item of attire, and suits her to a T.
Oddly enough, I have an invisible T-shirt, like unto that mentioned by @Firenze. At my age, I really Do Not Give A Flying Wossname as to what anyone else thinks...
This is the thing. Many of us don't "just get dressed", there's often some conscious element of complying with current standards, or thinking "stuff you". At home I wear whatever I please. I don't always go out in it though.
Today I'm wearing a long turquoise summer beach skirt and a deep orange T-shirt. I love the colours and feel comfortable in them. But they aren't appropriate for the weather outside and even if it was I wouldn't wear them anyway because round here it would attract attention and comment. I rarely got comments when I lived in Oxford and I don't get comments in other cities, but outside of those, in smaller places, yes, I do. I love bright colours but I've learnt to conceal these round here.
I will probably be going to the shops later and so I will change into something warmer, darker and more nondescript. I'm sick of the way blokes hang around on the streets in groups with cans of booze or cluster around benches with carrier bags of drink but that's the way it is.
Why?
I'm not sure what you're on about. Surely no-one needs to be told what to wear - would you agree with that?
His clothes are loud, but never square
It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion
Ah, memories.
I don't mind fashion as a spectator sport - I'm a follower of Tom and Lorenzo
But I am careful what I wear to see a doctor so that they don’t judge me as either manic or depressed and start showing an interest in my mental health.
The sort of thing My Old Mum would say...even when it might have been considered that I was old enough to think of it myself...
Like a uniform? Isn't that being told what to wear?
One example was when I was a young professional I was told "aren't you cold with those bare shoulders? I'd be so cold wearing that!" I asked a couple people I trusted and all agreed that I was being told that my dress shirt was inappropriate because it did not cover my shoulders.
At the time I stopped wearing that shirt, but now my personal response is: Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple
I note when I travel to cities in the American northeast -- Boston, New York -- I stick out like a sore thumb in my brightly colored clothes. Here in southern California you can pretty much wear whatever you want on the street. I only get comments if I'm wearing my t-shirt that reads "DAY DRINKING AND NAPS" in big letters on the front.
Orange is not a sign of being visibly unwell 😬
ISTM there's a kind of anxiety that can attach to still having to audition for jobs, relationships, social position. I remember feeling like I had to be aware of fashion and make choices accordingly. It is pure privilege that I no longer feel that way; I don't have to audition if I don't want to.
So I'm just a shade uneasy about boasting about privilege, when I remember not having it. "I don't have to do x, like those other poor schmucks" is, I don't know, kind of not cool.
I put on a more sober waistcoat.
You should have responded "why not?" to establish whether there's any actual substance to the objection.
You haven't met Mrs RR have you? 'It's old and tatty' is the usual response'. And she's right.
But all these exchanges are good natured and fun.....
Sorry for the tangent .... I understand the pressure my daughters and now grandaughters face in the world to conform and try to be nothing but accepting.
Sounds fine to me but then I'm colour blind.
As am I. Therefore, I tend to where the same solids day in and day out. But I am getting tired of red--or is it crimson--could be coral, maybe maroon.
Wait until they find out about Joseph's dress!