Yesterday I had a revelation. If you have an occasion coming up, you probably shouldn’t take your husband and teenage daughter up on offers to take you dress shopping. It turns out there are husbands and teenage daughters who think you can still dress like a nineteen year old.
Every time you happen to reach for a dress that looks like it might be intended for someone over thirty-five, it is smacked out of your hand before you can utter, “What about this one?”
By the time you manage to grab an armload to try on, a couple of fairly skimpy dresses have snuck into the pile. You don’t know how they got there. Teenage daughter follows you into the dressing room.
Every time you zip yourself into something with sleeves or pleats or a little extra breathing room, teenage daughter scrunches her nose so tight the bow of her lips goes right up her nostrils.
Reluctantly, you pull on one dress that is about one and a half sizes too small, and a couple decades too young for you. Teenage daughter releases her lips into a smile.
“That one’s perfect!” She skips out of the dressing room to fetch your husband.
Your husband, bless him, agrees with her. All pleas for something that covers your knees are ignored. You are wheedled into at least putting the dress on hold.
Then you are left to wonder whether you have, in fact, been playing it a little too safe when it comes to your wardrobe. Maybe you could be a little less of a fuddy-duddy. Maybe, as in other areas, once in a while you should try to break out of your clothing comfort zone. And maybe you should give it a chance, at least to please the people who love you enough to think you still look good in a little dress.
On the other hand, you wonder if you’ll wind up looking like one of those aging celebrities - the ones that don’t know when to abandon the spaghetti straps and the short-shorts.
The dress is still on hold. My personal shoppers have been given the day off.
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16 comments:
I say go for it every woman needs a slutty dress you can always where it to family dinners to everyone a little thrill
Oh, wait until your son gets a little older and you wear something that shows you were capable of nursing your young. That's fun, fun, fun. You start shopping for shawls.
Just because you're over 35, you don't need to look like a grandma. Please tell me life isn't over yet!
Seriously, go shopping with a girlfriend who will give you her honest opinion. Look for something fun but age appropriate.
Try something classic but form fitting - like a tank dress that stops right at your knee. You can't go wrong with a tank dress.
Just stay out of Abercrombie and Fitch.
If you truly thinks it looks good, and your husband and daughter agree, buy it!
It's good to have a mix of styles in your wardrobe. Mine is very mixed. I have my concert outfits that are only for concerts, my lounge wear that I wear most of the time, and my very conservative wear. Oh and a few fun dresses for weddings. Go for it!
Suzie - Oh, all right, but I'm drawing the line at five inch heels...
Anne - That thought has occurred to me, too! Ah, something else to look forward too.
Suzanne - Thanks for the great advice! And no, it's not over, but it gets trickier. I completely agree, people shouldn't go overboard in the other direction, either. I hate to see people dressing too stodgy for their age. At any age, for that matter.
Kelly - Definitely, it's good to have variety! I had a really grungy job for a while, and I think my wardrobe hasn't recovered...I have sloppy clothes and a few nice things and not much in between.
I'm sure you'll look marvelous!
man thats tough - b/c you want your teen to think you are cool. Cool or aged hmmmm.
I'm all about the less fuddy-duddy thing. Go for it!
My kids say I dress like a granny. "Hey", I say, "I'm old enough to be one."
But when I wear anything too . . . much, or maybe I should say "little" they'll say, "Hey you're a Mom you can't wear anything like THAT."
So, maybe your dd and dh are telling the truth. I'm just saying. . .
I usually shop alone and make up my mind with the help of the shop assistants. They are pretty helpful and give honest opinions:))
Should my folks be shopping with me, they're also frank in a nice way and I hear them too.
Ha! I have this one shiny shirt in my closet that's way too small, and my daughter's always bugging me about why I don't wear it, so I feel your pain. : )
Rena - Thanks for the vote of confidence!
PJ - Yeah, I'm trying to steer myself away from fuddy-duddiness. :)
Kim - Boy, those are some mixed signals. I guess there's nothing to do but wear what you like!
Keats - I don't usually ask the sales people...it's too easy for me to make an impulse buy. It's great that your folks come along to offer assistance!
Ara - We're at the point where all the cute little things in my closet fit my daughter - and look waaaaaay better on her, naturally...
I get the same thing from my daughter. She pulls clothes into the dressing room that make me shudder - form fitting, short... I'm all about comfort - give me breathing room!
Nora - I think it's kind of nice that they see us that way. I can remember doing the same thing to my mom!
Kids are honest….
If the dress really makes you feel uncomfortable, tell your daughter you need to take baby steps.
Ask her to help you find something in the middle….
But you also need to go back and get the dress on hold to wear out with your hubby. I have a feeling you looked fantastic in that dress…
Louise
Louise - So true about their honesty...I actually like having her along to tell me what looks horrible.
And I did go back to buy the dress. :)
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