Age & weight appropriate?

[Gordon]

I've been told in so many words by MOH that I should dress age appropriate. In other words, a 62 year old woman wouldn't wear some of the skirts that I like; as in they are too short. And… as I'm a big guy, 6 ft and 270 lbs with a 48" waist; "big girls don't wear skirts much let alone ones that are knee length or above." She didn't actually say those exact words, but that is what I got out of it.

In light of crfriend's believability test I think she might have a point. She sees something not believable, congruent. Whereas I may say "the hell with it, I like it". As we traipse about in public, would the believability test apply to those that see us too? I mean I don't want to scare off little kids and old ladies. :>(

So, my question to the Café is what do you think about those points?

[Darryl]

By whose standards?

A woman's?

A man's?

At 60+ you most likely know what looks good on a man...even under the limitations of the usual shorts, pants, suits and so on. It is also my understanding that women usually buy something too small in order to say they wear a 10 rather than a 16 or 20 or 24, though I might be wrong. So...if "a woman wouldn't...does it make sense to do what a woman _would_ do?

Guys, well, are likely to wear anything they are comfortable with: old stained patched up jeans, shorts so low the 'crack of doom' is showing...

If it looks good, you're happy with it and it works on you, I'd say go for it. Perhaps you can find a male friend who will give you an honest opinion....?

My $.02

[Caultron]

In my opinion, above-the-knee skirts are hard for men to wear because a man's stuff hangs down below the crotch, and because short shorts for men have been out of fashion for some time.

And beware of the difference between what you think looks good on women and what actually looks good on you.

But by all means, do what's comfortable for you.

[Couya]

We see plenty of women who don't care how fat they get, or high tight their clothes have become, so why should you?

On the other hand, if you consider that wearing skirts has nothing to do with being man or woman, masculine or feminine, then why should a man take women as his clothing model?

Martin

[Milfmog]

"Age appropriate", what on earth does that mean? A teenager may look fabulous or utterly dreadful in a short (or indeed longer) skirt the difference being down to what else is worn with it, body shape, personal confidence and comfort, context and so on and so on... None of that has anything to do with age, as all the same considerations also apply to an older wearer.

As for the comment about larger women not wearing short skirts... Martin has already answered that and I have to concur with his view that the statement is neither true nor relevant.

Have fun,


Ian.

[crfriend]

The notion of "age appropriate" is largely a myth and is more down to one's body-type, confidence, and demeanour. I have seen 70+ year old women who can look positively smashing in short skirts and I've seen teenagers who can't pull the look together. Likewise, I've seen "chubby girls" who manage to look great -- better, even, than the much-hyped "size 0" types.

Get a photograph taken of you or catch a glimpse of a reflection sometime when you're out in the city. Do you recoil from the look? If so, then it doesn't work. If you like it, and think it suits you, then likely it does. There is little point in applying rules for women to us because we're not women.

[skirtingtoday]

I remember some years ago when Elizabeth Taylor was well into her 60's got a lot of "stick" about wearing a "canary yellow mini-dress" that was regarded by the fashion police as "quite inappropriate" for a woman her age!

I thought at the time, "what the h**l is wrong with that"! She looked great and obviously was happy with her choice of clothing.

Years before that Katherine Hepburn, turned up at the Oscars wearing trousers and was roundly derided for that - but look where we are now!

And this mentality is still prevalent in the so-called fashion magazines which show stick models that we should all adhere to.

But why I ask? Everyone should be able to wear what they want, when they want and not have to stick to some outdated "norm" that we all have to comply with. After all, variety is the spice of life.

[Taj]

Since I started wearing kilts and participating in this forum I've also started paying attention to the methods women are told to assemble a complimentary look. The basics of color coordination, graphic patterns, and length to width ratio are far more important than arbitrary age and weight judgements. My suggestion is to observe what others wear that looks good and plagiarize the heck out of it.

[denimini]

I think these days almost anything goes - saggers obviously don't seem worried what others think of their errr.. style.

[Sinned]

Just to add my 2d worth. I am a 60 year old and I wear short skirts ( and long ) in and out of the house. Granted that I have some skirts so short that I wouldn't wear them out of the house at all, under no circumstances. They are for MOH only. As to age related when you get to my age I find the old image of big baggy trousers, carpet slippers and the woollen waistcoat utterly repellent. I don't know that there are any guidelines as to what a man my age ( husband, father and grandfather ) should wear. I don't feel my age so why should I act and dress like it.

Being in retail I see customers wearing all sorts or things. The other day a woman was at my till wearing a shirt dress, tights or legging and the dress was so short that I felt sure that she had forgotten her skirt but there you go. I see big girls wearing short skirts and looking good in them. As to women of our age some of them look as young as they did in their 40's and they dress appropriately. The 60 and 70 year old actress or singer is not unusual nowadays.

I tend to agree with Crl - take a photograph or use a full-length mirror to judge your overall look to see if it works. When you see one that does go with it.

As a final point has anyone looked at the Walmartians? To see what some people turn out in makes even our most extreme look seem most Conservative!!!!

[Big and Bashful]

I can't help but to picture Tina Turner posturing away in her leather mini, fishnets etc. She seemed to like the image, it certainly didn't appeal to me, but each to their own I suppose. To me a short skirt looks odd on most men, the proportions don't add up. There are some exceptions however. Me, you won't see me in a mini skirt, I don't feel comfortable in anything shorter than knee length and as my equator isn't small I find anything shorter than knee length gets even shorter when I sit, so they are not for me.

[denimini]

I think these days almost anything goes - saggers obviously don't seem worried what others think of their errr.. style.

At the risk of referring to my own quote - I saw this http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb47 ... 648f30.jpg

[Kirbstone]

....But those two guys are Walmartians!

Tom

[denimini]

....But those two guys are Walmartians!

Tom

Oh, we don't have them here yet - but I think we have Bogans instead?

[Couya]

if you consider that wearing skirts has nothing to do with being man or woman, masculine or feminine, then why should a man take women as his clothing model?

I later realized that that makes no sense!

What I meant was :
If you don't think that skirts are ambisex, rather than women's clothes, then why take women as your model?

But that does not make much sense either, since we rarely get the chance to see male skirt wearers. We have no models to match up to.

Perhaps I should just shut up.

Martin