No, this is not another post lamenting yet another article telling those of us over a certain age what we can and cannot wear. In fact, this is a post celebrating an article that is providing us with yet another voice proudly proclaiming that no, we will not go quietly into the night…
THE STORY
…quietly because we’re sporting our slip on orthopedic shoes, whisper thin house dress and a hairnet. Awww…hell no. I will stomp loudly into the night sporting my high heeled over the knee boots, shredded skinny jeans, a concert tee and a moto jacket thank you very much. “Don’t Dress Your Age” written by Julia Baird a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times appeared online this weekend complete with it’s own Instagram hashtag #NYTstylenotage.
In the article Julia points out (and pokes fun at) the plethora of ridiculous advice floating around out there in regard to how a woman should dress once she hits 40. And seriously, what is it about 40 anyways? That seems to be the most commonly used magic number in articles dictating to women what they should not wear after a particular point in time. What the hell happens at 40 that suddenly makes us too old for…well, anything? Granted, 40 seemed to be the number at which things gradually started falling apart for me. I all of a sudden needed bifocals, wrinkles started appearing in places that I didn’t even know one could wrinkle, and my hormones? That’s a whole other hot mess.
But my sartorial choices? Nope, nothing changed there. Except perhaps I got even bolder when deciding what to dazzle the world with on any given day. Am I trying to dress like a 25 year old? No. I’m dressing like me, plain and simple. 25 or 50 is utterly and completely irrelevant. And the real beauty of 50 is that I don’t give a sh*t. At 25 I did, probably too much. And that leads me to what was my favorite part of the article; Ms. Baird’s last sentence: “I would saunter off, dangerously liberated, feeling envious eyes on my back — having reached, finally, the age when you can reject rejection.” I am the age when I can reject rejection. I think that needs to be on a t-shirt…which of course I’d pair with a tulle skirt and Converse.
THE OUTFIT
This is a perfect outfit for flying in the face of convention; an embroidered bomber jacket (and it’s reversible!), distressed skinny jeans and a pair of Adidas Superstars. I realized while perusing my scarves to find one for this outfit (not only for decorative purposes, it was chilly friends) that I do not have any scarves in pastel shades. And that is definitely going to need remedied. Yes, the one I’m wearing is decidedly light pink, but it’s angora and sheds like crazy and that is no bueno.
My heavier weight striped top was perfect with both the colors and floral embroidery on the jacket, and I’m also digging how the stripes on the Adidas echo the top. I’m looking forward to pairing the bomber with both my black midi skirt and either my pink tulle or pink chiffon skirts. I’m predicting it will be a fabulous mix of tomboy girly coolness. And quite honestly, probably not something I would’ve been bold enough to wear when I was 25.
THE TIP
Pick up a bomber jacket or two. Yes, they are trendy which can be a vote against picking one up I know, but I’ve been rocking my floral bomber for the last couple of years and it really is a versatile style. A bomber jacket transcends trends, and just think how cool you’ll feel wearing yours once all of the youngsters have sold theirs off on Poshmark.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Jacket: Charlotte Russe; Jeans: Macy’s; Top: Shein; Shoes: Nordstrom
