Fashion After 40

      Growing up I was a bit of a tomboy, so I never paid too much attention to fashion, and trips to the mall were more about meeting boys than shopping.  As I grew older, I cared more about how I dressed but I still didn’t quite have the knack for it.  Shopping left me feeling frustrated. I was terrible at mixing and matching pieces. I needed Garanimals, but unfortunately they did not exist in the ladies departments. So I learned to buy whatever the manikin was wearing.  I figured if it was good enough for the headless piece of plastic it was good enough for me. 

      

      Then after 3 boys I was blessed with a baby daughter. Although, Rachael was never really a baby. She was born a teenager.  Wise beyond her years and as luck would have it, a fashion maven.   Thereafter, I never ventured to the mall on my own.  Rachael has been dressing me for years even going so far as to lay out my clothes for me the night before.

      However, it's not all as easy as it sounds.  On every trip to the mall, Rachael brings me to stores like American Eagle or Abercrombie and Fitch. The conversations go something like this…

      “Mom, try on this sweater.”

      “Rachael dear, we are in American Eagle.”

      “So? This sweater would look awesome on you!” (Bless her heart)

      “I’m 46. There are rules.”

       Then Rachael rolls her eyes, and we head to the ladies section of the nearest department store.

      Why do these rules exist? Who made them up?  Why can’t a 40-something woman shop in the trendy stores? And for that matter, who decided an older woman can’t wear a mini-skirt? Who says we can’t wear white after labor day and that our shoes must match our belts.

      Does freedom of expression extend to clothing after 40?  I heard a quote recently that went like this… your right to throw a punch ends at my face.  Does this fall under the same principle? Does my right to wear a mini-skirt end at your line of sight?  Should I take into consideration that the general public might not want to see me in leggings? 

      I don’t know the answer to those questions. What I do know is that I love Rachael’s style, she writes her own rules and I strongly support her in doing that, but for me, I will embrace my age and pass on the beautiful sweater from American Eagle.