I recently listened to two women on a bus clothes-shaming a young girl who had just got on. Amidst the tut-tutting and pointed stares, I wasn’t sure of their motives. What dark evil were they attributing to this young person in her pink fishnet stockings, short skirt, yellow shoes and faux fur coat? In short, what was her crime?
And if we are to follow the strict dictates of the chattering classes, when exactly is it appropriate to wear a short skirt? And if not at 16, then when? Because the older we get, the more clothes we are told to cross off our fashion list.
My musings that day brought back feelings of utter exhaustion of when I was younger dressing to please… well anyone except myself. And getting off that fickle and judgmental treadmill was the best fashion step I ever took.
Catherine Summers, of delectable fashion blog, ‘Not Dressed as Lamb’ sums it up perfectly:
AT THE AGE OF 43 I’VE LONG SINCE STOPPED WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK ABOUT MY DRESS SENSE. I CERTAINLY WOULDN’T HAVE STARTED A PERSONAL STYLE BLOG IF I DID.
Hurrah!
And her wonderful post ‘I will wear what I like’ is my must read pick for this month.
As well as her undeniable sense of personal style, Catherine empowers others where those two women on the bus would shame. And Catherine is not even saying we have to make some big, bold statement and wear the crazies as we get older, but simply that women should be left in peace to wear ‘what they damn well please.’ Brava.
And in that vein, I’m off now to buy some pink fishnets and yellow court shoes while I leave you with Catherine’s online credentials:
And, finally, if you are a quality blogger or writer aged 40+ do register with Post-40 Bloggers as we would love to showcase your work in the New Year.
In the meantime, may I wish young and old a peaceful and joyous Christmas season.
My very best, as always.
About Melinda Fargo
Melinda Fargo (‘Mel’) is the Editor-in-Chief of Post-40 Bloggers, a community website showcasing and featuring (free of charge) the talents of bloggers and writers aged 40+. She is a freelance writer, successful blogger (‘What Mel Did’), a newspaper columnist for the UK’s largest regional newspaper and an amateur photographer and public speaker. To pay the bills, she is a project management professional. A mother of four young adults, Melinda remains a widow, but will marry Denzel Washington after the sudden and unexpected disappearance of any of his wives.
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