My mom’s friend Molly sent me this email the other day regarding fashion and aging:
One of my favorite sayings is one your mom taught me: “Am I mutton trying to look like lamb?” Where is the line? We would all like to think we are still hip and relevant as we age, but we’ve all seen women who make the mistake of dressing wrong for their age and body type. The 60-year-old with her mini skirt on and her bare legs with wrinkly knees showing. My next thought is always, “Do I do that?” I am not able to be objective about how I look. More than once I’ve purchased something for myself, brought it home, my 21-year-old has put it on and in a deflated voice I say, “Oh, THAT’S how it’s supposed to look?” Then I give it to her and think if my 21 year old can wear it I shouldn’t be buying it for myself. HELP! I’m a 21-year-old trapped in a 59-year-old body.
My first thought when I read this was, “Do NOT let your daughter try on your clothes!” Punish her! Ban her from the house. There, doesn’t that feel better? But, okay, I hear what Molly is saying. I’m pushing 40 and had a kid a few years ago and things are just… not what they used to be? Looking at (most) magazines and reading (most) fashion and beauty blogs, it can feel like no one is talking to me, let alone to my mom or my grandmother. Let’s change that. In this column, we’ll tackle questions like Molly’s, beginning with this one about swimsuits from another friend: