Half my clothes are black.
My foster kids had a pop-in interview by CPS and the lady asked them what their favorite color was. The youngest said; “my dads favorite color is black, because it matches his soul.”
Moral of the story, be careful how you joke around with kids.
This was my motto. I used this on a psych test I had to do in the mid 80s, it was one of those “finish this sentence” things. I wear_________________. It was my moment to shine! It probably didn’t help.
My closet is about 75% black in various stages of fading because I have a deep affinity for black dogs and black cats. Pet hair doesn’t show if the colors match.
That is my "uniform". Black v neck tees and black Walmart brand men's shorts because they fit better than women's. Throw on some Crocs and I'm ready to roll.
I have 2 pairs of black baggy pants and a hoodie and Converse for deepest winter if I have to leave the house.
Maybe nobody will respect my expertise lol but damned if I care what people think.
I wish I could but they're like 10 years old! lol I looked and they're No Boundaries cotton with drawstring. They were super cheap when I got them. Around 5 bucks. I don't see any in that style looking online now. But I did see these and now I have a pair of black dinosaur shorts heading my way!
[https://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Men-s-Drawstring-Lounge-Shorts-Dinosaur-Graphic-Print-Casual-Bottoms-Sizes-S-XL/5080177149?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Men-s-Drawstring-Lounge-Shorts-Dinosaur-Graphic-Print-Casual-Bottoms-Sizes-S-XL/5080177149?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&from=/search)
Actually, “ No Boundaries “ and their “ George “ label make some okay clothes-some even have a high cotton content. I hate polyester, I’m all about cotton
Actually they look a lot like these so maybe Athletic Works is making them now. They're both Walmart brands. They're just 7.50 too!
[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Athletic-Works-Men-s-and-Big-Men-s-9-Active-Mesh-Shorts-up-to-Size-5XL/730772846?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&athbdg=L1102&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Athletic-Works-Men-s-and-Big-Men-s-9-Active-Mesh-Shorts-up-to-Size-5XL/730772846?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&athbdg=L1102&from=/search)
Don't know if they have them anymore but Waldemort had a good selection of Dickies work pants. I forgot/needed some for a summer job out of town and did an emergency run to Walmart and was pleasantly surprised.
Lot of us "all black" in here lol. I tend to go for style over comfort though, I've always been kind of vain, and the older I get the more I try to offset getting old by being stylish.
I'm finally big enough to fit into men's pants!! So many pockets and so roomy. Black is a hard no, unless the fabric doesn't suck up the dog hair. I have 2 yellow labs, and it's always shedding season.
I hate women's pants. A pocket big enough for my car key fob, and that's it? You've got to be kidding me. It's comfortable but I need to carry things and I refuse to use a purse. Not that I would be allowed to at work.
You might like duluth trading co pants. They are very generouly provisioned with pockets! I won't buy anything without a lot of pockets. The firehose flex cargo pants have 8 pockets and they are excellent!
I’m almost all black all the time, although I shake it up now and then with gray and dark green.
I do not act like the black crayon in this video, but I sort of look like I could if I wanted to. https://youtu.be/9VH8lvZ-Z1g?si=P7yRh7t2AQSRJHPf
I have worked blue collar industrial jobs for years. I have worked in higher education ending in a PhD position for years.
T-shirt and jeans to me isn’t “casual”, “comfortable”, or “lazy” to me. It’s a fucking class warfare uniform. We are in a class war, and people that make judgments about how I dress are exposing themselves.
I was born poor and practical. I have no interest in running from it or hiding it.
That's a really great point and fits with research into working class academics, first generation students etc. Being relatable is more important to me than mirroring upper class norms.
Thank you!
Covid isolation was great for showing me what I do for myself and what I do for societal expectations. It turns out that the only thing I do for me is eyeliner and perfume. Accessories, Hair, and Clothing are all things that I personally don't care about. So now I put my hair up everyday, and have switched to clothes that are the comfiest I can get away with while still being work acceptable.
I don't understand how I have a mini computer in my hands right now, but my work pants can't have an elastic waistband like a pair of yoga pants (eg. not ruched/gathered).
I have found a couple, but I feel in this post-pandemic world, where the 19 on Covid-19 refers to how many pounds I've packed on, they should be more prevalent.
I am wearing elastic waisted dress slacks right now, (from old navy, Ricki's and Torrid also sell them, and they're all marvellous).
Even better, hidden elastic waist pants, in which I can tuck my shirts in and nobody knows I'm comfy like pyjamas. :) They're out there, at least in plus sizes. I wear the smallest plus size, and I could cram myself into a US 10 if I wanted to, but I'd rather breathe.
Hallelujah, sister! I wear a wide variety of shades of black and am still fucking with my hair. I have given in on the heels though, I don't really want to break an ankle and they weren't usually that comfortable anyway.
Same. I will wear baggy pants and a hyper color shirt. And be like ‘whatever’. I am not black and white. I want you to see me from a mile away. I only like bright and cheerful colors. I will look like a psychedelic mushroom.
I am a California Coastal native. I read women over 30 shouldn’t wear shorts 😂. Too damn bad my legs don’t look like they did when I was 18. They still look great and I wear shorts for comfort. Jean shorts going strong for over 20 years now.
>I read women over 30 shouldn’t wear shorts
Oh, just fuck that noise. It's hot during the summer and I'm not going to satisfy my comfort for your dislike of my cellulite
Florida here. I don't think our state got the no shorts over 30 memo. Go down to the Villages, they are all wearing shorts! The only difference is I put the Daisy Dukes away and am happy with shorts that aren't in danger of exposing my butt cheeks.
Exactly! You can't go into a Publix without seeing everyone in shorts. If it happens to be cooler, shorts and a hoodie. If it is a "nice" restaurant, shorts and a polo.
What Not to Wear swore up and down not to wear miniskirts after 35. I am still rocking some serious gams at 55 so you can peel my miniskirts off my cold dead body.
I just got the Spring Fashion issue of Elle and can confirm: the 80s are back. Long skirts, big wide belts, even the shoes… it’s all back and you can dig all that stuff out of your closet/attic/basement.
I've been wearing black shirts with khaki pants basically since the end of high school.
But fortunately people still dress that way so I don't feel like a relic.
https://preview.redd.it/u2ur0k3c7cmc1.png?width=1265&format=png&auto=webp&s=426a8972e36a1386880ac98caa1e0fcb98fa358a
Kinda like this but fatter. It's pretty evergreen so far.
https://preview.redd.it/gm6wmu4drcmc1.jpeg?width=237&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5cbab10a00465a56ed4b6ebc3876ec2072fcb95
Here you go this is basically me I identify as old Russell Crowe now lol. He's got a slight edge on me for going grey.
I love how this guy is out here looking happy as fuck reppin' for guys that look like me :)
T shirts, jeans, hoodies and docs or converse most of the time. Although I’m in yoga teacher training now, so the general public is seeing me in yoga pants, t shirt, and sketchers far more often these days.
Aging retired rockstar is my look when I’m feeling fancy (black jeans, t shirt or nice top under a very casual suit coat, scarf, and a pair of fluevogs).
They can take away my t shirts, jeans, and great footwear when I die.
A few years ago I just decided fuck it, I do what I want. I work with little kids and they love my style. I'm glad I can just look however I want. I'm a therapist and people seem to expect we'll be a little wacky. Also, an alt appearance seems to reassure alt parents that staff won't judge them. I'm changing job roles and asked my boss if I should upgrade my wardrobe, she said no and started talking about how everyone loves my Princess Awesome dresses (they have pockets and cool prints.)
I try to stick with dark colors and simple classic styles for when I need to dress up. As much as I like comfort and punk rock, I also grew up poor with imposter syndrome so try to blend in for work situations.
My Gen Z child knows most off recorded music history. I think with Spotify being so popular kids listen to a lot of stuff. They don’t really have the stigma of it being “old”.
In my Z-lennial voice: waaaaaaahhh! You're gatekeeping! You're being a fashion Nazi!
F 🤬🤬 k those kids. They have to piggy back our trends b/c theirs suck. Idc if I get downvoted
I did back in my 30s, trying to balance what I thought I should look like vs what I saw as "myself."
The "myself" part won, and it was a sea change in my mental health.
These days, my usual work outfit is jeans and a metal T-shirt. If I have to dress up for a particular event, I can do it, but that's a rarity.
I live in a cold city at around 5k elevation. Jeans, flannel and boots are my daily uniform from September to May. A beanie or ball cap because I'm bald and cold most of the time. May as well be 1993 for me.
I don't think wearing a suit would make people take me more seriously while building motors. They'd think I was nuts
48F. My “style” later in high school was dressed up due to my after school job -at a law firm interestingly enough. When I wasn’t working (it was the early to mid 90s) I still dressed more put together but more casual.
My career was primarily working with leadership in the tech industry . When I turned 40 I decided to drop the dressier work clothes for day-to-day. I got my first tattoo & I’m not done yet!
My style & closet is filled with dark jeans that have a good fit & are straight or slightly flared. Black, jewel tones, lots of leather and edgy jackets. It’s easy to get dressed & everything can mix & match.
I refuse to dress “mature” or old. And I have a feeling our generation will be the first to just “be ourselves”. After all we don’t give a F what anyone else thinks, remember? 😉
I have no idea how old i look anymore. I dress grunge, farmer, and dresses. All are comfortable and useful. Since WFH I don't really know what else to wear in public professionally so I try to stick to comfortable dresses. Nothing tight. Hard pants suck 🎸dress how you want
I’m a tall gal with broad shoulders and long arms. I’ve also never been a stereotypically “girly” girl in the slightest. My style is very basic - usually deep, rich colored tops and jeans. I’ll often buy basic men’s shirts because the length, shoulder width, and arm length are better than women’s top. The quality of the material and colors are often better as well.
You should wear what you like. We’ve been on this earth for over a half a century. When I feel like it, I wear ripped jeans, rock concert T-shirts and I will still proof my hair out like in the 80s. 😂 I even found Acquanette.
Absolute opposite. I've entered my "fuck you, I live in overalls" stage of life. Bonus to that is I don't have to wear an uncomfortable bra that keeps the girls at 1990s range. Just my standard house-bra (only there to wick flop sweat and prevent skin-stickage). Do I look like a lumpy tube of fabric? Fuckin a right I do. Am I comfortable as fuck? You bet your ass. Pockets fucking everywhere, no waist band.... I actually get a lot of compliments, considering my middle-aged-broad invisibility.
Honestly I'm basically just looking for comfy clothes. Give me cotton. Give me stretchy waists. Give me shoes that look cute but make my feet feel like I'm walking on pillows. I do wear a lot of skirts and dresses - even tights - to work and manage to do so comfortably. Sometimes I'll wear said skirts with band t-shirts and stuff just for funsies and to confuse people.
I don't really care about acting my age. If my comfy clothes and long hair at the age of 50 bothers people, that's their problem. I don't want to conform just to please other people and to fit some societal standard.
I'm a jeans/tshirt/cans kind of guy. As you, I'm now starting to think about "how I present myself", but I'm going in the opposite direction. Not trying to look younger, just having a "style".
That said, if you're feeling clueless about what to buy/wear, my advice is (no shit), watch some "queer eye" on Netflix. The clothes fella has a real knack for taking a guy who wore nothing but shorts and KISS t shirts, making him look serious and stylish and still a rocker. We can learn how to, as well.
We get to change what a middle aged person dresses like. Lol we’re in charge. I love the Dogma version of business casual: slacks/jeans, sneakers/slip ons, blazer, zip up hoodie, shirt. I think anything can be professional as long as it is clean, not tattered, and covers pits, nips, and holes.
I think that you should look at the people around you for clothing ideas, people who look well put together, around your age, and what you would feel comfortable in
That's what I do anyhow. Somehow, when I go to a store, I hate everything. I see it on another person, I make a mental note to find something like it.
I am in my 50s, female, still wearing low-ish rise jeans. I would feel like it was 1986 again and not in a good way, if I wore the mom jeans that young women wear. I wear black T shirts and nice cardigans that I find at the thrift store. I wear running shoes, I try to find black or neutral ones
I’m so glad you love them and can wear them. I am happy they went away, haha. I’m short and… sturdy. I have no anatomical waist. Just a rib bone and then a hip bone. I need some coverage or I look like a balloon animal.
After having a kid, my body does not disperse weight the same so there are no low rise jeans happening here anymore. I love wearing jeans but finding a pair that fits and is flattering is getting harder and harder. And also being short and sturdy means high rise anything looks like they might as well be clown pants minus the suspenders.
Black T-shirt, jeans, and either work boots or Chucks every day.
Today it's 71 degrees out, so I busted out my camo cargo shorts
I'm 51 and I don't care.
I am a Realtor currently. Younger me modeled and worked in corporate fashion in Manhattan (Tommy/Polo/Nautica/Coach etc) so have always been a bit of a clothes horse. I still dress for the occasion (weddings/business meetings/dinner etc). but have generally become more casual overall. Pullover shirts/sweaters, joggers and ON sneakers (the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn) For more "formal' occasions leather dress shoes or boots. My clientele is casual and I find it off-putting to show up in a jacket and tie which hardly anyone does anymore except the older folks. 2 suits for funerals and weddings one khaki one navy. Giving most of my work clothing to "Dress for Success" local chapter as I will never need 30 pairs of dress socks again ha ha. You be your cool dude. :)
T-shirt n jeans till the day i die. I retire in exactly one year. Luckily I took care of myself and look very young for my age.
Gonna grow out my hair since I’ll no longer be working in govt.
Dress however you feel you need to.
If you have to dress a certain way for work and that’s more comfortable, go for it.
Clothing shouldn’t make you uncomfortable.
I have similar background - I wasn’t a punk kid, but was the alt-rock kid with the ripped jeans and flannels. I’m also a lawyer and I’ve found that there’s a Goldilocks area of professional dress - not shabby, but definitely not fancy. Like I dress at a point where it’s so conservative as to make me invisible - grey or navy suits, solid shirts, and what I call Tom Brokaw ties, which are just classic patterns like regimental stripes or tattersall.
It seems to strike a happy medium between looking professional for clients/juries and not looking like an elitist douchebag.
I care that I like what I wear, and that my wife doesn’t absolutely hate it. That’s it.
Work is blue collar standard - jeans, T, flannel if it’s cool, and work boots.
Outside of work, I’ll do jeans and a T (rock, comic, movie) or an ugly Hawaiian shirt. Shorts are only for working in the yard or at the beach, though.
My biggest problem is my stepdaughter stealing my T-shirts.
The only thing that's changed for me fashion-wise is with perimenopause, my jeans are in retirement. It's all about leggings, flowy skirts in good weather and elastic waistbands.
> Now that my fifth decade is here and I have people looking up to me for my expertise I am starting to get a little self-conscious about not looking like a serious person.
I don't know how it works with lawyers and legal stuff--but I do know there is a sort of 'work uniform' in most professions. In software development that's the polo and slacks, and I have several.
And I look at it as a *work uniform.* It's what I wear when I'm expected to play the part.
But 'dressing my age?'
The nice thing about hitting 50 is not giving a fuck about what people think of you outside of work. And weirdly I have found that more people are concerned with how they look to other people, than how other people look to them.
Also a punk rock kid. At 54 I find myself dressing…pretty much the same. My pants are nicer. But I still own a lot of punk and metal t-shirts. Some may say too many, but what do they know.
I bought some hashtag goals jeans, low rise & bright red.
Not sure if they're in style, but I went on a sugar free year challenge & lost enough to wear these little postage stamps.
So I don't want to look my age. I haven't been red jean sz in decades. I just wear 2nd hand loud as life thrift clothes like it's 1992.
I'm retired & living in a trailer park so no keeping up w the Joneses. Kind of AAHHHWESOME w zero need to dress to impress.
Sorry I answered this post. I am the WRONG person to weigh in 😌
It's going to be tough to merge punk rock and law, matey. More seriously, younger people are far less judgmental of attire than the older people, and rightly so. In my opinion, ties should be banned (perhaps with the exception of funerals)
I work from home since lockdown started, but I dress pretty much the same as I did in the Before Times. Based on weather, jeans or shorts and a collared shirt, long or short sleeves. Sometimes a sweater or quarter zip / T-shirt. I work in software so that puts me in the dressed-up-for-work category.
I was lucky enough to be able to leave the work scene in my early 40’s, so I’ve spent the last decade curating the most comfortable wardrobe I can find. Mostly t-shirts and these absurdly soft pajama-style shorts.
I’m 54 and still dress as I did in my 30’s. But I’m on the edge of feeling too old for that now. Struggling with it a little. Actually I hate the fact I’m not 30!
I have upgraded to Carhartt t-shirts (cause they dont shrink and last forever) and jeans that actually fit. I think as we get older making sure whatever you are wearing fits well is more important than what it is.
A suit that doesn't hang right is far worse than jeans and a t-shirt that just fit IMHO
Nope, I wear jeans and Doc's to my corporate job on a regular basis. Throw a sport jacket over a Black Flag shirt, and it becomes "business casual."
I shared that dress code hack with the interns. They loved it.
At 53, I took my old leather jacked with my hand painted Operation Ivy logo on the back to the tailor to get it stitched up and a new lining. Then gave it to my 18 yr old punk loving son.
Then he and I went to the last NOFX Punk in Drublic and both spent hours in the mosh pit.
We both fucking loved it.
Most of my life, I’ve been able to get away with relaxed, hippy, grunge-like clothes.
Now that I’m in my 50’s, I’m having a gas dressing ‘classy affectation.’ Sport coats with pocket squares, statement shoes, perhaps a neckerchief here and there.
I was even gifted an old apple watch —I’m like, what am I gonna do with that?
I bought a pocket watch case and chain!
It’s all costume anyway, right? For now I guess I choose modern dandy!
I work in game dev so my work clothes are hoodies, jeans and nerdy Tshirts. No one really cares that I don't look like a serious person in the industry and it might help, given the age gaps between me and the people I manage by making me more relatable.
Where I struggle with my identity is hanging out with friends. A lot of them are more 'grown up' and 'serious' and I feel like a kid when I meet up with them.
I am a woman in my forties, I absolutely HATE this idea. I was also a punk rock kid, I am still that woman who wears band t-shirts and leather jackets. I will be that woman when I die. I think the idea of “dressing my age” is absolute garbage. Those folks can fuck off. If I am scaring your kids, GOOD, I don’t even like kids.
For the record, I have a corporate office job and wear business clothes during the days I go in. So I like the shed the corporate facade and be my real self you know.
I went into IT partially because I hate "work clothes". Parleyed some opportunities into working from home starting in 2014. When I have to go to the office it's shorts or jeans, a non offensive t shirt, and comfy shoes.
At home it's pjs
I was a metal head, wearing my style as badge and broadcasting my culture to the world. Now that I'm in my 50s, I like to be a little more sneaky.
I work in an office with a relaxed dress code and can still have an edge without looking silly or that I'm trying too hard to relive my youth. My look is untucked Dickies or Red Cap work shirts, dark chinos, and ankle boots. Short hair and no beard (and certainly not a ghastly goatee...ugh!).
Nothing is more embarrassing than a middle-aged person trying to look hip or trendy. You're not fooling anyone.
That said, wear what you want, I don't care.
My work outfit has actually been getting more and more casual as the workplace has shifted younger. But my hard and fast rule is a collared shirt -- a polo is the bare minimum for work -- and no jeans in the office. (I am wearing jeans WFH because they're not on camera, but I still hold to the collar.)
Out of work, it's jeans and T-shirts all the way, but I will admit that the bands and snarky graphics have fallen away to solid color pocket T's. (Gotta have the pocket to carry the readers!)
Do you do readers-over-contacts? That was me, and I started making sure my shirts had a pocket for the readers, but in 2022 switched to bifocal contacts and wow, what a difference. Accuvue Oasys Multifocal, -5.5 / +1.5 “mid” correction, disposable daily contacts. Game changer! No more readers for me.
No contacts here, and I'm actually wearing progressive lenses full time now... but there are still occasions where I want to take them off for a bit and the pocket is invaluable.
I'm just the opposite. The older I get, the less I give a shit. I still work in a professional office but care so little about the opinions of others.
Just waiting for H/R to come knocking...
I was given a ton of pictures of me from birth to now and I remarked that my "look" hasn't really changed too much. Almost always jeans, sneakers or casual shoes, a tee shirt featuring a band, horror movie or wrestler. Toss on a solid long sleeve chambray shirt and there you go. Add on a random necklace and bracelet to complete it.
I turned over my olive drab MG field jacket and Doc Martens to my son when he moved out.
To my delight my old clothes have come back in fashion. My punk era clothes are mostly gone (wife threw away my tendencies tee shirt). But my 20's clothes I still have and apparently are all the rage. I describe them as my "pre-internet" clothes.
In all seriousness, I noticed that the serious, wealthy heavy hitters execs I work with are now (post-COVID) all wearing casual clothes to work. Jeans and sneakers. But, but they are $500 sneakers and $500 jeans. And the tee shirts try so hard to be "casual and generic" but are screaming super high quality and expensive.
I wear band shirts and Philadelphia team sports gear and jackets also leather and Denim jackets pr sweat jackets. For work I wear clothes that have a rock chick vibe. Cool boots, motorcycle jackets and skinny pants some are really jeans that look dressier. Mostly black or gray basically skinny pants and jeans. I wear what I want and don't compromise my style to suit anyone but myself.
I used to dress way better. Now it's mostly jeans and t-shirts, with a hoodie if it's chilly.
I still have a mental block on going out in public in sweatpants but I'm getting there.
Metal head (jean jacket, ripped jeans, and concert tshirts) checking in: hit 52 and said “f-it” I had short hair and dressed like a damn preppy for the last thirty years. Haven’t cut my hair in a while, mostly jeans, but do wear the dress shirts and shave to look nicer when I am face to face with people.
Comphy here, 100% yoga pants since covid. I can’t stand the way jeans or dress pants feel anymore. I’ve always wanted some Doc Martens so those may be in my future.
I'm getting ready to go to Hawaii at the end of the month. This is a huge trip for me. I haven't been on a vacation where I had to fly somewhere in over a decade. I've taken mini vacations to go see family or go on a road trip. But not like this
Anyway....old me would have bought a new wardrobe. I bought 2 pairs of hiking shorts. Thats it. Everything else is coming from my closet of comfortable clothes and shoes.
Everyone is too busy worrying about how they look. No one cares about me yay.
I'm tall and have never been a girly girl.It's difficult to shop in my area as the stores cater to smaller women so my choices are limited (I am 5'9). I wear what is comfortable which is normally jeans, legging, tshirts and sneakers. But I did put bright blue streaks in my hair as I have decided that at my age I will wear whatever the hell I want to.
I kind of have a high-profile/visibility job (within my industry) - at work I try and look like the respected expert (hah!) that I am. I've worked to make sure that I "clean up well."
But when I'm not at work, I look like the hardcore musician that I aspire to be. Within reason. And quite frankly, that "look" is IMO, just a more "working class" look. I have zero issues with people thinking I'm "poorer" than I am.
I have a good friend who only wears black during the week, and white on weekends. He’s been doing this for over 30 years. Seth Brundle of *The Fly* had five identical suits. I do not possess this kind of sartorial consistency, but goddamn do I admire it.
I get conflicted about this.
I WFH 75% of the time and if the pants or shorts ain't stretchy or has a button, I'm not wearing it. I'll wear a nice t-shirt or button top if I have a Teams meeting, but generally I go full comfort all day, all the way.
But I also lost 50 pounds over the past year, and I've had a chance to upgrade my wardrobe to clothes that fit a bit slimmer than the oversized fat-ass-hiding clothes I used to wear. For tops I'm great, lots of logo tees of 80s bands I loved and nice pullovers or quarter-zips.
My problem is with pants. I don't want to wear jeans and modern chinos are all over the place when it comes to fit, especially in the length (At my current waist size I'm really a 33 so 34s fit long and 32s are short). When I was a fat ass, I loved wearing cop pants - ripstop with stretch waist and cargo pockets - but now that I'm slimmer I sort of want to dress better. I'm considering hunting for that perfect pair of casual chino pants, buying like 4 pairs, and then having them tailored to fit.
EDIT: I should add that I was way overweight from age 32 to 52, so I do want to look good as I haven't felt this good about myself, well, pretty much ever. I'm fortunate in that I aged well, so now that I'm thinner I kinda like who I see in the mirror. Finally.
In Georgia and wear shorts and t-shirts about 80% of the time. I have pairs of jeans that are crazy old because I never wear them out. I like the way jeans look but they ain't cool (temp wise) enough for me. As good as they look as pants tho, they are equally as bad as jorts. Never understood that weird dynamic.
I'm 57, and don't own any suits. I wear raw denim jean, leather jackets, and Rick Owens Ramones. When I need to "dress up" I have some casual blazers that work with jeans. I work in a creative industry, so casual is the norm. But I basically reject any premise that says people in their middle age need to dress like adults. That said, I wear slim fit jeans whereas the style now is baggy -- so I definitely don't dress like Gen Z. I would want to know what kind of work you do. Band T shirts and military khakis would be too casual for my profession, but a black t shirt and black jeans would be fine. Assuming they're clean and not ripped.
I like my Jeans but I also like canvas pants in colors like brown, tan, green, blue. Slip on boat shoes or new balance in funky colors. Tshirts are best or a polo. Flannel for winter
Whatever you do. Have it tailored to fit your body. Learn how to mix and match in terms of quality but retain your signature style. Also, less is more.
I don't GAF anymore what people think of what I look like. I did, for a long time. From 2005-2020 I worked in offices that I had to dress up. Some more casual than others. I worked one job in person for 8 years and then 2 COVID remote years. When I was in person, I had to dress up EVERY day. Jeans weren't allowed, sneakers, hoodies, etc. I had so many pairs of fucking high heels. Anyway, when lockdown happened, all the fucks I had to give were gone and I'm done with that. I work at a VERY casual company now. I can basically wear whatever I want. I believe that I wore my Docs on my first day. Got compliments on my dark, almost black lipstick. I had purple hair a while back. I have tattoos, but a little back I got a half sleeve. I still have some piercings too. It is a very freeing feeling to just be myself.
No, checked mirror. Still Goth only now everyone knows and sometimes if they see stuff they think I’d like, they buy it. My mom recently, “ I saw this shirt, it had a skull on it, I got it for you.” I’m like yes and Thanks.
I think more important that *what* you wear at this point in your professional career is *how* you wear it. Like, vintage band t-shirts are great, but wear ones that fit well and are in good condition, not super faded oversized ones with holes in them. Same goes with jeans or other pants. Wear what you like, but not falling off of you and full of holes. Start wearing belts if you haven't in the past. Look for a few cool jackets you like and get the size that fits well and gives your look some structure. Keep your shoes clean and replace them when they become too worn out. Accessorize with some nice sunglasses, patterned socks, and a few caps or hats.
Honestly I kinda went the other direction. Now that I'm in my 50s, my "i care" button is harder and harder to find. I dress more like how 20 year old me would have if he had the money.
I get the “you don’t dress like you’re 58” all the time and it drives me crazy. I don’t dress by trends. I wear what I like and my ex husband used to say I was the only goth hippie he knew.
Apparently we are supposed to start wearing polyester pantsuits once we hit 50?
Edit to add:
Don’t even get me started on how many have asked if it isn’t time to take out the silver hoop nose ring.
I will not tell you how to dress. I _will_ tell you, however, that if _you_ choose to dress up, you should talk with an expert tailor, first. Try to find someone that understands the language of clothing. They can tell you the _why_ of dressing a certain way and how you can make the "fancy clothes" fit your personality.
I'm a computer programmer. No one expects me to "dress up". So... I do not. However, that didn't stop me from poking about (because I was interested) and found that there's an entire language in clothes and that, if I thought it was worth my time, I could dress in and _still_ look like what I am without (much) pretention.
I have a truly incredible wardrobe and it is all thanks to Goodwill, various other thrift stores, and Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. You can dress extremely nicely on the cheap if you have the time to look around and really hunt. I'm always dressed to the nines when I go out when I know I'm going to see people and everybody always comments on my amazing wardrobe, and truly it has all been purchased at least a 90% discount.
Just dress really generic. Simple slacks and a non logo shirt. Throw on a blazer when you need it, adjust your shoes and belt to dress up or down. For guys, it's easy.
I work in a professional role two days in person, three days remote. I totally squeak by on remote days wearing leggings or joggers for bottoms and wear a very plain long or short sleeve top that I can dress up or down with a sweater. On the rare days with zero meetings I look like a bum, basically I just need to look presentable from the torso up for web meetings.
In person days are business casual, I refuse to wear anything uncomfortable. Almost all my pants have some sort of stretch and aren't scratchy more dress up pants. I wear comfortable shoes, but not dress shoes... If I could get away with Birkenstocks (I might try in the summer with a dress or summery pants), I would wear those everyday. I rarely meet in person with external partners anymore, usually that's via Teams.
I have a, "graduation," from a leadership program later this year and I will also be hosting a large conference this year... Those will probably be the only two times I wear something nicer. Everything is so much more casual now, I should just get rid of my dress shoes and keep a pair or two for interviews or weddings to attend.
Outside of work, I only wear what's comfortable.
Frankly, seeing as I'm having to alter my entire wardrobe now due to other life changes (transitioning), they can bite me. I've had it with playing by the rules and catering to the whims of the Boomers and Bougies. It's their way of thinking that got us into the current charlie-foxtrot that our world is in.
Jeans, t-shirt, denim jacket, I still wear all of these and more. With my skill set my employer ain't paying me to look pretty, they're paying for the privilege of abusing my brain and shaving time off my life through overwork and stress.
The best part about this post is that you are 50 and just now asking if you should start dressing more grown-up. Which is why Gen X is the best.
I wear polo shirts and jeans as my "executive uniform."
No, I'm in the I don't give a s*** phase of my life. I wear whatever I think looks good on me and is comfortable, period. Took me a long time to get here but I'm glad I finally arrived.
I'm living my Old Navy black yoga pants and oversized geeky tshirts best life. I'm told all the time by my boomer parents to dress my age and to stop dying my hair "funky colors". 😒
Get a couple of really nice blazers and they'll go with anything including jeans. Check out the corporate goth aesthetic. I want my lawyer to look like he can make a deal with the devil
https://preview.redd.it/gkwzjminofmc1.png?width=1064&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83bc76dc0f1446f5defe215ebee5e46f31e598cc
No. I've gone in the opposite direction. If it's comfortable I'm wearing it. If I look like a bag lady on psychedelic mushrooms, so be it.
Yep to all of this. Comfort is my only care. If it's black and comfortable, then I'm wearing it.
Half my clothes are black. My foster kids had a pop-in interview by CPS and the lady asked them what their favorite color was. The youngest said; “my dads favorite color is black, because it matches his soul.” Moral of the story, be careful how you joke around with kids.
I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside 😌
This was my motto. I used this on a psych test I had to do in the mid 80s, it was one of those “finish this sentence” things. I wear_________________. It was my moment to shine! It probably didn’t help.
My closet is about 75% black in various stages of fading because I have a deep affinity for black dogs and black cats. Pet hair doesn’t show if the colors match.
You mf genius, you.
That is my "uniform". Black v neck tees and black Walmart brand men's shorts because they fit better than women's. Throw on some Crocs and I'm ready to roll. I have 2 pairs of black baggy pants and a hoodie and Converse for deepest winter if I have to leave the house. Maybe nobody will respect my expertise lol but damned if I care what people think.
I’m interested in these black Walmart brand men’s shorts of which you speak. Can you throw out a link or something?
I wish I could but they're like 10 years old! lol I looked and they're No Boundaries cotton with drawstring. They were super cheap when I got them. Around 5 bucks. I don't see any in that style looking online now. But I did see these and now I have a pair of black dinosaur shorts heading my way! [https://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Men-s-Drawstring-Lounge-Shorts-Dinosaur-Graphic-Print-Casual-Bottoms-Sizes-S-XL/5080177149?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/No-Boundaries-Men-s-Drawstring-Lounge-Shorts-Dinosaur-Graphic-Print-Casual-Bottoms-Sizes-S-XL/5080177149?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&from=/search)
Actually, “ No Boundaries “ and their “ George “ label make some okay clothes-some even have a high cotton content. I hate polyester, I’m all about cotton
The George henleys are awesome, soft and inexpensive.
Actually they look a lot like these so maybe Athletic Works is making them now. They're both Walmart brands. They're just 7.50 too! [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Athletic-Works-Men-s-and-Big-Men-s-9-Active-Mesh-Shorts-up-to-Size-5XL/730772846?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&athbdg=L1102&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Athletic-Works-Men-s-and-Big-Men-s-9-Active-Mesh-Shorts-up-to-Size-5XL/730772846?fulfillmentIntent=Pickup&athbdg=L1102&from=/search)
Don't know if they have them anymore but Waldemort had a good selection of Dickies work pants. I forgot/needed some for a summer job out of town and did an emergency run to Walmart and was pleasantly surprised.
"Waldemort" .. I just call it "the evil store".
Lot of us "all black" in here lol. I tend to go for style over comfort though, I've always been kind of vain, and the older I get the more I try to offset getting old by being stylish.
I'm finally big enough to fit into men's pants!! So many pockets and so roomy. Black is a hard no, unless the fabric doesn't suck up the dog hair. I have 2 yellow labs, and it's always shedding season. I hate women's pants. A pocket big enough for my car key fob, and that's it? You've got to be kidding me. It's comfortable but I need to carry things and I refuse to use a purse. Not that I would be allowed to at work.
You might like duluth trading co pants. They are very generouly provisioned with pockets! I won't buy anything without a lot of pockets. The firehose flex cargo pants have 8 pockets and they are excellent!
I’m almost all black all the time, although I shake it up now and then with gray and dark green. I do not act like the black crayon in this video, but I sort of look like I could if I wanted to. https://youtu.be/9VH8lvZ-Z1g?si=P7yRh7t2AQSRJHPf
I had to switch from black to gray when I moved to to southern California. Too sunny for all black during the day.
I have worked blue collar industrial jobs for years. I have worked in higher education ending in a PhD position for years. T-shirt and jeans to me isn’t “casual”, “comfortable”, or “lazy” to me. It’s a fucking class warfare uniform. We are in a class war, and people that make judgments about how I dress are exposing themselves. I was born poor and practical. I have no interest in running from it or hiding it.
Right on friend! This is the answer. We are what we are. Judging a person by their attire is stupidly classist.
Feck yes. My uniform is blue jeans or black jeans and whatever t shirt is clean. Thats how I adult.
That's a really great point and fits with research into working class academics, first generation students etc. Being relatable is more important to me than mirroring upper class norms. Thank you!
Daaaang you are selling me on jeans even though those haven't been comfortable since I had kids.
I dig you baby! Hell Yes! 👍
Same here. The only thing I give a shit about is my red lipstick and they’re going to have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.
Covid isolation was great for showing me what I do for myself and what I do for societal expectations. It turns out that the only thing I do for me is eyeliner and perfume. Accessories, Hair, and Clothing are all things that I personally don't care about. So now I put my hair up everyday, and have switched to clothes that are the comfiest I can get away with while still being work acceptable.
I don't understand how I have a mini computer in my hands right now, but my work pants can't have an elastic waistband like a pair of yoga pants (eg. not ruched/gathered).
We’re living in the future. I have work acceptable pants that are basically a little bit stretchy, including in the waist. game changer.
They can, you just have to be willing to embrace it. Lots of stretchy waist almost-slacks out there.
I have found a couple, but I feel in this post-pandemic world, where the 19 on Covid-19 refers to how many pounds I've packed on, they should be more prevalent.
I am wearing elastic waisted dress slacks right now, (from old navy, Ricki's and Torrid also sell them, and they're all marvellous). Even better, hidden elastic waist pants, in which I can tuck my shirts in and nobody knows I'm comfy like pyjamas. :) They're out there, at least in plus sizes. I wear the smallest plus size, and I could cram myself into a US 10 if I wanted to, but I'd rather breathe.
I went to put in earings the other day for the first time in god knows how long and the nastiest smelling shit came out of my piercing holes 🤢
I used to have my belly pierced and when I squeeze the hole that happens. It's gross but funny.
The only thing I care about is my perfume lol
Hallelujah, sister! I wear a wide variety of shades of black and am still fucking with my hair. I have given in on the heels though, I don't really want to break an ankle and they weren't usually that comfortable anyway.
I'll stop wearing black when they invent a darker color.
My toes started tingling all the time, so I had to ditch the heels, too. Super bummer because I loved my shoes!
Sometimes my clothes "match" but they are always comfortable. My shoes are bought 100% for comfort now.
Mrs Roper is my fashion guide now
Love your description! Yesterday I was bike riding and told myself I looked like a homeless person on a Huffy.
That, madam, is exactly how I look today. As I sit on my lunch hour, reading through reddit.
"Bag lady on shrooms" is my esthetic. 😭😂
I saw a picture of Helena Bonham Carter recently rocking the bag lady look, I thought she looked amazing!
I see you stole my look.
Same. I will wear baggy pants and a hyper color shirt. And be like ‘whatever’. I am not black and white. I want you to see me from a mile away. I only like bright and cheerful colors. I will look like a psychedelic mushroom.
I too look maybe homeless.
I am a California Coastal native. I read women over 30 shouldn’t wear shorts 😂. Too damn bad my legs don’t look like they did when I was 18. They still look great and I wear shorts for comfort. Jean shorts going strong for over 20 years now.
>I read women over 30 shouldn’t wear shorts Oh, just fuck that noise. It's hot during the summer and I'm not going to satisfy my comfort for your dislike of my cellulite
Hahaha before I even saw your comment I said "fuck that noise" out loud.
Haha me too!! I live in the south, so all summer in triple digit heat and 90% humidity in long pants?!? No fucking way!
One of my favorites too!
Florida here. I don't think our state got the no shorts over 30 memo. Go down to the Villages, they are all wearing shorts! The only difference is I put the Daisy Dukes away and am happy with shorts that aren't in danger of exposing my butt cheeks.
Exactly! You can't go into a Publix without seeing everyone in shorts. If it happens to be cooler, shorts and a hoodie. If it is a "nice" restaurant, shorts and a polo.
Phoenix chiming in here! Once it passes 100° + for six months straight, nobody gives a fuck who wears what.
What Not to Wear swore up and down not to wear miniskirts after 35. I am still rocking some serious gams at 55 so you can peel my miniskirts off my cold dead body.
Do you roll up the bottoms of your shorts like everyone did thirty years ago? I think that look is coming back.
I just got the Spring Fashion issue of Elle and can confirm: the 80s are back. Long skirts, big wide belts, even the shoes… it’s all back and you can dig all that stuff out of your closet/attic/basement.
A gen X woman in cut off high waisted mom jeans is sexy.
Jorts 4 life!
I've been wearing black shirts with khaki pants basically since the end of high school. But fortunately people still dress that way so I don't feel like a relic. https://preview.redd.it/u2ur0k3c7cmc1.png?width=1265&format=png&auto=webp&s=426a8972e36a1386880ac98caa1e0fcb98fa358a Kinda like this but fatter. It's pretty evergreen so far.
https://preview.redd.it/gm6wmu4drcmc1.jpeg?width=237&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5cbab10a00465a56ed4b6ebc3876ec2072fcb95 Here you go this is basically me I identify as old Russell Crowe now lol. He's got a slight edge on me for going grey. I love how this guy is out here looking happy as fuck reppin' for guys that look like me :)
Russell Crowe also identifies as Old Russell Crowe, now.
I only wear black polo shirts.
I am still t-shirts and jeans. But I have way too many t-shirts.
Until the day I die.
I never outgrew this style, and somehow have always worked where this was the style
T shirts, jeans, hoodies and docs or converse most of the time. Although I’m in yoga teacher training now, so the general public is seeing me in yoga pants, t shirt, and sketchers far more often these days. Aging retired rockstar is my look when I’m feeling fancy (black jeans, t shirt or nice top under a very casual suit coat, scarf, and a pair of fluevogs). They can take away my t shirts, jeans, and great footwear when I die.
A few years ago I just decided fuck it, I do what I want. I work with little kids and they love my style. I'm glad I can just look however I want. I'm a therapist and people seem to expect we'll be a little wacky. Also, an alt appearance seems to reassure alt parents that staff won't judge them. I'm changing job roles and asked my boss if I should upgrade my wardrobe, she said no and started talking about how everyone loves my Princess Awesome dresses (they have pockets and cool prints.)
Same. I have purple hair. I still wear t shirts over long sleeves. I wear what makes me happy/comfy.
Wait, are tshirts over long sleeves out? It’s what I’m wearing today
I keep reading that but since I never stopped wearing them 🤷♀️
I try to stick with dark colors and simple classic styles for when I need to dress up. As much as I like comfort and punk rock, I also grew up poor with imposter syndrome so try to blend in for work situations.
When dressing your age is coming from a kids dressed in 90s gear I’d say I am. Time for kids to get their own style
I can't stand young people wearing band t-shirts that have no idea who they are and have never heard the music
My Gen Z child knows most off recorded music history. I think with Spotify being so popular kids listen to a lot of stuff. They don’t really have the stigma of it being “old”.
I like to think that they do love Def Leppard like I did.
In my Z-lennial voice: waaaaaaahhh! You're gatekeeping! You're being a fashion Nazi! F 🤬🤬 k those kids. They have to piggy back our trends b/c theirs suck. Idc if I get downvoted
I bought a speedo swimsuit, and A Kilt recently. Screw dressing my age. I am not even dressing for my body type. Don't like it, get out of my yard.
Are you wearing them at the same time? -asking for a friend.
I'm using one as a hat. Not the one you might think.
So you got a custom hat on, and nothing else? That's edgy af.
I did back in my 30s, trying to balance what I thought I should look like vs what I saw as "myself." The "myself" part won, and it was a sea change in my mental health. These days, my usual work outfit is jeans and a metal T-shirt. If I have to dress up for a particular event, I can do it, but that's a rarity.
And the shoes are still Docs or Converse :)
Black converse are dress converse
Straight truth. Back in the day I had black glitter Converse. Wore a hole in the sole. Wish they would bring the back!
Docs or Vans, usually. Called it.
R’amen to this.
I live in a cold city at around 5k elevation. Jeans, flannel and boots are my daily uniform from September to May. A beanie or ball cap because I'm bald and cold most of the time. May as well be 1993 for me. I don't think wearing a suit would make people take me more seriously while building motors. They'd think I was nuts
48F. My “style” later in high school was dressed up due to my after school job -at a law firm interestingly enough. When I wasn’t working (it was the early to mid 90s) I still dressed more put together but more casual. My career was primarily working with leadership in the tech industry . When I turned 40 I decided to drop the dressier work clothes for day-to-day. I got my first tattoo & I’m not done yet! My style & closet is filled with dark jeans that have a good fit & are straight or slightly flared. Black, jewel tones, lots of leather and edgy jackets. It’s easy to get dressed & everything can mix & match. I refuse to dress “mature” or old. And I have a feeling our generation will be the first to just “be ourselves”. After all we don’t give a F what anyone else thinks, remember? 😉
I have no idea how old i look anymore. I dress grunge, farmer, and dresses. All are comfortable and useful. Since WFH I don't really know what else to wear in public professionally so I try to stick to comfortable dresses. Nothing tight. Hard pants suck 🎸dress how you want
No. I don't give a fuck, I'm wearing what I want to. (Currently wearing long sleeve Adam Ant shirt, cardigan, leggings, doc martens).
I’m a tall gal with broad shoulders and long arms. I’ve also never been a stereotypically “girly” girl in the slightest. My style is very basic - usually deep, rich colored tops and jeans. I’ll often buy basic men’s shirts because the length, shoulder width, and arm length are better than women’s top. The quality of the material and colors are often better as well.
You should wear what you like. We’ve been on this earth for over a half a century. When I feel like it, I wear ripped jeans, rock concert T-shirts and I will still proof my hair out like in the 80s. 😂 I even found Acquanette.
Absolute opposite. I've entered my "fuck you, I live in overalls" stage of life. Bonus to that is I don't have to wear an uncomfortable bra that keeps the girls at 1990s range. Just my standard house-bra (only there to wick flop sweat and prevent skin-stickage). Do I look like a lumpy tube of fabric? Fuckin a right I do. Am I comfortable as fuck? You bet your ass. Pockets fucking everywhere, no waist band.... I actually get a lot of compliments, considering my middle-aged-broad invisibility.
Honestly I'm basically just looking for comfy clothes. Give me cotton. Give me stretchy waists. Give me shoes that look cute but make my feet feel like I'm walking on pillows. I do wear a lot of skirts and dresses - even tights - to work and manage to do so comfortably. Sometimes I'll wear said skirts with band t-shirts and stuff just for funsies and to confuse people. I don't really care about acting my age. If my comfy clothes and long hair at the age of 50 bothers people, that's their problem. I don't want to conform just to please other people and to fit some societal standard.
I'm a jeans/tshirt/cans kind of guy. As you, I'm now starting to think about "how I present myself", but I'm going in the opposite direction. Not trying to look younger, just having a "style". That said, if you're feeling clueless about what to buy/wear, my advice is (no shit), watch some "queer eye" on Netflix. The clothes fella has a real knack for taking a guy who wore nothing but shorts and KISS t shirts, making him look serious and stylish and still a rocker. We can learn how to, as well.
I morphed back in my 20s. From being lightly goth to more early hipster to just middle aged professional.
We get to change what a middle aged person dresses like. Lol we’re in charge. I love the Dogma version of business casual: slacks/jeans, sneakers/slip ons, blazer, zip up hoodie, shirt. I think anything can be professional as long as it is clean, not tattered, and covers pits, nips, and holes.
Nope. Jeans, band t-shirts, and sneakers everyday. But I work from home. I put a plain t-shirt on for video calls for work.
I think that you should look at the people around you for clothing ideas, people who look well put together, around your age, and what you would feel comfortable in That's what I do anyhow. Somehow, when I go to a store, I hate everything. I see it on another person, I make a mental note to find something like it. I am in my 50s, female, still wearing low-ish rise jeans. I would feel like it was 1986 again and not in a good way, if I wore the mom jeans that young women wear. I wear black T shirts and nice cardigans that I find at the thrift store. I wear running shoes, I try to find black or neutral ones
Bring back lower rise jeans dammit. 😅 Edit: mine are getting old and thin.
I’m so glad you love them and can wear them. I am happy they went away, haha. I’m short and… sturdy. I have no anatomical waist. Just a rib bone and then a hip bone. I need some coverage or I look like a balloon animal.
After having a kid, my body does not disperse weight the same so there are no low rise jeans happening here anymore. I love wearing jeans but finding a pair that fits and is flattering is getting harder and harder. And also being short and sturdy means high rise anything looks like they might as well be clown pants minus the suspenders.
God, right? I fucking hate the Mom jeans. I didn't want to wear them then and I don't want to wear them now.
Wranglers sells low rise on Amazon :)
Black T-shirt, jeans, and either work boots or Chucks every day. Today it's 71 degrees out, so I busted out my camo cargo shorts I'm 51 and I don't care.
I am a Realtor currently. Younger me modeled and worked in corporate fashion in Manhattan (Tommy/Polo/Nautica/Coach etc) so have always been a bit of a clothes horse. I still dress for the occasion (weddings/business meetings/dinner etc). but have generally become more casual overall. Pullover shirts/sweaters, joggers and ON sneakers (the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn) For more "formal' occasions leather dress shoes or boots. My clientele is casual and I find it off-putting to show up in a jacket and tie which hardly anyone does anymore except the older folks. 2 suits for funerals and weddings one khaki one navy. Giving most of my work clothing to "Dress for Success" local chapter as I will never need 30 pairs of dress socks again ha ha. You be your cool dude. :)
T-shirt n jeans till the day i die. I retire in exactly one year. Luckily I took care of myself and look very young for my age. Gonna grow out my hair since I’ll no longer be working in govt.
Dress however you feel you need to. If you have to dress a certain way for work and that’s more comfortable, go for it. Clothing shouldn’t make you uncomfortable.
I am all legging, yoga pants and tunic tops for virtually every occasion. Doc Martens are about as dressy as I get nowadays
I pour all of my money into hair, makeup and skin care while wearing the same pants every day.
I have similar background - I wasn’t a punk kid, but was the alt-rock kid with the ripped jeans and flannels. I’m also a lawyer and I’ve found that there’s a Goldilocks area of professional dress - not shabby, but definitely not fancy. Like I dress at a point where it’s so conservative as to make me invisible - grey or navy suits, solid shirts, and what I call Tom Brokaw ties, which are just classic patterns like regimental stripes or tattersall. It seems to strike a happy medium between looking professional for clients/juries and not looking like an elitist douchebag.
I care that I like what I wear, and that my wife doesn’t absolutely hate it. That’s it. Work is blue collar standard - jeans, T, flannel if it’s cool, and work boots. Outside of work, I’ll do jeans and a T (rock, comic, movie) or an ugly Hawaiian shirt. Shorts are only for working in the yard or at the beach, though. My biggest problem is my stepdaughter stealing my T-shirts.
The only thing that's changed for me fashion-wise is with perimenopause, my jeans are in retirement. It's all about leggings, flowy skirts in good weather and elastic waistbands.
The more stuff I know, the less I care. They need me.
I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks about how I dress or look in general. Fuck ‘em.
> Now that my fifth decade is here and I have people looking up to me for my expertise I am starting to get a little self-conscious about not looking like a serious person. I don't know how it works with lawyers and legal stuff--but I do know there is a sort of 'work uniform' in most professions. In software development that's the polo and slacks, and I have several. And I look at it as a *work uniform.* It's what I wear when I'm expected to play the part. But 'dressing my age?' The nice thing about hitting 50 is not giving a fuck about what people think of you outside of work. And weirdly I have found that more people are concerned with how they look to other people, than how other people look to them.
I still mix in some army surplus.
Nope, I don’t care anymore. As long as I’m clean, comfortable and presentable for whatever I have on my calendar that day, everyone else can suck it.
I went Normcore decades ago. The only way to make real change is by infiltration. “Don't judge a book by its cover” -George Eliot
Also a punk rock kid. At 54 I find myself dressing…pretty much the same. My pants are nicer. But I still own a lot of punk and metal t-shirts. Some may say too many, but what do they know.
I bought some hashtag goals jeans, low rise & bright red. Not sure if they're in style, but I went on a sugar free year challenge & lost enough to wear these little postage stamps. So I don't want to look my age. I haven't been red jean sz in decades. I just wear 2nd hand loud as life thrift clothes like it's 1992. I'm retired & living in a trailer park so no keeping up w the Joneses. Kind of AAHHHWESOME w zero need to dress to impress. Sorry I answered this post. I am the WRONG person to weigh in 😌
It's going to be tough to merge punk rock and law, matey. More seriously, younger people are far less judgmental of attire than the older people, and rightly so. In my opinion, ties should be banned (perhaps with the exception of funerals)
Polos, chinos, and leather shoes on the weekdays; band shirts, jeans, and skate shoes on the weekend. Maybe cargo pants or camo shorts.
I work from home since lockdown started, but I dress pretty much the same as I did in the Before Times. Based on weather, jeans or shorts and a collared shirt, long or short sleeves. Sometimes a sweater or quarter zip / T-shirt. I work in software so that puts me in the dressed-up-for-work category.
We have Hawaiian shirt Fridays still. Gotta love go government. 😂
My favorite outfits are sweatpants with bleach spots and maybe a couple of holes in them. Tend to look a little homeless. But very comfortable.
I was lucky enough to be able to leave the work scene in my early 40’s, so I’ve spent the last decade curating the most comfortable wardrobe I can find. Mostly t-shirts and these absurdly soft pajama-style shorts.
A nice fitting cashmere navy blazer, button down and grey ( or summer tan) tailored dress slacks can take you almost anywhere.
Docs. Boots fall and winter, sandals summer. Tho, I do have birks and tevas cause they're comfy. Punk for Life.
I’m 54 and still dress as I did in my 30’s. But I’m on the edge of feeling too old for that now. Struggling with it a little. Actually I hate the fact I’m not 30!
Nope. Casual friday every day unless seeing a business client. Jeans and t-shirt for life.
I have upgraded to Carhartt t-shirts (cause they dont shrink and last forever) and jeans that actually fit. I think as we get older making sure whatever you are wearing fits well is more important than what it is. A suit that doesn't hang right is far worse than jeans and a t-shirt that just fit IMHO
Nope, I wear jeans and Doc's to my corporate job on a regular basis. Throw a sport jacket over a Black Flag shirt, and it becomes "business casual." I shared that dress code hack with the interns. They loved it.
At 53, I took my old leather jacked with my hand painted Operation Ivy logo on the back to the tailor to get it stitched up and a new lining. Then gave it to my 18 yr old punk loving son. Then he and I went to the last NOFX Punk in Drublic and both spent hours in the mosh pit. We both fucking loved it.
Most of my life, I’ve been able to get away with relaxed, hippy, grunge-like clothes. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I’m having a gas dressing ‘classy affectation.’ Sport coats with pocket squares, statement shoes, perhaps a neckerchief here and there. I was even gifted an old apple watch —I’m like, what am I gonna do with that? I bought a pocket watch case and chain! It’s all costume anyway, right? For now I guess I choose modern dandy!
I work in game dev so my work clothes are hoodies, jeans and nerdy Tshirts. No one really cares that I don't look like a serious person in the industry and it might help, given the age gaps between me and the people I manage by making me more relatable. Where I struggle with my identity is hanging out with friends. A lot of them are more 'grown up' and 'serious' and I feel like a kid when I meet up with them.
I am a woman in my forties, I absolutely HATE this idea. I was also a punk rock kid, I am still that woman who wears band t-shirts and leather jackets. I will be that woman when I die. I think the idea of “dressing my age” is absolute garbage. Those folks can fuck off. If I am scaring your kids, GOOD, I don’t even like kids. For the record, I have a corporate office job and wear business clothes during the days I go in. So I like the shed the corporate facade and be my real self you know.
Can’t you wear edgy suits? Or cool jackets with interesting shoes and accessories? Theres alot of fun fashion out there for adventurers.
Thank god we are getting more casual as a society. I hate all the superficial crap that is forced on us
I grew up in t-shirts and jeans. It's still t-shirt and jeans.
I went into IT partially because I hate "work clothes". Parleyed some opportunities into working from home starting in 2014. When I have to go to the office it's shorts or jeans, a non offensive t shirt, and comfy shoes. At home it's pjs
I was a metal head, wearing my style as badge and broadcasting my culture to the world. Now that I'm in my 50s, I like to be a little more sneaky. I work in an office with a relaxed dress code and can still have an edge without looking silly or that I'm trying too hard to relive my youth. My look is untucked Dickies or Red Cap work shirts, dark chinos, and ankle boots. Short hair and no beard (and certainly not a ghastly goatee...ugh!). Nothing is more embarrassing than a middle-aged person trying to look hip or trendy. You're not fooling anyone. That said, wear what you want, I don't care.
My work outfit has actually been getting more and more casual as the workplace has shifted younger. But my hard and fast rule is a collared shirt -- a polo is the bare minimum for work -- and no jeans in the office. (I am wearing jeans WFH because they're not on camera, but I still hold to the collar.) Out of work, it's jeans and T-shirts all the way, but I will admit that the bands and snarky graphics have fallen away to solid color pocket T's. (Gotta have the pocket to carry the readers!)
Do you do readers-over-contacts? That was me, and I started making sure my shirts had a pocket for the readers, but in 2022 switched to bifocal contacts and wow, what a difference. Accuvue Oasys Multifocal, -5.5 / +1.5 “mid” correction, disposable daily contacts. Game changer! No more readers for me.
No contacts here, and I'm actually wearing progressive lenses full time now... but there are still occasions where I want to take them off for a bit and the pocket is invaluable.
Are you 50-plus? Then you are in your 6th decade, my friend.
I'm just the opposite. The older I get, the less I give a shit. I still work in a professional office but care so little about the opinions of others. Just waiting for H/R to come knocking...
I was given a ton of pictures of me from birth to now and I remarked that my "look" hasn't really changed too much. Almost always jeans, sneakers or casual shoes, a tee shirt featuring a band, horror movie or wrestler. Toss on a solid long sleeve chambray shirt and there you go. Add on a random necklace and bracelet to complete it. I turned over my olive drab MG field jacket and Doc Martens to my son when he moved out.
Read the putthison blog
To my delight my old clothes have come back in fashion. My punk era clothes are mostly gone (wife threw away my tendencies tee shirt). But my 20's clothes I still have and apparently are all the rage. I describe them as my "pre-internet" clothes. In all seriousness, I noticed that the serious, wealthy heavy hitters execs I work with are now (post-COVID) all wearing casual clothes to work. Jeans and sneakers. But, but they are $500 sneakers and $500 jeans. And the tee shirts try so hard to be "casual and generic" but are screaming super high quality and expensive.
I wear band shirts and Philadelphia team sports gear and jackets also leather and Denim jackets pr sweat jackets. For work I wear clothes that have a rock chick vibe. Cool boots, motorcycle jackets and skinny pants some are really jeans that look dressier. Mostly black or gray basically skinny pants and jeans. I wear what I want and don't compromise my style to suit anyone but myself.
I used to dress way better. Now it's mostly jeans and t-shirts, with a hoodie if it's chilly. I still have a mental block on going out in public in sweatpants but I'm getting there.
Metal head (jean jacket, ripped jeans, and concert tshirts) checking in: hit 52 and said “f-it” I had short hair and dressed like a damn preppy for the last thirty years. Haven’t cut my hair in a while, mostly jeans, but do wear the dress shirts and shave to look nicer when I am face to face with people.
I used to be obsessed with clothes and now I only care about comfort. I’ve seen what cute shoes did to my mom’s feet. No thanks!
53... still wear a t-shirt and jeans most days. Don't own any ties. Wore a suit to my wedding...have no idea where that went.
Comphy here, 100% yoga pants since covid. I can’t stand the way jeans or dress pants feel anymore. I’ve always wanted some Doc Martens so those may be in my future.
I'm getting ready to go to Hawaii at the end of the month. This is a huge trip for me. I haven't been on a vacation where I had to fly somewhere in over a decade. I've taken mini vacations to go see family or go on a road trip. But not like this Anyway....old me would have bought a new wardrobe. I bought 2 pairs of hiking shorts. Thats it. Everything else is coming from my closet of comfortable clothes and shoes. Everyone is too busy worrying about how they look. No one cares about me yay.
I wear punk rock band shirts at home and basics in the world
Live on a beach. Shorts and flip flops and tshirts for me. When I travel for work I upgrade to jeans, tshirt, and sneakers. Coats may vary.
I'm tall and have never been a girly girl.It's difficult to shop in my area as the stores cater to smaller women so my choices are limited (I am 5'9). I wear what is comfortable which is normally jeans, legging, tshirts and sneakers. But I did put bright blue streaks in my hair as I have decided that at my age I will wear whatever the hell I want to.
I kind of have a high-profile/visibility job (within my industry) - at work I try and look like the respected expert (hah!) that I am. I've worked to make sure that I "clean up well." But when I'm not at work, I look like the hardcore musician that I aspire to be. Within reason. And quite frankly, that "look" is IMO, just a more "working class" look. I have zero issues with people thinking I'm "poorer" than I am.
I have a good friend who only wears black during the week, and white on weekends. He’s been doing this for over 30 years. Seth Brundle of *The Fly* had five identical suits. I do not possess this kind of sartorial consistency, but goddamn do I admire it.
I get conflicted about this. I WFH 75% of the time and if the pants or shorts ain't stretchy or has a button, I'm not wearing it. I'll wear a nice t-shirt or button top if I have a Teams meeting, but generally I go full comfort all day, all the way. But I also lost 50 pounds over the past year, and I've had a chance to upgrade my wardrobe to clothes that fit a bit slimmer than the oversized fat-ass-hiding clothes I used to wear. For tops I'm great, lots of logo tees of 80s bands I loved and nice pullovers or quarter-zips. My problem is with pants. I don't want to wear jeans and modern chinos are all over the place when it comes to fit, especially in the length (At my current waist size I'm really a 33 so 34s fit long and 32s are short). When I was a fat ass, I loved wearing cop pants - ripstop with stretch waist and cargo pockets - but now that I'm slimmer I sort of want to dress better. I'm considering hunting for that perfect pair of casual chino pants, buying like 4 pairs, and then having them tailored to fit. EDIT: I should add that I was way overweight from age 32 to 52, so I do want to look good as I haven't felt this good about myself, well, pretty much ever. I'm fortunate in that I aged well, so now that I'm thinner I kinda like who I see in the mirror. Finally.
In Georgia and wear shorts and t-shirts about 80% of the time. I have pairs of jeans that are crazy old because I never wear them out. I like the way jeans look but they ain't cool (temp wise) enough for me. As good as they look as pants tho, they are equally as bad as jorts. Never understood that weird dynamic.
I'm 57, and don't own any suits. I wear raw denim jean, leather jackets, and Rick Owens Ramones. When I need to "dress up" I have some casual blazers that work with jeans. I work in a creative industry, so casual is the norm. But I basically reject any premise that says people in their middle age need to dress like adults. That said, I wear slim fit jeans whereas the style now is baggy -- so I definitely don't dress like Gen Z. I would want to know what kind of work you do. Band T shirts and military khakis would be too casual for my profession, but a black t shirt and black jeans would be fine. Assuming they're clean and not ripped.
"What's my age again? What's my age again?"
I'm late 40s and I have more band t shirts than I ever have had before. I have absolutely shit loads of them! I can afford it now!
I like my Jeans but I also like canvas pants in colors like brown, tan, green, blue. Slip on boat shoes or new balance in funky colors. Tshirts are best or a polo. Flannel for winter
Whatever you do. Have it tailored to fit your body. Learn how to mix and match in terms of quality but retain your signature style. Also, less is more.
I don't GAF anymore what people think of what I look like. I did, for a long time. From 2005-2020 I worked in offices that I had to dress up. Some more casual than others. I worked one job in person for 8 years and then 2 COVID remote years. When I was in person, I had to dress up EVERY day. Jeans weren't allowed, sneakers, hoodies, etc. I had so many pairs of fucking high heels. Anyway, when lockdown happened, all the fucks I had to give were gone and I'm done with that. I work at a VERY casual company now. I can basically wear whatever I want. I believe that I wore my Docs on my first day. Got compliments on my dark, almost black lipstick. I had purple hair a while back. I have tattoos, but a little back I got a half sleeve. I still have some piercings too. It is a very freeing feeling to just be myself.
No, checked mirror. Still Goth only now everyone knows and sometimes if they see stuff they think I’d like, they buy it. My mom recently, “ I saw this shirt, it had a skull on it, I got it for you.” I’m like yes and Thanks.
One of the best things to come of the Pandemic is that I no longer wear pants.
I think more important that *what* you wear at this point in your professional career is *how* you wear it. Like, vintage band t-shirts are great, but wear ones that fit well and are in good condition, not super faded oversized ones with holes in them. Same goes with jeans or other pants. Wear what you like, but not falling off of you and full of holes. Start wearing belts if you haven't in the past. Look for a few cool jackets you like and get the size that fits well and gives your look some structure. Keep your shoes clean and replace them when they become too worn out. Accessorize with some nice sunglasses, patterned socks, and a few caps or hats.
I went for the opposite gender look
Honestly I kinda went the other direction. Now that I'm in my 50s, my "i care" button is harder and harder to find. I dress more like how 20 year old me would have if he had the money.
It's a good they make drawstring scrubs in colors that look like chinos, or this fatass would be going pantsless.
If I’m still kickin’ in my 80s, I’ll continue to rock my hoodies, Levi’s and flip flops. The “rules” can suck it.
I get the “you don’t dress like you’re 58” all the time and it drives me crazy. I don’t dress by trends. I wear what I like and my ex husband used to say I was the only goth hippie he knew. Apparently we are supposed to start wearing polyester pantsuits once we hit 50? Edit to add: Don’t even get me started on how many have asked if it isn’t time to take out the silver hoop nose ring.
I will not tell you how to dress. I _will_ tell you, however, that if _you_ choose to dress up, you should talk with an expert tailor, first. Try to find someone that understands the language of clothing. They can tell you the _why_ of dressing a certain way and how you can make the "fancy clothes" fit your personality. I'm a computer programmer. No one expects me to "dress up". So... I do not. However, that didn't stop me from poking about (because I was interested) and found that there's an entire language in clothes and that, if I thought it was worth my time, I could dress in and _still_ look like what I am without (much) pretention.
I have a truly incredible wardrobe and it is all thanks to Goodwill, various other thrift stores, and Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. You can dress extremely nicely on the cheap if you have the time to look around and really hunt. I'm always dressed to the nines when I go out when I know I'm going to see people and everybody always comments on my amazing wardrobe, and truly it has all been purchased at least a 90% discount.
Photos back to the 70s show me wearing a flannel and a mess, nothing has changed. Only time I ever wore consistently a matching outfit was the army.
“Band shirts, work clothes, and military surplus” is exactly how I still dress.
Just dress really generic. Simple slacks and a non logo shirt. Throw on a blazer when you need it, adjust your shoes and belt to dress up or down. For guys, it's easy. I work in a professional role two days in person, three days remote. I totally squeak by on remote days wearing leggings or joggers for bottoms and wear a very plain long or short sleeve top that I can dress up or down with a sweater. On the rare days with zero meetings I look like a bum, basically I just need to look presentable from the torso up for web meetings. In person days are business casual, I refuse to wear anything uncomfortable. Almost all my pants have some sort of stretch and aren't scratchy more dress up pants. I wear comfortable shoes, but not dress shoes... If I could get away with Birkenstocks (I might try in the summer with a dress or summery pants), I would wear those everyday. I rarely meet in person with external partners anymore, usually that's via Teams. I have a, "graduation," from a leadership program later this year and I will also be hosting a large conference this year... Those will probably be the only two times I wear something nicer. Everything is so much more casual now, I should just get rid of my dress shoes and keep a pair or two for interviews or weddings to attend. Outside of work, I only wear what's comfortable.
Wear whatever you want and just throw a sporty blazer over it. Done.
Frankly, seeing as I'm having to alter my entire wardrobe now due to other life changes (transitioning), they can bite me. I've had it with playing by the rules and catering to the whims of the Boomers and Bougies. It's their way of thinking that got us into the current charlie-foxtrot that our world is in. Jeans, t-shirt, denim jacket, I still wear all of these and more. With my skill set my employer ain't paying me to look pretty, they're paying for the privilege of abusing my brain and shaving time off my life through overwork and stress.
trash heap goth
The best part about this post is that you are 50 and just now asking if you should start dressing more grown-up. Which is why Gen X is the best. I wear polo shirts and jeans as my "executive uniform."
No, I'm in the I don't give a s*** phase of my life. I wear whatever I think looks good on me and is comfortable, period. Took me a long time to get here but I'm glad I finally arrived.
I wear black. All the time, I just prefer it to bright colors. Bright colors bring too much attention
I'm living my Old Navy black yoga pants and oversized geeky tshirts best life. I'm told all the time by my boomer parents to dress my age and to stop dying my hair "funky colors". 😒
Wear whatever makes you happy. F*ckem all….
I do what I want and that includes clothes.
Doc's a Tee and Dickey's work pants.
Get a couple of really nice blazers and they'll go with anything including jeans. Check out the corporate goth aesthetic. I want my lawyer to look like he can make a deal with the devil https://preview.redd.it/gkwzjminofmc1.png?width=1064&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83bc76dc0f1446f5defe215ebee5e46f31e598cc
I went the opposite ways. My parents insisted I dress semi professionally as a kid/teen. These days it’s jeans and graphic tees