Middle Age – or – I’m not dead yet!

It’s funny how it sneaks up on you.  You feel much like you did in your 20’s or 30’s, or at least I do.  Less hangovers maybe, lol.  But the calendar clearly says that today I am exactly half way to 89 years old.  I hope to live that long!  My family history isn’t in favor of it, but one can hope.  I used to think that was so OLD.  Being in the midst of it, though, I feel pretty much not old at all.  Nor do I think I should start to dress a certain way because of what the calendar says.

Shortly after I turned 40 I did look into what I was now supposed to wear.  Most of what I found was so far from my world and so conservative I ran, fast.  I still took a few overarching rules to heart (no short shorts, spaghetti straps, Juniors department).  I have since reintroduced some of those things that I’d read were no longer appropriate for my age group, ahem.  Turns out they were plenty appropriate for me.

It occurs to me that many of those rules are based on assumptions of what a middle aged woman in America is doing in life – namely raising a family and being a career woman, most likely in a suburb or city center.  Well, no wonder the rules didn’t feel like they applied to me!  That is not my life.  Far from it.  I have no kids to potentially embarrass with my penchant for zippers and hardware and a rock n roll influence, nor an office job to dress for.

Rules might be an okay place from which to start, but don’t be afraid to break them if they don’t make sense to/for you.  I live in a casual life in a mountain town with no need for many standard ‘must have’ list items.  Hoodies, tees, and jeans are the norm here, even if you are 50.  Still, I like to dress up more than my environmental norm. A little 😉

Today’s outfit is to go have sushi with my BF.  This is what middle age, on me, looks like.  My life.  My way.  My outfit:

• Spiegel leather jacket
• Old Navy chiffon pocket tee
• Ralph Lauren black label red moto jeans via eBay (at 90% discount – no way was I going to spend $600 on them!!)
• Chinese Laundry zip detail booties via eBay
• Tom Binns for Disney necklace via eBay

Everything was purchased online, and all at a discount. Interestingly, most things are at least 3 years old but the booties and jacket.  Hunh.  Guess these pieces are so ‘me’, above and beyond whatever trend is/was in when I bought them, that they feel as great to me now as they did then.  Oh, and what do you know – it’s yet another variation on jeans and a tee shirt.  Ha!  I do wear other things, I promise.

For those also hitting midlife, but also somewhat outside of the ‘box’, I’d be interested to know how/if your age affects your clothing choices.  Also, for those younger gals, don’t fear, 20 years from now you don’t have to cut your hair into a bob and put away your more daring choices.  BE YOU.  And love every minute of it!!