How Old Is Too Old When It Comes To Miniskirts?
Posted by: Nina Carbone
Filed in:
style
10:50AM, Wednesday September 2nd 2009
Today The Daily Mail has put an expiration date on wearing miniskirts: 35 years old, 65 years old, 55, 60, oh, and 40. (They had a bunch of lady writers chime in on their own how-old-is-too-old age, hence the differing opinions.) As was so nicely pointed out: “Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, 35, Danni Minogue, 38 next month, Elle Macpherson, 46, Cindy Crawford, 43, Jennifer Aniston, 40, and Courteney Cox, 45, are all fans of the mini.” Sure, but that list of Hollywood ladies is also one seriously in-shape bunch. I would never deny them the right to a higher hemline simply by citing their ages. My two cents? The age thing is horses**t…
For me, it’s not so much my age that’s limiting (or will be limiting), but the way I look and feel in a mini. Mark my words: I’m never going to be “that woman” parading around town in a too-short skirt trying to fake-out people into thinking I’m 22—or trying to and failing miserably, anyway. As of now, I can still rock the miniskirt. One day that will, for sure, change. I’m pretty sure I’ll look in the mirror one morning, do a quick mental run-through of what my life is like at that point (Do I have a kid? Did I put on some pounds? Am I not as toned as I once was? Am I trying to be super-professional? Is Peg Bundy my role model?), and then will just up and decide to give all the minis away. There will come a point when they just won’t make sense in my life anymore and I won’t be the woman who is grieving that fact. My closet will go on without the higher hemlines, and I’ll look just as chic without them. (Or maybe even more chic?) But until that day, I’ll do a quick spot-check in the mirror before I leave the house in a mini, just to be sure I’m not making a fool of myself. Then again, to each her own. [Daily Mail]
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spatula
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 09:56 am: [report]
I completely agree with you Nina!! Age aint nothing but a number, but spider veins and cellulite should mean you should not wear a mini skirt anymore. Sorry.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 09:59 am: [report]
40-45 seems to be the tipping point.
powplz
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]
Agreed. Wear a mini only if it looks good on you and is decently appropriate for where you’re wearing it. I know moms and women in their mid-late 30s and early 40s who have better legs than I do at 24 (mine *are* nice enough for a mini, theirs just happen to be even better).
Squidtermz
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]
When I was younger mini skirts were so hot to me. Now not so much, I mean sure there are those moments ; ) But really if you got the gams, show em.
*sam*
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:17 am: [report]
I think the only way to quantify an age limit on a mini is when you’re approaching 70. This also applies to tube tops and platform flip-flops. (No lie, I def. saw this at Kohl’s one day while I was working). Other than that, if you’re comfortable in them and they’re flattering on you, then go for it.
Coral
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:20 am: [report]
I only partially agree. I agree that the age doesn’t necessarily matter. But I don’t care how great of a body one has, there simply is a point when wearing skirts too short just looks trashy and not as great. In my opinion, it looks much better to dress a little more conservative as time goes on, and it shows she has respect for herself—and she is still able to look seductive and whatnot, just without showing off everything. I have an aunt who is in her 50s who can easily wear mini skirts if she wants to, but she feels it would detract from who she is and it’s not like she is a teenager or twenty something anymore. I am most certainly going to give up mini skirts when I turn 30 ish. I definitely have the legs to wear them, but I want to present myself as appropriate.
A couple weeks ago, I saw a woman about 70 years old, wearing a mini skirt and 3 inch wedge flip flops! She was with her husband, but in my opinion, she just looked way worse. She is fairly in shape, but she could have actually looked young without dressing ‘YOUNG.’
40yrolddad
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:26 am: [report]
I always get a chuckle out of the “no miniskirts after 35” sign they sometimes show coming back from commercial on “What Not to Wear” but as others have said (like the bikini ?) there is no AGE line, just the “do you have the confidence and/or goods?” questions…
there are PLENTY of 40+ (& a few 50+) women in my neighborhood who look DAMN good in tennis skirts so let’s squash this idea before they become self-conscious!!!
writergirl
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:27 am: [report]
I was at a party the other day and one of the “drama queens” who is forty and no lie looks about 45—but has a great body—was dressed in short shorts and a tank top. She looked absurd. The outfit would have been adorable on a twenty-somthing, but it was not designed for a forty year old.
You can still have the body to rock miniskirts an short-shorts—but there just comes a point where you can’t pull it off anymore. The key is knowing when.
Regarding the women mentioned in the article—they don’t look their age. They are all much younger looking. They can still wear it.
Think about it. Sophia Lauren still looks absolutely gorgeous at 70 something—but you haven’t seen her in a miniskirt since the 60’s.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:37 am: [report]
@writergirl: How can you be 40 and look 45, but still have a great body?
In all seriousness my mom is 51 and she looks 35. My dad gets joked on that he robbed the cradle.
Coral
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:42 am: [report]
Another reason I think there is definitely a limit, is that no kid, especially teenager and older, wants to see their mom in a mini skirt or something that skimpy.
40yrolddad
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 10:59 am: [report]
cheese: you can still have the body but your face (/skin) show the wear if you never stopped partying/tanning(/smoking) like you’re 23 (equally true for men as well). decades of work/kid stress don’t do your eyes/hair any favors either (I’m lucky to not be receding at all but am getting some gray @ 40). I’m guessing that’s what she meant…
Pinky
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 11:14 am: [report]
I have a girlfreind who is 56 and she still shops at Forever 21, wears spiky heels and “young” clothes. I want to tell her she looks sad, as I think there nothing sadder tehn an older woman trying so hard to look young. But I keep my mouth shut. And this all happened when she got divorced a few years ago after 30 years of marriage, before that she dressed very conservatively. I guess now she thinks she has to dress like a 21 year old to catch another man and be considered sexy ? Sad.
amber
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 11:40 am: [report]
I agree with the sentiment that age really shouldn’t be a factor if you look fantastic and want to flaunt it a bit. But there is a point where you look just ridiculous, age appropriate please. I have to say, as my mother gets older it’s harder and harder for her to get this concept, especially since she is losing weight and looks pretty good for a 40+(mumble, mumble) mother of 3, but her clothing choices are sometimes bad verging on laughable. I’ve seen her wear a mini, it looked cute but it wasn’t scoring her any points. I love a woman who ages gracefully and can still look sexy without showing a ton of skin. Naked or close to it does not make someone sexy, confidence does.
writergirl
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 11:44 am: [report]
@40yearolddad—exactly.
Jenn27549
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 12:07 pm: [report]
I have to agree with the no set-in-stone age to stop, but you still need to be age appropriate and situation appropriate. I worked with a lady who was in her late 40’s but worked out every day, didn’t have one ounce of body fat and was very toned. But she dressed like she was 16 and it was really out of place with her facial features and age, and of course, an office environment. Her hair was stuck in the 80’s, too, which didn’t help. There’s also varying degrees of “mini” or short. 3-5” above the knee can still be short enough to make a point but age appropriate, whereas a mini for me now is like 2-3” below the bum. There’s a range…
Linz
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 12:13 pm: [report]
One of the saddest things is an older woman trying so hard to look young. There is a huge difference between looking great for your age and trying to look young. I’m all for knowing who you are, your body, where you’re at in life and dressing fantastic for your age. Women (and men) who constantly try to dress/look younger, just end up accentuating how much older they really are. The contrast does them no favors.
betty123
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 12:19 pm: [report]
If you’re able to rock it, I think that there isn’t really an age on the mini. I think that people need to recognize what is appropriate for pairing with a mini. A cordoruoy mini with a ribbed turtleneck and cute knee high boots and tights in the fall is super chic and sophisticated. But if you pair a mini with a low cut tank top and platform sandals, you are gonna look trashy. So it has more to do with overall style than an individual piece of clothing.
Of course those two short ones that barely clear the vag are not appropriate on anyone in my opinion. I just want to cover those little girls up when I see that.
Coral
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 12:22 pm: [report]
@betty123: I agree about being able to pair things appropriately. Even at my young age of 18, I wouldn’t wear a mini with a really low cut shirt.
Aidra
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 09:03 pm: [report]
If you live in Hollywood and have a body like these ladies, you can pull of a mini! I don’t think there is anything wrong with a woman in her 40s wearing a mini dress, a trend that is all over the place every summer. As long as you’re doing it tastefully, and not looking like a $5 hooker, do what you want to do. Maybe I’m just biased and think older women in Hollywood can get away with things a midwestern mom cannot. You can’t expect women in their 40, even 50s, in Hollywood to start wearing polyester dress suits from Kohl’s, can you? They work hard for their bodies and gotta compete with all the young bitches, or they’re out of work.
diane227
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 09:33 pm: [report]
If you have a great bod and you legs are not fat and full of blue spider veins then go ahead. But make sure that you are careful not to show your “stuff” when you bend over. Probably need to stop with the mini skirt at about age 50. (I am 54 so I can say that).
lawyrgrl
wrote on September 2 2009 @ 11:05 pm: [report]
@betty123 Exactly. I am 43 and still wear minis. However, I always wear tights with them to look a bit more covered. I really love the sweater and boots with the outfit - very chic and classic if done in quality materials and with proper fit/proportions.
camille905
wrote on September 3 2009 @ 09:03 am: [report]
@Amber & Pinky Shame on you all for not trying to help out those close to you by steering them towards more appropriate clothes!
I think age is just a number and if you can rock it out then you should. I have a friend who’s in her late 30’s but has a gorgeous body and legs and she looks fab in her minis.
I think what it comes down to is knowing how to put together an outfit and knowing what works for you. But for those people who can’t do that, you should be a good friend and help them out.
powplz
wrote on September 3 2009 @ 09:18 am: [report]
@Aidra - you realize that Hollywood isn’t the only place where people work out and take care of themselves, right? There’s a lot of variation in personal style between LA and NY.
toonew
wrote on September 17 2009 @ 11:22 am: [report]
35, or still look it.
LifeisGrand
wrote on October 29 2009 @ 11:45 am: [report]
Wear what you want to wear and what makes you feel good, period. Chances are someone will be laughing at you anyway!