Are you too old for your wardrobe? The other day I stumbled upon a new study in which 2,000 British women determined the ages at which it was no longer appropriate to wear certain items. Read it and weep, ladies!
Tube tops: 33
Leather pants: 34
Miniskirts: 35
Sheer chiffon blouses: 40
Sneakers and tight tank tops: 44
Leggings and Uggs: 45
Bikinis and knee-high boots: 47
Stilettos and ponytails: 51
Long hair: 53
Swimsuits: 61
Now, I do agree that many of these fashions (tube tops, leather pants) are hard to pull off at any age. But I don’t think there should be hard and fast rules about when a woman has to retire certain items from her wardrobe. Look at Helen Mirren—she’s well into her 60s and still looks amazing in a swimsuit. And I could name several actresses in their late 30s and early 40s who can still make a miniskirt work.
As long as you look tasteful and reasonably age-appropriate, I think you can take these rules with a grain of salt. Style is about knowing yourself, your figure, and what works. For instance, Meryl Streep is in her 60s and still sports long hair and the occasional ponytail, but makes it work by avoiding fashions that are too youthful. It’s all about balance!