Monday 22 July 2013

Beware of the 16/61 look!

In case you haven't heard of this expression, it refers to looking like a 16 year old from behind but 61 from the front. I'm not saying that you should never wear youthful styles of course, but I guess that this is another variation of the phrase "beware of mutton dressed as lamb".

I confess to wearing a pair of shorts today when I went down to the shops (shock! horror!).  Some of you may think that a woman in her 60s shouldn't be walking around town in shorts, but they weren't skimpy ones and my loose top wasn't revealing, so it was a comfortable outfit on a hot summer's day. It also passed the critical husband test: "Do I look ok in these shorts?" "They're fine." I doubt if anyone walking behind me would have assumed that I was 16 from what I was wearing, so I didn't have to worry about looking like a woman in her 60s when seen from the front.

I do have other options, but my loose linen trousers are in the laundry basket, it was far too windy to wear a demure knee-length skirt (a woman in her 60s doing a Marilyn Monroe impression is not a good look!), my dresses are a bit too dressy for everyday wear, so I went for the shorts.
Is this a good look for over 60s?
I know I would have looked better if my legs weren't so pale, but whenever I've tried fake tan it has looked - well, if I'm being honest - a bit fake. I didn't spot any children running away from the sight of my legs, and nobody laughed outright, so hopefully I got away with this look. What do you think?



12 comments:

  1. I don't think you should worry about this look at all, it looks great on you!

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  2. I think you've earned the right to dress in whatever makes you feel confident and comfortable. Go for it!

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    1. Deb, I think the key word for me is comfort, especially on a hot day. If it hadn't been so windy I might have worn a skirt, but there's no point if you are having to hold on to it in case a sudden gust of wind reveals your undergarments!

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  3. Hey, wearing shorts at 60 is just fine! Why shouldn't you wear 'em?
    I'm all for it. You go girl.
    Thanks.
    ~Debra

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    1. Thanks, Debra. I probably wouldn't wear them in the city, but in a Spanish town on a hot summer's day they are the perfect choice.

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  4. I think your smile is the best thing to wear. You have beautiful legs at any age.
    And,why can only people under 60 people be cute. I am 54 and I love to wear shorts.

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    1. Pamela, I wrote a blog post about the importance of smiling: http://over60andoverhere.blogspot.com.es/2012/07/my-best-anti-ageing-tip-ever.html. I also wrote a post about how being cute over 60 isn't a good look - however I have now changed my mind about this, so watch this space!

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  5. Of course you can wear shorts! You have very slim legs and the shorts are pretty long anyway! Go for it!

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement, Sophie. Even if my legs weren't fairly slim, I would probably have worn these shorts. As you say, the shorts are pretty long so why not?

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  6. Your outfit looks good for going out on a hot day, and how are your legs ever going to be anything other than white if they are always covered up.

    I am still enjoying your posts Sue, just a little involved with my new project to respond very often.

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  7. Hi Jacqui, good to hear from you.

    Sadly my legs will never tan: when I was in my 20s and living in Gibraltar, my legs were constantly on display (we're talking about during the 60s!) but all that happened was they became more freckled!

    Hope that the new project is going well.

    Sue

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