Or maybe not! LOL! But wouldn't it be nice?

Alisande, I wouldn't worry about 10lbs. After watching my Mom age and hearing her doc's advice I think we are suppose to gain abit of extra to see us through tough times.

The only change I can remember making in the way I dress is to add more color. Years ago I wore brown, bieges, etc., now I wear a lot of color. I don't wear kids styles, but not old lady styles either. I have fun with costume jewelery and hats, There is a Bon Worth's near by and I don't buy much there, they specilize in "old lady clothes". I recieved a compliment from a male chashier at Walmart yesterday that tells me I am doing it right. Very unusual for a man to make a comment like "you dress well, very nice"

lol...i hate shopping but realized the other day my everyday tees just don't cut it...all i needed was a simple blouse to wear with sports pants (1970's theme for dd's 40th) and didn't have one! so when the new woman within came thought ok...until i saw the prices for a cotton top! none less than $20...just can't bring myself to spend that...

what i reccomend are longer but sleeveless dress with one of the new (old) shrugs...or a qiuckie at the local plastic surgeon, lol lol...you're braver than i am...i'd never go to a reunion...

Emma, I think that guy was hitting on you!

I agree about color. I still wear black or brown, but always with a colorful, interesting necklace. I gave up beige the day my son commented that between my blonde hair and my outfit, I was completely beige. lol

Susan, this is my husband's reunion, not mine. So no one can think about how much I've changed since I was 20. :-)

It did take courage to go to the one five years ago, though, but not for the usual reasons. I wrote about that experience here: My Three Days at Yale.

PS: This year I'm going for four days.

I meant to add that my favorite new addition for evening is the long (mid-thigh or beyond), lacy (open knit) cardigan, the kind that are open in front and usually have 3/4 sleeves. Anything that adds a long look is flattering, at least to me. And the very loose weave doesn't add much warmth. I just have to be careful to keep them away from my cats.....

oh i know, but still...i'm glad you're keeping friends in touch...so often you never know what has happen to old friends...so many of the young men i graduated with in 1964, were headed to the vietnam era, sigh...

My problem isn't dresses! I have a few that cover enough to be acceptable. But pants!!!!! I find nearly all have a "slightly" below the waist waistband and some very much below the waist. Not for me!!

I'm tall and need a 31 inch inseam. The shorter legs don't cover up my less than presentable legs.

Guess I'll be wearing what I have until the styles change. Even Land's End and Penneys have deserted me.

I agree that when you get older you need to change the way you dress. I have not worn short sleeve tops for years. I like elbow length on me.

My sister will be 79 in July and she wears a lot of sleeveless tops. She is on medication that makes her hot. She's thin but her arms are, well the arms of a older lady. Brown spots and all. My husband made the rare comment, for him anyway, that he thought it was time she stopped wearing sleeveless tops. This is everywhere, church and all. I agreed with him.

A girl? lady? close to 50, had on a short short dress at church a few Sundays ago. Believe me she did not have nice legs. A couple older ladies behind me were commenting about it. I like this girl and know her heart so I can over look the short dress but she didn't look good.

They were talking about the woman IN CHURCH? Sorry, but I find that funny in a sad sort of way.
Susan - If you are worried about your arms, we just need to get you some small hand weights or resistance bands - that is easier to fix than the darn spare tire. I'm fighting it, but it is so stubborn.
Longer light jackets, blouses and cardigans do slim.

seniorgal, how tall are you?
31-32 inch inseam is the norm now... so I think of that as average, not tall.

I am 5'11"... try finding the 36 inseam inseam that I need! Hard!

I agree about the 32" inseam; that's what I wear--and I'm shorter than I used to be. As for the lower waist, I never had much of a waist anyway, so it doesn't matter. ;-)

Are you sure about Lands' End, Seniorgal? The last time I ordered from them they had to-the-waist jeans, and you could specify the inseam you wanted.

Gardenspice, I definitely need more exercise. Between fibromyalgia and tick bites, my energy and stamina have been in the pits, and the last thing I've wanted to do is use my dwindling muscles. But that's the thing I need most. In fact, I was reading yesterday that strength training is critical for anyone who wants to get well from tick-borne illness. My son has me lined up to start by lifting, carrying, and stacking firewood with him soon.

Seniorgal, these are all on sale:

Pants and Jeans from Lands' End

I have been hit on more than I expected at this point in my life, but by married men. I won't go there. I was visiting a forum where a lady said she was so lonely and she knew she would never get a guy because she was over weight. She scared me, I think she was suicidle. I told her it is more about attitude than looks. Walk with your head up like you like yourself and your life, smile be clean and neat. I told her I am old as dirt, 40 lbs overweight and I still get attention. I dress well, no sweats and I don't mean expensive clothes.

I just spent over $200 at Talbot's yesterday. I have a terrible time finding clothes. I just got my Medicare card, so am of the age where I need to cover up. My arms are awful. I've always had less than lovely upper arms. I really prefer a 3/4 length sleeve. It's hard to find things that have that sleeve in a lightweight fabric for summer.

I wear crop pants all the time in the warm months. Most of the stores are stocking them so I guess they are still in style. Talbot's new Curvy style fits me best although the waistline is a bit low. I always leave my tops untucked to cover my menopausal belly.

I agree that as you get older you really need to look "pulled together". Going out in sweats or just sloppy ages you terribly. I guess we all have times when we just need to run out dressed "as is". I know I do.

Susan, check out Talbot's. They have sleeveless dresses but they also make little lightweight shrugs to go over them

If I ever need to go anywhere that I can't wear jeans and Crocs....I'm in trouble. I will never get dressed up again. Last time I tried to look presentable was at my daughter's college graduation.

Thanks, Dedtired, but I don't think I can afford Talbot's. I'm told they have good sales, but our Talbot's is a bit of a drive for me, and I've never been in the store. I have, however, acquired some Talbot's clothes via the Salvation Army. ;-)

I did well at TJ Maxx yesterday. Came home with two purses, a leather wallet, four cork-backed place mats (interesting!), a long skirt, four tops, and a long, lacy cardigan, and I spent $165. I'm not done yet . . . glad I was uber-frugal over the winter.

I've put on 20 lbs. over the past 7 years, and it makes me sick. I refuse to buy clothes from anywhere but thrift stores until I lose it. Unfortunately, I have the "same 5 lbs." syndrome. I really need to work out or walk or something, but I'm just too lazy. Still, I hate looking in the mirror.

Susan you are in luck because the big "fashion must have" this summer is the Maxi dress... yes long , flowy , comfortable and hides a multitude of sins.. so check them out .
I cannot stand going shopping for clothes in the traditional brick and mortar stores anymore, so I shop online MOST of the time now.

June

I agree with you about online shopping, June, but unless I know for sure that an item will fit (like Lands' End jeans, for instance) I bite the bullet and head for an actual store.

I'm taking a stab at Marshall's today, and will checkout the maxi dresses. I saw many at TJ Maxx, but they all looked like Junior styles.

I love the new maxi dresses. They are wonderfully cool in the summer and can hide a bunch of body issues. They sure take me back, wore these all the time during the 70s. There are so many different styles too.

The one thing I can't do is no/short sleeves. Am using the excuse the dermatologist directed, long sleeves any time in the sun. Bought some summer long sleeve cardigans to match the dresses. A lot of easy and cool styles in these too.

My norm is casual...too casual to be caught any place other than the garden. But still head to the store, hardware/paint, garden center in what is comfort.

As for weight and age. Doctor gets on my case when losing weight, they really want us to have an extra 10. I'm embracing this too....another excuse not to give up chocolate and still eat healthy.

My SIL (now age 64) is single but travels and goes out often (by herself, she doesn't need a man). When I was going on a cruise and had no dressy dress for formal dining, she told me a black skirt or pants with a dressy top goes anyweherre, and she was right. Plus the black on the bottom is slimming.

Thanks for the help and information about Land's End. I'm looking for a dressy pair of pants, but might try a couple of those. Land's End size 18 fits me just right. At age 89 I'm not likely to buy my first pair of jeans!

I'm 5 ft. 10 but seems most of my height is in my legs.

I am long past the "trying to look glamorous" stage but still try to look as good as I can. I have gained some weight but am surely not obese. I seem to fall in between the Misses' and Women's sizes.
I don't get out to the stores to shop like I used to so rely on catalogs which can be kind of "iffy."

Anyway I appreciate the suggestions.

Seniorgal

I refuse to cover up. I wear clothes my daughter would wear. Now I don't wear short skirts anymore(in the 60's &70's I couldn't bend over in them) and I wear nothing with cleavage. I wear tank tops and even though my arms aren't great, I don't care. I used to have nice legs but after years of tanning, my skin is so thin that every time I bump something I get a cut or bruise. Still don't care. I mostly like capris and long skirts to the ankle or mid calf. I buy some clothes from our upscale thrift store. I told daughter that my newest Eddie Bauer Capri's were a size 2!! And yet that same night I bought a pair of EB shorts..size 6, So go figure. That's why I don't order online.

I am like Marilyn. I don't do dress up. I own one pair of gray pants but they are probably too big for me now since I lost a bit of weight since last year.

I'm overweight,over 60, wear jeans and mens t shirts. Still get hit on all the time. Like Emma said, it's attitude. I walk into a room like I own it. Using Poor posture and stance is the most aging thing one can do.

I learned my lesson years ago at an awards ceremony for a scout thing. I was in my late 30's. After shopping most of the afternoon I was practically in tears. I hate most women's fashion. I am short and they make me look old and frumpy. Don't even get me started ranting about those stupid looking hobbit pants. LOL

So DH said to wear what I wanted and I did. I went in clean newish (not faded) jeans and a nice sweat shirt which were in style back then. When we got there there we a sat down at an empty table. Later all these men came in and sat with up. The whole room was either in uniform or dressed up. The women were all in dresses and jewelry and such. Guess who had the best time? ME!!! We talked sports, autos and guy stuff. I think had I been dressed girly they would have been more subdued. The guy next to me was tipsy and hilarious. Turned out the guys at our table were all the national head honchos. They had been partying earlier.

Now had I worn a dress or dressy clothes I would have been so uncomfortable I would have been evil. My personality changes for the worse as the layers of "feminine" clothing go on.

So I have learned to stay in my comfort zone. The heck with what others think.

The church thing? How nice of those women to judge. Bless their brittle little hearts.

Good for you wild child. As for me, I am making this part of my life is all about me. Sounds selfish I know, but I have always put family, finances and home before me. I have no one to answer to so I do as I please, eat what and when I want to, go where I please and buy what I want with no one to criticize me. I am never dressed up, I just match things.

Emma, I would call your attitude "enlightened self-interest," and I feel the same. I think a lot of older, single women would agree. Maybe some younger ones too. ;-)

Regarding clothes, I'm somewhere between the two extremes. I have almost no interest in fashion, and comfort is my #1 priority most of the time. But I also enjoy getting "semi-dressed up" occasionally. I go out to hear some jazz or poetry fairly regularly, and it's fun for me to leave my jeans, yoga pants, and t-shirts behind. No one will ever mistake me for a fashionista, though.

The reunion I'm attending has a dress code. I can hear all those groans and see the eyes rolling. LOL But I wasn't unhappy to read that. When I went to the reunion for the first time five years ago, it would have been helpful for me to know that "business casual" was fine most of the time, but we were expected to dress up for the class dinner. As it turned out, I did okay because one of the other widows called me beforehand and I was able to ask her about clothes.

I would have done more shopping yesterday if I hadn't caught a cold from my little grandson. As it was, I managed to buy a pair of shoes, and that was it.