As a mother of three approaching 30 I struggle with age appropriate clothing choices that are still young and fun. I have always had a tall, slender build although my midsection is definitely my problem area.
When I was younger I shopped in the juniors clothing section. Cute pieces, good style, not too outrageously priced. Even as a young mom I continued to shop there. My hips were wider and I had a bit of a butt yet it all still worked but things have changed over the past few years.
As I get older I find myself becoming more and more modest with regard to my clothes. Not that I dressed immodestly before but I am more comfortable in jeans or capris than short shorts. I can wear a bikini but I am much more comfortable in a tankini. The one pair of short, shorts I own are still several inches below my butt but I have been searching for bermuda shorts that fit yet don't look too matronly.
The problem I have is a lot of the misses clothing doesn't fit my tall build well. I now have three pairs of bermuda shorts that fit okay through the thighs and butt but for some reason unknown to me, come up on my waist to an inch below my belly button. Why do modest length shorts have to be high waisted? Can't I find a pair of shorts that don't show off my entire thigh without being so high waisted they are uncomfortable when I sit down or look silly under long tanks or shirts?
I was successful this last week in finding a new tankini. Victoria Secret has been my go-to swimsuit stop all the way back to high school. I had purchased a modest yet a bit sexy tankini two summers ago. It has been used a lot and the stomach area is beginning to thin and wear out. On our road trip I brought one of my bikinis to wear instead. While I know I am thin enough to wear it, wearing it that whole trip made me realize I am much more comfortable with a little more coverage. Thankfully Macy's had some clearance swimsuits still and I found a cute white and black polka dot tankini top with a ruffle at the bottom, paired with cute cut of boy shorts with a tie on each side. I wore it to the water park this weekend and still felt a bit sexy yet appropriately covered up.
So ladies, what does this mean? I am just getting old? Do our values just change over time? Is it because I have been married for a couple years now and my kids are getting older? As Wyn approaches the teen phase I definitely want her dressing more modestly. What are your thoughts?
11 comments:
I struggle with this too. I am really petite but have a hard time in the petite section, both with fit and style. I still wear a bikini (even before I got pregnant) but I do feel funny in certain clothes that show too much. The young girls' clothes kill me these days. Good luck with Wyn...that's one thing I am glad about having two boys...no fighting bootie shorts on them!
Oh, wow, you're expressing my thoughts exactly! The thing is, I don't like how the clothes in the "women's" section look--they look too old for me, those high-waists kill me--and yet I don't want to be "baring all," either. I don't want to be dressing like my teen daughter, but, geez, I don't want to look like my grandmother, either. I've been having some success with Banana Republic, and even occasionally Old Navy. We have a really small Macy's, so we only have the "junior" and "old" sections.
I want to look smart, put-together, fun, and tasteful. Is that too much to ask as a mother?
I think that as we age our bodies change and we are more comfortable showing off some parts than others. I think that we just learn what our better features are and show them off more.
girl ever since having kids my body has changed!
i agree with the whole high waisted thing..i hate them!
i am short so i don't have problem with short shorts....they are always long(er) on me!
I'm the same way. I've started shying away from younger-looking more revealing clothes, even if I can wear them. It's hard to be fashionable AND age appropriate AND modest AND sexy. And I want to be all that and more! Blah!
I don't have children but I have always been on the most modest bandwagon. haha, if that sounds right. I think that teens and 20 somethings are way too unmodest and cannot believe what some people let their children wear. I think you are right on to make sure she dresses modestly. But the thing that you are right about is modest doesn't have to mean up over your belly button, haha. I did find some links online with modest/cute clothing from people who felt the same way. Of course at this time I have no idea where they are!!
For me, I'm definitely more subconscious about young wear, then again I have a 16yr old daughter who I don't want to share clothes with. LOL.
I think they should have a section between juniors and matronly misses.
Something cute and stylish with more coverage.
Interesting points to ponder. :-)
Yep, you encompassed it all for us in this one! As a 30 year old mom? I do the same thing!
I think it's a beautiful thing that you are embracing your age and finding appropriate clothing. It's amazing "sexy" clothing can be that IS modest. Finding shorts is harder for me than finding a well fitting swim suit!
Have to ask yourself, what would you tell your daughter to do? You can feel good and look good without looking like your trying to be 19.
It's because you know that comfort trumps all in life. If you are going to experience anything and expect to have fun - how can you if you are too worried about your tight, short clothes, or body parts flying out? You have children to tackle in a moment's notice if need be...and comfort??? Comfort trumps all. (And you can still be comfortable without completely ignoring fashion I have pleasantly discovered!)
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