Like many, I have developed an individual dress sense and enjoy to dress in my own style. I am now over 60 years of age (it’s a shock that I’ve made it this far !!) and have not only matured in my age, but also in my style.
Lindy Bop with Faith Shoes
Style is not static, it’s a dynamic process that grows as you absorb ideas and fashion trends. What looked good on you when you were in your 20’s may not look good on you in your 50’s, so one has to adapt. There are exceptions, such as fetish fashions and cos-play, but the general rule of thumb is to pass you need to dress your age in a style that suits you. The areas that I receive my influence from are not from the fashion magazines or the television, but from the real world, sitting in a tea shop watching the world go by; observing women of my age and build; noticing what they are wearing and how; what accessories, shoes, scarfs, coats & colors; and then analyzing why it looks good.
Goodwood Revival Vintage Style
I have a passion for 1950’s fashion and find that the elegance and grace of the era carries on into modern times as a timeless style that fit into just about any occasion. Styles from Lindy-Bop are among my favorite. Hobble dresses and ‘A’ line flared dresses have never really gone out of style and mid calf fitted dresses portray a semi-formal appearance that is chic and classy, whilst maintaining practicality and elegance. Ok. They are a bit formal to wear shopping for food, but fine for other social situations.
Irregular Choice with a Taylor Made Dress – (a gift from my sister)
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I also understand, from my observations whilst sitting in the high street watching the population wander by, the majority of women don’t wear skirts or dresses nowadays. Jeans, leggings and comfortable trousers are the norm for most. So I follow the trend and match the styles and have jeans leggings and trousers too, and to go with these the shoes are generally less dressy and more comfortable. Low heels and boots are most popular in the autumn, winter and spring, with open sandals reserved for the ‘warmer, drier’ days of the short British summer.
Summer Day Wear
However for the night time – all is not lost! Depending on the venue and occasion, the choice of outfits and styles are more variable, with colors, length and material being matched to your own imagination.
Out in London for a Show – Phase 8 dress
As I said at the beginning, what suits you when you are younger may not suit you as you mature and your style should match that. This is very important in evening wear as presenting as mutton dressed up as lamb is not a good look for many occasions. I had some lovely short floaty dresses that I used to wear out to the clubs in London in the 80’s which still fit me, however I would look rather silly in them nowadays. I love the Phase 8 styles and have several of their dresses that I wear often. My weakness however is for shoes, and I know that I’m not alone in this!!
I have a lovely selection of heels and boots and comfortable shoes to fit just about every occasion – and fill a wardrobe from floor to celling as well.
A Few of My Irregular Choice Shoes
My favorite shoes are from the ‘irregular choice’ range, whose designs are wacky yet practical and are not shrinking violets or boring black. However I also have a problem in that I had a motorcycle accident in my younger years that has left me with a tendency to walk on the outside of my foot, so tend to ruin the heels very quickly by wearing them down on one side which quickly becomes very un-elegant when walking. I have to have my favorite shoes re-heeled regularly to keep my feet flat and heels in line with my legs otherwise they can quickly start to lean. Wedges and wider heels tend to reduce this affect, I still have a large section of narrow heels that I love and wear often. Shoe makers like ‘Hush-Puppies’ are great for the wider heels and so are ‘Ruby Shoo’. When I was at school, Hush-Puppies were the dreaded shoes that your mother bought you to wear. They were practical and hard wearing, not stylish in any way. Now all that has changed. They provide a range that is comfortable and stylish in a range of modern colors, whilst still being practical shoes for every occasion.
Shopping for Irregular Choice
So the quest for the right combination of shoes and outfit with the right accessories is an ongoing venture that all must undertake to be classy, stylish and fashionable with out becoming frumpy or bazaar.
My Dresses Being Worn – With Nicky Stevens
Practice and confidence are important, but understanding your own body shape and dressing to your age are necessary too, balanced with individuality and panache. Then you can truly develop your own style. (………And we haven’t even touched on hair and makeup!)
Long termTG living next to the sea side in the Duchy of Cornwall, UK, with my wonderful partner and 2 batty cats ! I enjoy canoeing, cycling, Traveling and burlesque. I work as a nurse practitioner in the Oil and Gas industry, and supports many people from the Transgender community. I have been out and about for many years, and spend a large portion of my time fem. If you wish to become ‘friends’ with me, please PM me at the same time so as I can get to know you first, rather than just collect names on your list. I am very approachable, but would like to get some idea about who you are and why you would like to link to me.
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Nice article, Dawn, and very well written. A good reminder for us mature ladies, although my problem is, and maybe it is not a problem, I think younger than I really am, which sometimes results in wearing clothing more suitable for a woman in her 40s.
Hello Dawn, thank you for your lovely article. I am 75 and live in the city pictured behind you in your Summer Day Wear photo. I live on my own, but am quite independent, and only fully discovered my fem self about 7 years ago. So I love to dress, and am able to do it whenever I’m with my friends (less often at the moment, obviously!). However, I would love to meet other girls in a simlar position, just so that I don’t feel quite so “isolated". I see you live in Cornwall, which is not too far away.… Read more »
Hi Robyn Lovely to hear from you and nice to meet you Please feel free to PM me and we’ll have a chat about things. There is a very good support group in the Exeter area that you may find helpful – there are a lot of lovely people who meet there once a month as well as arranging outing and meals in the city … they meet at the Clyst St George village hall meeting is every 2nd Friday of the month. Hope that helps Dawn x
Hi Dawn, thank you for the message and info. Not sure how I PM you on here…. I’d like to find out about the Exeter group. Will try googling them. Robyn x
Member
T.J. Byron
3 years ago
D.W… We are friends! Loved your story, great pics! Yep, you have the Style and are True to It, girl…love it. You know what I love.check out my gallery… Dr.T.J.
Wonderful article, it felt like I was listening to a good mentor!! Beautiful photos!! Totally agree that style is about finding what “suits you", your tastes, your build, what’s around you, how you feel, and some practicality. It has to be intriguing dresssing as we get older, as times change, and the fashion spectrum expands. Leggings are a great example. I know some women in their 60s who absolutely won’t wear them, others in that same age group who style them well with tops/dresses, and women so much younger that make them beautiful/normal/hideous, and all from a day people watching… Read more »
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Nice article, Dawn, and very well written. A good reminder for us mature ladies, although my problem is, and maybe it is not a problem, I think younger than I really am, which sometimes results in wearing clothing more suitable for a woman in her 40s.
Great advice for living and passing without incident especially when out in public
Love it Dawn! I have a weakness for Phase Eight myself.
Hello Dawn, thank you for your lovely article. I am 75 and live in the city pictured behind you in your Summer Day Wear photo. I live on my own, but am quite independent, and only fully discovered my fem self about 7 years ago. So I love to dress, and am able to do it whenever I’m with my friends (less often at the moment, obviously!). However, I would love to meet other girls in a simlar position, just so that I don’t feel quite so “isolated". I see you live in Cornwall, which is not too far away.… Read more »
Hi Robyn
Lovely to hear from you and nice to meet you
Please feel free to PM me and we’ll have a chat about things.
There is a very good support group in the Exeter area that you may find helpful – there are a lot of lovely people who meet there once a month as well as arranging outing and meals in the city … they meet at the Clyst St George village hall meeting is every 2nd Friday of the month.
Hope that helps
Dawn
x
Hi Dawn, thank you for the message and info. Not sure how I PM you on here…. I’d like to find out about the Exeter group. Will try googling them.
Robyn x
D.W…
We are friends!
Loved your story, great pics! Yep, you have the Style and are True to It, girl…love it.
You know what I love.check out my gallery…
Dr.T.J.
Your always look so nice, what is your hopes.
Wonderful article, it felt like I was listening to a good mentor!! Beautiful photos!! Totally agree that style is about finding what “suits you", your tastes, your build, what’s around you, how you feel, and some practicality. It has to be intriguing dresssing as we get older, as times change, and the fashion spectrum expands. Leggings are a great example. I know some women in their 60s who absolutely won’t wear them, others in that same age group who style them well with tops/dresses, and women so much younger that make them beautiful/normal/hideous, and all from a day people watching… Read more »