Point #10:
A: Dress your age. A hat that really belongs above a mature, thoughtful face is far more flattering, and incidentally in better taste, than a cute pixie cap. Clothes that are too young paradoxically make their wearer look older. Remember that the interesting men of the world like women who appear youthful but who are not pathetic carbon copies of the girls they were. On the other hand, clothes that are too sophisticated do not imbue the youthful wearer with the femme fatale look she longs to achieve, but tend, on the contrary, to give her a comically childlike appearance.
B: As you grow older, cover up. Aging flesh is not appealing. Whether a Bikini bathing suit on a charming young body is modest or immodest is a matter of the current mode or local morals or good taste; it has nothing to do with aestheticism, but too much revelation of a figure that is too thin, too fat, or too old can be lamentable.
For the older woman, misty tulle scarves in the evening or little jackets or stoles are pleasant bits of decorative fancy.
For years I've definitely cultivated a very childlike look for daytime, but lately when I've put some of my favourite outfits on they have felt odd, inconguous. Am I just getting older? Or have I finally seen Ms Chase's ideas as truth? I'm still unsure- I love the look of pinafores and ruffles and bows, but somehow they have felt so off to me of late. Any opinions on this look in general?
Excerpt from: Chase, Edna Woolman and Ilka. Always in Vogue. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company Inc,1954.
Excerpt from: Chase, Edna Woolman and Ilka. Always in Vogue. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company Inc,1954.
I do know what you mean, I used to always wear 60s minis and over the last couple of years I have really stayed away from wearing anything above the knee and feel dead self conscious whenever I put one on. I'm not sure if it is because my tastes have changed or if I am feeling older!
ReplyDeleteF that noise--the thought of having to give up certain clothes when I'm older makes me wanna cry. I'm going to be eccentric, I'm sure of it.
ReplyDeleteWithin the last year or so, I have caught myself catching "Is this age appropriate?" I look at a lot of my favorite dresses and while I feel attached to them, am scared shitless to wear them. Can I wear a royal purple with tiny white polka dot babydoll dress with 6 inch Betsey Johnson black eyelet and disco dot platforms.. or will I look like I'm trying to be 18 again? Lucky for me, I still look like I'm in high school, so I ignore the thought altogether.
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about aging is that you care less. When it is time to hand on the flame of beauty, it's usually a pleasure. It's so much nicer to wear what is comfortable and not worry about being hot or not. It's easy because my husband loves me anyway, perhaps.. Being a matron is an honor and since we have the hard earned experience and wisdom, it is kind to offer advice and protection to young ladies. Not that they'll listen!
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