What Do You Wear on Nights Out?

That sounds perfect!

I often take inspiration from the expensive pieces and find something similar ( or not!) at H&M or Forever21. I’m in my 30s and still shop at both.

Rosie, what kind of bra do you wear underneath? I love the idea of a cami, but I feel stymied by whipping out a strapless

Yes, i love this look, both the summer and winter versions! I have yet to find a camisole I feel comfortable wearing without a bra, but it’s such a chic look if you can swing it :)

I got some Nippies on the recommendation of a past beauty uniform (Sukhie Patel) and they are perfect for this kind of top! May not work if you need some extra support, but if you are smaller-chested like me, they are awesome!

It makes me sad to read your advice, although you mean well. I’m in my early 30’s, and feeling inspired by elders such as Lyn Slater (IG iconaccidental), who show me that we can wear whatever the heck we want especially as we (women, and anyone who identifies as a woman) get older. I look forward to dressing as loudly or quietly as I like, fussy or not-fussy. The point is: I get to choose, be happy and everyone around me better accept it!

Oh Wow. No, more like- WOW. Thank god we live in an era where women are finally -finally ! – wearing whatever the hell they want.
There is no one way to dress as a woman, and there is no one way to dress as a woman of whatever age.
Your comment is not harsh, it’s retrograde and completely out of place on a blog that is trying to celebrate diversity and individuality.
I hope that some day you can leave behind the weight of having to fit in some made-up image of what a woman over N-years-old is “supposed” to look like and wear something just because it’s fun and makes you enjoy life !

Nevermind the naysayers, we should all wear whatever makes us feel beautiful :)

wow.

But that’s her style??? Simple, feminine and sweet…

Nah. This is not just for Joanna, but for all of us: Wear what you like, at any age. If you like puffed sleeves and ruffles and they make you smile, I say go for it. Same for tailored and frills-free pieces. If that’s your style, embrace it. Going out clothes are to provide you with pleasure and fun. Yes, there is a time and place for things (for example, follow the dress code for whatever industry you work in), but when you’re off duty, wear what makes you feel good. Don’t listen to people who would impose their style rules on you, especially rules regarding what is “age-appropriate.” I’ve found that sometimes this comes from a place of feeling like they’ve been judged harshly, so they are going to judge other women harshly as well.

Thank you Jennifer for saying this. I’m (only) in my 30s but I like to think that I totally get what you mean. Personally, I’d really love to be this person that wears ruffles and puffed sleeves and makes the feminine look work – but its just not me. I will try them on enthusiastically and then just shudder at how much my mirror image is not reflecting what I was hoping to see. My most loved and worn items are like the original top above: a great cut, a solid colour and maybe a bit of finesse from a sensual material (silk being a current favourite). Of course anyone can wear whatever makes them happy at any age etc. etc. BUT I at least am now closing 5 tabs with ruffly-puffly cutesy tops and will instead invest in a really well-made leather jacket. Seriously, thanks!!

I’ve been wearing “puffed sleeves” for years and have never once regretted it.

Good grief. For one thing she is not 60, but whatever, we are all getting older, and honestly- so what? why should that be the defining criteria? Enough with all the derogatory ageist labels and judgements. Who made these rules – the ageism fashion police? These are just your opinions, and while they probably work fine for you, why would you assume everyone else should limit themselves in that way? Turning 60 does not make us an authority on everybody else’s choices. I am in the same age bracket as you are and I don’t agree with any of your comments. We all get to make our own decisions about the aesthetics of what we wear, and age doesn’t mean we have to relinquish femininity or a sense of our own beauty, or quit celebrating being a woman.

I think ruffles and chiffon can be elegant and worn at any age. I am not sure about puff sleeves for any age but that’s my personal taste. True style is personal!

Oh, Jennifer. Silly, you. These top options are not “fussy.” Fussy would be a loud print, a loud color, and a loud design, all in ONE blouse. Instead, these options are classy and timeless, with a light touch of mystery. Do yourself a favor and purchase one, I think you will find yourself much more beautiful after putting it on.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Jennifer was trying to be harsh at all!

Puffed sleeves, eyelet lace, and ruffles forever! (And I’m 45.)

Clothes are meant to be fun. And now more than ever and in the future from this point on, women don”t need to dress depending on their decade. It’s great to have some statement pieces. I say go for the puffed sleeve or a ruffle if that’s the only going out top you have because life is too short not to have fun with your style

The same, but also mostly not the same. I’ve been a reader for ~7 years, and I can’t afford– or wear– any of this stuff. I’m 5’10” and have huge boobs and am bloated all the time from perimenopause. I have an arsenal of classic clothing and beauty products that hasn’t changed in years. Many product posts have nothing I would ever buy. But I still love seeing what 30-year old New Yorkers are wearing. It informs my style, trains my eye, and makes me feel brave.

So, this is an interesting point. I work in the apparel industry and went to a conference where the speaker mentioned something that really struck me–the US is one of the few places where the social norms dictate we wear a completely different outfit everyday. When you think about this, it is a bit bonkers. The impetus for this social norm is, of course, to encourage commerce and buying more. Food for thought… :)

Lauren – I used to (and sometimes still do!) feel like this. But it’s true – after living in five non-North American countries over the past 7 years, I’ve realized that other people/cultures don’t feel this way. Parisian chic ladies? Will literally wear the same outfit to work 2 or even 3 days in a row! Weekly salsa dance classes/outings? Same dress every single week. I have worked with dozens of men over the years who have 5 dress shirts for work and wear the same ones every single week. And so many more examples.

At first I was like, whaaaat? But after awhile it’s kind of liberating! You don’t get that stress of “wait – what did I wear when I last went out with this group??” etc and you end up saving money on clothing (and laundry!). I also find it easier to invest more in quality pieces because I know I will get a lot of use out of them/want to wear them often.

We had an exchange student from Switzerland visit. He was from a quite weathy family and one thing I noticed that he wore the same pieces of clothing over and over. If you buy quality pieces they should be able to be worn multiple times a week for a long time!

Nope! I’ve got a black top that I’ve had since I was 16- I’m now 30. I’ve worn it a million times, and it never, ever bothers me!! I’ve worn the same dresses to weddings (generally not with the same group, but I go to so many that it isn’t difficult to find an occasion for them) and wear the same things to work on a basically rotating schedule. I’ve also noticed that most people really, really, really don’t pay attention to what you’re wearing at ALL. You’re good, I promise :)

@Lydia, That’s interesting. I have inadvertently made a winter subset for myself out of all of my clothes. I’ve been working on curating my closet anyway, so it’s already comparatively smaller than many of my friends. Anyway, I have about five sweaters, 3 pants, and 3 pairs of shoes that I just been reaching for this winter. I just wear a black or gray long sleeve shirt underneath. Sometimes I’ll think ‘man, I just wore this sweater two days ago, I need to mix it up’. The truth is, it looks good on me and no one ever notices that I just wore it. I do wear a lot of neutrals, so maybe nothing really stands out. Anyway, overall, I like the simplicity of rewearing often. It’s nice not having to make one more decision in the morning, and I know it will always look good on me.