Things I Won’t Wear

This week’s posts are all about style.  Monday, I suggested that you Don’t Dress Your Age.  Even though some things might seem to be age related, they’re not.  My reasoning always has to do with aesthetics, and how I feel in what I wear.  In keeping with this theme, today I’m talking about Things I Don’t Wear.

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Leggings as pants

Leggings have a long history in fashion, dating back centuries.  Both men and women have worn them, and they were nearly always underclothing.  Enter the 1960’s, and leggings became more streetwear with the tight “cigarette” pants worn with pumps, or ballet flats.  They became popular again in the 80’s with the popularity of dance culture (A Chorus Line, Flash Dance), and Jazzercise.  By the 90’s they were outselling jeans.  But their popularity waned, and they disappeared from fashion by the late 90’s through the early 2000’s.

Leggings made a comeback in 2005 with capri-length leggings worn under short skirts.  They’ve evolved from there as athleisure, with people wearing them for active wear and casually.  In the last 5 years, or so, there has been a societal debate as to whether legging count as pants, or as accessories.  In a 2016 Glamour Magazine poll, 61% of the respondents said that leggings should only be worn as an accessory.  That same year, Good Housekeeping put out a survey that declared that leggings were, indeed, pants. 

My personal opinion, voiced in my social media feed (mainly as a joke), is that leggings are not pants.  Outside of the gym or other similar physical activity (dance, yoga, etc.) they should be worn as an accessory to short skirts, shorts, or long tops.  This has nothing to do with propriety, body shaming, or slut shaming.  I just don’t think they look good.  I didn’t wear them outside of the studio when I was a dancer, and I don’t wear them outside of chorus rehearsal, the yoga studio, or my house today.  You may see me wear them under long tunics, but that’s about it.  Just my personal quirk, I guess. 

Cargo Pants

For some reason, I’m attracted to the hip, fun look of cargo pants.  I love the paper bag waistline and full legs puddling at the shoes.  I have a friend who looks amazing in hers.  She walked into a girls night dinner party wearing the cutest Johnny Was cargo pants with a scoop neck tee, and gold wrap sandals.  She looked amazing! I made it my mission to find those pants.  I did find them, but the truth is, they looked terrible on me.  Even if I balance them with a form fitting tee or tank, they just don’t look right.  I’m a curvy girl, and the last thing I need is bulky pockets on my butt and thighs.

Doc Martens

Although these shoes have been a popular subculture standard for decades, I’ve always taken issue with them.  They were designed in 1945 by a doctor in the German Army during World War II.  He didn’t sell many until he teamed up with a British friend in 1947, and they opened a shop in Germany.  An interesting little tidbit is that 80% of their first year’s sales were to women over 40. Most of their sales in the first decade were to older women.  By the later 1960’s the British punk scene wore them, and here in the U.S., skinheads started wearing them.

There’s just too much baggage surrounding their history, and some of my Jewish friends are offended by them. The idea of wearing something created by/for someone in Hitler’s Army and were later adopted by skinheads makes me crazy.  I just can’t wear something made popular by white supremacists.  I get that they’re comfortable, last a long time, and can be really cute with the right outfit.  But they’re just not something I can get behind.  Also, I have a huge foot, and these bulky boots make my foot look like Frankenstein’s.  So, there’s that.   

Instead, I like these by Steve Madden.  They’re sleeker and make my feet look smaller.  I usually wear them tucked into leggings, with a long top and jacket. Yes, I did say leggings. So sue me.

Short Puffy Sleeves

I’m a grown ass woman. That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. But if I have to have a different reason, those sleeves hit right at the widest part of the arm, and add bulk where we don’t need it. I would love this dress with straight sleeves and a scoop neckline. If you love this pattern, you can find it, and many others here.

Black bra with a white shirt

I don’t like my underwear to show. I’m sure it harkens back to my early slip-wearing days when we never wanted to show our slips. I probably shouldn’t admit that I will still wear a slip sometimes. They feel great as an added layer in the winter, under a sweater dress. Still, the trend to show one’s undies just never fit right with my style. An exception would be a cami bra that has decorative straps designed to show under a tank or top with spaghetti straps. I also love the look of a lace cami under a buttoned blazer.

I’ll never forget my friend Sue when we had a similar conversation. She said, “That you care that your straps show, divulges your age.” LOL! Isn’t that the truth? Got me!

Regret and Shame

A woman should never wear shame and regret.  If you’ve wronged someone, go apologize and make it right.  Otherwise, in the sentiment of the famous Disney song, “Let It Go!”  It’s time for you to live your own life and make your own choices.  Stop wearing guilt.  It doesn’t fit, doesn’t look good, and is incredibly uncomfortable.  Put the past behind you and look to the future.  I was reminded of this recently when someone said, “You start to get old when your past is bigger than your future.”  The key to staying forever young at heart, is to keep looking forward.  So, as I say on my landing page, “I never look back.  I don’t live there anymore.”

So what are some things you never wear?  I’m sure you can add to this list.