Fashion question: When do jeans stop being age appropriate?
August 22, 2010 by JoJami Tyler and Deborah Boland - The Glam Gals
Is there a time in life when jeans are no longer appropriate to wear?
I am 60 and am a size 14 pear shape with a very casual life style.
~Sharon B.
Hi Sharon,
Great question! We think you can wear jeans forever, however you really need to keep them updated.
When you are a pear, that means making sure you get the style that fits!
You probably will need to still take them to the tailor to get them to fit.
These jeans are updated and look great, but will not work for a pear shaped body!
Here are some ways to update your jeans:
- Wear a cropped jacket with a casual t-shirt
- jeans with rips and faded washes are “iffy” for women over 40. Jane Fonda’s shredded jeans ( see photo below) make her look desperate to be young at 72.
Too trendy jeans on mature women like Jane Fonda resemble a costume.
- Darker wash jeans are classy and updated!
- Wearing jeans with traditional clogs is comfortable, but tend to age women over 40 unless you wear the new high heel version of a clog. (*if you disagree with this comment, go to our past post about clogs)
- For fall, boots are the way to go with jeans. Flat ones for casual, heels for a dressier look.
- For those that are pear shaped, you can tuck in and wear a belt…so those with other body types, try them with a longer top and belt at the hip or for go the belt all together!
After 40, we find we are all wearing jeans more than ever. Make sure yours fit well and you are wearing the right shoes with them.
Cheers,
JoJami and Deborah
I don’t honestly think any piece of clothing in and of itself is inappropriate to one’s age. Especially jeans. What is appropriate depends on your body and what else you are wearing. I don’t think Jane Fonda in that picture is inappropriate, the jeans are just ugly! They are a style violation, not an age violation. I think torn jeans are hideous, and I spent my adolescence in the era when that was considered cool. I never wore them. I used to tell my friends who did that they looked like the victim of a lion attack. A dark rinse straight leg would serve Ms. Fonda better.
Tacky is always inappropriate.
Hi Terry,
You are getting all the tips here on Fabulous After 40! Our tips are for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond! Sounds like you have a terrific figure and can certainly wear leggings if you keep the top long over your bottom. Keep on reading or get one of our style books for more tips like these!
I am 60 5’3″ tall. I get confused as to what to wear at my age. Is it ok to wear straight leg hug’s with a long sweater covering your bottom? I work out every day and take a size 6. Please give me some direction on how to dress at 60. I don’t want to look old or to young. Thanks
I think Jane Fonda looks “fabulous”in her ripped jeans.If you can pull it off why not.Some fat 60 or 70 yr. old couldn’t , but Jane looks great, even better than most women in their 20,30,40,50.So if you like it wear it.I am so tired of these rules,so many young women are overweight and should’t wear jeans at all.
What jeans works well if you are long waist?
Hi Tara,
Welcome to the gang.. We aim to keep the ideas flowing. As we like to say…”life is too short to be frumpy!” and too shot not to have fun dressing! Cheers!
Amazing site! Strolled by this page … Keep Up the Great Ideas! Wow, living in Canada we have a tendency to resort to jeans for ‘Jean Day Fridays’ at work. Just turned 40 end of August and have been enjoying the many ways we remain stylish and conservative at the same time!
Hi Leanne,
Welcome to the gang… we love to hear from our readers and hope you will comment frequently, send photos and let us know what’s happening across the pond! Cheers! The Glam Gals, JoJami and Deborah
Hi. I’m 39 – about to turn 40 – and just wanted to drop you a line to say that I’m really enjoying the sensible advice and tips I’m finding here.
Looking forward to more reading!
Leanne in New Zealand.
(and yes, I love jeans)
Hi Jenny, We’re all for heels, but not everyone likes them especially after 40 with foot problems at all. We’re just showing some options for those who like flats. If you love heels, enjoy!!
Why wouldn’t you wear heels if you are 5’10??? I am 5’9 and wear them all of the time. A friend of my is 6’0 and wears them and she is 41 and looks fabulous! Model like…not sure I understand encouraging flats because a woman is 5’10.
Hi Anne,
We do totally understand… jeans are a must for many of us! You mention that you are tall, so the ballerina flats sound like a perfect option and of course the low heel boots are good too!
Sounds like you have it under control!! Don’t forget to try a nice pair of leather or suede pants for cold weather and dressier occasions! They are both comfortable, warm and chic!
Hi,
I live in a cold climate, so I can´t live without my jeans! Nothing beats a classic pair of 501s in a dark wash. In summer I wear them with loafers and in
winter with boots.
I am tall (5´10´´) so I steer clear of heels and opt for ballarinas, loafers or low-heeled boots. Also more comfortable…
Regards,
Anne Mette
It’s funny. I was a 80s teen, but I didn’t wear the ripped jeans ever. Always thought they looked like an animal attack. Distressed looks sloppy whatever your age, imho.
I love dark wash straight legs. It took me forever to find a flattering pair that wasn’t “skinny” but a true straight leg. I think those look terrific on mature women of many shapes.
You are so on point about jeans. I wear ballet flats with skinny jeans and loafers with wider legs and wear a great leather bag with my jeans. It adds a touch of polish to a casual look now that I am over 50.
I could have written this post…almost! I am 60 and love to wear jeans in the winter! I think they look cute with long sleeve tees and a short jacket! I just bought my first pair of white jeans! I’ve got to figure these out now! lol Love your blog! ♥
I always feel that straight legs with heels looks a bit ‘street-walker’ but I guess with good quality jeans & heels it would be ok. Wide leg pants with flats are not a good look either. I think Nell Jean you would look fab in your jeans & I hope I’m as stylish as you when I’m ‘seventyish’ (if I make it).
Hi Lucy,
I do agree that a pear would need a bootleg. It will even her out. The straight legged jeans look awesome with heels but flats do work as well.
The wider the leg, the clunkier the heel is a better rule. Nothing worse than a wide leg pant and thin heel.
Sounds like you have a great sense of style!! Love hearing your voice on our site!!
Hi Nell,
LOL… Needless to say, we have even seen some over 40 ish women with that same look as the lady with the toddlers!
That being said, just because there is a trend in tight jeans, does not mean we all have to run out and buy a pair. Your point is well taken, that we need to make sure to take into account our size and body type when it comes to dressing ourselves, especially in jeans!!
Dressing when you are 40 or older to the Glam Gals means taking it up a notch and dressing in better quality, better fit and being thoughtful about what you are putting on your body and stepping out of the house in. Best of all it can be fun!!
Who will look less appropriate, Seventyish I in my well-fitted Gloria Vanderbilt or Jones New York petite jeans with a flattering short jacket, or the young woman with toddlers leaving the grocery store last week in jeans that were skin-tight? She had what we used to call ‘pomes’ at the top of each slender jeans leg, accentuated by the fit of her low riding waistband.
Yep definitely dark wash jeans as you get older. No rips, tears or whiskers (that’s what we call them in Australia not sure if that’s the common term). You know those little faded creases across the top of the legs, strictly for teenagers I think. Pear shapes need bootleg jeans not straight leg or skinny. The rule I follow is the wider the leg the higher the heel. So for straight legged jeans I would wear flats, for bootleg a comfortably high heel. Thanks ladies, still love this site. x
Do you have pictures of what jeans do work with pear shapes? Just wondering…….I am a normal weight petite and more of an hourglass with small waist but do tend to like my legs to look looooooooong since am petite with short legs. I love jeans too and am only a year younger than the poster.
Thanks for helping us stay current!