Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

The Knee-High Boot Ban Is New to Me

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Gorgeous blogger Patti from Not Dead Yet Style is rolling her eyes over the latest “women should wear this, not that” story. This one is titled “59 is the Age Women Should Stop Wearing Red Lipstick, Heavy Makeup, Study Finds.” According to Nuture Skincare‘s survey of 2,000 women age 45 and up, once you hit 59, it’s time to give up “high heels, red lipstick, tight clothes and false nails.” But you don’t have to wait till 59 to be dowdy! Did you know that knee-high boots and “even conservative tight tops” should be retired by age 45? I thought boots were a basic! And I guarantee that 99% of women, no matter what their age or size, look better in fitted (not tourniquet-tight) clothes than in shapeless tents. I’ll grant Nuture the heavy makeup thing, but only because that doesn’t look good at any age unless you’re at a photo shoot/going on TV/performing on stage.

I was enjoying Patti’s sassy reaction to the survey even before I saw she included my own photo as an example of unapproved mini-wearing after the age of 40. The new version of WordPress isn’t allowing me to share that or any other photos here at the moment, so you can see which skirt should get me ticketed by the fashion police by popping over to Patti’s blog. Don’t forget to tell her what you think about Nurture’s survey, which I’m sure was totally scientific. As for me, I am sticking to “Wear What You Want” as my personal style philosophy.

UPDATED TO ADD: This is the right attitude.

UPDATED AGAIN TO ADD: I had dinner with a rule-breaking woman.

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Comments

  1. I had trouble leaving a comment on her blog for some reason — I mean an actual technical problem because I would have no trouble whatsoever commenting about what hogwash I thought the “rules” were. Yes, that’s right, I said “hogwash” because it’s a ridiculous and outdated word… just like those damn rules!

    Bottom line, like I always say — If it looks good, wear it. It’s actually very simple. I don’t know why people try to make it so difficult by applying BS rules and what not. Oh yes… because they have nothing better to do.

  2. I saw this headline and I thought it was hilarious. BTW, I just spent a fortune for on-sale knee boots. My age-addled brain was probably to blame.

    • I get too much spam! Spammers target the word “jewelry.” Sorry it didn’t work though 🙁 WordPress just did an upgrade which has screwed things up for my post, so it might be affecting that functionality too.

  4. Just like I told Patti…I am sitting here in my knee high boots loving them and the weather we have so I can wear them….who in their right mind came up with that?? I am about to be 60 and I fully intend on wearing them for years to come! As you should wear that miniskirt for years and years to come! Silliness!

  6. I so agree! Wear what you want, and if knee high boots are out at a certain age, I am in deep you know what…but I’m safe, because I have my knee high boots on!

  8. yea, the knee high boot ban thing is riduculous as were many of the other “rules”
    i read about the knee high boot thing days after getting a pair
    i was crushed for about a 24 hr period, then thought what the heck….
    brett

  10. I LOATHE these rules. I’ll wear red lipstick until they pry it out of my cold dead paws.

    Meanwhile NO ONE would ever dream of telling a MAN he was too old for certain outfits or accessories.

    I’ll wear what I want, when I want. Because that’s just how I roll.

  12. Who gives a toss about rules anyway? Definitely none of my fab blog friends who go their own way and look fabulous.
    I’m off out in false eyelashes, glitter eyeliner and a leather trench coat this morning , call the fashion police! xxx

  13. I’m sure that ‘malice’ nail polish is totally out of the picture for a 69 year old female. Which is why it’s my color of choice for the holidays. Rules be damned!

  14. Pppbbbbbttthhhhh! Bull s**t! My most glamorous girlfriend and I have agreed that we’ll be walking around in perfectly fitting outfits, stiletto heels, bright red lipstick, together, all the way through our decrepitude and senility. I intend to wear WHATEVER THE HECK I WANT and have a cigarette hanging out of my rouged lips, while I shuffle around with my walker in sky-high heels. Screw those stupid rules! The wisdom and self-confidence of the “mature” age is what will allow us to Wear What We Want!

  17. I didn’t finish reading the article because it pissed me off. At 45 I’m going to wear whatever I want including boots to the knee or not, fitted sweaters and jeans as well with a baseball hat.
    For all we know the women interviewed were unhappy with themselves which then reflected in their opinions. Not sure I’m just happy we fall into the category over 40 who like wearing whatever we want.
    Marti

    • I’m guessing all the questions were phrased like “At what age should women stop wearing XYZ,” so that the respondents were forced to give ages and that “red lipstick is always okay” wasn’t an option.

  18. I can’t believe anyone would take these seriously.

    I commented over on Patti’s blog but I’m pretty sure I’ll have tattoos until I die and I’m prepared to have cool old people faded tattoos – and always have been. By their calculations I only have 16 years left.

  19. Well, I’ve been violating that rule for more than a year now. In fact, I have two pairs of knee-high boots: one flat and one heeled. And I plan to wear them until further notice.