1. Black hair – maybe. I have a business associate who is 50 and wears it and she looks wonderful. But she also has amazing, wrinkle -free skin, so she may be the exception.

2. Long hair? Not sure. I’m torn. I do think it drags down the face at a certain point, but I wouldn’t automatically say no for women over 40.

3. Spaghetti straps – If you have toned arms, yes. If they are flabby no. This rule applies to all ages.

4. Cleavage – hell yes! You can’t take this away, it’s one of the few things that remains hot even as you age.

5. Tent dresses/faux maternity wear – No. This rule applies to anyone who is not actually pregnant IMO.

6. Low rider jeans – yes. The alternative are Mom Jeans and that’s just giving up on life.

7. Two-piece bathing suit – maybe. Look at Helen Mirren. She rocks it.

UP – I’ve had a few Le Chateau things, but I find a lot of their stuff is rather poorly made and tends not to look so good after being laundered once or twice –maybe you’ve been lucky? And I love your grey hair. I’ve left mine alone for a few years now, too. It’s still sort of in transition to that really nice shade of greyish-white.

UL – Well, I DO sometimes wear scoopy necks, but it’s takes quite a bit of effort to find cleavage; I don’t wear sweats and my hair is au natural, but I do wear sneakers when I walk to work because they’re most comfortable and I can get a good clip going in them.

Lesley – Why thanks, honey. I think a lot of male types enjoyed the butt-crack/thong look. I think it’s over now, though. It only enjoyed a brief fad blip in time. I think I agree with most of the rest of what you said. My daughter and her friends look really good in skinny jeans though. They have them in a multitude of colours and they’re all pretty skinny themselves. I actually have a pair, too. I’m not crazy about the way they feel, but they don’t look too bad. Maybe the secret is not having those womanly curves you speak of?

My immediate thought is that the Exposed Butt Crack look should not be worn by ANYONE unless you’re a toddler with a droopy diaper and that wouldn’t be your fault anyway. (Guys Everywhere might disagree with this but I’m pretty sure I’m right.)

But overall, I think age is just a number and you should wear what you feel. Whatever makes you feel sexy and womanly and strong will make you look the same. Spaghetti straps for sure! Cleavage? Yes! (The girls just need to be properly supported and displayed.) Messy hair? Helllll yes. That is never un-sexy or inappropriate.

All the things I say “no” to are the things I say no to whatever your age. (Like skinny jeans? Those are never pretty. We need some flare at the bottom to complement the natural, womanly curve of our hips.) Tent dresses? WHY???

I bet whatever you wear, you are WORKIN’ it and looking F-O-I-N!!

Thanks for this post! Love it!

I have to totally agree on the ‘other coloured hair bits’. But then, I let my natural silver shine forth. And hair clips! Those butterfly clips. What is any female over the age of 5 think they are doing sporting those?! Other than that, my clothing rule is when I try it in on in the change room I absolutely have to say “Wow!”. Not ‘ya, looks okay’, or ‘it will do’. Nope, has to elicit a WOW because then I know it totally suits my personality and I am going to wear it with confidence and sex-appeal. Bottom line, if it flatters a woman’s body shape, and makes her feel sexy in a classy not sleazy way, then I say go for it.

I have to totally agree on the ‘other coloured hair bits’. But then, I let my natural silver shine forth. And hair clips! Those butterfly clips. What is any female over the age of 5 think they are doing sporting those?! Other than that, my clothing rule is when I try it in on in the change room I absolutely have to say “Wow!”. Not ‘ya, looks okay’, or ‘it will do’. Nope, has to elicit a WOW because then I know it totally suits my personality and I am going to wear it with confidence and sex-appeal. Bottom line, if it flatters a woman’s body shape, and makes her feel sexy in a classy not sleazy way, then I say go for it. BTW, this ties in nicely on my 3-part series of what men find attractive on women. If you haven’t read it yet, go check it out!

http://www.urbanpantherslair.com/2008/07/dressing-to-lan.html

Best thing about being a flyswatter manufacturer is you never have flies around to deal with, for long anyway.

Jazz – Very definitive!And mostly I agree — though I do sometimes wear leggings with a skirt because they don’t seem as confining somehow as tights are.