I remember growing up that older women, I don't know what they're ages were, but they were older than my mom, wore different clothes from my attractively dressed mother and other women who were the mothers of my friends. These women were the "church ladies" of the era. They were the ladies who were there first thing Sunday morning, and the last ones to leave on Sunday night. They were the ladies who always were around whenever there was a church "food" social.
Don't misunderstand, the women of my mother's age also helped with church socials, but it was these older women who did the most work and cooked the best food.
These are the women who wore the "old ladies clothes." I figured it out. It came to me out of the blue. They wore these clothes because as they aged, their bodies didn't shrink after having babies, they didn't care that they had gained weight -- at least I suppose the didn't. Being "overweight" back in the 40s and 50s wasn't something that women worried about.
I wondered about "old ladies clothes" all through my 20s and 30s because I saw some of my older family members beginning to don these misshapen clothes; and then in my 40s I found that I, too, was wearing, "old ladies clothes." And here's what I recently figured out.
Once you get over a size 14, there is nothing available but "old ladies clothes." They are polyester, shapeless, overly long, and have dark, ugly colors -- mostly brown, olive green, and navy blue with polka dots. The example picture is put on a beautiful young woman, and even on her it doesn't look good! And notice the print of the dress? Also, it's polyester. Do you know how polyester CLINGS to your body. Those of us who are amply endowed with flesh, do not wish something that CLINGS to that flesh as the material used in our clothing. That only reinforces what we're trying to hide. Also, notice the length. Now, this is long -- at least longer than I prefer -- on the model, who is probably 5'10", so that particular dress would come down to my ankles.
Don't misunderstand, the women of my mother's age also helped with church socials, but it was these older women who did the most work and cooked the best food.
These are the women who wore the "old ladies clothes." I figured it out. It came to me out of the blue. They wore these clothes because as they aged, their bodies didn't shrink after having babies, they didn't care that they had gained weight -- at least I suppose the didn't. Being "overweight" back in the 40s and 50s wasn't something that women worried about.
I wondered about "old ladies clothes" all through my 20s and 30s because I saw some of my older family members beginning to don these misshapen clothes; and then in my 40s I found that I, too, was wearing, "old ladies clothes." And here's what I recently figured out.
Once you get over a size 14, there is nothing available but "old ladies clothes." They are polyester, shapeless, overly long, and have dark, ugly colors -- mostly brown, olive green, and navy blue with polka dots. The example picture is put on a beautiful young woman, and even on her it doesn't look good! And notice the print of the dress? Also, it's polyester. Do you know how polyester CLINGS to your body. Those of us who are amply endowed with flesh, do not wish something that CLINGS to that flesh as the material used in our clothing. That only reinforces what we're trying to hide. Also, notice the length. Now, this is long -- at least longer than I prefer -- on the model, who is probably 5'10", so that particular dress would come down to my ankles.
"Old ladies clothes" are clothing where the back is shorter than the front -- mainly because the designers don't consider that the backside of an over-size-16-woman hikes up the clothing causing the front to droop and the back to lift (I'm talking about dress or skirt here).
I know slacks/jeans have become the standard now for all women, but frankly, I still prefer dresses, especially now that stockings or pantyhose aren't a requirement. I mean, if TLC's What Not to Wear ladies don't have to wear hose, why should I? Aren't those women, in their final make-over condition, the epitome of style today?
"Old ladies clothes" became my mainstay when I blossomed to a size 16. Clothing manufacturers just don't make "pretty" clothes for those of us who are vertically challenged.
My friend -- she's 65 like me -- but she a size 2 -- and she wears young person's clothes and looks good in them. One of my neighbors is 80 and she is a size 8, and she wears "teen age" clothes as well but doesn't look like a teenager. At least these women can wear what's in style.
I have to admit, that finally they do make jeans for those of us who have matured into larger sizes, but the tops we have to wear -- yikes! I know that no matter where I go, I'll never find the cute top that my neighbor's daughter was wearing on Sunday -- and it would be a style that would be very flattering to me, and the colors were so nice.
This is not a negative BLOG, but a statement of fact -- those of us who have gained weight, for whatever reason, wear ugly "old ladies clothes" because that's what's available. And, yes, I was called on the carpet by a former boss for my dress -- and I was buying expensive clothing at that time, but all I could get for my girth was "old ladies clothes".
I remember when I was in my late 30s Alan asked me why I wore such ugly clothes. Well, first off, we had no money, so I was stuck with whatever Goodwill had on their racks, but second it was because no matter where I would have gone to purchase clothes, they would have been "old ladies clothes". After he asked me that self-esteem plummeting question, I started making my own clothes, and for a spell, I was able to get patterns that while too small for me, I could expand and make clothing that was youthful and pretty, and I had control over what fabric they were made from. But child rearing and a full-time job to boot, took away the time I could have to sew for myself.
So where am I going with this? Well, for those of you who are svelte, slim, and smaller than a size 16, be thankful, so very thankful. Take a gander in the Women's clothing section at Macy's, see what clothing is available, and be thankful for your slimness. Also, learn to sew, because you never know when you, too, will blossom, and become eligible for "old ladies clothes".
I know slacks/jeans have become the standard now for all women, but frankly, I still prefer dresses, especially now that stockings or pantyhose aren't a requirement. I mean, if TLC's What Not to Wear ladies don't have to wear hose, why should I? Aren't those women, in their final make-over condition, the epitome of style today?
"Old ladies clothes" became my mainstay when I blossomed to a size 16. Clothing manufacturers just don't make "pretty" clothes for those of us who are vertically challenged.
My friend -- she's 65 like me -- but she a size 2 -- and she wears young person's clothes and looks good in them. One of my neighbors is 80 and she is a size 8, and she wears "teen age" clothes as well but doesn't look like a teenager. At least these women can wear what's in style.
I have to admit, that finally they do make jeans for those of us who have matured into larger sizes, but the tops we have to wear -- yikes! I know that no matter where I go, I'll never find the cute top that my neighbor's daughter was wearing on Sunday -- and it would be a style that would be very flattering to me, and the colors were so nice.
This is not a negative BLOG, but a statement of fact -- those of us who have gained weight, for whatever reason, wear ugly "old ladies clothes" because that's what's available. And, yes, I was called on the carpet by a former boss for my dress -- and I was buying expensive clothing at that time, but all I could get for my girth was "old ladies clothes".
I remember when I was in my late 30s Alan asked me why I wore such ugly clothes. Well, first off, we had no money, so I was stuck with whatever Goodwill had on their racks, but second it was because no matter where I would have gone to purchase clothes, they would have been "old ladies clothes". After he asked me that self-esteem plummeting question, I started making my own clothes, and for a spell, I was able to get patterns that while too small for me, I could expand and make clothing that was youthful and pretty, and I had control over what fabric they were made from. But child rearing and a full-time job to boot, took away the time I could have to sew for myself.
So where am I going with this? Well, for those of you who are svelte, slim, and smaller than a size 16, be thankful, so very thankful. Take a gander in the Women's clothing section at Macy's, see what clothing is available, and be thankful for your slimness. Also, learn to sew, because you never know when you, too, will blossom, and become eligible for "old ladies clothes".
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