Style,

Dress Your Age

I am constantly questioning my ability to make parental decisions, still get in trouble by my own parents, and enjoy my kids? television shows too much.  I mean, when you look up from the TV, and realize you are alone watching Victorious, it?s time to grow up.

I think the hardest thing about coming to terms with aging is the disconnect with my real age and my psychological age.  Real age, standing on the cliff of 40, psychological age, twenty-two.

So imagine my surprise when someone pointed out to me that my eight-year-old daughter and I were dressed in the exact same outfit.

My biggest fear is that I will look like those ridiculous older women who still love fashion but are dressing too young for their age.  Sometimes, there are editorials in magazines that display the different outfits you wear in your 20?s, 30?s, 40?s, 50?s.  I can tell you that I lie to those magazines when reading them and will refer to the younger age bracket.  Just like I lie to the elliptical machine when I have to enter my age and weight.

But I need to grow up.  I should not be trying to dress like twenty something Rachael Bilson, let alone my daughter.  She and I will not be replacing Naomi and Wynona Judd anytime soon, so my outfits need to start reflecting my age.

I pledge my skirts will get longer.

I pledge to throw anything out that I witness thirteen-year old girls wearing at Bar Mitzvah parties.

I pledge that I will rid my closet of any memories from Flashdance.

I pledge that when I come downstairs dressed and my pre-teen son makes his expression of disgust, I will go change out of my short shorts.

I guess just because I can wear certain things, doesn?t mean that I should.

Unfortunately, these purges will force me to go just by Mama, and I will have to drop the Hoochie.

Helpful Hint:  I always look to magazines and my favorite websites for style inspiration.  Find certain looks in magazines and tweak them a little to fit your age.  If you like to copy a celebrity look, try to find one your age.  I shouldn?t care what Dakota Fanning wears.  But I am not Meryl Streep either.  Think more like Drew Barrymore or Cameron Diaz.  Take a look at http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/home.php for ideas.

Jen Ross, Author, ?Don?t Wear Sweats Or Your Husband Will Leave You?

Tags: funny moms, how to dress, mom style,