Let me start by saying I’ve wanted to take pictures of my new outfits everyday since my birthday shopping trip to show you guys. I mean, they may not be anything exciting to the outsider, but to people who know me and my closet well? They are huge improvements. Unfortunately, I don’t have a good full length mirror. The only one we have is on the inside of the door in the closet which doesn’t give me enough room to actually take a picture. So, I’d have to get someone in my family to do it for me and that feels weird. Or at least it did – until this weekend – when I learned a very amazing lesson.
Having nice new clothes has done two things for me:
ONE: It has inspired me to shower in the mornings before getting ready for the day. Often I bathe at night and consider that good enough. Meaning the hair goes in a bun (often in a scrunchy for which I apologized to metalia) and no makeup gets applied. Oddly enough, however, when I know I’m going to put on a cute outfit? I want to fix my hair and put on makeup. I mean, I’m still just wearing foundation and mascara, but STILL! I’ve done that, like four days in the last week! That’s more makeup than I’ve worn in the last six months!.
TWO: It has made me okay with having my picture taken. I encouraged LilZ to take my camera and snap my picture a few times this weekend. Other times I just asked him to make sure he got a couple of me with his camera. Often I ask him to do this simply as proof I participated in events, but this weekend? I asked him to take my picture because I LOOKED DAMN GOOD. This feels great because I still have a chunk of weight to lose before I reach my goal, I didn’t expect to feel good until then. But with new clothes that fit right and that flatter the good and hide the bad? I feel amazing.
Stacey and Clinton would be proud.
Of course, I might have ruined it all by pigging out like I was on a real vacation all weekend. But who cares!
My point? I have GOT to take pictures of myself now. I need to document this so that if I ever get in the solid cotton shirt/blue jean rut again I can have proof that there IS a way out of it!
And now for a related question I want to ask the audience: I bought two shirt/dresses this weekend that would be cute with leggings. I can not bring myself to buy leggings, however, because I fear I might be too old. Am I (age 34) too old for leggings? Discuss.
NO! At 34 you are absolutely not to old for leggings. Because at 32, i refuse to be to old. As long as you cover your bum, and don’t buy white ones. Because i loathe them.
You look very nice in that picture.
I went on a legging mission this weekend (age 33) and came back completely unsuccessful. But I WOULD HAVE if I COULD HAVE, and that’s the point.
But then, I’d need new shoes to go with the new leggings… and then my husband would try to kill me for spending hundreds of dollars when all I wanted was a pair of leggings. How does that always happen?
Leggings are all the rage for any age here in Korea! They sell them practically on every street corner and in the subway tunnels. Go for it. You’ll be fashion forward.
I also own a shirt dress that I have not yet worn, because I also feel too old for leggings. Hopefully your commenters will give me the guts to try it out. The dress is cute too…
i’m 31 and i wear my black leggings under, like, everything.
hmm. i should maybe think about getting some more.
but, i agree…no white!
I agree about clothes that fit making you feel good, regardless of the amount of weight you need to lose. I always feel better when I wear clothes that fit. Which is why I am in love with wearing casual skirts these days. By casual, I mean I could wear a t-shirt with them and not feel like I messed up the outfit. They hide a bounty of post-natal sins and are cooler (temp wise) than shorts or pants. I’m thinking of sewing a few of my own skirts just so I have even more!
And as for leggings, if you want them, get them and ROCK them! As long as you rock something, then they are a-ok!
I’m 38. I plan to rock the dress + leggings look this fall. Old, schmold.
First, I love that picture! Cute shirt, cute kid, cuteness all around! I’m glad you’re happy with your clothing choices. If they fit nicely and make you feel more confident, then woohoo! And second, you are definitely not too old for leggings! I’d maybe stick to more neutrals or deep colors as opposed to, say, neon pink or hot yellow that kids these days seem to be wearing. But too old? Nah
No way, you’re not too old. Like the first person said, cover your bum and you’ll look great. I’ve seen women in their 50’s wearing leggings and they totally pull it off – you will look fabulous.
you look adorable!
First of all, you DO look damn good. Second, as long as you cover your ass, you can totally rock leggings. I wouldn’t wear them unless I had a (long enough) dress or skirt on top, but then I have “issues” with my thighs.
Also, I’m laughing at “solid cotton shirt/blue jean rut” because that is *so* me, or rather that was me in high school and college. Now it’s … um, a solid cotton shirt and PANTS. Can’t usually wear jeans to work.
You can totally wear leggings!! Go for it. I am too fat for leggings, so I tend to wear jeans under the tops that would work with leggings…or rather capri jeans.
I just bought a pair of leggings and I’m 34! Of course, they are maternity leggings and I totally used the pregnancy excuse in my head because, yeah, I was part of that craze the last time, which generally does make you too old the next time…but they are cute, and well, comfy….
I think a nice alternative to leggings, if you feel more comfortable in them, is a pair of fitted jeans. You get the same long shirt/tight pants look without feeling like the whole world can see what kind of underwear you have on!
Too old? No, but just make sure that they work for you, your body, and your style. Most of the egregious legging disasters that I see are due to the style being unflattering on the body, or because the woman is clearly uncomfortable and can’t pull it off. I am tall and believe that, unless they are a size 0, tall women should steer clear of the leggings. They should be left in the world of the petite. But I’m sure there are tall women who can do it. I just haven’t seen them. Then again, I live in a fashion backwater so there you go.
You look great!
As for the leggings, you’re not too old! I have a couple shirt/dresses too, but can’t seem to find a good pair of leggings…if you find one, let me know! I heard Target’s got some, but they’re always sold out of the black ones (that fit me) by the time I get there…
I <3 Stacey and Clinton.
I’ve been thinking of buying leggings lately, too. I think I want to buy them BECAUSE I’m in my 30s, and I don’t love my legs so much anymore.
When I think leggings, I think of 5th grade and STIRRUP pants. *shudder*. I don’t think I would ever be brave enough to wear leggings now, but hey girl, if you’ve got the legs, go for it
When I went home to the Netherlands for my sister’s wedding I had already bought an outfit in the US, but she was insistent I came with her to this store where she had seen an outfit she liked for me. It was a dress with leggings and I was very hesitant (37 years old and size 22) but it did look really cute, so I got them. And they are so darn comfortable! It allowed me to sit on the floor with the kids and read them stories at the reception, which would not have been an option in just the dress…
First, I have that shirt as well from the Gap. It’s adorable looks great on you! I love the color with your hair and skin tone.
Second, you are NOT too old to wear leggings. As along as you have a dress or long shirt over it and don’t wear them as pants alone outside, you’ll be fine
I say give them a shot! Buy a pair, try them on with one of your shirtdresses and if they make you feel awesome? They’re a go.
I bought a pair of holey, rolled up at the bottom boyfriend jeans that I never would have noticed had someone not left them in the dressing room before me (in my size! It was fate). I was nervous, they weren’t my usual thing, but every time I put them on I’m all “HOT!” and now I get compliments on them all the time. I think you look how you feel in the clothes. And you look great in that pic up there!
You look gorgeous! Love the shirt!
I love leggings. Always have, and I’m afraid I always will. You should totally wear them.
You look awesome, by the way
Fashion police would likely say BACK AWAY FROM THE LEGGINGS!
For me: under a dress is okay but as pants not okay if I am leaving the house.
For everyone else – hey whatever you are comfortable in!
Love the shirt.
I’m 37 and I wear leggings under a dress in the fall. I don’t have to worry about showing my undies to the whole world when I bend down to pick up my kids.
Look how cute you and NikkiZ look together!
34 isn’t too old IMHO.
I love that picture of the two of you and glad you’re feeling good about your weight loss and mini-wardrobe-makeover.
If you feel good in leggings under a shirt-dress then go for it!
Nope, you’re not too old for leggings! I think it comes down to if you would be self-conscious in them (and for no good reason, cause you’re adorable, and I think those kinds of outfits would look great on you – and they’d be comfortable!). Kind of like….I want to get my hair cut a certain way, and it would look oh-so-cute. But I don’t know if I have the self-confidence to pull it off.
I think you should go for the leggings! I still wear them, but I have no dresses. Just short-shorts I won’t wear without something more substantial underneath!