Not throwing out my t-shirts
A friend of mine was telling me about this book she’s reading about how to look 10 years younger. I had to stop her at the first piece of advice: throw out all your t-shirts.
Sorry, I’d rather look 100 than stop wearing t-shirts. Back off. Not happening. T-shirts and jeans are the key to happiness and comfort as far as I’m concerned. And sweat pants–hands off my sweat pants.
I know how to play dress up when it’s required of me (although some friends–Annette, are you reading this?–might disagree). But on a day-to-day basis, I see absolutely no reason to dress for anyone else’s pleasure but my own.
Your thoughts?
Technorati Tags: How To Look Younger, How To Dress Younger, Who Cares What People Think I Love My T-Shirts
February 27th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Amen to that, Robin. No way am I giving up my jeans, nor am I going to break out an iron now that I’ve hit 40.
I plan to spend even less time worrying about how I look than I have before. Life is short, and I want to use the time I have left on things that interest me.
Now, if someone wants to nominate me for “What Not to Wear,” I’ll go for a week and spend $5000. But only so I can wear the same wardrobe for the next 20 years. I’m not sure that’s the intent of the show
February 27th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Ha! I’m sure I’d be the same way with any WNTW wardrobe–although I have to back up a step and say I would disown any friend or family member who turned me in to that show. I love to watch it, but there’s no way I’d endure that sort of humiliation just to get a makeover. I’m always amazed at what people are willing to put up with–although clearly they all look much better when Stacy and Clinton are done.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Agreed! ^^ Comfortable clothes, books, movies,chocolate (in small amounts ;)),and cheesy tots from burger king…. = the key to happiness in my opinion!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I think you should dress for our pleasure.
T-shirts have their place in a wardrobe. I have a few new ones I picked up that are stylin.
Sweatpants are a no-no, unless you are sweating or panting.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Sweatpants are warm and comfortable… but too hot to sweat in.
I am all for being comfortable…and that includes underthings, too.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Ok..so if t-shirts and jeans are SO bad then why are some of them SO pricy? I mean you can go to a high end store and buy a designer t-shirt for $50.00 just so you can look like Jessica Alba.
If you look in fashion or US magazines, you will see stars in jeans and
t-shirts and the caption will say “what to wear for a nice day out”.
I agree with you Robin, that I will play dress up when I have to, but I even try to get away with jeans and a
t-shirt at work when I can..IN FACT, I have that very outfit on right now!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I will not live my life worried about how others perceive my wardrobe. If I’ve learned anything, it is that you can’t please everyone all of the time. And my inner child feels quite youthful in knit, tyvm.
And remember the Carol King lyrics, “You’re beautiful as you feel.”
Take my yoga pants, fleece, t-shirts, stretchy jeans, crocs, and danskin cotton tops at your own peril. This is your only warning!
February 27th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Heather, those clothes sound pretty classy to me. And I like your philosophy–works for me. By the way, what’s “tyvm”?
Shai, excellent point. Maybe the woman who wrote that book thinks Jessica Alba should look 10 instead of 20.
Judy, thanks for pointing out the underthings part. I’m all for underwear that doesn’t hurt.
Patrick, sweat pants are for winter, period. It’s my favorite thing about cold weather, so do not interfere, despite your Space Lordness.
Dylan, that formula sounds pretty nearly perfect. Carry on!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Sweatpants are for covering shorts on the way to the flag football game, if you haven’t got any wind-pants clean.
(T)hank (Y)ou (V)ery (M)uch
February 27th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Patrick, TYVM. I am ignorant of you people’s ways.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:21 am
I can’t watch those makeover shows because they give me anxiety. I dress for the way I live my life–working with kids, cleaning, cooking, going to work out, sitting on the couch and reading, etc. My clothes are appropriate for those activities, stuff that isn’t too expensive that I can wash, so I don’t mind when they inevitably get dirty. It’s like the way manicures are completely wasted on me because I’m always cooking and washing dishes, so if I have nail polish on, it gets chipped in a day or two.
Yesterday my godson was commenting on how my wood floors look “old,” and I was explaining to him that “old” doesn’t mean “bad.” He’s eight, and it’s kind of scary to me that he’s already internalized our culture’s love of things that are young and new. I mean, given enough money, anyone can look younger, but is it worth the sacrifices? It’s definitely not worth giving up my t-shirts.
Patrick, What is your official position on yoga pants? I can let the sweatpants thing slide if yoga pants are okay. Otherwise, the gloves are off.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Adrienne, you and Heather talking about yoga pants makes me feel like I need to have some. Are they more comfortable than sweat pants? That’s the key question. I’m with you–I dress for how I live, and right now that means spending hours at the computer every day. So if yoga pants are the right wardrobe item for novel-writing, speak up.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I’ll speak up for yoga pants! I don’t like sweat pants because they seem to be cut for a male body, but yoga pants…those accommodate curves in a classy way.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Yoga pants are where it’s at. You can leave the house in them and not look like Carl from ATHF :
http://mlatcomics.com/hoovdocs/myspacepics/carl.jpg
February 28th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Molly, that comic merely illustrates another principle I’ve always lived by: men should not wear flip flops. They do not look good or manly or handsome or dreamy in any way. Please stop it, men.
Sara, thanks for chiming in. If all you cool women are wearing them, they must be fab.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Ummm, am I missing something? Since when are t-shirts supposed to make one look older. Don’t teens live in them?
I’m not losing my t-shirts. Love them. And yoga pants….if I could find some that looked good on me, I’d wear them all the time.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
what’s wrong with my flip flops?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Yes, Vivian, teens we do live in t-shirts. I wear one almost everyday (the rest is semi fashionable). I’m fine with wearing t-shirts as long as I have a nice pair of jeans and some cute flats.
Sweatpants, hrm. I have my x-country sweatpants, but I would not consider them in style, other than sporty people.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I wear mostly yoga flare pants, and I find the good ones at Target. They are more comfortable on my waist than sweat pants. (Mine have an adjustable, roll down waist.)
February 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Will do! ^^
February 29th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Yes, I agree with Heather: the yoga pants must flare.
Besides, Meg Cabot wears them when she’s writing. That must make them right.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Okay. Must get yoga pants.
I have the luxury of working from home, so I wear the most comfortable pieces of clothing I can find–”exercise” pants (”wind” pants?), socks, and a long-sleeved tee in cold weather; soft sporty shorts, bare feet, and a T-shirt in warm weather. When we leave the house, depending on our destination, I’ll concede to putting on something a bit nicer, like blue jeans, tennis-shoe-like flats, and a colorful shirt. I do always try to wear a small amount of makeup, but that’s just because my lack of sleep has made me look like a zombie without mascara.
February 29th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Thanks for the continued fashion/anti-fashion advice. I love to know what my blog pals are wearing!
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
What in the world would I do without my “I’m A Noun!” shirt? Or my “Haikus are easy” shirt? Or any of my other six Threadless shirts? Just the other day I almost - almost - bought the T-shirt that said “I High Five Strangers.” Not giving up the tees, no way.