I Am Too Old for This S**t, Fashion Edition

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: I am too old to suffer for fashion.  I have reached an age where I need my mattress, my pillow, my slippers, etc. to get a decent night’s sleep, so I am completely unwilling to be pinched, poked, constrained or hurt in any way by my daytime attire.

Some of you may be fine in the too-tight-in-the-toe Louboutins or the killer dress that you can’t move your arms in, but I am not.  Not anymore.  I have suffered all I am will to suffer.  The lasting impact of the pandemic is that I will not go gently into that good night while being suffocated by shapewear.  So here are a few of the pieces that help me get that professional look, comfortably.

The Shoes // When I need high heels, there are a handful of brands that give me the comfort I need to wear them all day without pain.  With a cushioned footbed and bouncy synthetic sole, my first choice are Cole Haan pumps, especially these basic heels.  These pumps are comfortable, but they’re not orthopedic.

One step up from the Cole Haan pumps (that pun was unintentional, but it stays) are Rockport, Sofft or Naturalizer heels.  These brands don’t just add cushion, they construct shoes for support and comfort.  I have owned all of them, and I would buy any one of them again.  And I am definitely buying these Naturalizer pumps for work (so chic!).

As for flats, Rothy’s are my number one choice due to their flexible fabric and cushy sole.  But again, these are cushy, not supportive.  For real support from a casual flat, I’ve never found a better option than Birdie’s.  Every time I put them on, it’s like a vacation for my feet.  Need pointed toe shoes? Rockport’s Total Motion Flats are the way to go.

The Pants // The last thing I need is a pinchy waistband digging into my side halfway through the work day.  I prevent this in several ways:

1. I no longer care about the size on the tag; I buy the pants that fit. Period. Sizing up never hurt anyone.
2. I no longer wear low rise anything, ever. My body is no longer built for that, and that’s okay.
3. I look for soft fabrics that stretch and move when I do.

Top of the list for the best pants are these Ann Taylor pull on pants with a flat waist band.  Their high waist side zip pants are also on this list.

Need something other than a wide leg cut?  You want NYDJ’s Sculpt Her line. Lots of style.  Also in plus.  And they make blazers and skirts with the same forgiving fabrics and cuts.

The Bra // After many years of thinking that I was wearing a comfortable bra when I really wasn’t, I finally found one that doesn’t bind or pinch.  Natori makes a lot of great bras, but their Bliss Perfection Bra is the one for me.

On the weekends, I like the True & Co. v-neck bra; it has just the right amount of support for my smedium-sized bust.  The company also makes a line of wire-free options for women with larger chests.

The Shapewear // I know, I know, the words shapewear and comfort aren’t usually said in the same breath, but sometimes, a girl just needs to smooth it out and lift it up to look her best.  And I’m not advocating for corset-like suffocation, just a little help in the right areas to keep the line of my clothes smooth.

Since having my daughter, I wear Soma’s ultralight shaping thong under most dresses. I also like Commando’s shapewear short because there is no waist band to pinch me.  Or if you wear a lot of skirts and dresses, don’t skip out on a shaping slip to smooth things without the thigh pinch.

The Blazer // When I have a long day ahead of me — whether I’m driving to a client meeting far away or I’ll be in the office til God knows when — I need to wear my comfortable blazer.  The one I can move my arms in.  The one I can stretch in.  The one that doesn’t constrict my elbows while I type, making my fingers go numb.  NYDJ’s classic knit blazer is that blazer.

Do you have a piece of clothing that looks stylish but feels comfortable?  A piece you love to wear and tell everyone about?  Leave it in the comments.

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