<p>I remember when Jull Biden wore an above-the-knee pencil skirt and tall boots last year at the inauguration and she got some grief for trying to look too young. And she has the body for it too!
I agree that we’re tough on older women in this country…</p>
<p>A contrast in lengths…go Jill!
[White</a> Charm: Black Men, White Women jill-biden ? From Grandmas Kitchen The Boiling Point](<a href=“http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/boilingpoint/2009/03/21/white-charm-black-men-white-women/jill-biden/]White”>http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/boilingpoint/2009/03/21/white-charm-black-men-white-women/jill-biden/)</p>
<p>I think both women look awesome in that pic, toneranger!</p>
<p>Re: skirts–when I worked, I wore ones about 3-4 inches above the knee. But, I was about 7 lbs skinnier then. If I try to wear those skirts now, the extra few lbs pulls them up short enough that it doesn’t look good/appropriate.</p>
<p>^^agree that both look great!
Just goes to show that lots of different looks can work. Jill took a bit of a risk but she can carry it off IMO! I do remember my 90+ MIL making a comment though about her knees…LOL. (umm…BTW, i have no idea what this website is…found it on google…just thought the pic was cool)</p>
<p>She could have worn tights and probably not caught any flak. But I agree I think they both look great and each has their own “style” which is how it should be. Heaven forbid we develop a “uniform” like the suit/little bow tie/cotton shirts of the late 70s, what on earth were we thinking. I loved the red coat but I love color.</p>
<p>Re: skirts. Whether pencil skirts or any other kind (except the gathered dirndl style–never wear those), there is no “right” length now, especially now that we are all grown up and can wear what flatters us rather than what is in. Anyway, it has more to do with your height and body proportions, as well as choice of shoes or boots (and their height), AND the length and style of your top. The best way to figure it out is to look at a full length mirror with your entire outfit on. Go with your gut instinct and trust the visual! Little things like tucking in your top or not makes a big difference in how the skirt looks. And personally speaking, I always wear boots with skirts not just because I like the look but I like the way they make me feel–youthful. A skirt with a little shoe makes me feel grandmotherly. (I tend to only have “practical” looking flats. The combo of those shoes with a skirt seems to instantly add a pound to each calf with the overall effect of making me 5 inches shorter.)</p>
<p>I like boots with skirts too. But I also like skirts with tights and my pointy toe black patent leather flats…especially the shorter skirts. They’re not grandmotherly at all and are surprisingly comfortable. I have very long legs so I think I’m alright with it…</p>
<p>^^BCBG makes very comfy pointy-toe pumps that go well with pencil skirts and do not look grandmotherly!</p>
<p>I wore a black sweater dress with tights and long boots to work the other day, and one of my office buddies got so excited about my look that she dragged me around like I was a show and tell item - LOL!</p>
<p>
When you have a tall, stylish daughter, you get a little bit too much feedback on wardrobe for “buying new mom jeans” to be an option. I mean, she is kind about it, but I would get way too much, ummm, “input” if I spent money on new clothes that were not cool.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I have some kind of cute size six suits (a few work suits and a few silk cocktail suits) from around 1987 that she won’t let me give to Goodwill. She says they are vintage and hip. They are in a box, probably too big and definitely too “grown up” for her - but too small for me - I’ll never be that size again. She has suggested I ebay them or bring them to a consignment shop but that would take too much energy. I figure I will hang on to that box until she either wants them or is willing to let me Goodwill them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I always wear boots with skirts [/unquote]</p>
<p>If you lived in the South, that would limit your skirt-wearing to the Nov-Feb window…</p>
<p>edit: ok, why didn’t my box quote work?</p>
<p>Because you should have written
[/quote]
instead of unquote.</p>
<p>toneranger and BB, I am sure you both look fabulous in your stylish pointy-toe pumps and short skirts! I am just too short to pull off that look—I end up looking little-girlish or grandmotherish. Being short definitely has its limitations. That’s another reason I like boots, they make me feel taller.</p>
<p>mousegray, thanks 
The shortest skirt lenghth I will wear nowadays is an inch or so above the knee (I’m average height).</p>
<p>MidwestMom, isn’t it funny? Best makover tool - a stylish teen D! My D was also very vocal about my clothes choices, and would not let me buy anything that she considered too “mommish” when we went shopping together. Enjoy your new shoes, they look snazzy yet comfy!</p>
<p>I bought a pair of slim/straight (not “skinny”) cords at J.Crew in HOT pink last weekend and my thirteen year old nearly had a fit. She says I"m “embarrassing” …I think because she wouldn’t wear the color as its too bright for her taste. I really like them though. They give me a boost!(got them in cream, too.)</p>
<p>Amusing thread. I’m mid 50s, and in about a month, I <em>will</em> be a grandmother. So how should I dress??? </p>
<p>Back in my day, grandmothers were OLD. Today, not.</p>
<p>My favorite pants since the weather turned cool are a pair of Old Navy grey corduroys I inherited from my S who just outgrew them. They are SO comfortable! And Yes, I have a boyish figure and like to dress casually unless I need to “dress up” which I certainly know how to do. Though I really hate to wear heels or shoes that are at all uncomfortable.</p>
<p>The trouble with leggings is they always seem to go with cute but juvenile-looking dresses/tops. Tights go with grownup skirts.</p>
<p>Don’t have much to add to this discussion…I like Clearwater’s clothes in their print ads, but the prices turn me off. :(</p>
<p>And I remember Talbott’s was always for “moms” when I was younger. I thought Chico’s was for us forward fashion thinking moms…I may be getting old myself, come to think of it. :D</p>
<p>LOL at Bunsen Burner being used for ‘office show & tell’ because of stylish outfit! Go moms!</p>
<p>My mom and grandma never dressed “old”. My mom is in her 80s and is still active and slim. She dresses conservatively, but not dowdy. Having them as examples helps me keep my perspective. I do believe there is some “truth” that people use the word comfortable as an excuse for dressing in baggy mom jeans and sneakers. The most wonderful thing that has happened in the last decade is stretch in jeans, the wonderful fitting “yoga” fabric pants, fleece and great casual shoes. Without those wardrobe staples, I know I probably would be in mom jeans, my husband’s jacket and sneakers at the grocery store.</p>
<p>Jeans and sneakers…I really avoid that look. That old video of me when s was a baby haunts me…ugly jeans (and too short too!), scuffed white sneaks, husband’s old grey oversized golf jacket, no makeup.<br>
So it is OK for us gals to wear those velour suits? I saw a nice black one in a catalog (not Juicy!).</p>
<p>tone, as long as “delicious” or some other message isn’t written across the butt and your bulges are in the correct location and your underwear doesn’t show when you bend over to pick up the box of cereal on the bottom shelf… you’re good to go as far as I’m concerned.</p>
<p>H pulled a box of old pictures out of the closet to digitize, and (horrors!) in one of them I’m posing in front of the Snoqualmie Falls in baggy denim shorts (white with small flower print and elastic waistband!), baggy bright green tee, warmup jacket (all colors of the rainbow - yay!) and tennis shoes… But I weighed only 125 lb! I think I’ll keep that picture 
LOL!</p>