Dude.
These boots are serious. Stomper girl. Biker girl. Coffee house barrista girl with tattoos and a Betty Page haircut serious.
Super comfortable, too.
But am I just too old?
I’m 39, creeping up on 40. Boots like this need flouncy skirts, or kilts maybe. Private school uniform skirts. Cunning tights. Polka dots, stripes. Diametrically paired with a really feminine dress. Certainly not with pants — anyway, with my new-mom potato shape, tucking pants into these would extend my potato-ness, rather than drawing the eye away from.
Above the knee skirts would be in order. Am I even allowed to show my knees anymore? With the help of hosiery, my legs are currently my best feature. But at my advanced age? Stacy and Clinton wouldn’t let me get away with more than a hint, a flash of knee. I’m sure.
Just over one-year post partum, here’s the situation: My midsection is not returning to any semblance of normal, despite my having returned to my high-but-formerly-shapely pre-pregnancy weight. My old clothes don’t fit. Many of my old shoes don’t fit either. And some of my old clothes are really really old. I tried to take my 10-year-old (not kidding) but still in decent condition wool suit pants (vintage Banana Republic “Martin”) in four different colors (black, brown, gray, beige) to the consignment store. I think they could smell the ancient dry cleaning fluid before they even opened the bag. No dice. They don’t want them, I don’t want them. Even if they did fit, which they don’t.
But is that my style? Should I get more suit pants? I don’t work outside the home. I don’t think I’m into the mannish woman style anymore. It was a big one for me, for years. I even bought some lovely trousers from the Gap recently that fit great. But I have no desire to wear them whatsoever. Darn it!
Who am I? Holy cr*p.
These look nice. Right? Mine are beige. But so far they only hang in my closet, not on me.
I want to throw away (or rather dump off at Goodwill) my eight million turtlenecks (who was that girl???), my three (count ’em, THREE) boring and not so great fitting anymore wool 3/4 length coats of varying non-shapes (gray, beige, black).
I have one fabulous coat. A floor length, thin black wool felt, belted, DKNY. It cost a fortune. A gift from my mom MANY years ago. Thank you, mom. And I STILL love it. Nom nom nom nom. Sofffft. I like tank tops and interesting/long cardigans. I’m a bit of a ho for cargo pants. But I want to look nice, put together. I feel like this is part of the boy turning one. A milestone for me. Starting to care about how I look.
We’re going to a wedding at the end of the month. I really want to find a nice dress to wear. I ordered a bunch online to try and they all failed. Not to mention how oddly shaped the nursing bras make my shrinking due-to-not-as-much-nursing boobs look. Ugh ugh ugh.
One thing I’m pretty sure about: I’m on the lookout for perfect fun and funky ballet flats to wear with my long long jeans. I got these, but am not sure they’re the right size. Anyone have advice about FSNY? I can’t afford to mess this up. The website only had a few sizes and 10 was the only one remotely close to my size (8-1/2 or 9) but many women reported in reviews of other similar shoes that this company is waaaay off in sizing, usually too small. This one’s a new style. No reviews yet. I don’t know. They seem to fit, but what if they stretch?
Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!
At least these feel more plausible than the biker-betty-page boots. But I may keep those anyway, too. And wear them with ruffles. And not act my age. Maybe pony tails? I’m allowed, right? Not only am I a new mom, not only is my boy now one (phew!), but hey, I’m due for a midlife crisis.
Any suggestions for a nice tattoo?
I’m sitting here in the (remarkably similar) Harley-Davidson motorcycle boots that I wore to the hospital when Flanny was born. Comfortable, waterproof, amazing.
Buy ’em. You are never too old for fierce boots.
Laura H.’s last blog post..Worst mother, ever
Yes!
Own those boots Mama! And hell, get a tattoo! My mother got a tattoo when she turned 50 (a dorky daisy on her shoulderblade but still given her age pretty fucking cool) and rocks badass boots (“they’re so comfy and warm Eva”)throughout the winter. If a 60 year old grandma can do it, so can you.
Good for you for going Goodwill with all thost turtlenecks and man pants. We’d love to see pics of any new exciting looks you come up with. Short skirts, knees and all.
eva’s last blog post..One Year Old
No, you are not too old to rock those boots. You go, mama.
Leila Abu-Saba’s last blog post..It’s not the kitchen, it’s the cook
I ADORE those boots. If you lived in Berlin you would not be allowed NOT to buy those boots. And being as Berlin is the measure of all things…um…German? No,..um, hip, right.
These days I am rocking very tall pale-brown leather Frye boots (with a similarly low heel) with a little red dress and white tights (yes, they are SPANX. No, I no longer wear ANY other kind). It’s kind of an absurd look. But my 21-year-old friend says it’s good. And she’s FRENCH. So really.
Get the boots. And screw the pants suits. Ugh.
love you love you love you
L
Nope….have fun!
Get them in a size 8 1/2 so I can steal them.
Jane Huber’s last blog post..Heffalump trap!
yes buy the boots! and then invest in all sorts of tights so that you can wear whatever skirt you want!
i should add that i have three tattoos and am excited about my fourth. and i’m 36.
but i must say i’m feeling you on the ‘what to wear…what fits’ problem. my body is not the body it once was and i’m not sure it ever will be.
i’m usually a vintage girl, but my uncomfortableness has me dressing in plain target clothes.
my boots are sitting in my closet, forlorn.
krista’s last blog post..jazz hands
Girl, you know what I’m going to say…rock the boots! And the ponytails, ruffles, and whatever the else you want to rock. 40 is the new 30 is the new 25, that’s what I say.
BTW, time to ditch the nursing bras, pronto. I can’t tell you the freedom I felt when I went back to regular bras. Even better, I went and bought new regular bras and spent more money than I ever had because mama’s girls need a liiiitle more lift these days. I still nurse, just unhook bra and lift it up. A little more cumbersome but so worth it for getting rid of the mom frump factor.
I’m a huge follower of Stacy and Clinton, possibly to the point of it being my own little religion. With that said, i don’t think they’re always right. You gotta wear what you feel comfortable in. You gotta wear things that make you feel HOT and GOOD and FUN!
Those boots? They rock. So do the pants and the flats. Hope you find some that fit!
Last thing, the turtlenecks! OMG, I used to live in them and I just don’t even want to know the person who wore those.
Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children’s last blog post..‘Tis the season to choke down eggnog
Don’t you dare take back those boots. You are not too old for them. They are wonderful, and adorable. I have similar ones and I am………..ahem………over 60. So happy you are happy with that coat. I have a few I will never part with. Pink flats are very wonderful.
Rock on!
Ditto to all they said above.
I second the new bras…it really helps!
Last option…hmmm…have kid #2? (If that’s in the plans?!)
I swear I felt the best fashion wise while pregant…it was a great excuse for me to show off my belly instead of try to hide it along with my stretch marks like I do now!
I hope it all works out–and let’s see the results, please
Susie’s last blog post..The business of being born