Ashamed to show my arms

In hot weather I wear kaftans which are long and loose with three quarter length sleeves. Best investment I ever made.

I have lipodoema, which has spread from affecting my legs and hips to most of my body, including my arms. Lipodoema is the build up of fat cells in the affected areas and are not affected by diet and exercise. Do l like it? No. Can I do anything about it? Also no, so the best thing for me is to wear clothes that are as flattering and comfortable as possible and try not to worry about it. If other people dislike what they see then too bad.

I’m just 61, and feel that my skin on my arms and legs are like that of an older woman than my age. My arms are wrinkly and my legs at the thighs are all flabby and wobbly. I’m not at all overweight, I guess my skins is losing its firmness. I didn’t have HRT at all, whether this hasn’t helped by not having this. My legs (thighs) have gone like this over last couple years.

Seemed my arms went saggy and wrinkly all of a sudden last year and no amount of moisturiser or arm exercises are making any difference. Will definitely be searching out dresses with sleeves this year. I would find it very embarrassing to show them in public nowadays.

I understand your feelings mine have got horribly saggy and creased (bit like a deflated ballon goes) . I had a big weight gain on Cortico Steroids, then reduced it as dose was reduced, but my skin is now paper thin and I’d give a lizard a run for his money. BUT I have a perfect excuse for full coverage bacause my meds also make me more susceptible to skin cancer. If I want to wear a sleeveless dress I wear a pinafore type with thin long sleeved cotton turtle neck, and I’m looking ou for a silk layer for special occasions.

I call myself the incredible expanding and shrinking woman after dealing with thyroid issues!! But I have definitely seen a difference by regularly going to the gym. I do all the upper body weights and now - no flabby arms! It’s worth the discipline and I now enjoy going. It’s a bit of me time!

I was one of the three quarter length sleeve brigade but I am thinking of getting a cap sleeved dress for the summer. The older I get and the more decrepit, the less I seem to worry I suppose it becomes impossible to hide and is always going to go in one direction. Which is quite freeing. I still want to buy a dress I like and think is chic. Vivienne Westwood is my ideal of a woman who didn't try to hide her aging face and body and looked fantastic. I couldn't look like her of course. But if we didn't hide them away, older women's bodies would become normalized and more socially acceptable in general.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I’m 75, have slight bat wings, and am covered with those horrid warty things. Do I care? Not a jot.
I do wear sleeveless and fairly low cut garments if hot but don’t expose too much cleavage or leg… never wear strapless clothes.

I'm 72 , slightly overweight with crepey skin and flabby arms and legs.Do I like it? Of course not, but I have been snorkeling today in a bikini in Thailand and it was wonderful and I didn't care . I've learnt to accept there are some things we can't change and getting older is one of them.

For those who love a Kaftan and have a sewing machine they are the simplest garment to make, plus, no need to buy an expensive pattern there are loads of tutorials on YouTube.

I like you all for talking about it. I feel the same way.

Same .. wish there were more long sleeve clothes to choose from..
Perhaps we should post any summer tops etc we find that are suitable..

Stuff it I say! You don’t like the look, avert your gaze . And it’s not like you’re frightening little children is it. Life’s for living. Particularly in our advanced years. As our dear Queen used to say: you live long enough you get old. Fact of life. And we’re not about to break anybody’s heart with our looks any more. As we well know. So, just loosen up (just as your birthday suit has already done - ha ha).

I've a lovely collection of pretty loose long sleeve blouses and tops from charity shops, some designer names. Look no further...its no surprise to me that many cultures in very hot lands wear loose cover up clothing, its actually cooler.

Short sleeved tops are not very flattering, particularly if you have chubby arms and a sizeable bust! Three-quarter sleeves and especially lace fabrics are more forgiving.

SachaMac

Witzend/IrishDancing….I notice people’s awful toes and toe nails in sandals too, one of my pet hates is horrible feet. I don’t know how chiropodists and podiatrists do it!!

SachaMac - I agree with you. This includes people in sandals with terrible hard skin on the bottom of their heels.

What do you think of these - eeewwwww

Not my feet - I hasten to add

Oh my goodness they are truly awful

My arms will be 74 years old soon. Why should the hide away

Madwoman11, yep, nearly 70, gave up sleeveless tops (except under things) about 5 years ago - and now, sadly, have given up the shortest of short sleeves. I suppose, soon, it'll be the elbow length stuff to go - leaving long sleeves only? Still, I wish I could avoid displaying the turkey neck so easily!

At a party recently, a lady in her eighties wore a vest-type top under a lacy, net-style long sleeved blouse - and looked really lovely. She said the 'wrinkly fabric' disguised her 'wrinkly arms' - so I'll keep that in mind!

Iam64, of course, we don't have to hide them - and I don't care a fig what other people do or think.

Still, I do like to feel good about how I look, just for me and my own confidence. I've even sewn sleeves (from a t-shirt) into my favourite dress - to make it look like I've layered it over a top.

Hetty58 for all my joy thst I’m still here weeks from my 74 birthday, yes I prefer a sleeve unless it’s wonderfully hot weather, I’m gardening, dog walking etc. if it’s a more formal type thing I tend to a sleeve of some kind. Daft isn’t it

I have just started trying to do some arm excersisers whilst sat watching tv or whenever I remember. I shall try and take note and see if it makes any difference. My arms are not too bad as I work at a supermarket and whilst on the checkout I do lift a lot of stuff whilst scanning, potatoes, bottles, beer etc. So I do think that helps.

If the bats wings are really bad and really bother you, why not have plastic surgery and have them removed.

Hi
We have surplus ensures, does anyone know where I can donate them, I tried the food banks but they said no.
They are all sealed.
Thanks
Junie