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Style & beauty

Hide or Flaunt?

(93 Posts)
petallus Fri 26-Jul-13 17:16:58

This summer, rather than hide my less than perfect lower pins in a long skirt or trousers, I am wearing short skirts with bare legs in spite of the skinny calves, veins and lumps and bumps being on show.

The other day I noticed a friend was wearing a sleeveless tee shirt even though she has quite marked flabby upper arms.

I thought we were quite brave because it goes against our early training.

Just wondered what other Gnetters do; hide or flaunt?

vampirequeen Fri 26-Jul-13 17:22:12

I wish I had the guts to flaunt but I'm too conditioned to do it in public however this summer I have managed to flaunt in my house and garden (provided there is no one around lol).

Galen Fri 26-Jul-13 17:27:00

Flaunt! Big is beautiful man!

Gally Fri 26-Jul-13 17:30:51

I have been flaunting all summer. Got to the stage of 'so what' and wearing shorts and low cut backless tops has been quite liberating, in every sense. wink

Ana Fri 26-Jul-13 17:31:09

What's skinny then? I speak as one with matchstick arms and legs myself, and OH is the same although he doesn't seem to mind flaunting his veiny pins in flappy shorts...grin

Nonu Fri 26-Jul-13 17:40:43

FLAUNT , BIG TIME , YO!!

I love everything about ME .

Why on Gods sweet earth should we be ashamed ?

Poppycock I say

vegasmags Fri 26-Jul-13 18:22:34

Defo flaunt. Give the young ones an idea of what they are in for grin

petallus Fri 26-Jul-13 18:54:45

These replies have made me laugh.

petallus Fri 26-Jul-13 18:54:55

Out loud.

Forzanonna Fri 26-Jul-13 19:09:39

I happily flaunt my flabby upper arms

Tegan Fri 26-Jul-13 19:14:44

I didn't wear shorts when I was young so I'm not going to start now; however I think everyone has a right to wear whatever they want to. It always amused me that I was so ashamed of my body and yet, when I used to go on holidays abroad I'd throw off my clothes [not all of them I hasten to add] as if I had become invisible [which, being post menopausal, I now am].

vampirequeen Fri 26-Jul-13 19:44:21

The daft thing is I'm not ashamed of my body. I eat healthily and exercise...this is just what I am...a BBW. But its taken a long time for me to get to this stage of self acceptance. At 79 my mum is still on a constant diet as she has been as long as I can remember. Fat is just not acceptable. I don't want to live like that anymore. 40 years of yoyo dieting was enough. At 48 I decided to learn to love myself.

It took a while. I started wearing trousers 2 years ago. I was brought up to believe that big bottoms should never be seen in trousers. Now I realise how comfortable they are and that they're not only for the size 10s and less.

It's a breakthrough for me uncovering my arms and legs in the house and garden. Perhaps next year I'll be able to do it in public properly (I rolled the sleeves up once at the seaside but it was an incredibly hot day lol).

Ella46 Fri 26-Jul-13 20:13:59

You only have to look around when out, to see that young people don't always look so hot!
They wear appalling stuff with fat flesh hanging out, and don't give a damn!
So why should we worry? Anyway we're invisible and hardly anyone notices grin

Go Vampire! wink

Deedaa Fri 26-Jul-13 22:33:50

I like a bit of fake tan before I bare my legs because they have got so discoloured and lumpy with age. I stick to mid calf skirts as my knees have been too fat to look good for years.
I completely ignore my flabby arms as I think my shoulders are still pretty good and make up for the arms.

Ana Fri 26-Jul-13 22:43:49

I don't know about nobody noticing, Ella - I often do and sometimes I think that I wouldn't reveal those legs (it's usually legs!) if it were me!

But that's just a personal thing and I'm certainly not saying that people shouldn't wear as little or as much as they want to, whatever the weather smile

vampirequeen Fri 26-Jul-13 23:43:19

I have to admit that sometimes I mentally criticise other people but usually it's their dress sense rather than their size. I just can't help thinking that wet look leggings look terrible no matter what your size grin

harrigran Fri 26-Jul-13 23:56:35

I have been wearing short skirts and vest tops these past few weeks but I usually change into a top with short sleeves if I am going out in public.

Grannyknot Sat 27-Jul-13 08:34:26

Ana I was out yesterday after work walking with colleagues to a pub near the South Bank. We passed at least 3 older well-endowed women who were braless in vests or T-shirts and I found myself thinking "Put it away, love!" It's just not a good look.

I've a couple of T-shirt-cotton shift dresses that are just perfect for this weather, I don't really care who sees my arms or legs, they've stood me in good stead for 64 years and they still work. I'm not adverse to a little cosmetic help though - a few quick puffs of "Summer Mist - for a gradual, natural sunkissed look" and away I flaunt!

shysal Sat 27-Jul-13 08:54:16

In this hot weather one must flaunt, but usually in the garden only! I have dug out old shorts and vest tops, I knew they would be useful one day. I even show my bra straps a bit, which I would never have done in the past. I think the young worry what others think, but in older age we realize that nobody even notices us most of the time.

Maniac Sat 27-Jul-13 09:37:42

That's true shysal
This week I drove to the local shops in shorts and sleeveless loose cotton top (no bra).
At my age I've stopped caring about what others think and in present heatwave comfort comes first

ninathenana Sat 27-Jul-13 09:51:28

I'm plus size and wear knee length skirts and vest tops without a second thought. However I've never worn shorts in my life, not that brave.

granjura Sat 27-Jul-13 14:31:40

I wear a lot of pedal pusher type trousers, which suit me as I have slim calves and ankles, but bigger hips (size 18). And I also have so bermuda style shorts, which again are ok for me. I hate my upper arms, so tend to wear short sleeves, but in the garden or beach will wear sleeveless. Must say I just don't get the braless look in older women though.

granjura Sat 27-Jul-13 14:34:13

Must say though I just HATE the habit of some uk men to go around without a top or with a sleeveless vest- Royle or Mrs Bouquets bio style, and a big belly, in bars, shops, restaurants, etc. YUK (:

Aka Sat 27-Jul-13 15:01:06

Walking in town the other day with my 6-year old GS. The rather large and flabby man in front of us removed his t-shirt.
'Isnt that against the law Nana?' he asked, aghast.
'No, but it ought to be' hmm

granjura Sat 27-Jul-13 15:16:13

LOL- indeed sad