This “Cool Girl” Look Is My New Go-To Outfit As A 50-Year-Old Lifestyle Editor.
It’s just a sweater and pants. Except … is it?
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by Audie Metcalf
As you know, I recently turned 50. Like, days ago.
And it’s not as though I suddenly need to dress differently, but I will tell you that I am more … aware … of my age. I don’t want to wear clothes that make me feel dowdy, but I also am now acutely aware of not dressing so young as to look ridiculous.
And so as I was walking out of Anthropologie doing some recon for all of you regarding holiday/winter outfit ideas (coming soon—especially exciting if you hate dresses) I was physically stopped in my tracks by this sweater:
Maybe it’s because my most joyous days of putting clothes on my body were in the 80s and 90s, and therefore anything resembling a shrug speaks to my soul in a way that feels spiritual. Maybe it’s because those sleeves are loose and glorious for those of us with fat arms. Maybe it’s because the material is soft as a lamb because if anything is itchy now that I’m in perimenopause I am not responsible for my actions. Whatever the case, I spun back around and promptly headed toward the “cash wrap” (retail lingo as a former retail gal!)
But what did I discover on my trek back toward the belly of the store? Why, the most hallucinagencielly soft pair of cargo pants (90s again) with a sort of oversized barrel shape AND a cinched ankle (flattering) AND a drawstring for a perfect waist-fit. You can see why I was bewitched, can’t you?
And although these two pieces don’t seemingly have that much simpatico, I felt a palpable thrum of excitement that they were, indeed, the beginning of what may just be my favorite outfit I’ve ever worn as an adult. I, of course, need that qualifier because there are outfits I wore as a teen that brought me so much glee I can close my eyes right now and sink into the memory like it was yesterday. A wheat-colored, loose linen blazer, tight black jeans, and cowboy boots for my maiden flight as a junior in high school comes to mind. I also wore sunglasses inside. Inside!!! Ah, 1992.
But let’s usher ourselves back to the here and now, and see if my vision came to life in an exciting way, even though of course it did otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this article:
Here’s what I think it achieves: coolness without being try-hard, comfort without looking sloppy, an edge without feeling like I got dressed in someone else’s closet.
Is it an outfit that shows off my body? Not really. I feel like it’s definitely leaning toward the female gaze, and the pants certainly do ZERO for the butt as evidenced here with the diaper-butt in motion:
But I truly think this outfit transcends a diaper butt—and frankly my butt isn’t what it once was now that I’ve lost weight and entered my low estrogen era, so I’m sort of excited about letting the outfit do the talking.
The boots I’m wearing are ancient but I’ve tried on THESE SOCK BOOTS* from Anthro that are incredibly similar and actually more comfortable because they don’t smash against my shin or ankle. And when I tell you I have zero tolerance for foot pain from heels, please believe me.
I’m wearing THIS TOP* so that if I become unmanageably overheated I can rip off the sweater in an instant—but if you’ll notice, the turtle of the sweater is so soft and pliable that I’ve folded it in half for more neck freedom:
It just sort of happens that everything is from Anthro, and I promise on my life this isn’t sponsored. Though I truly would perish if we did a paid partnership with Anthro (Anthro, call me?).
I feel quite confident you can wear this outfit and feel all the same things I’m feeling in it. And if you live in LA, just think how fun it would be to run into each other and have a mutual SWF moment. Do it for the gram! Do they say gram anymore? I don’t know. I’m old.
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
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