A Fashion Journey Through the Ages ~ From Bell Bottoms to Compression Socks

Once upon a time, my biggest concern was whether my bell bottoms were flared enough to cover my platform shoes.  Remember those days?  I was pretty excited when “boot cut” pants returned to the scene.  My winter garb is black boot cut yoga pants and a black top.  When I get fancy, I add a scarf and maybe a hat.  That’s from twelve years of wearing a uniform for Catholic school.  I get up and dressed and just don a uniform.  No thinking until after coffee.

Fashion, it turns out, is a full-contact sport when you're aging awkwardly. I’ve strutted (okay, shuffled) through decades of style: shoulder pads so wide I couldn’t fit through doorways, perms that defied gravity and good judgment, and pantyhose that were basically medieval torture devices disguised as “nude, control top.”

I did go through the hippie phase — fringe vests, tie-dye, bell bottoms, little braids in my long golden hair.  And of course, round wire framed specs.  With the 70’s it was peasant blouses, macramé, earth tones with just a bit of the hippie edge.  Being a “spring” on the color wheel (yes!  Remember that??) I didn’t do much of the earth tones.  But the LONG hair.  Definitely.

   

Power dressing for my business job phase.  Shoulder pads, blazers, pencil skirts, and especially big hair. That’s what I remember about the 80’s.  Oh!  And pagers followed by car phones.  I was in sales for a national moving company and we would get paged then have to find a payphone and call the office.  In Oregon where it rains a lot! I was so excited to get a car phone.

  

Now, everyone has a cell phone and we have no landline.  I love it because it is my brain.  I’ve learned to put it to good use.  I write things down as I think of them (ran out of garlic powder, add it to my grocery list)(met someone new I add them to my contact book and how I met them, even if I don’t have their phone number, yet)(ideas for gift giving and checking for upcoming birthdays).

2025?  Stretchy waistbands (or no waistbands) are my love language. Sensible step-in shoes (Kizik) whisper sweet nothings to my bunions and hammertoe. I’m still not into the cardigan sweater phase or a lap blanket.  I use a zip up sweatshirt to give myself the illusion of being younger than 73.

But let’s not pretend aging means giving up on looking good. No, it just means redefining good. “Chic” now means “clean and comfortable.” And I’ll take a cozy fleece over a crop top any day, although I remember being able to sport one.

My summer look is cool and breezy dresses.  I think I have ten different versions.  They are totally baggy but I get a compliment almost every time I am out in public.