Since I am missing the part of the X chromosome that has anything to do with clothes, I'm wondering if you can post some pictures.

However, I can't imagine anyone wearing Hello Kitty past age 12 or 13... unless it's in some sort of ironic or nostalgic way... like wearing an adult-sized t-shirt of Cookie Monster or Grape Ape.

That said, I wear pretty much what I've worn since 7th grade. Jeans and t-shirts almost all the time. Let's just say it's quite liberating as almost all my clothes mix and match... except for things I wear to weddings & similar events.

I must admit, I'm wondering what you are talking about too, though I think I've seen some examples.

However, I do think you are forgetting this:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/women-now-empowered-by-everything-a-woman-does,1398/

I don't think there's a specific cutoff. People should dress according to how they wish to be treated. If you're a 33-year-old who wants to be handed the kids' menu at Applebees, Hello Kitty is the way to go.

A few people I know wear styles associated with much younger women, and they seem to think they rock it and it makes them look and feel younger, but really, most people are probably making fun of them. On the other hand, I know some people who can wear younger styles selectively. By that, I mean they wear pigtails, but the rest of their style is mature, so it comes off as quirky rather than childish.

I think what style a person can pull off is heavily dependent on the person's body and personality.

I know the school girl look is very big in Japan, and all Animae. I wonder if maybe that is where it has reentered pop culture in the US.

Now that you can be slapped in jail for even looking at pictures of naked teenage girls, there is a huge market for looking the part, without being jail bait.

There are ways of bringing beloved things and icons from your childhood into adulthood. There's some really nice Hello Kitty jewelry for instance. Two braided pigtails may be too young, but there are ways to do a pair of braids that is chic and adult. It's not even so much that a style needs to age, but you do need to keep your look updated with what is in style and what looks good on your changing body.

I have bright purple hair right now. Probably, I'm a bit old for it (early 30s). But I style it nice and professional so it works with my older face. I can't wear my favorite superhero shirts everywhere I go, but I do have a large stash of geeky jewelry (Wonderwoman bracelets, thor's hammer earrings, etc) that gives me the style elements I like, while still letting me look professional and adult. The trick is to have a conversation piece about the item/ thing you love, not to go full hilt with it.

"Oh, and part B of this: If you did dress a certain way -- say, Little Girl-ishly, and your boyfriend wanted you to dress a little more adult and sophisticated when going out with his boss, would you be offended? "

Yes, but I would probably desperately need to hear it anyway.

Something like this Hello Kitty pendant would look super chic with a blouse and blazer for instance. http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/1100031/product/Hello_Kitty_Crystal_Pendant.html

I'm with Elle, it can be done in an acceptable way. I have a mickey shirt I love. But I wouldn't wear it around my hubby's boss. My mom hammered dressing appropriate to the situation into me as a teen, and I hated it, but she was right. So, the jeans with the ass ripped out are for the ROT rally, and the mickey shirt for the playground with the kids.

I intentionally chose to train for a career where I get to wear pajamas (scrubs) to work. Dressing up isn't my thing.

Would I be offended if I actually had to be told to dress representatively aroud DH's boss? Don't know. If I couldn't figure it out on my own, I just might, because someone who couldn't figure it out is probably likely to get offended.

I think what bothers me the most about this is the second half of the question. If you get to 33 years old and don't know how to dress yourself for all occasions and then throw a fit when someone makes a suggestion, you have bigger issues. I am willing to bet this is just the tip of the iceberg with this chick. My guess is she can't manage money and probably has trouble keeping serious, adult employment. I get not wanting to be told what to do, but you should always WANT to put your best foot forward for your significant other, especially when it's important to them.

I had already aged out of the Hello Kitty demographic when it hit the United States. However, my young niece did give me a pair of Hello Kitty PJs when I was 37. And yes, I wore them until they wore out.

I was always shoved into "ladylike" wear as a kid, so for me it's an interesting quandary between my tendency toward formality and my unusual tastes. While I enjoy dressing formally, I think appropriateness of attire is entirely contingent on the setting.

The concept of an "age-appropriate" style is quite subjective, and closely related to the arbitrary standards we have for "appropriate" styles in general. For instance, I feel that the fact that I was wearing nice hose to work should have been considered more important than the fact that they had an elegant skull design down the backseams. Again, contingent on the setting: dress was business-casual, not formal, and others were wearing grease-stained sweatpants. As one could imagine, I was given a talking-to by management about the design of my hose. Arbitrary if you ask me. I probably wouldn't have worn them to, say, a governmental meeting. I do think that management's personal opinion of my chosen iconography should be irrelevant to whether it's deemed "inappropriate."

I adamantly dislike ruling out a certain iconography as "inappropriate" for a certain demographic - except in the work setting, if it is strongly arguable as vulgar (i.e., expressing depiction of nudity, profanity, or graphic violence).

As far as facing a request to dress further up for a function, I would take it under advisement depending on the manner in which the request was made. A demand, mind you, does not constitute a request, and therefore does not register in my consideration of the matter. If the attire I've chosen on my discretion is that inappropriate, I probably can't afford what the congregants would find palatable, and I simply should not go.

"I intentionally chose to train for a career where I get to wear pajamas (scrubs) to work. Dressing up isn't my thing." - momof4

That's great! That reminds me that I am, however, somewhat bothered by the trend of actual pajamas worn as street clothes. If someone's having an exceptionally rough week, sure - wear those fuzzy SpongeBob pj pants to the convenience store. I'm disturbed, though, by the increasing frequency with which I'm seeing them worn as work clothes. No. Just, no.

Not to change the subject, but is anyone else deeply disturbed by Isab's comment?

"Now that you can be slapped in jail for even looking at pictures of naked teenage girls, there is a huge market for looking the part, without being jail bait."

Yeah, Isab, what's the world coming to? It's gotten to the point where tugging one off to a thirteen year old chained to a radiator in a school girl uniform is frowned upon. How dare these little hussies "bait" us into jail with their teasing teenaged wiles. What the fuck?

Please don't miss my sarcasm.

Isab, if you're looking at pictures of teenaged girls naked, you NEED to be in jail you sick mother fucker.

It depends, I love Japanese characters like Hello Kitty but I don't wear clothing of them. I do wear Hello Kitty jewelry because my little nieces always give me the stuff-but unless you noticed you couldn't really see it. And I don't wear it to work.

So yeah at 33 you need to stop it if its your everyday wear. I think women who dress in the Little Girl look are insecure about something. Perhaps they don't want to be sexualized. Or don't want to be noticed in that way. Some I think don't know how to dress, are stuck in a rut and need female influence. I've noticed a lot of women lack that feminine female base.

I have a European friend who has greatly influenced my style. My mom too. They both have impeccable taste. We talk about designers every time we get together.

I have noticed that my 'tomboyish' or not as well dressed friends, I have influenced their style. I have two that greatly improved their style once I came along. I think they were just influenced by how I dressed. So again maybe those women lack those influences, they lack someone who is passionate about the stuff.

Despite how I come off here I love the fuck outta fashion and makeup.

As for the boyfriend request....again I think if you have that feminine base that issue doesn't come up. My mom beat good taste into me. Now...I wouldn't get offended if my boyfriend requested it of me but perhaps the woman doesn't know how to dress right ya know? She might feel insecure shopping. Or feel bombarded.

Valiant,

I love the fuck outta these formal yet casual skull shoes

http://tinyurl.com/kmt6vv5

I HATE Hello Kitty. Especially on adults. I tolerate it on children, because, well, it's FOR children. I despise this idea of catering kids stuff to adults. But, I'll admit I'm bias because I really just don't like anything Hello Kitty anyway so seeing it on a 30 something woman aggrivates me. I think it makes them look deperate and insecure.

To actually answer the question... I am one of those early 30's women who happen to look slightly younger than my age. I still dress in what I consider an "age appropriate manner". Which means I don't tramp it up and I don't try to look like a teenager. I work in show biz. It's important that I look good. I take great care in my appearance. But, even though I may look damn good for my age, but I'm not fooling anyone. I'll never play a 16 year old so no point in trying to look like one. I do though, manage to pull off some looks that girls younger than me just can't because I also have the body type for it. I think it comes down to being honest with yourself about your body type and budget. If my hubby asked me to dress differently for his boss, I would. It's not the end of the world to wear ONE outfit that you might not like as much as your regular colthes for an evening to help your SO. That's part of being in a relationshp. But, I don't think that would ever be an issue because I understand the importance of dressing appropriate for the event one is attending. And I'm a better dresser than my hubby, anyway. It's usually me asking him to change his shirt. :p

Ppen, I need more shopping buddies like you. I have Chanel taste on a Target budget. I have a flair for accesories and makeup and I'm known for my scarves. I have over 100 of them and never get tired of wearing them. It's amazing what a colorful scarf can do for an outfit. I can't shop at Designer stores for clothing, but I can combine a pair of Tiffany Sunglasses or a Coach bag with my $20 target dress and still look like a million bucks. It's about the presentation, not the price tag, IMO. I love the looks I get when I tell people the outfit they are raving about cost me less than $100. Francessca's is a great little accesories store that has low cost, trendy, jewlery, but a higher quality than Claires. It's very boutique-ish without the cost.

I think it is all relative -- depends on the woman's body & personality and the event.

I generally don't mind the younger look, Hello Kitty, etc. For the most par, I just think it is personal style.

I asked an aquaintence who is about 35 why she often times wears pig-tails - she said she has to do someting with all that hair sometimes to keep it out of the way. She does have quite long hair.

I don't think anyone should take offense to be asked to do dress for the boss.

Some what related...around where I live now I see a lot more women (and to a lessor extent men) who don't wear younger clothes but wear very cheap clothing. I was thinking that the other night about bartender - she had a dress that from a distance looked like a nice one but at the bar looked very cheap.

In our family, no one had to tell us not to wear clothes with cartoon characters - or writing - on them after age ten or so - it just wasn't done.

(Miss Manners once said that she's "all in favor of freedom of speech for people, but she thinks it is time for clothes to shut up.")

And I was in Italy in 2011 and it was wonderful to be surrounded by adults who dressed like adults - even local TEENS hardly wore any cartoon characters on their clothes!

Where is the line? At the dungeon's door. Bedroom!!

At the bedroom's door

My ex and I were standing outside a breakfast place one morning waiting for a table, and I noticed a woman dressed in a cheerleader-type skirt and sweater, with long blond hair. Her back was turned to me.

When she turned around, she HAD to be at least 57. Now, I applaud the fact that your body looks that good at that age, but man, INAPPROPRIATE.

I'm also a jeans and t-shirt type of girl, but I'm 47. I don't try to dress like I'm 20. I'm also lucky that I have a job that doesn't require a lot of dressing up, but I still wear nicer clothes than I would bumming around on the weekend.

A woman can dress anyway she wants, but she should not be surprised if there are consequences for dressing in a way that is situationally inappropriate. Damage to the SO's career could be one of those consequences for dressing like a child for a meeting with the boss.

I'm sure someone will cry foul around the "repressive patriarchy," but I can assure her that I don't where my glow-in-the-dark "Villains of Disney" t-shirt to business meetings, either. I don't feel particularly repressed about it.

Regarding the "jail bait" meme, here's an actual discussion question from the first day of one of my son's college philosophy classes:

Should CGI (computer generated imagery) child porn be illegal?

I can't think that I've met someone who dresses this way, but it sounds to me like maybe a bit of an attention-seeking thing .. "ooh look at me, all cutesy"

"Some what related...around where I live now I see a lot more women (and to a lessor extent men) who don't wear younger clothes but wear very cheap clothing. I was thinking that the other night about bartender - she had a dress that from a distance looked like a nice one but at the bar looked very cheap." - The Former Banker

Frugality during a recession: most unexpected indeed.

Ppen - LOVE those! Thanks! I do believe my craftiness can make those happen.

"My mom beat good taste into me. Now...I wouldn't get offended if my boyfriend requested it of me but perhaps the woman doesn't know how to dress right ya know? She might feel insecure shopping. Or feel bombarded." - Ppen

That's an excellent point, too. I think there's a big part in this discussion for the context of whether the person in question has a die-hard devotion to a certain style or is given to flexibility to dress according to the event.

"I can't think that I've met someone who dresses this way, but it sounds to me like maybe a bit of an attention-seeking thing .. 'ooh look at me, all cutesy' " - Lobster

Sometimes, sure. Again, it depends on the context. If someone's dressed in an "attention-seeking" way for a casual or recreational event, I personally find it more interesting to observe someone who dresses "unconventionally."

At a work function, I think simplicity in dress is invaluable. The type of people present is a big determining factor. In some cases, you'll be in a losing position regardless because they'll find fault with any inconsequential detail. In other, less scrutinous crowds, one may be able to get away with a whimsical (but unobtrusive) accessory without much damage to their credibility. That depends on whether they're wearing a formal-style Mickey Mouse watch or they look like Spencer's Novelty Shop puked on them shortly before their arrival.

I'm huge into Geek Chic (I also own Thor earrings, Batgirl shoes, & TARDIS socks), so I have no standing dissing Hello Kitty wear. But I will say that you dress for the situation. My X-Men shirt is my "out running errands" clothes. Going out with the hubby for a toddler-free night? Then it's a sparkly top & my good jeans. And work gets work clothes.

That said, there does come a time when you have to forgo certain fashion because of age. At 30, I know I'm too old for those cute anime hats. I finally had to confess that while it still fit, I was too old to rock my sheer spider-web shirt. And while I think some of the fashion tights that are out right now are wicked, I would look patently ridiculous in them running around in them.

No one can pull off the PHD in the daytime look though. Pet peeve of mine.

But, to sum up, dress for the situation.

Amended: Amy asks why people dress "Little Girl", & since several people have expressed that cartoon characters are the standard, I'll explain why I dress that way.

For me, it's about passion. I am passionate about my geekdom. I want to show it off & identify others like me in the wild. A few years ago, I got into Dr. WHO. The first thing I did was read everything I could about it. The second thing was get a t-shirt. I just want to share my enthusiasm. But that's my reasoning & May differ from someone who wears Hello Kitty & pigtails

Little late to the conversation, but here goes.

I'm 33, and can fit into my daughters clothes. I don't wear them to work mind you, but on laundry day, whatever fits...although she and my son really HATE it when I steal their clothes. Cause ya know, boob prints and all.

I can look good in anything. I tend to dress conservatively if going to work, family functions, or the like. When I'm at home with just me and the kids or alone at a fair with my husband however, all bets are off.

I dress to please myself, and my husband. I wear shorts cut right to the bum, my hair loose, and my Muppets Animal tank top. I don't do the braids mind you, because I suck at doing hair.

Of course, at 5'11 160, I have the body for it. If I were 260, I'd be wearing a tent.

I understand the whole "time and place" thing, and so does my daughter. (no short shorts or belly tops till you've moved out, thank you very much! Hey, she'll be past 22 anyway...) She and my son would be mortified if I went out to the mall like that, but when we're at the river, what's the big deal?

And as for part B, I wouldn't be offended at the request, I'd be angry at myself for dating such a old geezer!

A woman's body and style are her own. If the idiot is going to be hypocritical enough to criticize what attracted him to her in the first place, then he doesn't deserve her. How many idiots do you know that say "Gee honey, I love that sexy little pair of shorts you wore to the fair, but can you not wear it anymore? You're attracting attention!"

Wow, I feel so boring. I'm all preppy standard now with a crunchy edge sometimes. It's been Talbot's and Chico's (they have acetate... doesn't need ironing! Doesn't wrinkle in the suitcase!!!) type stuff since my early 30s or so.

Sometimes I worry I've grown too dull... gone are the days of pink or green hair and the vinyl corsets.

The transition was gradual. Senior year I dyed my hair dark brown again and set aside the Manic Panic. My early twenties it was still black tops and stretchy turquoise faux-snakeskin pants and heavy black glasses. Then the preppy grown-up clothes started creeping in... I bought my first Hermes scarf (a style I had previously associated with moms and grandmothers), a small "twilly", at 26. Grad school I got pretty preppy.

Then there was the "OMG why bother I'm just going to be covered in spit up in five minutes". Now I'm just generic... jeans, ts, sometimes a nice skirt... anything that doesn't make my laundry too much of a chore.

I'm in America and hitting Talbots, Chicos, Lord and Taylor, Marshalls and other generic mall stores.

So my answer is... late twenties, early 30s

"And as for part B, I wouldn't be offended at the request, I'd be angry at myself for dating such a old geezer!" - wtf

HA! Exactly.