I feel your pain! My birthday is TOMORROW and I am wearing the same old stuff I have had for years. I went into a local upscale department store, looked around at all the babydoll tops and junior "ho"-clothes, and then said, "Excuse me, but where are the clothes for GROWN-UPS?"

Unfortunately, age-appropriate stuff is hard to find and tends to be expensive. I shop the sales and discount stores and the occasional catalog. And in my town, the Junior League Thrift Shop has amazing stuff, lots of it new and with tags.

Good luck!

I try to stay with the classics. I try to add the lastest fashion shapes without all the hoochie-momma colors and patterns. It isn't easy! I am petite and 48, I feel your pain! I travel and have to live out of a suitcase so I tend to have the does it go with black and or jeans wardrobe or the does it go with brown and/or jeans wardrobe? My suitcase hardly ever contains black and brown at the same time.

I used to buy clothes because they basically fit and they served a purpose, now I buy only clothes that I put on and say does this make me look good, do I feel good wearing this? It has helped me par down my clothes to things that I really enjoy and when you look good you feel good.

Of course today I wore an old but nice sweater that is too big. It was warm and comfortable but I felt big and sloppy all day. I think it is time for it to go.

Me too! Actually, I bought what I thought fitted me and today I feel terrible wearing those Large shirts/sweaters that should actually be a Medium to fit me correctly. I never used to wear what I thought was too tight (but was actually right), and didn't have long enough sleeves. Now I am carting out lots of bags of clothes to charity and buying clothes that fit better. An expense recovery process for sure.

I have to laugh Linda - seems we are the same age with the similair thoughts on fashion. In the past few years I have spent more time in Europe. European women look so much better than American women. Most take pride in their appearance every day. Most of the average women there have fewer clothes but nicer clothes. I am trying to get there. Trying to take the time to look as best as possible everyday. Some days I fall short, its really hard when I'm working at home. It is so much easier when I'm on the road in front of people every day.

I know exactly what you mean about the large clothes. I think I have spent most of my life hiding my curves - now at age 48 - I'm deciding to wear a smaller size and show them. (Of course, I had better shape before, but hid it)

Why does it take aging to realize that you should have done something years ago when it would have been even better? You know the why did I think I was fat when I weighed 15 pounds less syndrome? Crazy?

What are your favorite stores?

My thoughts exactly!!! I hid myself under clothing for years, shyness for one reason and another would be being a breast cancer survivor. Hiding was hiding my scars, physically and emotionally. Now at my age the reconstruction is fairing better than the natural. That said I still have something of a figure and intend to enjoy it. It is like I can see the end of the road now and want to get as much enjoyment out of what I have left as I can.

Stores? Not too many to choose from around my area. We have the usual - Kohls, Penny's, Macy's. There are outlets about an hour away which give me more of an assortment.