Dressing my age? Some days I know exactly what that means. Other times, I’m not so sure.

We like to claim that “a woman should feel free to wear whatever she wants,” and I mostly believe that. But that’s also one of those sayings that I wish were true more than it actually is true. I think most of us can think of times we’ve seen mature women dressed in outfits that just seemed wrong—not because they were ill-fitting, but because they seemed meant for someone much, much younger.

I know—who am I to decide what’s “much too young?” It’s hard to say, but I kinda know it when I see it, and I don’t want to be that woman.

In general, my attire tends toward stylish but not trendy. I like to look good, but I’m a lazy shopper, so I need clothes that will work for many seasons.  I can’t be bothered with an item of clothing that has a short shelf life.

And that’s why I actually might have been that woman a few times, though I don’t like to admit it. The downside of staying pretty much the same size most of my adult life is that I can still fit into clothes I wore many, many years ago. At one point, I think my girlfriends were going to do an intervention on me if I didn’t stop wearing my beloved Daisy Dukes (inappropriately short cut-off denim jeans, for those unfamiliar with the term). Rather than admit that I was a little long in the tooth for shorts that short, I chose to believe that my girlfriends were just jealous because they could no longer fit into theirs. (Both statements are probably true). I eventually and reluctantly retired my short shorts…kind of. Now I wear them only on vacation. Mostly I dress like a grown-up now.

So here’s why this whole concept of dressing one’s age is on my mind lately: because I am delighted to say, the mini is back.

I’ve always loved short skirts and dresses. But then, at some point, I started wearing my hemlines at a more respectable length. I decided that if I was going to shake my head at other women who looked like they’d been shopping in the juniors department, then I should stop being one of them.   I had almost convinced myself that they looked foolish, but I looked cute. But it was getting tough to keep up the self-delusion. When I started a new job, I used that as an excuse to try out a new look. I  bought myself a few skirts and dresses with hemlines designed for the mature woman. So boring.

I thought I looked matronly. Like I was losing my mojo. Over time, my hemlines started to creep back up—not quite to mini length, but up above my knees. Where they belonged.

I heard or read somewhere that if you were old enough to wear a trend the first time around then you’re probably too old for it the next time. Makes sense, right?

But you know what? To heck with that. Remember how I said that I no longer want to be that woman who’s rocking an outfit that’s too young? I’ve decided that I don’t really care. I’m wearing my minis. Proudly. For the fun of it all.

Dressing too young? Too dowdy? Or pulling it off? Check our Facebook Page for a photo album of celebs who might–or might not–be hitting it just right.