Why do the elderly wear pastels?

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I've tried to find a reasonable explanation but can't.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Because they realize goth sucks.

― Nicolars (Nicole), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

What about Johnny Cash?

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

why do I wear pastels?

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Because you are very, very old.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Why do the women in particular favor a dusty rose shade?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Their eyesight is so poor that all other colors fade into the background. They would never be able to find their clothes otherwise.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Because they're gay.

― Marcel Post (Marcel Post), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

their fashion establishes metaphoric barriers, creating a zone of exclusion around their sphere of consumption and production.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice.

But seriously, today at lunch I saw a doddering old man with sky-blue slacks and a matching windbreaker.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I wonder if past a certain point it feels like Easter all the time.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

They all wish they were in Miami.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Those in Miami wish they were anywhere else

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

But does everyone in Miami wear pastels, or just the old folks?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Miami of the mind"

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Like this?
http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/shows/miamicast.gif

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel like we're making progress here.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

What would Will Smith do?

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

(Hey john, I had a dream I ran into Dan Piw0warchy*--like I need to googel-proof his name since I can't even spell it-- and Alexia Kr*ug*r and someone else I can't remember at a record shop. I called Alexia 'Alexis' and apologized after doing so, telling her I thought Alexis was more posh and, thus, more fitting. Then the store clerk started handing us academic awards)

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

But c'mon, you're derailing the thread. I WANT ANSWERS.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

...BECAUSE when they were kids, pastels were for hipsters and they never got over it.

― adaml (adaml), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Old people dress funny because they've outlived their good clothes and in their advanced wisdom, don't care anymore.
Look in your closet, see all those things you bought but never wore? Or clothes that other people bought for you that don't suit your fashion sense? Well, that's what you'll be wearing when you're a geezer.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

All I see is an oatmeal-stained Denver Broncos sweatshirt.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

start loving it

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

*cue 50 years into the future of ILE*

Why do the elderly wear oatmeal-stained Denver Broncos sweatshirts?

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, that's what you'll be wearing when you're a geezer.

Wearing Daisy Dukes at 70 is a frightening thought.

But does everyone in Miami wear pastels, or just the old folks?

As far as I've seen, the old folks have put down the pastels in favour of stripes and sequins.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Classy.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

To match their baby blue Park Avenues in their handicap spots.

― violet red (violet red), Thursday, 9 October 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Because they all buy their clothes from the cheap bin at Walmart.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Thursday, 9 October 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

According to Alison Lurie's The Secret Language of Clothes it's because the elderly (at least in the U.S.) in some ways become children again.

― j.lu (j.lu), Thursday, 9 October 2003 23:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait ... was that a serious answer? That's brilliant, j.lu!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 10 October 2003 06:10 (twenty-two years ago)

i seriously thought this said pistols.
that'd be cool, they could have shoot outs at ten paces over the sunday roast. These eggs are indigestible! *bang*

― Nellie (nellskies), Friday, 10 October 2003 07:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The descent into soft focus is a refelection of their own lives as they slowly fade away.

― Alex K (Alex K), Friday, 10 October 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

they know it pisses off the young'uns.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 10 October 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so disappointed in this thread. I coulda swore it said "Why do the elderly wear pasties" and I somehow totally psychologically prepared myself to see blue-hairs gettin' down on some pole-action to Beastie Boys' "Boomin' Granny". I feel so robbed.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 10 October 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Because pastel gets mad ass.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 10 October 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

My guess is that as one ages, things fade....eyesight weakens, hearing goes, taste buds fade (many elderly i know prefer bland foods) & so, why not style? seems to fit for both color & taste....

― Kelstarry, Friday, 10 October 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Old people wear pastels because if they wore dark dreary colors it would remind them that the clocks tickin' down.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Saturday, 11 October 2003 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm Fruity Nutcake The Senior Earthquake
My body sags like week old cheesecake.
Today I shake my hips and pelvis
Tomorrow could be dead as Elvis

Diabetes, hypertension
I take too many pills to mention
I rap the East, I rap the West
That's why I need my bullet proof vest

I go all night I love to scream
Believe me I'm your grandpa's dream
I'll make a move on any man
Hey have you seen my diaphragm?

I am fantastic and collosal
The nation's only living fossil
When Bill Gates plays in my front yard
His MicroSoft gets Big&Hard

Oh I got style and I got grace
My grandson moshes on my face
I'm sayin' "da bomb" I'm sayin' "yo"
What this stuff means, I'd love to know!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 11 October 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It's actually The Language of Clothes, but yes, she says this, and it makes sense when you think about it. If I live so long as to not care what I look like, I expect to live in t-shirts and elastic-waist pants or shorts. Although these will probably more often than not be in black or gray.

― j.lu (j.lu), Saturday, 11 October 2003 20:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm pretty sure the elderly me won't be wearing the stuff in my wardrobe I don't wear because it'll look even shittier on an older version than it does right now. (I mean: mesh top on an oldster? Maybe not.)

My mother is elderly and doesn't wear pastels at all, really. Quite a lot of black, if anything. The odd bit of purple and red. Hm.

― ChrissieH (chrissie1068), Saturday, 11 October 2003 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

cos they are stylee mutherfuckers.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Saturday, 11 October 2003 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

correction: grandmotherfuckers

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 11 October 2003 23:48 (twenty-two years ago)

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