When I was somewhere in my mid 50's, my husband made a comment one day. We were shopping at a big box store and he spotted a woman who was overweight and probably in her late 40's to early 50's. "She shouldn't be wearing shorts and a top like that. It looks terrible," he said, forehead pinched.

I cringed (knowing I had gained about 15 pounds) but I agreed with him. I mean face it, loose skin, plump arms and baggy knees are not attractive in today's skinny bitch tight ass world.

The following morning, I sucked in a breath of resignation, gathered up all of my shorts, mini- skirts and capped sleeve tops, placed them in a black garbage bag (very appropriate for the occasion) and with great solemnity dropped them off at the thrift shop. 

But it begged the question. Why should only young, tight skinned slender women wear shorts? If  women over fifty (or forty) shouldn't wear shorts because men don't think we look attractive in them, young women shouldn't wear them because they look like an advertising billboard for sex.

Is that what it's all about?  Sex? You can only wear short skirts, shorts, tight pants, spaghetti straps and form-fitting dresses if you are young and attractive to men? Should we, after our child-bearing years, change our wardrobe from sexy to drab now that we don't fit the "sex kitten" stereotype anymore?

I have to say, if the only women who should wear shorts and tight clothes are women who are advertising sex,  frankly that disturbs me; And on sooo many levels.

These are real issues for women no matter what our age because sooner or later this will affect all of us. Are we going to slink off in a corner once our bodies start to bulge (or shrivel) and sag with age? Or will we choose to change the perception of attractive to include mature women who have maybe gained some weight and whose arms flap in the wind a bit as we wave good-bye?

I say go ahead and wear shorts, bathing suits, tight pants and spaghetti strap dresses if we want to wear them. We probably aren't trying to sell anything. We're just freakin' hot. But what if we do still want to feel sexy and desirable in those tight pants, above the knee dresses and spaghetti strap summer dresses?  Is that a crime? 

As for me, I still won't be putting on that cool pair of shorts I saw at the department store last week because frankly I just don't look good in them anymore. I'm too self-conscious to prance around in them, flaccid thighs clapping against each other softly with every step. I won't wear them because someone might give me "the look". No matter the reason, the time isn't right yet for me even though secretly I'd love to. Perhaps I'll don a pair when I'm seventy and don't give a rat's behind about what any man thinks, or woman for that matter. (continues next column)