Bare arms -yay or nay?

Size 10. That's tiny.

Thankfully the sun has gone back in so my arms are safely back where they belong-under sleeves. Knowing our Welsh summer, that's where they'll stay.

I feel your pain!!!! The struggle is so real as we age especially when we are so young in our heads. I'm 61 and have been a size 8 all my life up to a year ago when I suddenly gained weight, I'm now a very good 10 but more rounded than I've ever been and yes my arms have suddenly become a little bigger and bingo wingish lol, to be quite honest I find in hard to accept these changes but I realise that unless I diet constantly and exercise every day then I'll never be the same again. Conversely if I do slim down it will probably age me dreadfully as the saying goes choose your bum or your face, it's no good having a slim body and a haggered face. Getting older is not fun but we have to look positively at the many good things in the past.

getting on a bit, I wish the blokes would think more about the appropriateness of their summer outfits. Knee length shorts, flip flops and a vest stretched over a paunch is fairly standard garb of the British male in summer and not an edifying sight!

Feet. I hadn't thought of feet!

Can you imagine a load of blokes getting het up about the "appropriateness" of their summer apparel? .

At 70 ish, bare arms aren't always attractive, I would agree, but personally,I think that bare feet can be worse. I only wear sandals(with bare feet), on really fine days or holidays, but I know ladies who do from Spring onwards, regardless of the weather. Not always attractive or appropriate. My feet would be freezing a lot of the time, which, in turn, causes me to run to the loo!

*on women. An edit button would be good.

I wear sleeveless tops because it's hot here in summer. There are two things that are really necessary as far as I am concerned. The top has to come up to just under the arms, nothing looks worse women whether they are fit or not if the sleeveless part under the arms is cut too low. The other thing is exfoliate your arms all over, or at least apply moisturiser.

Seriously, though, apart from whether we like or dislike flesh on show, I think we should dress the way that feels comfortable to us and makes us feel confident, without fear of being judged and found wanting by our sisters (or brothers)

I was once involved in a heated online discussion with some Americans about guns. They ferociously defended their God-given right to 'bare arms'

What's good enough for them....

I once waved goodbye to my DD and DGD from the car. In the wing mirror my wings continued to wave even though the rest of my arm had stopped. Go ahead it seems that you've worked hard to tone.

Upper arms go weird as you get older. I had spectacular muscly arms from years of riding horses. Now they look all wasted and prone to creasing depending on angle. Hate it. But once it's hot, I have no option but to go sleeveless as the other thing that's gone is my thermostat. Far too hot in sleeves in summer. My knees are also going wrinkly and yet I still wear shorts. Sorry world!

I do Pilates, clough. I find it good for toning up if a bit tedious.

Do lots of Pilates and you can be proud of your arms

Thanks all. I went out for a walk earlier and didn't realise how hot it was! I took off my thin parka-thingy and tied it around my waist (until I got back to civilization) and it felt....ok.

Whilst people-watching in the supermarket I noticed a LOT of flesh on display, young and old. I think it must be a British thing-we don't get much sun but, boy, when we do, everyone goes mad!

I think I must be a winter person because I dislike dressing for summer and feel quite exposed in the sun even if I'm fully covered. Weird!

Sounds like you might be just fine with bare arms, gettingonabit, with your new slim toned arms. Anyway, I think we should wear whatever we want and feel comfortable with.
Definitely sleeves for me though, with my untoned arms!

If you feel comfortable baring your arms, then go for it. Personally there are several parts of my body which I don't put on public view: ears (ugly things generally - apart from my DD's which are small and perfect), toes (mine are in good nick but I still don't like seeing mine or other people's), arms and legs. If I could get away with it I'd put a paper bag over my head too...perhaps it's time for me to invest in a few burkas. Good on you by the way for tackling the arm flab - ever since breaking my shoulder twenty years ago my upper right arm flesh flaps in the wind!

Great work losing the extra weight and I agree if your arms are looking toned then go sleeveless if that's what you want. I lost quite a lot of weight a few years ago but unfortunately it left me with awful sagging skin on my upper arms - if I bend forward it looks like it's going to run down to my wrists It reminds me of my mum's arm when she was in her 90's and in care (I'm 63) so it has to be extremely hot for me to go sleeveless. However I'm not sure about in the office - as I work from home I could go topless in my office and no one would know

Wouldn't bare at work, but anywhere else I don't mind as long as arms are tanned(real or fake!)!

Dress in what makes you feel comfortable - be guided by your instincts. Well done for losing and getting toned!

Come on ladies - flap your wings! Several years ago I contributed a piece (The seven signs of ageing) to a book entitled Defining Women - on mature reflection (Third Age Press). In it I announced the official launch of the "Campaign for the Freedom of Bingo Wings'. Sadly it never got off the ground so maybe it's time to try again. I maintain that ugliness is in the eye of the beholder so let's be 'cool', unashamed and not embarrassed.

I always wore sleeveless low necked tops to work in the summer, often with thin straps and a strapless bra. I always wore trousers/trouser suits. Luckily I have good arms and am slim, apart from my middle, which has annoyingly started to expand for no apparent reason, although thankfully still much smaller than my hips. What I hate is some of the girls showing massive cleavage which is totally unsuitable for work and one of them (in her mid 50s!) was overweight and looked 7 months pregnant and her cleavage was almost up to her neck! I found it embarrassing and thought there should have been a dress code. A girl in her 20s wore shorts and tights, which I think is a silly fashion and shorts are not suitable for work.

I never bare my arms now, unless I am in the garden. To wobbly.

I wear what I want and that often means bare arms in the summer. My arms are reasonably slim and toned which is also partly due to weight training and partly good luck. Wear what you want.

I am not overweight, but I don't like to inflict my ageing flesh on anybody. Of course everybody is entitled to wear whatever they like, but personally I think skimpy things + old, and particularly + old and wobbly, do not look at all nice.
For warm weather I like loose, floaty cotton or linen, at least to elbows and calves. Can be very casual or dressy, and quite apart from anything else, it's usually cooler than having the sun beating down on your skin.
The only exceptions for me are beach or pool.

Arms is arms, get them out and get the sun on them. I refuse to sweat/feel sick for vanity. Be proud.