Lifestyle How to Dress Your Age and Love It! 3/8/2024 | By Terri L. Jones “Dress your age!” The idea that a piece of clothing may or may not be age-appropriate is a standard imposed upon women, never men. As fashion writer Megan Kristen explained, “I’ve never once heard my husband ask, ‘Am I too old for this?’” While some older women may fall victim to those disparaging side-eye glances and second-guess their choices, thankfully many mature fashionistas wear their clothing confidently and unapologetically. For them, dressing their age is more about wearing clothing that reflects their personal style and makes them feel uniquely like themselves. And if that means wearing a short skirt with platform shoes, then so be it! Here are some tips on how to dress your age or, in other words, how to be confident in whatever the heck you choose to wear: Not “dress your age” but “choose your style” 1. Define your personal style and develop your wardrobe accordingly. It’s probably taken you decades to find – and refine – your personal style, but once you’ve found it, embrace it! Maybe you see yourself as a free spirit and favor peasant-style blouses and flowy skirts over blazers and slacks. Or your look is all about faded jeans and Converse tennis shoes. Your hair, makeup, and clothing are all expressions of you as a person, not of anybody else or their judgments. 2. Choose styles that flatter your body type. Our bodies change with age – no getting around it! But that doesn’t mean you have to hide under baggy sweaters and muumuus for the rest of your life. Instead choose pieces that focus on the parts of your body you’re proud of and distract from the areas you’re not as comfortable with. “It will be a sign of progress when older women would be free from the business of covering up as a sign of shame,” Julia Twigg, professor of social policy and sociology at the University of Kent, told The Age Buster. 3. Stand out rather than blend in. As you get older, you no longer need to dress a certain way to fit in and be accepted. Dressing your age means wearing exactly what you want and not what anyone else wears or expects you to wear. Don’t be afraid of that neon pink blouse, that hat with a feather or a pair of statement eyeglasses. It’s your turn to shine! 4. Go for classic instead of trendy. Don’t pass on an article of clothing you really like, just because you saw it at H&M or in the junior section, but also don’t try too hard to look young and hip. With age comes the understanding that the clothing you wear is a statement on who you are. As a result, you may find yourself passing over pieces that portray you as a younger, less mature version of yourself. 5. Be confident in your comfort. When you were younger, you probably wore blouses so low that you had to be careful about leaning over, pants so tight that you couldn’t breathe, or shoes that rubbed your feet raw – all in the name of vanity. But through the years, you’ve learned how to look good without torturing yourself in the process. Plus, you’ve recognized how essential comfort is to projecting confidence. 6. Invest in better quality. As you get older and have a little more disposable income, you probably value quality over quantity. “At 22, you grabbed something disposable off the rack at a discount store,” noted personal stylist Megan Kristel. “Today, you’ll pay a little more at a better department or specialty store, so you get a better product with a longer lifespan.” Because you’re less interested in keeping up with fashion trends, your wardrobe can last longer and doesn’t have to constantly be in rotation. Bottom line, the phrase “dress your age” doesn’t have to be a derogatory or limiting one. Instead, it can show that you know exactly who you are and the image you want to project. And just as you live your life on your own terms, you’ll dress that way too! Related: A capsule wardrobe for timeless style Read More Terri L. Jones Terri L. Jones has been writing educational and informative topics for the senior industry for over ten years, and is a frequent and longtime contributor to Seniors Guide.