6 Style Myths Women Over 60 Should Ignore (And What To Wear Instead)
If you’re a woman over 60, you’ve probably heard all the style myths about what you should and shouldn’t wear. Somewhere along the way, a memo went out saying that once we hit this age, we’re supposed to tone everything down…our wardrobes, our lipstick, even our personalities. It’s as if we’re expected to quietly fade into the background. Well, I never got that memo. Or if I did, I ignored it completely.
Who decided we needed a style expiration date anyway? I’m sitting here in a sweater I’ve owned for almost 15 years, wondering who made up these ridiculous fashion rules for women over 60. I know that finding your style after 60 can be challenging, but it’s also liberating. When we feel good in our clothes, everything else feels more manageable. But these outdated “rules” keep too many women from experiencing that confidence. You may also enjoy 6 Things to Wear Over 60
Fashion Myth #1: Women Over 60 Shouldn’t Wear Jeans
I can’t help but laugh at this one because I basically live in jeans.
All those style guides say jeans are “too casual” for mature women. But here’s the thing, it’s not about avoiding jeans, it’s about finding denim that actually fits. After 60, comfort matters as much as looking good (maybe more), but that doesn’t mean we have to look dowdy.
My favorites are mid-wash, high-rise jeans with a little stretch, but I also love pull-on jeans, wide-leg styles, and white denim. They’re a wardrobe staple for me and always will be. Jeans have a modern look and relaxed vibe that works beautifully for our casual lifestyles.
What to wear instead: Focus on finding jeans that fit your body today, not the body you had at 30. Look for styles with stretch, a comfortable rise, and a leg shape that flatters your proportions. Dark wash and high-rise styles are particularly flattering for older women but I find medium wash the most versatile.
I wrote more about The Jean Style Every Woman Over 60 Should Own and 5 Style Rules To Live by After 60 to Look and Feel Your Best.
Wardrobe Myth #2: Sleeveless Is Off-Limits for Older Women
The older I get, the less I like to show my upper arms. But the truth is…nobody’s staring at my arms. They’re all too worried about their own stuff…and if they’re not, I don’t care what they think,
I passed a woman on the street this week wearing a sleeveless black dress, and my first thought was “wow, she looks confident!” My arms certainly don’t look as toned as I’d like, but these arms have hugged loved ones who are no longer with me and cuddled babies and grandchildren so they’re too precious to treat with disdain.
Do I love the “bingo wing situation” and crepey skin? Heck no. I’m trying to battle it with Pilates, free weights, and this body retinol lotion. But in blistering weather, you’ll find me in a tank top or sleeveless maxi dress, enjoying life. I often carry a lightweight cardigan for air conditioning set at arctic levels, but I dress for comfort and joy now, not for outdated rules that tell women to hide themselves.
The real rule for women over 60: If you feel confident and comfortable, wear it. Your comfort level is the only guideline that matters when it comes to what you choose to wear. Taking care of yourself includes wearing what makes you feel good.
Style Misconception #3: Fashion Trends Are Only For Young Women
There’s this unspoken idea that once we hit a certain age, we’re supposed to stick to the “classics” and leave trends to the younger crowd. The fashion world suggests we should dress like we’re frozen in time, but I disagree.
You don’t have to chase every trend, but you don’t have to ignore them all either. I think of trends like seasoning…a little keeps things interesting, but too much and run the risk of looking like you’re trying way too hard.
The smart approach to trends after 60: If something catches your eye, try it. See if it works with pieces you already love. That’s usually a good sign it belongs in your rotation.
Fashion Belief #4: Style Doesn’t Matter for Women Over 60
This might be the most damaging myth of all, and clearly stupid. Society has a way of making women feel less relevant as we age, but style is one of the most powerful forms of self-care we have to stay visible and engaged.
EARRINGS / SIMILAR NECKLACE
I don’t get dressed to impress anyone but myself, but when I feel put together, I feel more confident. The most stylish women over 60 I know have one thing in common: they refuse to disappear.
The truth about style after 60: Getting dressed with intention is an act of self-respect that ripples through every part of your day. Good style never goes out of fashion, regardless of age.
Style Rule #5: Looking Stylish After 60 Is Expensive
I learned this one the expensive way, after years of buying random stuff I thought I “should” wear instead of sticking with what I knew worked on me. Turns out, looking put-together has way more to do with confidence than your credit card balance.
Some of the most stylish women I know shop smart, rewear what they love, and mix high and low pieces with ease.
Focus on these budget-friendly style tips:
- Buy clothes that fit the body you have today…don’t squeeze yourself into something that used to fit.
- Choose a simple color palette that works together which also makes it easier to get dressed in the morning.
- Use your accessories to update what you already own and add personality to your look.
You don’t need to spend more to look great. You just need to know what works for you and wear it with purpose.
Fashion Rule #6: Floral Patterns Are Aging on Women Over 60
Here’s the thing, some florals absolutely are aging. Those tiny, busy prints that look like they were pulled from 1980s wallpaper? The ditsy florals on cheap polyester? Yeah, those will age you. But avoiding all florals because of the bad ones is like never wearing jeans because you had one terrible pair. The right floral print can actually make you look fresh and current.
Larger, bolder prints with clean lines work best. Abstract florals or watercolor-style patterns feel modern. Even classic roses work if they’re scaled up and printed on quality fabric.
Better floral choices: Skip anything tiny, busy, or overly sweet. Go for prints with impact and modern colorways.
What to Wear After 60: The Real Guidelines
The beauty of personal style at our age, is that it’s deeply personal and you get to make the rules. You don’t have to get it perfect, because there is no perfect. You just have to wear what makes you feel confident. Whether it’s finding the right jeans, embracing sleeveless tops, or trying a new trend, the only rule that matters is wearing what makes you feel confident and seen.
What style “rule” have you broken recently? I’d love to hear about the fashion choice that surprised you…or maybe what you’re still working up the courage to try.
Thanks for reading and being part of this amazing community of women.
Some of these myths on how women of a certain age should dress, made me laugh out loud! Probably more like a snort & an eye roll! I’m curious where all these rules came from?
The only person we need to please, is ourselves.
At 79 I think I break all of those style rules except for the sleeveless one . The armholes are so big that my bra shows. I love wide leg pants and a favorite is a faded red pair. I always get compliments when I wear them. At my age, as long as I look pulled together and the hair, Makeup etc are nice and neat , i don’t care what other people think. Have a good weekend everyone!!
I love your attitude Judy.
Good Morning Jennifer: Excellent article today. Thank you for every word you wrote. You look good on those pull-on jeans. I have a couple of pair from Spanx, but they’re so tight at the ankle, they almost look like leggings. I still love them, wear them a lot, but looking for a pair that doesn’t cling to the ankle so much. These look perfect. Enjoy your weekend.
Check out Chico’s and J.Jil, who usually carry great pull on jeans. I agree Spanx are often snugger than I like.
I’ve always heard older women shouldn’t wear stripes that are horizontal, only vertical because of weight?
The eye does follow the line of a stripe so it can make you look wider, but if you love it, wear it! It’s a forever classic. Theoretically, I should not wear striped tees because they make my shoulders look wider, but I do all the timne because I love the look. We are the size we are and beyond slight camoflaging, I think we should wear what we enjoy.
Many years ago I read an article that said that a row of horizontal stripes can act as a ladder effect. You just need more than a few. Since I love stripes I use that thought.
That’s a wonderful analogy and I can visualize it perfectly.
Feel free to reexamine your style. I’m doing a deep dive through my closets being mindful of what fits my lifestyle and my body. Having usually bought quality garments I have many from years ago I planned to purge. I’m instead finding some gems I can repurpose, styles I grew away from but now I’m feeling fit my life again and a few gems I just forgot I had! Be strong, it takes awhile to get through everything including accessories.
Great point Susan. I like to reexamine my style on a regular basis because I am constantly growing and changing.
Really good post, Jennifer…and I love jeans too! I kinda get #5, though. There’s something about higher-end fashion that fits my “mature”😂 figure better. Something about the cut of the garment, the composition and quality of the fabric and how it drapes, that fast fashion or even mid-range price items don’t seem to replicate. Sure, that means a lot fewer items in my closet but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. And all the imaginative and fun accessories that are available for less money make me feel “on trend”!
That’s a great tactic. I love the magic accessories create.
Thank you for this interesting post today, Jennifer. I see the truth in everything you say. I would like to share something that happens to me on a regular basis: the nurse in my cardiologist’s office always remarks on what I am wearing. She asks me how old I am (surprised when I tell her), comments that she loves my outfit, and says things like “I remember you because you dress so well.” What this says to me is there is a general expectation that women of my age do not care about style, and when we do, it is notable. Interesting dynamic!
Yes!! That’s what I have observed too, so lets continue to break that stereotype every chance we get!
Hi, I love your blogs. I am over 60 (77). I am thin, underweight. Have always loved clothes and looked good in them. I was 118 perfect weight. Now I am at 100 due to lots of stress, can’t gain any weight, and am healthy. I know how to look good, buy the right clothes. I feel I still look good but not in shorts, anything sleeveless, short sleeve or showing the neck area. I camouflage it all, but it’s difficult to hide in the summer. Any comments would be accepted. Thanks.
I’m so sorry you’re sturggling Monica. Stress is deadly so please practice all the self-care tools at you disposal including dressing to feel your best. If you want to hide things in the heat. Look for flowy clothes in lightweight, natural fabrics. Sending hugs your way
Seriously, you NAILED it! We women worry, stress, and overthink way too much. I love how you wrote, ‘these arms have hugged loved ones who are no longer with me and cuddled babies and grandchildren, so they’re too precious to treat with disdain.’ I’m going to remember that the next time I feel discouraged. Thank you for putting it into words so beautifully.
This is a fabulous post, Jennifer!! Thanks so much for the reminder that we don’t need to adhere to anyone else’s fashion rules – especially if those people haven’t yet reached our stage of life and well-being. Thanks to your always helpful suggestions and ideas, I’m now embracing my own sense of fashion and find myself making more confident (and sometimes “daring”) fashion choices.
Bravo Janet! Have a great weekend.
Two thoughts: Iris Apfel looked fantastic…her fashion sense was flamboyantly alive and her own. And…as we age…if not now, when? The older I get, the more willing I am to try styles I always loved (like sequins) but felt drew too much attention.
Your thoughts are spot on! “If not now, when” is one of my favorite ways to jump start my courage when feeling stifled.
Preach sister! And guess who is about to be 60? Gen X! And we have no problem saying eff it to these so called “rules.” I see a lot of women here still subscribing to the old rules and I get it, they have been imposed on us for so many years. But as En Vogue said, free your mind and the rest will follow! Bon weekend, friends!
Happy weekend Shari!
Spot on. I’ve never been inclined to care what others think so, even if Im a choir of one, you are speaking to me. I often say,” Never accuse me of being a sweet old lady,” so I laughed at you saying to avoid sweet prints.
LOL. I don’t think I’m ever described as sweet either. Happy Friday Therese
Thank you for your uplifting and honest content. The world is a difficult place these days with so much negativity . I am sorry people feel the need to make it worse. I look forward to your blog and appreciate all the effort that goes into it. Have a wonderful weekend and ignore the haters!
Happy weekend Jan!
Thank you, Jennifer! I always appreciate your positive spin on aging and fashion. I often think of your blog while planning my outfit for the day. We are headed to Vancouver would you have a fav restaurant that’s not crazy expensive you could suggest?
Thank you for your blog!!
There are so many wonderful places. Catcus Club is a great chain with average prices. Nuba is great. We have so many favorites but Joe Fortes is a classic and so is Nightengale.
Your post is so timely for me, Jennifer. I’ve had many of those “you’re too old to wear X, Y, or Z” things pop up in social media’s “You might be interested” posts that I never signed up for lately. I’ve also run into versions of it in real life more and more and it infuriates me. But I’m not going to become an invisible wallflower just because I’ll be applying for Medicare next year. I feel more confident about myself now than I did through most of my life and I’m not going to go back to hiding just because society says I should.
Bravo Christine!
Yes these rules are stupid. Although I still follow some of them. I hate my upper arms so I never wear sleeveless no matter how hot it is. I can wear a short cap sleeve and still feel better about my arms. I never wear jeans because Florida is still too hot even in the winter. And florals have no place in my wardrobe. But—Embroidered Johnny Was shirts do because I have this boho side. For me, it just boils down to wearing what I feel comfortable wearing, no matter my age!
Thank you for your posts. I look forward to reading them at my breakfast table, sipping coffee, with my cat in my lap.
This is fantastic! I agree with you dress to impress yourself not others. I wear one level up to feel confident and I have taught my daughters to do that as well
I just bought a jumpsuit something I haven’t worn in ages. Love it!
I love that strategy and find it always helps me feel better.
Thank you so much for this article, Jennifer! I feel like I am finally finding my style at age 60!!!
I enjoy your blogs so much, not only for the content, but your thoughts.
Thank you!
Sandy
Yay!! Have fun with it
Hi. Your posts always speak to me but this one really resonated. I’ve been struggling with the upper arm dilemma for a while now and preferring sleeveless on hot days. Yes my arms are crepey and wobbly, but oh the hugs they’ve given and received and the waves of greeting and farewell they’ve given. You’re so right – from now on I’m going to love my arms for their part in my story. THATS a well styled life. Thank you Jennifer.
Your comment gave me a big smile! Thank you Julie