by Antoinette Chorlton - Style Conversations Magazine
Wow! You look so good for your age... How many times have you heard this phrase being used or perhaps you have been told the same phrase by either generation Z or even millennials? If like me, you are generation X - born between 1965 - 1980 - gasp! Nearing our "5th tier" or 6th decade, how is "that" or dare I say it - "old" meant to feel and look when (in my head) 1995 was only 10 years ago, right?
My question is, how do you feel when someone says you look good for your age? Has it ever happened to you before? Do women get "judged" more harshly on how we look and dress directly related to our age, more than men? Even in 2023? Oh, you can't wear that too short, too tight, too young, you're way too old, mutton dressed as lamb, oh no don't wear shorts, mini skirts or (gasp) leather pants...
Here is my 2 cents worth all ages can wear the same fashion trends and shop from the same stores (fact) - the difference is how you style your outfit. It doesn't mean if you are of a "certain age" your fashion sense goes out the window. No! There is nothing better than confidence and that comes with age - so if you love a trend, buy it, wear it, see how you feel in it and decide for yourself. That is the key word here - make up your own mind about what you feel comfortable wearing. It is all about knowing who you are at this point in life and wearing what makes you feel amazing. Self-confidence is the best outfit, rock it and own it!
Coco Chanel famously said that nothing makes a woman look as old as desperately trying to look young. I think what is important when it comes to fashion, is to not try and wear the latest trends in the same way your teenage daughter might instead put her own personality and style to it, that is where the challenge lies. There are no rules about what to wear, whether you are young or old, no matter your age, you can always be fashionable and on-trend it is all about how you wear and style your outfit. Look in the mirror and ask yourself honestly do I love what I see? Do I feel comfortable wearing this?
Iris Apfel who is 101 says I think young people today need to learn to be themselves, to develop a sense of curiosity, and not to live vicariously through these characters with no personality who they follow on social media. I think the takeaway from that is to wear the fashion you love, challenge yourself to style it differently than the younger generation and then (cheekily) ask yourself - who wore it best?
She also says - the worst fashion faux pas, is to look in the mirror and not see yourself. I couldn't agree more! I find myself asking if age matters. We do everything to stop the ageing process, but why? With age comes wisdom and maturity, elegance and familiarity with yourself and your fashion choices. Confidence becomes your age. It is such a privilege to grow old, make memories and gather experiences...
If our 40s are the new thirty, are the decades becoming younger and the generations ageing backwards? If so, when does age really start to matter? It shouldn't really. Age teaches us many life lessons - maturity, wisdom, grace, acceptance, comfort, no fuss and nonsense, loving without limitations, stories, experiences, knowledge, kindness, forgiveness, confidence and perspective.
The bottom line? Age doesn't matter - it never did in my opinion. It is a conversation we are having, yet are we flaunting and embracing our age? I am not convinced, yet...
Personally, I choose to grow older naturally, gracefully and definitely fashionably but at the same time, the older I get the quieter I become, choosing to block the outside noise that belongs to a generation I am not part of, and happily, my favourite age is right now!
In the end, what matters is that we love well, do our best, be thankful for everything we have, dress fabulously and love who we are! So when you see me and think I "look good for my age" go ahead and compliment me! I will receive it graciously...