Ageless Style vs Fashion Only Midlife Women Wear
I often talk about classic, timeless fashions. The simple cardigan, white shirt, ballet flats, loafers, trench coat, and straight-cut pants all stand the test of time. They can look as current today as they did 20 years ago. Boho fashion also has its timeless essentials, as do preppy and traditional styles. Today, I want to talk about some fashions only midlife women wear. As always, my goal is not to convince you to give up wearing something you love. I hope to help you become aware of the messages your clothes are sending so you choose with intent.
As I go in and out of some of this community’s favorite retailers lately, I am occasionally struck by some of the unfortunate fashion they’re offering. This topic has been on my mind more and more lately, and lo and behold…I see we’ve discussed this before…so let’s dig a bit deeper.
You may also enjoy- An Easy Guide to Boho-Chic Wardrobe Essentials.
Our style evolves as we age, but that doesn’t mean we should embrace clothing that makes us look older than we are. Fashion is a tool for self-expression, and regardless of our age, it’s empowering to choose outfits that reflect vibrancy, individuality, and confidence. Wearing clothes that feel outdated or are overly conservative can send the wrong message. Conversely, outfits with juvenile prints can unintentionally undermine the polished image many older women want to portray. The overly puffy sleeve has been an unfortunate trend lately, and few women over 60 can pull it off well.
Since people judge who we are by how we look…dressing in ways that embrace a modern look and personal flair allows older women to feel visible, relevant, and celebrated. We need to wear fashions that reflect our personal style recipe, work for our lifestyle, and complement our body shape. I also firmly believe they should bring us joy.
By this age, many of us have tried and true brand favorites that we rely on for the fit and styling we like. That makes shopping easier and life simpler. However, and this is a big one, just because we appreciate and trust a brand to carry our aesthetic doesn’t mean we can go into the store with a carte blanche attitude and count on everything they offer to work in our best interest.
Fashion that puts women in an identifiable age bracket is not ageless, timeless, or modern. For example…capri pants. I’m not talking about cropped pants, but capris that stop at the widest part of your calf. Despite their resurgence among the young last season, they only seem to proliferate at retailers that cater to midlife women. See also Are Capri Pants Out Of Style For 2024.
In the same vein are tee shirts and dresses in tiny, childlike prints we might expect to see in the toddler section.
Ageless dressing means choosing clothes that accentuate our best parts and subtly camouflage the ones we donāt want to draw attention to. By our age, we’ve got plenty of body parts we’d prefer to cover, but I’d like to see us doing it with styles that people canāt pigeonhole into an age bracket.
One could argue that silk scarves and brooches also date us because young women have not adopted those accessories. And you would have a point…except they’ve been worn by some of the chicest women in history.
I have no problem looking my age. I just want to look like the best version of myself and dress in a way that keeps me visible and modern. I’ll admit that I find capri pants one of the most unflattering garments a woman can wear, so I have a clear bias. I also steer clear of most prints, but that’s my personal preference. By this age, we’ve earned the right to wear whatever we please. So, if you love capris, by all means, wear them with pride. If teeny, childlike prints ring your bell, enjoy them. Just be aware that they may visually slot you into a distinct age category.
Let’s talk about this. What are your thoughts?
Thanks for reading, and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Jennifer, I agree with your bias against capri pants. After following you for a bit, I tried on all my pants between shorts and full length. And you are right about them cutting the leg off at the most unflattering point. However, living in a rural area and not having all the stores you mention, I am limited as to what is available to me. Ordering online isnāt an option for me because getting deliveries and returning is difficult. So, short of hemming up my capris, which isnāt feasible due to the decorations at the bottom, I am stuck wearing capris. I have to wear what the stores decide I will wear. But Iām not happy about it.
You make a great point.
I also agree 100%. Although I have several pair of crop pants with the slimmer legs, I struggle to find comfortable shoes to wear with them that do not make them look frumpy. I think they look best with sleek, minimal shoes or sandals. Athletic shoes with mine just make me look and feel terrible. My collection of crops mostly go unworn, but whatās a women to do when the weather gets hot???
I hear you! Footwear is a struggle for so many of us.
I find nice flats with a slightly pointed toe (not round) in a nude or other soft shade are most flattering although pretty sandals are nice too.
Ellen, I cut off my capris with bottom buttons and cuffs and made Bermuda shorts out of them. They were NYDJ so the shorts were a great wear.
Agree about capri pants but most of my friends wear them – yesterday it was 107 degrees in Tulsa – so ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I have a bias about shorts that stop right above oneās knees. I think our eyes go right there and most knees are not our loveliest asset. It is more and more difficult to find age appropriate clothing – especially casual dresses – styled for āmatureā women but still current looking. I also think that sleeveless styles on most women my age are not our best look – even in 107 degree heatš¤ .
Great points!
Totally agree about capris. Thanks for fashion advice.
Have started wearing regular length shorts that are just above knees, from Talbots, bought last year. With a belt and tucked in tshirt or blouse, looks look classic. I also started to wear a not too short skort. I’ve seen them look good on older women. The chinos I bought thinking I’d wear them this summer aren’t getting a lot of use, too hot.
Skorts are a great idea but they wonāt cover knees or varicose veins if thatās what a lady wants to do. I need more skorts because Iām not a shorts wearer.
I am normally a petite, but buy misses, or even tall. I go by the inches listed.
I’m a fan of skorts too. I acquired a couple last summer that fall just above the knee and found them to be both comfortable and flattering to wear, just a bit more dressy than shorts. Both have a pattern — navy/white strips and black/white small print, so are great to wear with a solid T-shirt.
I was just discussing this with my husband a couple of weeks ago. To me, the thing that really is aging about capris is the footwear choices I often see women wearing with them. I have a few pairs, and I will never wear anything with them except a very flat neutral sandal.
Yes, it’s the styling that often makes them look awful.
Agree with you 100%. Capris are a risk, but frumpy footwear definitely puts the cap on the whole sad dowdy look.
I completely agree. I wear either sandals or flip-flops with capri pants unless I work out. One other note, I wear capris with tunics or oversized T-shirts. LOL anything to make me look less “chopped up.”
I agree, it’s usually the choice of shoes that let down the capris. I have a lot of veins around the back of my knees and shorts need to be the right length to cover them. I live in Australia and summer is hot so lately I have been wearing more dresses.
Are capris the only item you feel ages women? For me, being matchy-matchy is a clear sign of middle age (or older). I think of the “sets” that some mature women’s shops sell: An unbuttoned shirt over a t-shirt and matching pants, with matching necklace, is usually a dead giveaway. These sets usually come in colours and prints that younger women would never wear.
The look you describe is aging. I love matching things but itās easy to go overboard.
I don’t wear capri pants but five words… Audrey Hepburn, Mary Tyler Moore.
Yes, but in very different proportions. MTM and Audrey both wore pedal pushers which stop below the knee. Semantics perhaps but they sure looked better than what brands are serving us.
I like shorter pants in the hot summer but I like them just above my ankle. I also try to find light weight fabric that is not real close fitting. I really have a hard time finding exactly hat I want I wish manufacturers would make more flattering clothing for our age group. Iām not interested in crop pants or worn torn pants. I agree with you that they just are not flattering. Thank you for all you do to help us get dressed appropriately.
I could not agree more! I am 5ā0ā and shorter pants, any style, do not do me any favors. I do love the ankle length pants because they often are full length on me and donāt require hemming. What a treat! So for me, capris are off my list of essentials.
I agree with you, Jennifer. I finally got rid of my last pair of capris by cutting them off for “working in the yard” shorts.
Some years ago, I might have disagreed with you as younger women sported capris during the summer months. But these days, I just don’t see women under 50 wearing them. And very young women wear short shorts and midriffs on hot days– a look that most older women cannot pull off even if they wanted to. I’ve noticed that the options for older women are still limited–especially for fashion for very warm days.
I agree that capris are tricky to wear. I think that fit and styling details can also make or break a capri look. The rise and pocket details change from year to year. Color can also be importantāwith capris, fashion forward colors are better than playing it safe in a neutral or chambray.
I so agree with Yvonne. In my younger, and poorer days, how I wished for the money to buy all the pretty clothes and shoes. Now I am 70, can afford to buy anything if I want itā¦.but canāt find it! I would love to walk thru some racks of clothing, and pick out items which fit and look nice on meā¦.but no such luck. Truly I feel the retailers have written us offā¦.we who have the most spendable income. Thank you for the discussion.
It is so frustrating, I could not agree more, Lee.
I totally agree. Capris when in fashion, on very thin women are at best acceptable. Never the best look. But when not in style, like now, they make everyone seem dumpy, short-legged and wide. I know some older women like to show off their thinner legs, but any type of short pant ( or skinny pant) just makes hips and tummies look bigger!
Side by side photos really work. Women should take selfies in a full length mirror and compare!
So very true. I am one who prefers my pants and jeans to be at the ankle or even longer, with a slight break on the instep. It is so true that the capri style is only in certain stores and when I look at my collection of sister-in-laws, that seems to be the style for the spring, summer and fall for them. It just makes their legs look shorter. I would much rather have a skirt for the hot weather. However I can understand that some ladies do not like skirts and the capris are the cooler option.
I think we all agree! Capris are not for the mature crowd. I like knee length shorts. Gauzy skirts might be an option for some on hot days. I also like ankle length pants. Shifts are another option on hot days. I like wearing a loose fitting shift one the few very hot days in MASS. It’s hard for me to believe that in mid December it 107 degrees anywhere. I’m expecting unseasonal temps into the high 40s today!
Well, I sometimes wear crop pants, but having an inseam of 26 inches, crops usually look like full length on me. I love capris because again, they can be long on my legs, and living in hot steamy Florida means that full length pants are just too hot! I only wear full length leggings or pants in January or February! I honestly don’t care how capris look. I just want to be cool. I also wear shorts 10 months of the year!!! At my age, I still have nice legs!!!
If the inseam makes them ankle length on you, it doesnāt matter what the brand calls them. Theyāre ankle pants.
Amen, sister. I purged my closet of Capri pants several years ago. They are OK to wear in your home, but, not in public. Ankle length, light weight, pants are always a better choice. Or throw on a summer casual dress.
Very good perspective on todayās blog, Jennifer. (I happen to agree with your bias concerning capris!) I like your blog because you always try on, sometimes move on and look for something new on the scene. Itās easy to get too settled in our appearance. You encourage us to be confident. Thanks for your efforts!
Agree about capris. I still like the look of a scarf, but rarely wear one, partly due to the fact that I live in Texas and itās too hot to add the extra fabric.
Fashion is such a personal thing. Capris, cold shoulders, ripped jeans, Crocs, Uggs, double denim…the list goes on. If you feel comfortable in something, own it, wear it, rock it!!
I totally agree.
Spot on! Am 67, petite with silver hair. Love wearing pins/brooches especially in unusual places on shirts/dresses, coats and handbags. Always receive positive comments. Keep up the good work; start my morning every day with you!
I agree with your comment 100%!