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 Wearing clothes that feel outdated or are overly conservative can send the wrong message.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 don’t 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 can’t 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.
I am in complete agreement with you about capri pants! My other person bias is see bare knees on women whose knees are no longer a becoming part of her legs (swimwear excluded). I spent years in the fashion industry and learned that “if you don’t like the way a part of your body looks, cover it up!’ and if capris are the correct length, they work well for less than lovely knees!
I love your blog and read it everyday. Thank you!
I couldn’t agree more about hemlines …both pants and skirts, that hit at mid calf.
I’ve seen young women wearing this length and it’s simply unflattering. And I can’t find any good reason to end a hemline there. Just two or three inches either way makes such a difference.
Well, I so agree. And when I get home from the summer in NH..I will be going through those pants..also here…but at home I got my first full length mirror..and I’m old! I ended up having knee surgery when I looked in a full length mirror and realized I was knock knee..lseverly..yes I had pain, but the look was the worst. Two knee surgeries later…straight knees, but getting of capris that hit me mid calf…not my best look! Thanks for your continued insightl.and tell us how you lost some weight? You look gorgeous.
Really enjoying this discussion! It called to mind a discussion I had with my husband whilst lunching out in McGregor IA. I don’t recall the exact context, but he made reference to “the woman in the knee knockers.” I burst out laughing because I had not heard that term in decades. Since then we have amused ourselves with asking family and friends what they think knee knockers are. Lots of fun answers–try it! (Don’t google it, it also relates to sexual methods.) Anyway, the knee knockers he referred to are ones I would never be caught dead in. Shapeless, wide, thick denim, no shaping, falling just below the knee (and in her case worn with athletic shoes and socks and an unfortunate top that probably came from Blair).
I am not a huge fan of capris but I do wear them–but never in Europe. My knees are not horrible, but have not improved with age (67). Since I really don’t care what people under 40 are wearing and mostly focus on what looks good on me, I have retained two pair of what probably are pedal pushers. Below the knee but not far below the knee, and fairly close-fitting, I’m with those who say it’s all about your shape, proportion, and what you wear them with. Skimmer type shoes or ballet flats are good with my two pair.
Capris definitely put you in an age bracket. Though they’re cooler and shorter than crops they date you. My beautiful neighbor across the street only where’s capris in spring and summer. She’s 87. I don’t do shorts so I’ve been purchasing crops and ankle length a lot lately, I’m 70.
That said, if you feel good in them, by all means do your own thing.
I feel part of this is semantics. Where a pant leg ends, and what defines the style, etc. I read fashion blogs to learn, and I find pant lengths and widths confusing.
Jennifer recently posted that capri pants land at the widest part of the calf. That resonated with me as a visual image that helped clarify the mess! Crops, capri, etc (I remember pedal pushers as a kid)!
I’m a petite 5’3” so as an adult generally have skipped all of them because they never felt right. Now I understand more about the why: cutting the leg at an awkward place.
Personally I’m ok with just below knee for workouts, but another pair do hit mid calf and they never felt right on me. I will avoid that length in the future.
Thanks Jennifer for the discussion.
I don’t wear capris. I never gave an thought to them, but I think I’ll start noticing. An image from the 50s, tight leopard print capris with an off-the-shoulders black sweater, pops into my head. “Cheap” was the word then, a “trampy girl.” So I guess that notion has stuck with me since childhood. I guess I’ll have to muse on that some more…
One woman’s cropped pant is another’s capri. I think the key is that for the most flattering look, the hem has to hit at a narrower part of the leg. I have wide calves, so nothing looks worse on me than a pant leg that stops at mid-calf. I feel best when the hem either hits just slightly below the knee (Bermuda short length?) or just below the calf at the upper ankle (cropped). Wide pants must be crop length for me, or I feel really wide myself!
Hi Jennifer and All: I know this sounds basic, but would you post some ankle pants as opposed to capris? Would you also model some ankle pants, as usual models are so tall the proportions don’t seem realistic.
Also, I would recommend Allbirds flats (they also make sneakers) as a shoe brand that looks appropriate with many summer looks and might be a sandal alternative. These shoes are washable! And they breathe and are made of recycled materials.
thanks for a great post.
Yes, great idea. I’ll get some pictures in the dressing room to show the difference.
I agree that capris are not very flattering, although I understand why some people like to wear them. I prefer longer shorts, midi skirts, or lightweight ankle-length pants. I don’t like showing a lot of leg, but I do want to wear things that flatter my figure.
Dear Jennifer, this is a very important topic, many faceted. I am a very healthy 83 year old, golfer, volunteer, book club member and I wish to look chic but not crazy. I like my purchases to stand the test of time, but yes, not look dated!
I have found the medium wide culottes are an interesting fashion update for me. I found the unilook top and pants in dark khaki green to be a lengthening look, and another navy with small white designs and a navy top at j jill.
Thank you for addressing all the issues, from under wear to skin, and our ever smaller hair supply!
Everybody gets to wear what they want within the legal parameters. Lots of different people dress to fit in with their “tribe”. The grandmother look is a valid choice, but like all tribal uniforms it pigeonholes the wearer. If that works for you, great, but there are choices which can expand horizons, gain more recognition, and avoid the “opting out of life” assumptions.
Well said
Well said.
I NEVER liked capris on me even when I was young(er). They cut me off in the wrong place and made my hips looks big. I like to wear either an ankle length or long shorts. I never thought about capris being aging, just out of style. I like to keep current. Thanks, Jennifer
I agree with your opinion concerning capris. I have never owned any.
I haven’t warmed up to the crops yet. I feel they make me look larger than I am. I’m your height and weight but with thin shoulders and wider hips. When I’m out and about and I don’t see younger women wearing crops. I live in Dallas which has been very hot lately. I have worn ankle length pants. Not skinny, not wide. Not exactly youthful. I would love to see you talk about some ideas for tops to help make the pants/shorts/crops/capris become more youthful. It seems your readers have a wide variety of opinions on bottom wear. Love your blogs.
I am 61 with longer legs, especially shin bone, and short waisted. Capris work beautifully as long as they fit well. I don’t wear them saggy or in wild patterns.
Or wide leg/leg opening. Tailored button up shirts and slim tunics look fabulous. No sneakers, but wedges and ballet flats are good. For me, this creates a summery, lean look. Not dowdy or aged at all. And I do see young women in Chicago wearing them, and not for workout. I get that they may not work as well for women with the opposite shape as me. Considering that this is to be a safe space,you use pretty strong words on capris every time. Just sayin’. Now, it is going to take a lot of convincing to get me to like wide leg or flare crops. Those make me look stumpy legged.
I always encourage women to wear what makes them feel confident. If it’s capri pants, go for it.
Proportion is important in making them flattering. I will continue to style them for readers because some ladies love them. Personal taste is unique for all of us.
I agree with everything SL says. I had to Google “capris” to get a look at women wearing them. Banana Republic Factory features a model that looks stunning! What is she doing? Her look is neutral & monochromatic. Her sandals match her skin tone. The fit of her pants, including the leg opening is slim, but not skin tight. IMO these are ankle pants that she has folded up to capri length.
My votes for aging pieces are anything polyester in those un-natural “Kmart” colors. Also, cutesy, holiday themed tops.
I agree with you on most things! You’re usually right in my lane. Love your posts and blogs!
As someone with less than stellar legs (spider veins, varicose veins, cellulite and crepey skin, but not overweight) skorts and shorts that show my legs would definitely not be my best friend.
Some of us don’t like to show our legs AT ALL.
I totally understand that. Ankle pants and crops offer coverage as well as crops.
Guilty as charged.
You’ve convinced me. I’ve bought my last pair!
I will take capris over distressed denim any day!
With my pixie haircut and ballerina flats, I think I can still channel Audrey Hepburn.
I haven’t worn capris in years, but I do wear ankle length pants. I don’t know if it’s so much the capri length that looks outdated or if it’s more the styling or combination of color/pattern/silhouette that looks wrong to me. A neutral, monochromatic outfit with capris and modern sandals wouldn’t necessarily look unappealing to me, but a capri outfit with bright colors, loud patterns, giant colorful jewelry, or the wrong “comfort” shoes certainly would. The other issue is fit. If the capris are baggy or have a lot of excess fabric around the waist and hip area, they look much worse to me than capris that are tailored. And hold the excess embellishment, please. I think most of us probably follow your blog because we much prefer your clean, chic and modern style to what’s often marketed specifically to women our age.