Wanna get me riled up? Start spouting ageist or sexist stereotypes about what women should or shouldn’t wear. Grrrr! It’s not what you wear it’s how you wear it. The secret is that great styling for a unified feel from head to toe can free you to wear whatever you want. Oh yeah, and a confident attitude definitely helps to pull it off
My style personality is edgy but elegant. It’s not for everybody but it is definitely me.
I believe fashion and style are political acts – acts of defiance against rules and conformity, against ageism, against sexism. I love playing the game of how far can I go before I’ve stepped over the line. Once I’ve gone too far I have made it too easy for people to categorize me as eccentric and not to be taken seriously. That is why I am not a fan of flamboyant mixtures of loud clothes and accessories that some older served up as “fashion icons” like to sport. I think those outfits are fun but I feel it makes those women too easy to dismiss as eccentric. I am all for maintaining respect and influence as an older woman, not giving society more excuses to dismiss me
Like many artistically inclined people, I am somewhat of a rebel. I like to defy easy categorization. By dressing in current fashions, by carrying myself proudly, by walking with vigor and being present and aware of the surroundings I defy stereotypes about women my age. If I can resist categorization for even a moment I have a chance to be visible enough to challenge assumptions and to be seen as an individual – not just “a senior citizen to be easily dismissed.
Sadly, I see so many midlife women who have a defeated air about them, they walk with hunched shoulders, seemingly exhausted. They appear almost apologetic for inhabiting the space where they are. It’s as if they have drunk the cultural cool aid that says that because they are no longer sex objects for younger men, and they are past childbearing age, then they are of little value to society and they should just fade away.
Midlife these days is primetime, in my opinion. Many of us no longer have to live up to expectations from bosses at work. Our kids are grown and we have more time to be who we are or to rediscover who have been but couldn’t show. It’s a wonderful time to use fashion as a means of self-expression.
My goal with my own style choices is not to look overtly sexy or rich like some fashionistas aspire to. For me, I’d like someone to see me and think “that looks like an interesting woman. I wonder who she is and what she is all about?”
I suggest all midlife women utilize the language of fashion to convey the confidence and vitality that we feel inside. My hope is that if enough women re-energize themselves at midlife and carry that energy into the world, then we have a small chance to change outdated ideas of how and when people really become “old.”.Wearing leather pants at 68 works for me.!
Right on!!! I agree with you completely. I’m a middle aged woman of 60 in a power chair. I want people to see me in the same way. What’s that woman about. She’s someone I want to know.
Yes! You do have an uphill battle fighting ageist , sexist and disability stereotypes.But if we don’t make ourselves visible and also speak out against these limiting cultural beliefs they will never change. So sorry for the deelay in getting back to you. Im updating my blog, finally with lots of new things to come. Thank you for your comment.