Recently, I’ve been pondering on this thought when searching out fashion inspiration; are we being ignored or are we just bad for business? The “we” in this case being the “over” crowd, as in over 40, 50, 60 … you pick the age demarcation.
For some, it may be that they wear a clothing size outside of the “normal” range, or perhaps their lifestyle isn’t one that’s centered around weekend getaways or red carpet events. There are, of course, other marginalized groups not represented or even acknowledged in fashion trends and if you belong to any of them, you’ve likely felt a similar reaction while shopping. It’s easy to understand how these feelings can be internalized into feeling invisible.
It’s a question that’s been swirling around in my gray matter for some time now because, despite the trending of the term “inclusivity”, I’m not feeling it with what I’m finding in stores much less marketing campaigns. Besides the lack of representation in advertising, articles in magazines and online publications, as well as fashion week runway shows, are notorious for using very young, very tall, and very slender models. Even those in the fashion industry are not immune as one editor at Vogue Magazine has described her years-long experience in this article.
In a ten-year period, from the mid-90s thru the mid-2000s, the number of department store chains in my area was whittled down considerably as Federated/Macy’s bought up The Broadway, Bullock’s, Robinsons-May, as well as a host of others across the US. It was during this time that I began to venture more into smaller mall stores like Ann Taylor, J Jill, The Limited, and Banana Republic as I looked for the variety I’d once found in so many department stores. All was well for a while until those stores began to disappear too. A day came when an excursion to my local mall had me leaving empty-handed and bereft at the lack of stores not targetted at teens and 20-somethings. I could count on one hand the retailers that carried clothing suitable for a professional office.
The frustration I feel today is quite similar to those that I’d been feeling seven years ago which sparked the idea for me to start my blog. I was coming up short when looking for style inspirations in stores and magazines that challenged me to think outside my box. IG wasn’t quite the influencer powerhouse that it is today (besides, I didn’t have an account back then). I’d come across a few fashion blogs but of the ones I’d found, most were aimed at a younger demographic. Once I’d started up my blog and my IG account, a whole new world of inspirations opened up to me.
A case in point would be the pants you see me wearing in today’s photos. If I’d come across them in the store, I’d likely have walked right on by. They’re from a store line whose design aesthetic typically skews to teens/20s although I do browse those racks from time to time. However, it was seeing them in a post on Sheree Frede’s Instagram that had me running to track them down. They were no longer available online but lucky me, I got the last pair when I checked at my local store.
Now, let’s bring this back to my question … are we being ignored or are we just bad for business? It could be that the fashion industry as a whole has a limited vision of who their consumer is. What they look like, how they live, where they go. And those of us outside of that vision are left to feel unseen and desperately trying to adapt.
Or is it instead, that as consumers we’ve been so willing to buy into the “limited vision” that we find it difficult to accept a different representation? For example, the store listing for these pants didn’t intrigue me nearly as much as Sheree’s post did. And what about the reverse? How well do you think that Sheree’s post (or mine for that matter) would sell to a teen/20-something? To be fair, though, I was still wearing this outfit when I got together with my daughter (a 20-something) later in the day and she absolutely loved these pants. So there’s that.
Outfit details: Jacket, Sonoma Goods (old); Top, Universal Thread (old); Pants, Wild Fable; Boots, Indigo Road (old); Necklace, Chico’s (old); Purse, Fossil (Poshmark)
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. My featured blogger from last week’s link-up is Laurie, a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content creator you can find sharing tips and secrets on her blog Vanity & Me.
Is my imagination running wild or have a struck a chord with you on this subject? I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter of whether we’re being ignored or if perhaps, we’re just bad for business.
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photos: MMPerez
26 Comments
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, Rena. Although I do most of my shopping in the stores that are clearly aimed at a younger demographic. Occasionally, I feel a bit ‘old’ when almost everyone else in the store could quite easily be my daughter, but I always shake it off and tell myself I’d look just as good as them (well…kind of!). It drives me mad that there is no in-between. It’s either young shops or fuddy duddy shops! And I know where I’d rather shop, I just wish they could be a bit more inclusive!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
P.S Those trousers are FREAKING GORGEOUS!!
I know I live about 30 miles from the nearest big shopping center but over here in the UK many department stores and fashion chains have closed due to the Covid fallout. So yes womens clothes are getting more and more difficult to locate unless you want the really young/really cheap or the fuddy duddy colorless option! The only way forward appears to be online shopping which can of course be a fingers-crossed/guesswork sort of experience. No doubt that the fun of a day shopping has been snatched away from us!
Yes your trousers are my sort of choice too.
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
I hear you. I too am annoyed at how women over 50 are ignored when it comes to fashion. It makes no sense.
HI Rena,
I used to love shopping at Kaufmanns. One of Pittsburgh’s department stores I would go to when I was younger. Now, part in due to my condition, I shop almost all on-line. I do agree that you go into some department stores and there is a frump factor in the “older ladies ” section, or crop tops for teeny boppers! I look for the happy medium and have done alot of shoppiing on secondhand sights. I do think this age group isnt represented as well.
Love the fun of those trousers and how you styled this look.
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Shopping in rural areas is definitely complicated. I revert to online options because so much of what I see in the few local stores is just so temporary looking.
Your pants are great – right up my street! I believe we are seen as bad business, even though we have the most disposable cash. It all comes down to ageism. I like shopping online at the “young” places but you don’t feel very welcome in their actual stores.
I think we are harder to target. We have several decades experience in styling ourself, and have developed our own unique style. In other words, we are opinionated about what we want to wear. Many young women fall for terms that creates the fear of missing out, Must-have, vegan, 50% off, last chance, only today, and other marketing trend terms. We don’t fall for them because we learned that missing an oppertunity isn’t the end. To sell to us means more work and less return for the money spent on campaigns. In addition, there still is the obsession with being young and young women.
I love those pants. And you’ve posed some interesting questions. The fashion I’ve most felt “on the outside” of for my whole life is pants. I need tall – or longer jeans. Most companies don’t carry them. Some do, but only online. Why would tall girls be any different from average height in wanting to try something on before buying? So frustrating to me.
Shopping in store is frustrating and with so many stores closing, online suits me best. The whole other issue is being invisible at stores – I walk in and am completely ignored. Younger shoppers are fawned over but I’m the one with the money honey so pay attention to me – ha! I have actually walked out of stores even when I was going to make a purchase because of the lack of customer service. And I’m not talking about busy associates, I’m talking about the sales associates that are chatting with friends and have no time for me.
I love the inspiration from the bloggings world!
xo,
Kellyann
I’ve come to prefer online shopping and quirky boutiques to feed my Boho preferences, so I wasn’t completely aware of just how poor the shopping options at the mall had become. But I have long been disappointed about how most promoted clothing is geared towards 5’10” twenty-somethings – which like leaves out 75% of the female population. There are some niche stores like Tatyana’s and Pinup Girl that cater to all body types, and I adore their clothing, but it’s not your everyday casual stuff. You would think there would be plenty of money to be made from an older demographic that typically will have more disposable income – if they would just do the research. I’m betting a clothing designer who specifically designed for older women would do very well.
By the way, I adore those pants! I was intending to try and find them…. Oh well.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
I feel ignored in most stores so I tend do do most of my shopping online unless I with my daughter or an outing with girlfriends. Love your pants! Such a fun print for spring!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I have yet to be acknowledged at a certain store that rhymes with Rico’s! This holds true for any store in any state in any locale! I am never greeted and if I ask for assistance, it’s always accompanied by a side eye roll! And, I’m usually dressed decently (by that I mean I’m not wearing sweats and a holey shirt). I carry name brand bags which are easily recognizable, too! For that reason, I have yet to make a purchase in said store. But, as to your question, I have never really paid attention to what category I fall into. When I was in my 30s, I was buying Alfred Dunner…a line known for its older demographic. But, I was finding some really fabulous things if I wanted to push past the polyester elastic waist pants! Now, in my 60s, I buy where I find what I like. Graphic tees…you’d better believe I’m buying them if they spark an interest! What I’m trying to do is avoid the fast fashion grind. All of this is to say, I don’t know that there is a hard and fast reason why we are ignored. Perhaps, it’s our bodies just don’t fit the mold. Watch some of the episodes of “Project Runway” where the designers have to work with women who are larger. The designers don’t know how to do it. I have to think that’s a big part of the problem. They know how to fit a 5’10” waiflike woman with small breasts and boyish hips, but they are flummoxed when confronted with a 5’3″ woman with real curves! So, in that regard, I’d say we’re bad for business because they’d have to change their patterning. Which then leads to we’re being ignored because it’s just easier to stick with what they know how to do! And, let’s face it, those designers are usually working for the extremely fit woman who can afford couture clothing which eventually influences the mainstream. Sorry for writing a book about this, but it seems you struck a nerve with me!!
Thanks for the link party!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
You are definitely strike a cord Rena. Although I live across the globe in Australia, every time I shop, I experience the same feeling of being left behind, neglected and totally ignored, especially if it is the label that follows fast fashion trends. So I focus on a slightly higher fashion stores like Reiss or Ted Baker. They know how to dress a woman of any age and do it in style. The clothes is not cheap but if you wait for big sale, you can really score a bargain. On a flip side, Zara sometimes can really surprise you with good tailoring and nice design.
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/
OMG, Rena, these pants are magnificent! Now I want to run out and get a pair! So the pants on you did the trick for me! But as I look at the store ad of the very young, very slender girl in the pants, I still want the pants! But I do understand the point you are making in this post. It is wonderful food for thought. I do hope that the younger generation of women is not as ageist as the whole of the fashion industry and that they would still buy clothing modeled by women over 40!
Shelbee
These pants are so fun! 🙂
I have a younger sister so I notice that she shops for a lot of things I feel I’m too old for, haha! But I don’t think that there’s a lack of options for me and I can think of a few stores that are tailored towards older women here. But maybe it has more to do with personal style – I have a very basic and casual style, where while I like skirts and dresses most of the time I’m in jeans and a tee and I think those things are ageless to be honest! I’ll still be wearing denim shorts and a tee when I’m a grandma I’m sure, as so many people of every age rock that same outfit in summer!
Thanks for the link up 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week! Another rainy day here.
You look great in your black and white outfit with the bold, geometric print on the pants. I think we should all wear whatever makes us happy and strikes our fancy. Thanks for hosting the link-up!
I so much enjoyed reading your point of view. I think Nicole has a great point in that we know what we want and are less easily persuaded by trends. Currently, I do a lot of shopping at Free People, mostly online. However, we recently had a store open up nearby and the young sales associates have been pleasant every time I come in, so I guess we got lucky in that regard.
I never think about that actually. Just buy what I like. But I buy mostly on line, so then you aren’t confrontated with stores only for,, young people,,.
I feel like what I wear could be worn by people 10-15 years younger and older than me. I am not a particularly trendy person but I do like variety and trying new things. II do occasionnally find things in the juniors department but lately have been having a hard time finding things that I really like anywhere therefore my more specific searches on Poshmark.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks for hosting a great party!! I shared a couple posts from both my blogs. Have wonderful week!
Yep, even more so now! So many shops closed, it’s getting worse! I hate shopping online, but may have to resort to it now! Jacqui x
Not being much of an analog shopper, I’m not feeling the lack. My closet is bursting at the seams as it is.
Is Chico’s any good still? Weren’t they going for our demographic?
Online, I like Gudrun Sjödén, though she’s $$$.
I went into the Del Amo mall (for food) last week and gotta say it felt really weird.
Didn’t do any shopping. Just eating!
Never feel ignored!!
Rena, the fall of shopping as we know it began about 1990 for me, when I was young. I was making the rounds of all the good department stores looking for a high quality, lined, wool, knee-length pencil or A-line skirt. Suddenly this was an item that no longer seemed to exist. The salesclerks, without using the new term “fast fashion,” all gave a response of: You might find that at one of our other branches (and named a couple of “tonier” towns). I visited those but found the same thing. They were clearly embracing lower quality, not designed to last, garments. Fortunately, I have since found sources that give me what I want by mail.
You’ve reaised some interesting points. I do find it harder to find what I like – I think that’s why you go smaller designers as they have a better range of styles…
A lot of department stores have disappeared from the UK high street too. I used to shop at Debenhams a lot but that got bought out by Boohoo and moved to online only. John Lewis closed its store in my home city – it was the main store in the shopping centre and my brother had worked there for 33 years! The pandemic seems to have accelerated a shift to online shopping, which has left a lot of older people feeling short changed. My mother-on-law doesn’t shop online and really struggles to find what she wants now. It’s a real shame. I still love to shop in little independent boutiques as well as charity shops.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com