Fashion Facts When You’re Over 50: 2 Truths, 1 Lie

One doesn’t get to my age without coming to a few understandings about clothing and style, something I like to call fashion facts. The transition to Fall, which then leads into the holiday season, typically stirs up noise related to “what to wear if I’m over 50”, so it seemed that now would be a good time to share a few of my favorite fashion facts.

Based on the concept of an icebreaker/party game of “two truths and a lie”, for today’s post, I’m offering up three fashion facts — two of which are true and one that is false. Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to figure out which is the lie. I’ll list the facts without any context or explanation first for you to mull over which one you think is the lie. Then please read on to find out my meaning behind each and to see if you guessed correctly.

Fact #1 – Expressing your personal style requires a lot of clothes.

Fact #2 – When deciding on what to wear, the most important consideration is what others will think.

Fact #3 – The more an item costs, the more stylish it is.

Go ahead, and take your time to think it over carefully. Spend all the time you need to ponder on it. In the meantime, I’ll just be getting caught up on some light reading.

Psych! They’re all lies, not a grain of truth in any of those facts. But you knew that, right? I didn’t really mean to pull your leg on this subject but I was feeling a bit puckish there for a moment so I thought to have a bit of fun. No harm intended.

As we all know, the fashions of today are dynamic and evolving. So much so that it has become easy for many old misconceptions and stereotypes to still be believed as facts, like the ones listed above, which then leads to confusion and disenchantment. Interested in some other fashion facts (ahem, falsehoods) that as a woman over [your age] you should be ignoring? I’ve got a dozen or so and then I’ll get to my own two real truths.

First, let’s tackle those three lies listed above.
1) Quality vs quantity: That’s what retailers would have you believe when in fact, a smaller wardrobe with high-quality, versatile pieces can be just as stylish as a larger collection.
2) Fashion rules apply universally: Rules are made to be broken. Fashion is highly personal, and what works for one person may not work for another. You do you.
3) Expensive = Stylish: Good taste does not require a trust fund. Wearing expensive brands doesn’t guarantee style, and budget-friendly options can be just as fashionable.

In no particular order, here are some other often-told lies as fashion facts and the real truth;
-Fashion is only for the young: Not true! Fashion is for everyone, regardless of age, and personal style is timeless.
-Matching is always necessary: In what world? While matching can be stylish, intentional mismatching can create unique and fashionable looks.
-High heels are a must for a chic look: Ouch! Flats and low heels can be just as elegant and stylish as high heels (and a whole lot less painful).
-Casual Wear is Not Fashionable: Really? Casual wear can be just as fashionable as formal attire; it’s about how you style it.
-Horizontal stripes are not flattering: Oh please! The effect of stripes depends on various factors, and horizontal stripes don’t always make you look wider.
-Black and navy should not mixed: Go on now! Black and navy (or even black and brown) can be stylishly paired together for a sophisticated look.

-Older people should avoid trends: Who says? Fashion is for everyone and your age has no bearing on which trends you should try.
-Prints should not be mixed: Boring! Mixing prints can create visually interesting and stylish outfits.
-Athleisure is only for the gym: Not so! Athleisure has become a mainstream fashion trend, blurring the lines between activewear and casual wear.
-Denim-on-Denim is a no-go: Heck, no! Denim-on-denim, when done right, can be a stylish and cohesive look.
-Jewelry must match: Nah! Mismatched metals can be a trendy and intentional style choice.
-Handbags and shoes must match: Huh? Coordinating your bag and shoes was once considered a fashion must, but today’s trends often involve deliberately mismatching accessories for a more eclectic look.
-Fashion is Superficial:  Big fat no to that! Fashion can be a form of self-expression and a means of empowerment, going beyond mere aesthetics.

There are a lot more outdated misconceptions as well, too many really. Colors to wear or to not wear, which cut of jeans is in/out of style, a proper or suitable appearance based on age. All that these misconceptions serve to do is highlight how diverse and evolving the nature of fashion is. More needs to be done to encourage authentic expressions of style and to challenge outdated norms.

The idea for this post sprung from two realizations I came to in relation to some clothing I’d recently purchased. They are as follows; familiarity can breed contempt and opposites don’t always attract. Sure, you’ve heard those phrases in other contexts before but have you heard them in connection to making style choices? Allow me to explain.

As I do, be mindful that I speak from the perspective of a statistically average-sized adult woman (5’3″, 170ish pounds, size 12-14) who is shorter and plumper than what’s perceived to be the average by fashion industry standards. I also have an ample bust. I’ve always wished that I was taller, thinner, and even less ample but I am what I am so why not make the best of it, right?

Also, it has not escaped my attention that while some retailers have gotten better at showing their products on a range of models in their website listings, most other forms of fashion advertising do not. There’s a definite bias toward “tall and small” in social media as well which is not representative of the general public. All that is to say, not all guidelines can, nor should they, apply to everyone.

Familiarity Can Breed Contempt: Styles and trends are adaptable to everyone when caution is taken with extremes. My specific example relates to my recent venturing into finding wide-leg pants. As a shorter and wider gal, I’ve found that many cropped-length wide-leg pants seem to exaggerate my short/wide dimensions. On the other hand, I think that my wide-leg full-length jeans make me look taller and, dare I say, thinner (see September 2023: Top Faves And Whatevers). I believe that the same is true with oversized tops and sweaters. A looser fit is fine but too much extra can make an outfit look unintentionally sloppy and, if I may be so bold, frumpy. Ya, I went there.

Opposites don’t always attract: In correlation to the above fashion fact, sometimes the best way to play up your strengths is to stick to common ground. My specific example here relates to the faux leather vest I wore in Less Of This, More Of That: Fall Shopping Edition. I’d shared that I would likely be returning the vest which I did (the only time I wore it was for those photos). While I really liked the look of it, the stiffness of the material didn’t create a flattering silhouette on my softer, curvier body. I’ve since found a lovely knit vest that gives me the same vibe I was looking for with the faux leather one but in a material that is better suited to my figure. Rest assured, I’ll soon be wearing it in a blog post and/or on Instagram.

Both of these fashion facts of mine relate to the advice we hear about the importance of fit and proportions in the selection of our clothing. These two elements are integral to the overall impact of clothing on both appearance and comfort. They play as important a role in the authentic expression of style as aesthetic appeal, comfort, functionality, balance, and adaptability.

Please know that I fully support everyone’s free choice to wear whatever they want no matter their age. And when you do, it should make you happy.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. Today’s featured post from the last link-up, Monday Must Haves, was contributed by Nicolle over at Our Tiny Nest. The spirit of Fall is strong with this gal and she’s got her eyes on the prize 😉

Fashion is a form of self-expression, and as styles evolve, so do the perceptions of what is considered fashionable or acceptable. The “truths” and “lies” shared in this post are to challenge the notion of rigid fashion rules and encourage individuals to embrace personal style and creativity.

Before I go, there’s one last truth that I want to share. No one else remembers the little mistakes and blunders you’ve made in the past so stop fixating on them and letting them hold you back.

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.

Photo credit: MMPerez