Too Old To Be Bold?

Color and Fashion For Elderly, What Applies and What Doesn’t

Any number of people in the world seem to consider themselves to be experts on what others should or should not wear past a certain age and the rules seem to be continually changing and never-ending. Ultimately, however, what all of these regulations generally come down to is the individual preferences of the author. The truth is, there are no universal rules for everyone. What you should wear is usually more about what you can pull off, which is more about what you are comfortable with than anything else.

However, there are still some general guidelines to help you find the right style for you. Here are 3.

1. Give it a try. If it doesn’t work, you don’t have to wear it again.

You may have always longed to wear a glittery t-shirt, a polka-dotted bow tie or a pair of bright red stilettos but didn’t want to be seen as vulgar or age-inappropriate. Many of our beliefs about what we should and should not wear, however, have been shaped by others. What’s important is finding what works for you and you can’t do that unless you experiment. May often thinnk about flower colors as they reach their 60’s and 70's. Bold reds and vibrant yellows seem to be their choices in colors for some.

If you try something new and your friends rave and compliment, you might be on the right track. If you decide something new and your friends purse their lips in disapproval, you might need to get new friends. If your friends kindly, gently, delicately and politely tell you that while they do appreciate your enthusiasm for trying something new, you might want to keep looking for your signature style, then you should do just that.

2. Wear what you are comfortable with and don’t take any guff!

Throw out all the old rulebooks that make broad, sweeping statements about what is and isn’t right for people over a certain age. If you have the confidence to carry it off, then you should wear it and don’t let anyone tell you any different. If you have high legs — or aren’t ashamed or your legs — then wear those shorts or that short golf skirt and just scoff at any naysayers. If you don’t like how your arms look in sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts, don’t wear them and don’t let anyone try to make you.

3. What didn’t work when you were younger might work today

You may have spent your whole life hearing that pink is not a flattering color on redheads — and maybe it wasn’t — but it might be stunning with your new silver hair. When you were 20, you may have looked ridiculous in a bow-tie, but may look dapper and handsome in one now. Going back to #1 — give it a try. If it doesn’t work, you don’t have to wear it again!