Too Old For Fashion? The Loss Of Self-Expression As Women Age.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tiwa Savage, Rihanna & Tracee Ellis Ross

Many older women lose self-expression through fashion due to life changes or to follow societal expectations. With the viral TikTok trend where mothers are styled in their daughter’s clothes, there’s rising conversations on fashion’s place in the lives of older women.

The contrast between the mothers’ usual attires with that of their daughters’ has been met with positive reaction from netizens. Their daughters’ attires, conventionally considered for younger women, fit them no less. Dresses that hugged closely at the waist or skirts that went slightly above the knees were worn with womanly ease by the older ladies. Additionally, they had an added confidence and glow, as though reconnecting with an inner self that was hidden for too long.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie photographed by Manny Jefferson.

What does this reveal about societal expectations? From young, a list of dos and don’ts grows alongside women. Falling short of ‘age appropriate’ clothing for older women is a burden too troublesome. Women may feel inclined to dim their light as they age, get married, or have children. Thus, fashion and styling become secondary and trifling. Additionally, fashion is not particularly catered to older audiences and as such, pushes older women out of the way.

Nonetheless, the positive reaction to this trend shows possible changes in attitudes towards older women’s dressing. This is in stark contrast to attitudes even as late as the 2010s. Social media brings a unique situation due to trends that are spontaneous and evoking, much in the way fashion can be. The trend provides an outlook for netizens, whose future selves could be like these older women.

Photography by Stephen Tayo for The New York Times, shot at Lagos’ conceptual boutique Alára.

When not breaching past societal limits with TikTok fashion trends, women retain their self-expression in other fashion moments. Celebrities like Tracee Ellis Ross and Tiwa Savage continuously explore and transform their personal styles, because fashion is fun and freeing. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is no stranger to fashion, and she finds joy once again with it after losing her parents. Naturally, Rihanna is worth mentioning. Rihanna’s pregnancy looks continue to have an indelible effect on what maternity wear could be. In all this, one thing is clear: fashion is not age-bound, but instead transforms with its bearer.

Do you think society puts an expiration date on women’s style—or are we finally rewriting the rules?

Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!

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