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Fashion has always loved a rule. Many rules, in fact. And that’s fine, rules are how we define, improve, and maintain the quality of all kinds of things. But some of those rules have become a little anachronistic; throwbacks from a time when we had much more restrictive views about all kinds of things, in particular about ageing and what’s “appropriate”.
This particular species of style advice, the kind that tends to emerge once people hit a certain age, endures for both men and women. It styles itself as being “helpful”: cover your arms, stick to neutrals, dress your age, but it rarely is.
In fact, much of the fashion advice we hear directed at people over 50 is just vague notions concocted decades ago, and leaves no room for how style and people have changed since. The truth is, your 50s, 60s, and beyond can be your most interesting style years yet. By now, you know what suits you. More importantly, you know what you like. And best of all, you know better than to care too much about what anyone else thinks.
So it’s about time we rewrite the rulebook for what’s “appropriate” or expected of us in terms of our personal style, just because of a date in a calendar.
Here are eight of the most pervasive style rules for people over 50, and why we should totally ignore them!
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Rule break 1 – No more miniskirts or shorts
Let’s start with the most stubborn myth in the wardrobe: that our hemlines must fall as the years pass. There’s a vague idea out there that, after 40, we must, men and women alike, start keeping everything at the knee or below it. Mini skirts are an immediate no, and are probably at the heart of the rule, but the sentiment applies to all kinds of shorts and skirts, and to both sexes.
Legs are legs, and if you want to wear a short skirt or a pair of shorts, there’s absolutely no reason not to. The only question worth asking is whether you feel good in them. Granted, many of us prefer to cover up a little more as our legs might have lost some of the tone and smoothness we took for granted in our 20s, but we don’t have to veto shorts and short skirts by default. There are so many ways to wear a short skirt, dress, or shorts that the rule is simply too broad to be worth following.
This Hobbs lace mini dress, for example, is elegant and sophisticated and would never garner the dreaded “mutton/lamb” accusation. For men, Patagonia has a great selection of stylish, comfortable shorts, too.
Rule break 2 – Dress your age
What does this even mean? This is perhaps the most damaging rule on this list, the implication being that your age should impose some arbitrary limit on your style, despite style being such an intensely personal thing. It’s inherently quite a shaming rule, and one that relegates older people to a role of “cardigan-wearer”, when in fact, as we age, we become more fully ourselves, and more fully at ease with ourselves, and should be able to express that absolutely and freely in our fashion choices.
If you like to wear graphic band tee shirts and Converse, you can just do that (more about this below). If you feel like wearing sequins and lace, or even going full fairy princess like Betsy Johnson, you can do that. And the more unapologetic you are about it, the better you’ll pull it off! The people who look most magnetic later in life are almost always the ones dressing as an extension of who they actually are, rather than who they think they’re supposed to be, and what they’re supposed to look like.
Your personality doesn’t dim or depreciate with age, and your wardrobe doesn’t have to either – something bold and colourful like this floral Desigual dress designed by Christian Lacroix is a perfect statement dress that’s wearable at any age.
Rule break 3 – Men shouldn't wear jewellery
The “watch-and-wedding-ring” school of male accessorising has done its time, and we are officially retiring it. This is another rule that feels very much stuck in the past, and one that doesn’t reflect changes in style and even in the options men have nowadays.
Layered chains, a chunky signet ring, a braided leather bracelet, a single gold hoop – there are so many ways for men to wear jewellery now that this rule does them a disservice. Some fantastic designers are creating beautiful, affordable and elegant jewellery for men that will add a little something to a look without overpowering it, or risking that overly flashy look the rule is designed to avoid.
This pendant from Nialaya is an example of a beautifully designed, understated but stylish piece of jewellery that would elevate a white T-shirt, but if it’s not your style, you might prefer some of their beaded bracelets, or a classic signet ring.
Rule break 4 – Stick to neutrals
Neutrals are wonderful. A good camel coat, a crisp white shirt, a classic navy or tan knit – they are wardrobe staples for a reason, and there’s no need to abandon these more low-key items in your wardrobe. These are key pieces that you mix and match and wear every day. But if neutrals are all you wear, and more so if you’re limiting yourself to them based on a rule you believe you should be following, well…it might be time to brighten up.
If you love bold colours, wearing them will make you feel good. And playing around with tones, contrasts, and even monochromatic looks using one bold colour is a joy. Colour can be one of the most powerful tools in anyone’s wardrobe, and it actually can become more powerful, not less, with age.
Sure, our colouring changes over the years, but the solution is to find the shades that work for us as we are, not to give up on colour altogether – for example, those of you who have grey hair might find red really works for you in a way it might not have before.
Zara has some beautiful, bold colours on the rails this year, like this deep red blazer for women or this textured red polo shirt in the same hue for men.
Rule break 5 – You can't pull off trends
Yes, you can. You just don’t have to do them all at once! The secret to wearing any trend after 50 – or at any age, really – is taking the parts that fit your style and suit your mood. Anyone, at any age, who lets the trends wear them instead of them wearing the trend will struggle to pull it off – this is about balance and discernment, not your birth date.
For example, you might not want to go full top-to-toe leopard prints, and that’s fine…most people don’t. But one statement leopard print piece – like this beautiful faux fur coat from Next – working alongside the staples you already own can add a strong, stylish statement, one that says “fashionista” rather than fashion victim”.
For men, the relaxed tailoring that’s been dominating for the past couple of seasons is a great example of a trend that can easily be pulled off by those over 50. A well-cut, slightly oversized blazer like this one from Next, over a good tee and dark jeans, is a look that will work beautifully for most men.
The trick is to do it for you, not for anyone else. Pick the trend that appeals to you, and see how it feels.
Rule break 6 – Cover your arms
We need to address this one directly, because it is hanging around like a bad smell, and it plays into some body-shaming nonsense that’s often directed specifically at women of a certain age. The idea that your arms should be young, slim, and toned to be seen is a dangerous one – one that presents our own bodies as an aesthetic for other people to ‘enjoy’, or not, as opposed to being our own limbs.
Arms are useful, necessary, and entirely your own to display, or not, as you please. They are yours to keep cool and comfortable on a hot day, just as they are yours to keep warm in winter.
A sleeveless linen dress like this bold pink one from Boden is comfortable and elegant. A strapless top with wide trousers is a great look. If you love your arms, show them. If you don’t love them, but it’s really sunny, and you want to wear a sleeveless top, do that. Who cares what any rule says?
If you’d rather not show your arms, that’s equally fine, but choose for yourself, not because someone tapped a calendar and said it’s time to start hiding.
Rule break 7 – Dress for comfort, not style
This is a rule that the fashion world has spent the last several years comprehensively dismantling, and we’re delighted to see it. Because comfort and style are not mutually exclusive, and neither of them has an age range. Sure, we may be past entertaining the discomfort of stilettos and bodycon dresses, but that can only be a good thing, and that’s no reason to limit our style.
After 50, most people have well and truly earned the right to reject uncomfortable clothes entirely, and the good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice a thing to do it.
Good clothes fit well, move well, and feel good. A cashmere knit like this M&S one feels luxurious and, in a vibrant orange, looks great, too. Wide-leg trousers with a proper waistband like these from Uniqlo are infinitely more flattering and wearable than something that pinches, and very on trend. There’s no reason that you must eschew style and fashion just because you refuse to be uncomfortable.
Rule break 8 – No graphic tees or band shirts
Here’s a genuine question: Is there an age at which one stops enjoying great music or art? Is there a time when it arbitrarily becomes inappropriate to display the bands or art you love on your clothing? The answer is no, and if you go to any festival or rock concert, you’ll see that for yourself. But for many, the graphic tee quietly retires from the wardrobe at a certain point.
It doesn’t have to be that way. And this goes for both men and women, but might be more pertinent to men: a great band tee, worn with good jeans and smart shoes, or layered under a blazer, is a cool, versatile, and characterful addition to your wardrobe that – most importantly – allows you to express something personal about yourself.
The point of wearing a band tee is that it’s incredibly personal to you, so we won’t tell you what to buy, but we will say that, if you’re looking for inspiration, Pink Floyd always has beautifully designed tees in their merch store…
Final thoughts…
If you follow any fashion and style accounts on social media, you’ll probably notice that the best-dressed people at any age have usually stopped asking whether something is appropriate or not, and simply ask themselves whether they love what they’re wearing.
After 50, with everything you’ve learned about yourself along the way, you’re perfectly placed to do exactly that for yourself, too.
For more inspiration, head over to our fashion and beauty section.
Have a style rule we don’t mention here that you’ve happily broken? Or one you think should endure, despite our protestations? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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