From Psychologies · Andréa Lepage · · 1m 40s
Dressing young after 65 isn't denying age
Society assumes older people in jeans and bright colors are refusing to age, but research shows it's often just staying true to yourself.
In brief
Society assumes older people in jeans and bright colors are refusing to age, but research shows it's often just staying true to yourself. Wearing clothes you've always loved after 65 is about continuity of identity, not denial of aging. Originally reported by Psychologies.
The judgment behind the outfit
A 70-year-old woman wears jeans and a colorful jacket. Some admire her. Others say she dresses too young or is trying to look younger than her age. But is that interpretation actually fair?
Society assigns clothes to ages
Bright colors, jeans, short skirts, and fitted clothes are seen as appropriate for young people but become progressively inappropriate with age. This creates a social norm: older people should look older.
Clothes aren't just about appearance
Clothing participates in how we present ourselves to others and how we perceive ourselves. When an older person wears something associated with youth, it's often interpreted as a message that they want to rejuvenate or deny aging.
Research shows a different story
A 2018 study by sociologist Rachel Thorpe in the Journal of Sociology found that older women use clothing to maintain continuity in how they present themselves, not to appear younger.
Your style doesn't expire at 65
A woman who loved bright colors and modern clothes at 40 will likely still love them at 70. Aging doesn't erase your taste. Wearing a jean at 70 may simply mean you've always liked that cut and it's comfortable.
Clothing as staying true to yourself
Your body and daily life may change with age, but your preferences don't automatically disappear. Wearing clothes you've always loved becomes a way to remain faithful to yourself rather than a tool to deceive others.
The key point
Wearing clothes you've always loved after 65 is about continuity of identity, not denial of aging.
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