It’s no secret that when you look good, you feel good. The process of changing your style can feel intimidating, but it’s easier than you’d think—no matter your age. Sometimes, you don’t have to go further than revolutionizing your existing closet! For seniors who want to expand their style or explore new trends, here are a few tips to guide your next fashion adventure:
1. Put visuals to your vision.
A lot of projects, big or small, start with a vision board. For some, this could be a collage of images, while others prefer a laundry list of ideas. No matter how you do it, collecting your thoughts around what kind of styles you want to explore should be your first step. Whatever you create isn’t set in stone and can evolve as you do but getting it on paper helps you formalize your style intentions.
Mood and vision boards are also a great activity to pass the time and share what you love with others. If you have other friends in your senior community who want to improve their style, make it a group activity!
2. Seek out inspiration from others.
There are plenty of senior style icons out there worth looking up to. Keep in mind, fashion is subjective and it’s meant to be a personal decision. You don’t have to love everything that everyone else is wearing, but it’s also okay if you want to follow the trends. Here are some senior influencers worth following to inspire your style change:
- “Gramps” and Jannik Diefenbach: At the end of 2016, Diefenback began photographing his grandfather in looks from his own closet. Over time, the account—and Gramp’s style—became household names.
- Maye Musk: Known for her high-fashion taste, Maye Musk is a critically-acclaimed author, advocate, grandmother and supermodel worth following for inspiration.
- Idiosyncratic Fashionistas: Ever feel like dressing up with your best friend? Jean and Valerie, NYC bloggers, take pride in “setting a bad example for older women everywhere” with their bold takes, bright fashion and fabulous friendship.
3. Embrace trying something new.
It’s totally normal to feel nervous when you’re trying something new, especially when it may be out of your comfort zone. To help put your mind at ease, a recent article from Harvard Business Review offers the following tips to overcome those fears:
- Don’t let someone saying “no” be the reason you give up
- Learn to be okay with doing something for yourself—you deserve it
- Accept that it’s okay to not have all the right answers
- Decide why changing up your style is important to you, and not others
- Involve people you care about in your journey for support
Clothes and fashion are a great way to honor our body as it changes over time. Trying something new (like a fashion change-up) can feel intimidating, but it’s worth the effort to truly celebrate your authentic self.
4. Invest in adaptive clothing.
You don’t need to sacrifice fashion for function. As we age, we may have different requirements for our clothes. Many brands now make adaptive variations of their clothing, with everything from slip-resistant shoes to zipper closure garments. According to Vineyard Senior Living, adaptive clothing can make dressing more convenient, minimize pain, maximize range of motion and help wearers feel more independent. If you keep your own needs top of mind, you can find fashion retailers that fit those parameters and match your style.
5. Remix your current wardrobe.
Have you seen what Gen Z is wearing these days? Whether it’s an oversized 90’s sweater and bike shorts from the 90’s or a classic 80’s puffer jacket, some of the styles in your own wardrobe might be coming back in fashion.
Don’t forget to take stock of your current clothes and look for ways to re-wear or adjust them to meet your new fashion goals. If your clothing doesn’t fit the way you’d like, consider taking them to a tailor instead of throwing them out.
No matter what you do, make sure that what you wear makes you feel comfortable and feel like yourself. A focus on fashion in a celebration of your personal style!
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
