Fashion - What's Age Got To Do With It?

It is time to break the rules of ‘age-appropriate’ dressing.

- Sujata Assomull

Finally, we can dress up again! And it feels good; there is something so joyous about the entire process of getting ready for a special occasion. I admit, I enjoy donning beautiful clothes, having my hair blown out, and putting on a bright swipe of red lipstick. That is the thing about being a more mature woman (yes, I will be 50 in 16 months and am proud of it)—you are confident and make no apologies for being the person you are. In many ways, I am bolder when it comes to my fashion choices, more willing to experiment, yet understand that there is beauty in being graceful and effortless. So, it horrified me when recently someone asked me if I would still wear short cocktail dresses or a cropped sari blouse, when I become a “Golden Girl”. It was as if the person in question was imposing draconian dress codes on me. Which led me to wonder: is this not a most opportune time to redefine the rules, especially with fashion embracing diversity and inclusivity?

At Bibhu Mohapatra’s recent New York Fashion Week show, 69-year-old supermodel Beverly Johnson walked the ramp. On his Instagram page, the designer described having Beverly participate in his show as “a gift”. The truth is, ageing is a gift, it is a privilege to get older and it must be celebrated. As veteran designer Ritu Kumar says, “I am now beginning to find that older women are much more confident. Rules regarding their appearance that were once adhered to are now becoming lenient. Older women are incorporating the whole spectrum of clothing, from casual everyday-wear to bright resort wear, into their wardrobes.”