Fashion for 50+ - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Fashion for 50+

Irina

Veteran

Recently I was looking at my YouTube home page and noticed that I was recommended a video Best Brands for 50+.

Now, it’s been years since I searched for 50+ fashion content.

I drastically edited my wardrobe in 2015 and at the time looked for the advice and inspiration (I turned 50 that year). I found some blogs I liked but not for a fashion advice. They offer very solid and great ideas but just not in my style.

I follow only a few women on IG and occasionally read one or two blogs. Neither are age specific.

That brings me to my question - do you read/search for age related content like 40, 50, 60+? Or look for suggestions on middle age-friendly brands, if there is such a thing? Maybe I should‘ve watched that video! LOL

44 replies

Latest reply was from MsMary

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm 53, for context. I started YLF almost 18 years ago - when I was 35!

To answer your question, Irina: no and no!

I don't read or search for age related content, nor do I look for suggestions on middle-aged brands. YLF is not age-specific. Maybe this is helpful, and maybe it isn't! It's how I want to run the site because personally, I prefer a more holistic approach to fashion and style. One that is not boxed or prescribed, but rather personal and honest. I think we can be inspired by everything on some level - if that makes sense?

My clientele are generally three generations:

Millenial
Gen X (my generation!)
Baby Boomers

Sometimes there are clients younger and older than these generations. We shop wherever we need to. Not by age. I have boomer clients that shop in the junior department, for example. I have Gen Z clients who love Talbots. 100% personal!

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Only by default. I follow women whose style I like, and they often happen to have that theme. Two of my favorites are Busbee Style, for 40 plus, and Beth Djalali…for 50 plus? I like their basic message of getting to know what flatters you.

Cee

Veteran

Angie may not count as she is half Middle Earth Elf and half Time Lord.

Runcarla

Veteran

YLF is my #1 favourite site, but I do follow other bloggers, vloggers, and a few insta folks. I get inspo from lots of places, but there are a few 50+ folks that I like to follow, who unlike Angie, do identify as 50+. I mostly like them because when they veer away from fashion into lifestyle, they touch on issues that are relevant to me. I get the impression that there are more ‘older’ women wading into the blogosphere than there were - say 10 years ago. However, some of the 50+ content creators can seem old fashioned to me. It’s mostly because their fashion sense or aesthetic isn’t aligned with mine, so they’re not working for me IYKWIM.

Call me an old foggie, but I’m really not interested in the kiddie content that so many 30 somethings are getting into these days, even if I’m inspired by their fashion. I’ve unfollowed a few whom I really liked, but once they started to have children the content changed.

rachylou

Veteran

The only one I like is Bazaar’s 20/30/40/etc. thing. Pure fashion for all sets. It’s more ‘let’s wear our own thing’ than ‘let’s cover for our maturity/immaturity.’

Dee

Veteran

At one point years ago I did seek out fashion advice from some blogs and vlogs that were age specific, but eventually I decided that I really shouldn’t limit my fashion inspirations solely based on an age group.
That’s why I like YLF, its a great mix of people of all different ages and styles from across the world, and I’ve learned a lot about my own personal style by following it through the years.

Another source of inspiration that I really enjoy is Pinterest. I’ve created lots of inspirational boards to help me hone in on my style preferences and there’s always plenty of new ideas for me to try too.

pirouette

I don’t follow bloggers that are age specific but I try to follow bloggers that are similar height as I am petite and love any advice on how to dress for my size. I love YLF as several petite fabbers post pictures which often inspire me.

cat2

Veteran

I only look for age specific skin and hair care advice. Age specific fashion advice seems odd to me; one blog suggested dressing like a Spring when your coloring fades. But I find it extremely unlikely I am going to suddenly develop a love of pastels in my 70s.

DonnaF

Veteran

I tend to dress age inappropriately. . .so, no. I agree that age specific fashion advice seems odd. Dressing for one's current activities and body and for me, feet (problems) seems more appropriate.

Peri

Veteran

I guess not...this is the only fashion blog I follow! I'm 64 and I guess I could search for my age but I don't really want to be told what I'm "allowed" to do. I like Angie's more inclusive approach better. And although I don't follow much fashion I do feel like I can judge for myself when something is not right for me, whether that's age based or just not a style I like.

What I watch on YT is mostly beauty and makeup, but again, I don't choose based on age. I do feel cautious when a 20-30-something claims a concealer doesn't settle in her fine lines, because I doubt that has any real relevance for me! But to see colors and hear about product quality I don't really limit that to only those closer to my age.

nuancedream

Veteran

Age appropiate dressing...NEVER!!! That being said, there are a few 50+ bloggers I do follow. Those bloggers typically wear classic pieces in a unexpected way that allows their individuality to shine through.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I like to follow style content, not "look younger" so that influences what I read.
I especially liked Inge's 10-31 post and that author is an over 50 blogger.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't do age appropriate. I think I did search for "over 40" jeans more than a decade ago when a lifestyle change and weight change necessitated building the wardrobe from scratch. That's how I found YLF. I'm not sure why since as Angie says, it's not age-delimited.

I used to look at those magazine suggestions that Rachy mentions. I didn't always agree with them. But it was interesting to see what they considered appropriate or not.

SarahD8

Veteran

I don't specifically look for age-targeted style/fashion content. However, I am definitely more engaged by content that is (1) nuanced and (2) has some kind of intellectual heft behind it -- which doesn't necessarily mean everything has to come with a dissertation, there just need to be some vibes of thoughtfulness. But anyway, those concerns do seem to skew my mix towards older content creators -- although of course, not exclusively, and certainly not all older creators embody those qualities.

Debbie

Veteran

This is the only blog I follow everyday because I believe that Angie gives advice to help us all look amazing. She encourages us follow our on style. I looked up blogs for late 60s recently. Most of it was rules I don’t follow. I like the philosophy of have fun with fashion.

Sloper

Veteran

I’ve searched for it but it doesn’t always resonate with me. Totally personal of course.

slim cat

Veteran

I've looked for age specific blogs about 10 years when the menopause and move to CA collided - lol. I found a lot of them wrong for myself with some bits and pieces useful.
Our YLF forum is the only one I love reading and participating.
I'm not on Insta, X, or TikTok.
Most articles start with something like "The only jeans/coat/tops you'll ever need.." or "This what I wear when in Paris/London.. " or something else attention grabbing. Sometimes I check it out but more often scroll and get disinterested ( they often feel too similar.. ).

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

No I don't seek it out, but there are some style issues that are age related and I am happy to see women my age or older as role models. One reason I appreciate this forum so much.

The Cat

Veteran

I dont seek them out, and I tend to dislike lists and rules (often made by younger people) regarding what people over a certain age should refrain from wearing.

However, I must admit that two of the blogs I enjoy reading are 40plusstyle and Susanafter60. Despite their names, they are not very age-related. The styles shown there are rather timeless, and I like and find inspiration in many of them.

Ever since I was a child, I have admired the self-confidance, personality and elegance of many women +40. I have always found mature women and their styles more interesting than younger ones.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don’t look for age-specific content Irina. YLF is my daily fashion fix, I don’t “follow” anyone else though I occasionally search for one or two others to see what they’re up to. I’ve only found one NZ blogger that has a small amount of relevant content to me. Somehow, unfortunately, the internet seems to have my age figured (even though I constantly clear history on my phone to get rid of cookies) and so it advertises me annoying comfort shoes! No thank you! I would like to search for the kind of shoes I might like by myself with no reference to age

Star

Veteran

No I never do. Fashion for a certain age is alot of nonsense to me. I also get those suggestions from Pinterest. Interesting...

Brooklyn

Veteran

No, I don’t consciously seek it out. I’m pretty open to any thoughtful analysis about style. But I sometimes end up gravitating to more mature bloggers because they have more to offer in terms of, dare I say it, wisdom. I once searched for advice on how to wear brooches. I came across a young blogger whose advice about how to wear brooches was: wear a cool brand, like Chanel. I rest my case

Jules

Veteran

Over time I’ve accumulated mostly 50+ fashion follows in instagram. I’m more interested in the creative visual stimulation of how people collect and put together different wardrobe items over time than someone’s current season haul or on trend capsule wardrobe. I’m not disparaging younger influencers but the business model is to link current items so that tends to be what is shown. I follow a few of those accounts for recommendations in my size/body shape and brands/price range, and one for quality assessments of current season items available in Canada.

I don’t believe in rules about who can wear what, but at the same time I just don’t see real-life people my age, of any size/shape, baring their midriffs or wearing eg. corsets (unless styled over a shirt). I have two teen daughters and while we share some style choices I also do see pretty clear differences.

kkards

Veteran

What Runcarla said.

I do often seek out bloggers/YouTubers based on age, not because I feel like age defines what one wears, but because often age does define how one approaches what one wears.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Irina, you and I are the same age. I think I looked actively for over-40 fashion blogs some years ago, but in general the notion of “brands” or styles geared towards “over-x” age group really puts me off. Like, ok, ladies of a certain age, step over here to Chicos and Talbots — look away from Anthropologie! LOL

I like Angie’s suggestion to leave few retail stones unturned — that there can be gems out there for a 20-something in a very traditional brand and for a 60-something in a trend-focused one.

Some of my recent fashion follows are on YouTube — Trinny of course who is in my age group and shares very little of my aesthetic, but has some great tips for layering pieces and rethinking old favorites. Then there are the Amy Smilovic (again, about my age) Tibi style class videos, which have some styling ideas that I find really useful. Emily Wheatley is kind of fun for that too, even though she is probably 20 years younger than I am. Kim France (Girls of a Certain Age) has some great shopping recommendations in her blog. So I think I gravitate towards content created by my peers, even though I’m not actively seeking it out.

Olive Green

Veteran

Nearing 70 and I have sought out older fashion blogs/advice over the years. Often they are too classic for me, as I tend to skew artsy or workwear type utilitarian, depending on occasion. But the artsy stuff is often maximalist, way too much fashion for a small and mostly minimalist person, lol. Don’t tell Ms Apfel.
I do like the granola camping and trekking bloggers who tend to be quite young, because gear is a real need in my life. So look them up occasionally for stuff like decent outerwear and boots and travel options.
Found Die Workwear after someone posted it to Inge’s link feature. Wow, really love the commentary and the exquisite detail in pics. Yeah, it’s for guys but I no longer care.
Passage de Pearls in Montreal (older woman) is a winner for me. Sharp content, wider lens on fashion, and interested in Montreal street style, which is always a treat.
It’s very rare that I watch a fashion-related video of any kind. I am impatient with advertising and endless lead-in conversation.
I’ve come back to YLF a couple of times, after wandering off to do life. International rather than some kind of niche, and a wide age range, and thank you so much Angie, the moderation and presentation is low key and excellent, that is a lot of work, I know.

Irina

Veteran

Interesting responses as it usually happens here!
I find that 50+ blogs/YT mostly suggest a classic style as an answer to middle aged fashion dilemmas. I wear some classic clothes but I don’t want to be defined by any style.

I don’t know where are the young women post or what they do, probably TT, I don’t follow.

I look for content based on my style aspirations - I watch women with clever, minimal wardrobes, who are artistic and daring.

One of my favorites is a 30+ British YouTuber. She is petite and I learned from her how to wear oversized clothes. I never recreate her outfits but look for proportions and silhouettes. She also has a minimal color palette and it helps to see someone else who finds comforting wearing all black or navy outfits.

I follow 40+ Canadian YouTuber who is also petite and wears fashion forward outfits. She does the reviews of Uniqlo which I find incredibly helpful. Also helps what her color palette is similar to mine.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Irina, you make an astute point about being able to relate to a content provider (ugh I kind of hate that term) in terms of size too. I’m one of those in-between people who is not petite, model-sized, or possessing of the straight, narrow body type usually seen in fashion. But I’m also not “plus size” so don’t really relate with those accounts either (although there are things to be learned from all sizes and shapes!). I’d love to see more content by women like me who are pretty average but with a lot of curves, styling things in a fashion-forward way that shows they can work on someone who is not a size 2 with small boobs! Alas, I pretty much figure it out on my own.

RobinF

Veteran

I have searched for 50+ bloggers, as well as petite bloggers and "mid-size" bloggers and pick and choose what interests me from all of them. It is nice to see people with some part in common with me and see how they make it work. I do like that bloggers around my age often have more in common with lifestyle so often I follow them for that content more than fashion.

Can I ask who is the Uniqlo reviewer that you follow? I love Uniqlo but find the fits a bit difficult sometimes.

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