Strike a Pose! How 9 Over 50 Style Icons Are Challenging Stereotypes
When it comes to fashion for the mature woman, the question should not be “What’s in style?” or even “What should I wear?” Rather, ask yourself “Who am I?” So says Andrea Pflaumer, author and blogger on fashion, style, and art. Shopping For the Real You, her blog and book of the same name, is helping women worldwide discover and embrace what best evokes their own personal style.
Below we discuss 9 style icons and actresses, all over 60, each of whom defies the conventional rules in order to express who they truly are. We want you to take a look at these women and ask yourself how much of their spirit you also embody.
Sarah Jane Adams
Get the look:
Neo Bohemian Red Swarovski Layered Necklace at Etsy
This famed Australian jewelry designer has an unmistakable, whimsical, Bohemian style. High spirited and artistic, her look is playful, light, natural, and gives off a colorful, fun vibe. It’s who she is!
Sarah Jane reminds us that we’re not monolithic in terms of our style. Rather, fashion can and should be used to express different facets of our own personality.
Iris Apfel
Andrea describes Iris Apfel as a truly amazing woman, one whose style and attitude towards aging makes her a true icon. Iris likes to incorporate ethnic jewelry and textiles from developing nations into her wardrobe, and she does it in style.
Her personality, zest for life, and fashion sense have led to her being the oldest person to ever have a Barbie doll made in her image. What’s more, at 97 years old, she even signed a modeling contract with a major modeling agency!
Get the look:
Dori Jacobson
This blogger and founder of Senior Style Bible is frequently stopped by strangers in her hometown of Las Vegas, wanting to know about her fabulous outfits! A former Playboy bunny, she likes to shop at stores like H&M and Zara and emphasizes you don’t have to spend a lot to look amazing.
Her style is dramatic and classic, and even at 85 years old she still loves to wear her high heels! One of the biggest tips Andrea learned from Dori is to always wear a good handbag and good shoes. If you do, you can look great in almost anything.
Get the look:
Chain Strap Tote Bag at Zara’s
Lynn Slater
Lynn loves to wear couture. To keep her expensive taste from breaking the bank, about 97% of her wardrobe comes from vintage stores. Her style is high-spirited, full of drama, and elegant.
She almost exclusively wears black and white. While most of us enjoy some color in our wardrobe, if you really think about it, it’s not a bad idea. Once you find your style and get everything in a similar color, you can make outfits out of a seemingly infinite number of combinations.
Lynn embodies shibui, a Japanese aesthetic that’s refined and classic, yet artistic and even a bit dramatic. A professor at Fordham University, students frequently stop her while walking on campus to ask how she achieves her fabulous look. She loves having such an impact on young people.
Get the look:
Derek Lam Black Bell Sleeve Coat at Rent the Runway
Maye Musk
The mother of famed entrepreneur Elon Musk has made a name for herself in her own right, both as a model and as a dietitian. She loves to wear black and white, and has a knack for combining very bright colors with very dark colors to forge a dramatic look. With her short white hair and dynamic personality, she’s continuing the modeling career she started at age 15.
Get the look:
Esteban Cortazar Collective Square Neck Sweater Dress at Rent the Runway
J’adore Parfum d’eau at Nordstrom
Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren is a bit of a cultured bohemian. She experiments with fashion (and her hair color) but always does it in a way that expresses a deep self-confidence in her body and a desire to reflect her class and character.
Her clothes communicate her best traits – intelligence, vibrancy, a playful elegance, and subtle femininity. She knows which features she wants to show and which ones to hide (her arms). She also knows how to make colors work for her.
Helen is a master of accessorizing and uses her handbags, in particular, to accentuate her clothes. She puts things together in classic yet sensual ways. If your fashion style is elegant, classic, vibrant, and expressive, Helen should be a source of inspiration.
Get the look:
Floral Flounce Sleeve Midi Dress at Chico’s
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour is the epitome of femininity. Her clothes communicate her love of fashion and make her sparkle. She loves adornment and chooses clothes that accentuate her beautiful hair.
I love that she is not afraid to look “dressy” and even a little dramatic in her clothing choices. Her selection of jackets is wonderful, and she has chosen exactly the right shape for her body type. If you describe your fashion style as romantic, timeless, dramatic, and colorful, Jane Seymour seems to match.
Get the look:
EASY TRAVEL BLAZER at Talbots
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep’s fashion choices are as varied as the roles that she has played. She is a bit of a chameleon in this respect. Her style is bohemian and eclectic, adventurous, and spirited.
Meryl is also not afraid of taking chances with her clothes. From a tunic and jeans to a white classic silk suit, she looks through her dark glasses and seems to say, “This is me, like it or not.” Her wardrobe is probably a collage of bright colors. If you like to get attention and don’t mind taking a few chances, Meryl Streep may be your fashion match.
Get the look:
No-Iron Stretch Mixed Print Tunic at Chico’s
Judi Dench
Not only is Judi Dench a brilliant actress, but she is also charming, approachable, and real. Her authenticity is expressed in the clothes she wears, which are understated.
In her 70s, she has found her style and is sticking with it. Without being overly conservative, she is stylish, down to earth, warm, and comfortable. Judi accepts her body type and wears clothes that accentuate her coloring. For women who define their fashion style as comfortable, relaxed, and classy, Judi Dench is a great fashion role model.
Get the look:
Maxi Shirt Dress at Chico’s
So, there we have it! Nine very different women with nine very different styles. What I love most about this collection of images is that it shows that there is no single “right” fashion for women over 60. We are as different as the stars, and we have the right to choose clothing that makes us feel great as individuals.
These women have chosen clothes that express their wonderful personalities, lifestyles, and body types. We can all relate to at least one, and possibly several, of them.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you have a passion for fashion? Which of these nine fashion icons and actresses most reflects your own style? Are there any aspects of each you want to emulate? Do they make you want to try something different?
