When it comes to fashion for older women, the members of our community have strong opinions. In fact, every time I ask a question about style, beauty or fashion for older women, I hold my breath, hoping that the conversation will stay civil and polite.

Why is Fashion for Older Women a Hot Button Issue?

I’m not sure what it is about this topic that sparks such strong emotions. Perhaps fashion is symbolic of how we view our lives after 60, more generally.

There are many people who believe that, after 60 years on this planet, they have earned the right to wear whatever they want. These members of our community will often say that the very concept of fashion after 60 is ridiculous. After all, shouldn’t we just wear what we like? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we focused on feeling good and not looking good for others?

On the other end of the spectrum are women that believe that looking good for ourselves and others is still important after 60. These women argue that women of all ages have the right to feel desirable – and part of feeling desirable is imagining and caring about how others view us. Sometimes this means trading comfort for style.

Do You Prioritize Looking Good or Feeling Good?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you tend to focus on finding clothes that feel good? Or, is your primary concern how they make you look? I realize that no person will fall entirely into one camp or the other, but, which position do you agree with most? Please add your vote and join the conversation in the comments section at the end of this article.

What do you think is the essence of fashion for older women? Do you think that there are any “rules” that we should follow as we get a little older? How would you define your personal style? Please join the discussion.

Here’s a short video that I recorded to expand on this topic. I hope you enjoy it!