I am 51 and cultivate my own style. I have never chased trends, though. Who wants to look like everyone else? That’s such … basic behavior.

I am 45 and have been into style/aesthetics for as long as I can remember. It's part of who I am and can't imagine changing it. Style should evolve as you age, but evolution shouldn't be seen as a bad thing.

For example, my clothes are more expensive now and overall look better. When you are young, you can wear cheaper clothing and still look good, but not as you age.

It’s very person dependent I think. My mother has never cared much about clothes and rarely wears makeup; as she aged I think she stayed about the same. Her twin has always been well dressed; as she aged her style changed and became more relaxed but she’s still very put together if that makes sense.

I am in my 60’s and my buying habits have changed over the years. I want clothes to work for multiple seasons vs one time use items. Once retired, you simply don’t need as many clothes. I have stayed the same size, but I wouldn’t hang onto clothes that don’t fit. My DH saves more than I do. I, regularly, go thru my closet and donate what I haven’t worn.

It's around that time that you see the split between people who give up and let themselves fall apart, and those who keep trying. You can look at two people who are 50 and one will look a lot older than the other. Doesn't happen looking at two people who are 30.

I've always leaned towards deep. solid colors and simple designs. When I was in my 20s, my dad once complained that I was always wearing black, dark blues, grays, etc. and why didn't I wear more pink and yellow? Told him I hated pink and I hated yellow. Still remember his reply "I think you should wear a pink skirt and a yellow blouse."

I still like deep tones (jewel tones more than black) but I realized at some point I sometimes did pick out those colors my dad thought I should wear. A few years ago I bought a silk and linen cardigan with a round neck just because it was so pretty, but didn't have a top to wear under it (too heavy to just wear a buttoned sweater, even a lightweight one, plus it was not long). Then I found a pale yellow scoop neck cotton knit top that worked perfectly and suddenly that long ago conversation with my dad came back and made me smile. But it occurred to me I was unconsciously aware I needed some colors to reflect on my skin. Looking pale against dark colors (when I was young my hair was very dark brown) worked when I was young but with hair fading and going gray (colored for several years but stopped) I definitely needed it.

I'm most aware of not wanting to look sloppy--like I don't own a mirror--when I run errands. My hair (mostly gray although it is still brown-ish when wet) has always been fine and fairly thin, so it doesn't hold a shape and gets really fly away and I look completely senile if I'm not careful. I'm probably more conscious of how I look in public than when I was younger.

I wfh and have liberated myself from shopping at 53.

I’m 50 and super vain OP. I look at women around my age and wonder if they own a mirror. You should never give up on trying to be and look your best.

I think it's more about who you are. I'm nearly 60 and I've never cared about clothes or shoes. My mom is 84 and is the same way.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 40 and I still care about looking and buying shoes/clothes, is there an age where you stop caring about all of that (fashion) or do you just continue caring until you die?

Some people do. Some people don’t. There is no rule. Middle-aged people are not all alike. Neither are older people.

My entire life, mother was very particular about makeup and clothes and cared how she looked and dressed until she passed. She had a manicure done about two weeks before her death. She was in hospice at home and had some visitors on what ended up being her last full day. She insisted on putting on makeup and getting dressed. She was 81 years old.

In my 60s. Great shoe collection and into heels of all types. Then I broke my ankle right before covid and worked from home in flip flops for three years. Now I still have an amazing shot collection but traded all my thin heels for clunky heels and wedges. Slowly seeing the descent but still loving and participating in fashion.

I mean, my mom is 74, and she still cares about what she wears and how she looks, but she's not into trends or anything. I'm 46, and I don't really care about what's in style, but I do enjoy finding and wearing pretty, flattering clothes. One nice thing about getting older is being freed of the need to wear the latest thing, and instead finding things that you love. I buy less clothing, but I keep and wear those things longer.

Maybe when you don’t have to dress nicely for your job?

I'm 40 and I still care about looking and buying shoes/clothes, is there an age where you stop caring about all of that (fashion) or do you just continue caring until you die?