[Senior Trend] Do You Need to Wear More Expensive Clothes as You Get Older?

Age Does Not Matter in Life or Style, Attitude Is What Counts

Since ancient times, we have valued the refinement of clothing. Connecting clothing with life, we have upheld sincerity and etiquette, sustaining the Eastern land of propriety. When looking at proverbs related to clothing, there are well over 70. They cover all aspects of life, from "If your heart is kind, the front flap of your clothes closes," to "Even beggars must wear clothes to beg," and "You may not notice a day without food, but you notice being naked." According to writer Park Wan-seo’s dictionary of novels, the expression "clothes are wings" means that good clothes make a person stand out. The importance our ancestors placed on clothing is evident in the word "uisikju" (clothing, food, and shelter), whereas in China it is called "sik-u-ju" (food, clothing, and shelter).

Whether by population size or economic power, it may be natural that our seniors, the largest group in Korea, assert their presence in the fashion market. Until a few years ago, middle-aged fashion was often associated with daily hanbok, monotone suits, or colorful hiking clothes. The recent situation is different. Seniors have started wearing clothes from brands popular among younger generations instead of specific "women’s wear" or "men’s wear" sections in department stores. The 50s and 60s generations use various accessories like mini pleated skirts, hats, and gloves for activities such as golf. Lifelong education centers at universities competitively offer senior fashion model courses, attracting many middle-aged students. Senior model selection programs have even emerged, replacing broadcasts of the Miss Korea pageant.

The new seniors no longer want to live in "old-fashioned" attire. They live "young, free, and stylish." There was a time when certain brands were associated with specific age groups, and dressing according to age was considered proper etiquette. Now, there is no reason why the 70s and 80s generations cannot wear clothes favored by the 20s and 30s generations, and vice versa. Questions like "What style is trending these days?" have become as common as "What bag is good for lifelong use?" Stylish aging may be a concern across all generations. A shopping app targeting customers in their 20s even hired 70-year-old Youn Yeo-jeong, issuing a press release stating that this aligns with the brand’s values of "trying various styles, breaking prejudices, and finding one’s own individuality."

Senior fashionistas have distinct characteristics. They prefer high-quality fabrics and generous cuts over fast fashion favored by younger people. Comfort and a good fit come first, they have cherished accessories, and they know what they like. They do not worry about trends. YouTubers like Milanonna and model Kim Chil-du are senior fashion influencers. Their short and long hair reflect 30 years of life experience. Milanonna, whose hair turned white due to her son’s illness, decided to stop dyeing her hair in her mid-40s, and Kim Chil-du, despite difficulties in reemployment at age 60, could not cut his long-grown beard and ended up taking modeling lessons. Their confident attitudes make them stylish in themselves. Each senior’s outfit tells a story. The knit vest, once considered "grandfather fashion," has recently been worn by BTS members and is known as "grandpa style," receiving praise for its warmth. The seniors’ seasoned demeanor and relaxed attitude even bring peace of mind to young people.

The remarkable activities of middle-aged and senior people in fashion are not unique to Korea. Iris Apfel, the world’s oldest fashion icon at 101 years old and a representative of "Granny Chic," says "age is irrelevant in fashion." Famous for her colorful feathered outfits and horn-rimmed glasses, she collaborates with brands targeting young customers. Taiwanese couple Chang Wan-ji (83) and He Shu-er (84) run a laundry shop and became SNS celebrities by coordinating hundreds of unclaimed clothes into outfits and running the Instagram account "WantShowAsYoung (@wantshowasyoung)."

When choosing the purpose of clothing, I think it is primarily to protect the body and allow comfortable activity, so I consider practicality paramount. In an era of being "seen," dressing appropriately according to one’s own judgment and circumstances is not easy, but I find comfort in Milanonna’s words. To become a "true fashionista," one needs a mature inner self, self-esteem, and emotional stability. Dressing well means having taste, insight, and culture, which require time. To have one’s unique charm fully expressed in style, aging is inevitable. Seniors have an advantage in this regard.

Mireille Guiliano, former CEO of a Louis Vuitton subsidiary and author of the book French Women Don’t Get Old, said the secret to aging gracefully lies in "attitude." This refers to one’s attitude toward life. Rather than following yearly fashion trends, cherishing and steadily cultivating one’s inner style creates a dignified style. This is why the French are said to worry least about aging. They believe one only gets old at eighty and that the real fear is not aging but losing charm.

As a nation with a long history of special affection for "clothing," it would be wonderful if, alongside the growth of the senior fashion market, we could express fashion that is more comfortable and free rather than just "styles shown to others." The fashion of seniors, who remain dazzlingly stylish in both life and style, is still in full bloom.

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.