Does Denim Have An Age Limit?

No, of course not! A quality pair of jeans is meant to last a lifetime, so it’s only fitting that you should be able to wear them to any age. However, there are steps we ought to take to make sure we’re still looking good well into our sunset years.

Are jeans really a young person’s game?

In 1969, American Fabrics magazine declared, “Denim is one of the world’s oldest fabrics, yet it remains eternally young.” They were speaking of denim’s lasting popularity, but could it have a duality of meaning? If denim is forever young, do we reach an age where we become too old to wear it?

This latest survey suggests that many people think so. Why do so many people feel that jeans are suited for the younger generation. Perhaps it’s because many denim jeans are now skinny or slim fitting, and can be a little less forgiving when worn so close to the body.

Finding the perfect pair of jeans is not an easy task, with 6% of shoppers admitting that they have been reduced to tears during the often-infuriating search. Trying to fit into a pair of jeans that just don’t fit or suit you can be an issue for over-50s. Fortunately, jeans come in an infinite variety of shapes and styles.

A good pair of jeans should last you a lifetime

At least they should. For example, a skinny pair of cheap jeans, are not only ill-fitting for older fashionistas, they won’t last nearly as long. Nobody looks good in a tatty pair of jeans, regardless if they’re 53 or 23. A quality pair of raw denim jeans will be much more durable if you take good care of them. Yes, they’re more expensive in the short-term, but they’ll remain looking good long after a cheaper pair of jeans will have been binned.

A good pair of jeans can last you years as long as you clean them properly and irregularly, yes irregularly. According to Mr. Black’s denim care guide, to make your jeans last and look good you should clean them once every 6 months. You can keep them fresh by using anti-bacterial sprays, but not by washing.

On a good quality pair of jeans, age shouldn’t be a factor. Once you find a pair of quality jeans, over-50’s just need to a find the right style.

How to rock jeans into your 50s and beyond

A whole host of over-50s wear jeans, some look bad and others look good. For every Jeremy Clarkson there’s a George Clooney. Actress and septuagenarian Joanna Lumley regularly rocks jeans. She’s not the only one, Mary Berry often sported a pair of jeans whilst hosting The Great British Bake-Off, despite being almost 30 years older than the supposed cut off point.

The truth is you can look good in denim at any age. And, by the way, the kids don’t necessary have it right either. As so-called ‘mom’ jeans become the new fashion, the popularity of unforgiving tighter-fitting jeans is finally fading.

Vogue is calling time on Skinny Jeans, much to the relief of anyone who wants to leave a little to the imagination. So forget trying to ‘look young’, instead find a look that compliments you and your age. Remember, there are styles to suit every size and shape – with help from a stylist, or even a quick search online, you will soon be pointed in the right direction.

Over 50’s should be bold with their choices, and not afraid to experiment with trends. Speaking in the Guardian, Anne Perkins succinctly writes that “the more ancient and decrepit I get, the more pleasure I shall have from the one thing that looks mildly in touch with fashion.”

Denim or no denim, it’s important that you’re comfortable and that you like how you look. Who cares what millennials think?

LFW Street style images by Sherion Mullings

http://sherionmullingsphotography.co.uk

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