Everyone has an opinion, but not every opinion deserves a platform.
When 76-year-old style influencer Candace Cima posted a photo of herself modeling a sleeveless knit dress, she likely expected some comments—but perhaps not the flood of outdated criticism she received.
“It wasn’t my first experience with this, but it caught me off guard,” Cima told TODAY. “The way people still cling to these old-fashioned ideas about age and appearance is surprising—and it needs to change.”
The grandmother of 11 paired her brown midi dress with a cozy sweater, effortlessly blending style and comfort. While many praised her bold fashion statement, others had less kind things to say.
One commenter criticized the fit: “From the side and back, this dress does nothing for you. Form-fitting below the waist is not your friend.” Another dismissed her outfit entirely, writing, “The sweater’s fine, but I’m not a fan of the dress.”
And then there were the harsher remarks: “Not flattering at all. Would never wear it alone. Too old to be showing all that skin.”
But Cima didn’t let the negativity shake her confidence. Her response? Calm, witty, and unapologetic. “It’s perfectly normal to have wrinkled skin at 76, and I’m not ashamed of it,” she said. “Sometimes I want to ask, ‘Should I cover my face too, because I have wrinkles there?’”
Cima started her fashion blog in 2019 after noticing the glaring absence of representation for older women in the industry.
“I realized there was this gap in how older women were encouraged to dress,” she shared. “So many of us were taught to cover up as we age, but those rules are outdated. We’re in a modern world now—those ideas don’t apply anymore.”
Despite the negativity, Cima uses her platform to inspire women of all ages to embrace their bodies and their age.
“Aging is a gift,” she reminded her followers. “Every lesson you’ve learned is a part of you now. You’re the wisest you’ve ever been—celebrate that.”
Her post is more than a defense of her style; it’s a call to rethink how we view aging. It’s a reminder that beauty—and confidence—has no expiration date.
So, what do you think? Should age dictate how we dress, or is it time to toss those old rules aside? Share your thoughts and tag someone who needs to see this!
