Age Appropriate Aging Dressing Joyfully Family Moms

Grandma Style- Older, Wiser and Fabulously Fashionable Women

A woman sitting on some steps holding her cell phone.


Yesterday was Grandparent’s Day. A day many would consider one of those “Hallmark Holidays”. Nevertheless, it got me thinking of my grandparents and how they helped shape my life. I was especially close to my grandma, aka Nana, who was my mother’s mom. When I was 11 years old, she and my Papa came to stay with us. They wanted to help my dad care for my then 5-year-old sister and I while my mom was ill. Putting their own grief on hold, they stayed with us for several months after mom passed away to help us adjust to our new lives. I will always be grateful to them for being there for us.

My Nana, Mary, was well-known for her strong faith, devotion to family and mad card skills. She would pray for you one minute and then put you to shame in euchre the next.

My Stylish Grandma 

A woman in a white dress holding flowers next to two women.

My mom, grandma and aunt

Nana was not afraid of fashion or colour or statement pieces. She enjoyed lipstick, funky eyewear and big costume jewellery. (She had the BEST collection of clip-on earrings.) Nana took pride in her appearance and was the first one who taught me how to dress. After raising four daughters, teaching her granddaughter about style was a no-brainer. Whenever we went to church, (which was A LOT), it was always right and proper to dress up. I often borrowed her wedge heels, curly lambs wool coat and used her concealer to cover up the dark circles under my eyes she was constantly on me about.

There was that one time though when I questioned her style sense. I’ll never forget when I was about 13 years old, she cut the illustrious red tab off my first pair of Levis. To say I was devastated is an understatement. <Cue teenaged hysterics> The tantrum I threw would rival that of any European soccer player. My poor grandma could not understand why anyone would want to parade around with a clothing label hanging off them.

A group of people standing next to each other.

Mary’s Daughters: my mom, (left) with her three sisters and my uncle.

 

Mary died at the ripe old age of 99. (I should be so lucky!) She remained a playful spirit right up until the end. I can’t help but wonder what she would think of the new wave of silver bloggers and zoomer models that seem to be everywhere these days. I’m confident she would applaud their joyful, ageless, fearless and live-out-loud approach to dressing.

Personal Style Has No Expiration Date

These are just a few of the older-but-not-old bloggers I’m following these days. I’m intrigued and captivated by their unapologetic, creative and edgy styles. I feel inspired by their cool aesthetic and enthusiasm for fashion. Unlike the stereotypical middle-aged woman, there’s no chance of these style darlings becoming invisible. Like my grandma did at that age, they have a striking presence, albeit more refined than Nana…or the rest of us for that matter. These women exude confidence and vitality. You’re unlikely to find any stodgy pastels or frumpy florals here. Age appropriate? What’s that?

 

A woman in black leather jacket and sunglasses.

Accidental Icon

 

 

 

 

My grandma and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. She never could understand why I would want to become vegetarian or why I would not want to become a nun. (Sorry, Nana.) #truestory. BUT we shared a passion for fashion, a joy for life and an insatiable desire to play…oh, and I’m quite sure she would approve of my new shoes.

A person wearing silver shoes and polka dot pants.

 

Fashion is for every age. If your closet has passed its “best before” date, give us a call. We’ll help you build a stylish and modern wardrobe that fits your lifestyle, captures your youthful outlook and professes your joy of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A woman is sleeping on the steps with her head on a love balloon.

 

 

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  • sandra vander schaaf
    September 22, 2017 at 8:24 am

    What a lovely piece, Dee! What a wonderful woman to have in your life—except for the tag clipping incident, of course. (I TOTALLY get the generational divide on that… What would she think of the clothing lines that turn their logos into principle designs, like Tommy Hilfiger? I’ve never got that myself.) While I’m not likely to become an attention-grabbing style maven as I age, I sure hope I can emulate the “joyful, ageless, fearless and live-out-loud approach” to how I make my way to the silver years.

    • Dee Clarke
      September 25, 2017 at 5:44 am

      Thank you for your kind words, Sandra. I hope women everywhere will support one another in our “joyful, ageless, fearless and live-out-loud approach” to personal style AND, more importantly, to life. “Get busy living or get busy dying” is one of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite movies, The Shawshank Redemption. Words to live by.

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