Everyone has opinions, but sometimes it’s better to keep them to ourselves.
A 76-year-old style influencer recently posted a photo of herself wearing a sleeveless midi dress, and while the comments poured in, not all of them were kind.
“This isn’t the first time, but this one really caught me off guard,” Candace Cima told TODAY. “People still have these outdated beliefs about what’s ‘age-appropriate’ in fashion, and that really needs to change.”
Cima, a grandmother of 11, styled a brown knit sleeveless dress with a sweater, showcasing her personal take on timeless fashion.
While many applauded the pro-aging influencer’s confidence and style, others flooded the comment section with criticism.
“From the side and back, this dress does nothing for you. Form-fitting styles below the waist aren’t your friend. Celebrate everything else about your body!” one Facebook user commented.
“The sweater is fine, but I’m not a fan of the dress,” someone else chimed in.
“Not flattering at all. I would never wear it alone. Too old to be showing that much skin,” another person boldly wrote.
Cima, however, remains unfazed.
“At 76, it’s completely natural to have wrinkles, and I’m not ashamed of them,” she said. “Sometimes I want to ask, ‘Should I cover my face too, just because I have wrinkles there?’”
She launched her fashion blog in 2019 after noticing a lack of representation for older women in the style space.
“I saw an opportunity to talk about fashion as we age. Women have been conditioned to believe they need to cover up—just because that’s what their mothers and grandmothers did.”
“It’s time we rethink aging. We don’t have to cling to outdated ideas in today’s world.”
Despite the negative comments, Cima doesn’t dwell on them. Instead, she uses her platform to inspire both her longtime and younger followers.
“Aging is a privilege. Everything you’ve learned in life is now at your fingertips. You are the wisest you’ve ever been. Own it and be proud.”