20 Style Lessons I Learned From My 92-Year-Old Neighbor
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Every so often, my mom will call me over to the kitchen window in our second-story apartment. "Quick," she'll yell in a slightly hushed way, as if someone else might hear her. "You need to see what Mary's wearing!"
Mary is our neighbor who lives across the street, and while she may be 92, she's quite possibly one of the most stylish people I know. Whenever I see her, she's usually dressed in bright tailored slacks, a patterned blazer, standout accessories, and — my personal favorite — kitten heels. And that's just what she wears to garden.
So when the topic of interviewing an older, wiser woman for fashion advice came up in a meeting, I knew just who to call.
I entered Mary's apartment bright and early on a Sunday morning — the only free slot in her busy schedule — and immediately knew she had tons to share. Outfits for the week hung on a door, and every closet was packed to the max with clothes. With my phone set to record, we began. Read on for all the helpful style tips Mary had to share, as I hope to end up exactly like her.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Suit
"I worked in the executive offices down on Wall Street and I always had to be dressed in a suit. You can dress it up. You can dress it down. I don't wear jeans. I wear slacks."
Always Have Something Dressy in Your Closet
"Because you never know. I go to many, many dinners, so I have a lot of dressy clothes. I love an all-black [look] for evenings."
It's Better to Invest Than to Buy Just to Buy
"I don't wear cheap, cheap clothes. I like good stuff."
And Definitely Don't Be Afraid to Splurge
"If I like it, I'll splurge on it — regardless of what it costs. Even at this age, if I really like something and I think it would benefit my appearance, I'll splurge."
Planning Out Your Outfits Is Helpful — but Not Necessary
"For me, I have to be out of here by 7:30 in the morning, so I do [plan out my outfits], but I don't know how people feel. They might pick something out and not like it. I do mine because I more or less know what I'm going to wear."
A Pair of Heels Can Make All the Difference
"I just started wearing low heels. Up until this year, I wore high heels — if I showed you, you wouldn't believe it."
You Should Clean Out Your Closet Often
"If I'm looking for something I want to wear, I go through the whole closet, and if I see I haven't worn something, it goes to the pile."
And Get Rid of Clothes That Don't Fit
"What good is it to me if I can't fit into it?"
Donate Your Clothes
"I think everyone should. If they're wearable and in good condition, I would say yes, donate them."
But Not Everything
"They say you shouldn't give your shoes away."
Accessories Should Complement Your Look
"It has to coordinate. The shoes have to go with the pants. And color. I can't just wear any color."
It's OK to Repeat Outfits
"I love a black-and-white suit I have. I wear that with a zebra-striped blouse."
Solid, Colorful Looks Are Often More Classic
"I don't wear anything with flowers. I prefer solid. I love every color, and I have all colors in [my closet]."
Think Outside of the Realm of Jeans
"I never wore jeans in my life. Never wore jeans! I always worked with executives up until the time I was 65, and afterward, I just wore other clothes I had."
Mary's Opinion on Flared Jeans
"I don’t like the bell-bottoms, really. I used to wear them now and again. Now at this age, I don't like them. They're too long. Bell-bottoms, I guess, are too long."
Mary's Opinion on Bandanas
"Oh no, not at all. No way. I never wore a bandana in my life. Beautiful scarfs, never a bandana."
Mary's Opinion on This Bright, Modern Suit
"That's pretty. The two-piece with the blouse? This one I would wear."
Mary's Opinion on Celebrity Style
"How low does it go? I would never wear it, naturally. Oh, it's a latex dress — it really clings! Those are her breasts! Oh my god, it comes down almost to her belly button! And she's pregnant wearing this? Wow, it's not an appropriate outfit, but if that's her taste, god bless her. Maybe if I had that figure."
"I love [leggings] on the girls. They look stunning if they have a nice figure like she has. But I could never wear them, not at 92. Some of the old women they come [to the senior center], you'd be surprised. Dressed up — their pants tight. I'm a little more modest."
"Well, it looks nice on her. That's naked under there, right? When you're young, everything looks good on you. I don't like overalls. They're bad like the tight leggings."
"This is pretty. Of course it's too long. I don't like the length of the pants, but the outfit I think is stunning. I don't know if I'd wear the hat. I like the pants more slim, more fitted, and shorter."
"Oh my god. That I don't like. Is that net?! Sorry. Too severe."