Everyone has an opinion, but sometimes it’s best to keep it to ourselves.
A 76-year-old style influencer recently shared a photo of herself modeling a sleeveless midi dress, and while the post received plenty of attention, not all of it was positive.
“It’s not the first time this has happened, but this one surprised me,” Candace Cima told TODAY. “People still hold such outdated ideas about what’s appropriate for different ages, and that really needs to change.”
Cima, a grandmother of 11, wore a brown knit sleeveless dress paired with a sweater in her post. While many praised the pro-aging influencer’s fashion choices, others were quick to criticize her look.
One commenter on Facebook said, “From the side and back, this dress does nothing for you. Form fitting below the waist is not your friend. Celebrate everything else about your body!”
Another person wrote, “The sweater’s fine, but I’m not a fan of the dress.”
One particularly harsh remark read, “Not flattering at all. Would never wear it alone. Too old to be showing all that skin.”
Cima responded with grace: “It’s perfectly normal to have wrinkled skin at 76, and I’m not ashamed of it. Sometimes I want to ask, ‘Should I cover my face too, because I have wrinkles there?’”
Cima launched her fashion blog in 2019 after noticing a lack of representation for older women in the industry.
“I saw a gap when it came to how older women were dressing. Many of us were taught by previous generations to cover up as we age, but that doesn’t have to be the case anymore.”
“We need to rethink how we view aging,” she added. “We’re living in a modern world, and those old rules no longer apply.”
Despite the negative comments, Cima remained unfazed and offered words of wisdom to her followers, especially those who are younger.
“Aging is a gift. Everything you’ve learned throughout your life is there for you. You’re now the wisest you’ve ever been. Embrace it and be proud.”
