Sonia Shields
Fashion is often thought of as a young person’s industry, but that’s simply not true. In recent years, the fashion industry has transformed into a space where people of all ages are welcomed and accepted. There are influencers and fashion mavens over the age of 50 who are showcasing everyday looks that are, frankly, interesting and attractive. We’re keeping an eye on them, especially with the rise of TikTok.
Whether your relationship with clothing and accessories is directly connected to your roots, inspired by core family members, or something else, one thing is clear: fashion offers many people an outlet to tell their own story. Through clothing choices, one can be seen as bold and fearless. But most importantly, age is not the determining factor when it comes to being considered stylish. Style is something that can be cultivated over the years, while for some, it is an innate instinct. This concept is worth pondering upon, especially at a time when trends seem to drive the cyclical global fashion market. Interestingly, not relying on trends is a guiding principle for those who know the power of relying on individuality.
We spoke to three fashion-conscious women of different generations who aren’t shy about their style cues and why they always turn to patterns and key colors to feel confident.
Sonia Shields, 60, Brooklyn
Sonia Shields
“[For] “Throughout my life, fashion has been a way for me to express myself,” says Sonia Shields, executive director and president of the nonprofit. Shields, who hails from the village of Great Neck on Long Island, says she grew up inspired by women like her mother and grandmother. Looking back at their style decisions, she says her mother was always perfectly dressed. “I remember being fascinated by the beauty of my mother and grandmother as a child.” Shields shared during our phone call that her parents were also a fashionable couple throughout multiple eras, especially the ’70s. At that point, she says, they embraced afro hair and wore clothes closer to what the Black Panthers wore. Throughout the years, her mother’s deliberate choice to mix trends while keeping things classic has always been a guiding light for Shields.
A few years ago, when she attended Howard University, preppy style was all the rage. Being a New Yorker, she was unfamiliar with that approach to fashion. She told me that she would wear pinafore and sweaters, which were considered trendy, but would always inject her own style with Kangol sneakers and hats. Shields used her time at the historically black college in Washington, DC, to experiment with her own style.
Sonia Shields
Having worked in the nonprofit sector for 30 years, she says the space is full of people in suits. Shields told me that from the beginning of her career, she has subverted the way typical people in the industry dress. “When I got into this field, no one was expressing themselves,” she says. [through their style]Now that she’s a leader, she’s doing just that. For example, at a recent gala, she decided to wear a tuxedo without a top. While some may find it uncomfortable, Shields likes to go for a “funky” look, which makes her fashion journey even more fascinating. She says that as she gets older, she’s more willing to show some skin without being shy.
Denim also plays a big role in Shields’ wardrobe: She says she’s been told many times that jeans are inappropriate for the workplace, but rather than give in to the naysayers, she pushes forward with confidence.
For those hoping to move away from relying on trends, Shields recommends relying on bases and color accents like denim, black clothing, and white staples. “Make the mistake of jumping on trends,” the executive director says. Bases can guide you and lead you to create memorable outfits, she says. One more word of advice: “Don’t buy clothes.” Instead, build your foundation with well-made pieces that you can wear again and again.
Patrice Alexander, 57, Atlanta
Patrice Alexandre
A shift in interest is normal for people who love unique clothing and items. It can happen when you’re in a store and an item suddenly inspires you. Atlanta-based consultant Patrice Alexander says that’s exactly how she shops. Rather than trolling stores with a shopping list, she shopped with her heart. “I’m not a fashion person,” she says. “I’ve always loved fashion. I buy things I love and wear them until I can’t wear them anymore.”
During the Zoom call, she further explained that it comes naturally to her to wear chic clothes from Roger Vivier, Chanel, and Gucci. “I’ve always bought whatever I liked without thinking about it,” Alexander said, adding that she’s always loved fashion. Growing up in suburban Macon, Georgia, may explain why. She recalls that both her paternal and maternal grandmothers were considered stylish. She was particularly inspired by her grandmothers, who would often wear mink hats and jackets, items that were accepted by church. She remembers going shopping with her grandmother as a child and trying on her clothes. “My maternal grandmother was a very fashionable person,” she said. [not according] She always had a good sense of fashion for her age, which I appreciated.’ All these moments were meaningful to her as they were her preliminary experiences in adding that special touch to her outfits.
Patrice Alexandre
Alexander’s Instagram page, launched by her daughter Briana over a year ago, allows her to document her sophisticated outfits. Scroll through her page and you’ll see that fashion brings her joy. In one reel, she’s dancing and laughing in a bell-sleeved red-and-baby-blue floral top and flared denim from Free People. In another, she’s wearing a striped collared shirt from Alice + Olivia with a bow down the middle, vintage Chanel platform shoes, and ’70s-inspired Veronica Beard jeans (where she’s also dancing). The profile shows off her playful approach to fashion.
“My style has remained pretty much the same my whole life, but it’s improved as I’ve had more disposable income,” says Alexander. A few years ago, as a single mom, she wasn’t able to splurge like she does now. But as she’s gotten older, she feels more empowered to buy things that are meaningful to her. This is solid advice for anyone wondering what to spend enough money on: Save money when it’s not straining your bank account, rather than spending it too often. Pieces worth investing in include a vintage leather coat, a sturdy work tote bag, and loafers you can wear all season.
Na’aisha Austin, 40, Atlanta
Naisha Austin
Na’aisha Austin showed up to a morning video call wearing a Christopher John Rogers color-blocked long-sleeve sweater dress in black, orange, teal, and yellow, a look that’s perfectly on brand for Austin, a writer from St. Louis, Missouri. Fashion is in her blood; her mother is a designer known to many in the Midwestern town where she grew up. She told me that Kimora Lee Simmons was wearing something her mother designed when she was 16. “I was immersed in this world all my life,” she says. When asked to describe her relationship with clothing, Austin eloquently expressed how clothes were a way for her to dream and energize herself. As a child, she attended a predominantly white school and was teased, so she chose certain clothes not only to protect herself but to express herself creatively.
Austin explains that she was drawn to different clothes in her 20s and 30s. In her 20s, she fell in love with bohemian-style clothing and felt like she was rediscovering herself. Looking back at that period of her life, she says she didn’t buy any investment pieces at the time. However, she now buys a ton of colorful Christopher John Rogers pieces that she feels will stand the test of time. She owns 25 runway looks designed by Rogers, an alumna of Savannah College of Art and Design. Over email, she told me that she feels it’s important for black consumers to support couture pieces by their own designers. Austin attended the latest presentation in New York City after connecting with Rogers’ team.
Naisha Austin
“[My style] “Fashion has evolved, but I’ve always worn bold colors,” she says. “I love statement pieces.” Austin says wearing statement pieces makes her feel most confident in herself. She usually buys items with bold textures like taffeta, silk, and wool because she feels drawn to them. “I use my fashion to accentuate who I am,” she said. Some people may feel that fashion is a sign of vanity, but she doesn’t mind at all. Rather than dwelling on this idea, she says she dresses for herself. Austin says that sometimes she buys items with the hope that she can pass them on to her daughter one day.
To elevate your style, she says you must first find what you love, whether that’s pastel-colored pieces or a particular jewelry brand you frequently support. Once you’ve taken that step, you can move on to figuring out what pieces feel most authentic to you, which may or may not mean only supporting Black designers. Another tip she offers is to always be intentional with your purchases.
