Standing in a Zara changing room in Palma, Majorca, I faced a moment of sartorial reckoning. At nearly 62 years old, I was trying on a pair of vastly baggy, floor-scraping, dark indigo jeans with turn-ups. My immediate thought was, 'This time you've gone too far, Flett!' Yet, I purchased them anyway, embracing the bold choice despite initial doubts.
A Generational Shift in Denim Acceptance
Back at the hotel, I experienced another wave of uncertainty. Approaching 62 and wearing a size 14, I sought reassurance from my partner, whose critiques are typically gentle and supportive. After examining the jeans, he simply said, 'Yeah, they're good.' Thankfully, he avoids harsh judgments, never resorting to ageist comments.
I then WhatsApped a photo to my 19-year-old son, captioning it, 'New purchase. OK for an Old Lady?' Two blue ticks appeared, followed by a thumbs-up emoji. Buoyed by this approval, I practically swaggered to the bar in my big, baggy jeans, paired with Old Lady trainers designed for plantar fasciitis. The validation felt significant, though I suspect my son's opinion might have been influenced by the shirts I bought him.
Roots in a Denim-Weaned Generation
Born in 1964 to groovy parents, I belong to a generation practically weaned on denim. Growing up in London's suburbs, my fashion-forward mother shopped at iconic stores like Biba and Kids In Gear on Carnaby Street. During my early teens, we shared the same size, allowing me to borrow her vibrant Kenzo outfits, marking a departure from Laura Ashley styles.
When my mother returned to her native Australia, she left behind trunks of fashionable clothing. Ironically, she spent her later years in jeans while breeding horses, passing away in 2020. Losing access to her wardrobe, including Gloria Vanderbilt jeans—some of the first designer denim for women—was less impactful than losing her presence.
Evolution of Personal Denim Style
As a teenager, I customized secondhand Levi's 501s into drainpipes for my O levels in 1979. The 1980s saw a preference for skinny jeans until 1982, when straight-legged, ripped denim regained popularity, influenced by magazines like The Face. While some embraced dungarees, I avoided full denim outfits, feeling they suited petite, androgynous styles better.
The mid-80s to mid-90s marked my least denim-focused decade, coinciding with trends for high-waisted, distressed pale denim that evoked Scandinavian backpacker aesthetics. As fashion editor of The Face and later men's titles Arena, jeans felt lazy for work, reserved for casual Sundays.
Professional and Personal Transitions
White denim served as a smart-casual alternative during this period, though it risked a Eurotrash vibe. A vintage Wrangler jacket with a corduroy collar became my denim staple, versatile enough for frilly blouses or tailored trousers. By the late 1990s, I transitioned to newspaper work as a TV critic, pioneering remote work before it was mainstream.
Divorced in my mid-30s and caring for a rescue dog, my wardrobe shifted toward practicality. Denim jeans with stretch fabric became daily essentials, ideal for walks in Paddington Recreation Ground or cozy television nights.
Millennial Denim Boom and Motherhood
The new millennium ushered in a designer denim boom, with brands like True Religion and 7 For All Mankind gaining popularity. While friends invested in premium labels, I opted for H&M dungarees during pregnancy. Pushing a toddler in Selfridges, I avoided escalators to denim boutiques, sticking to high-street brands that accommodated postpartum sizes up to 18.
As a working-from-home older mother outside London, I avoided competitive school-run fashion scenes. Instead, I embraced Marks & Spencer's denim offerings, from barrel and carrot cuts to pleated palazzos, appreciating their fit for pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal women.
Rediscovering Denim Joy in Later Years
Now, holidays in Palma bring me back to Zara, where women of all ages—from willowy teens to silver-haired sixty-somethings—find style inspiration. Despite plantar fasciitis and a size 14 frame, I've rekindled a taste for cool jeans, celebrating a denim-clad journey that spans decades. It's a testament to evolving personal style and the timeless appeal of denim, proving that fashion can adapt at any age.
