When he ran his first marathon in Tokyo in 2011, Yum had his fashion epiphany, struck by the sight of Japanese runners enthusiastically donning costumes, many dressed as anime characters. - Photos KK Yum
The fashion industry has been known to champion youth as the pinnacle of attractiveness and trendsetting.
Its runway shows, glossy magazine spreads, and advertising campaigns invariably feature young models with meticulously styled faces and taut physiques – implicitly suggesting that style is a game best played by the young.
But the truth is, style doesn’t come with a shelf life, and confidence knows no age limit.
As the fashion industry gradually embraces diversity and inclusivity, redefining mainstream beauty standards, some senior fashionistas are proudly stepping forward.
They’re choosing to wear their unique style – not dictated by current-day trends – as a bold statement, reclaiming their space in a world that too often tells them to “dress their age” and fade into the background.
In Kuala Lumpur, two vibrant seniors – Lilly Kan, 63, and KK Yum, 56 – embody this shift, showing that fashion isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling alive.
And through their personal flair, bold choices, and unapologetic confidence, they’re redefining what it means to be a fashionista – proving that style, like wisdom, only deepens with age.
Kan turns heads with her elegant red Cheongsam. - Lilly Kan
Easy chic with a side of joy
Bukit Jalil resident Lilly Kan, 63, is a picture of effortless chic with a dash of fun, approaching style with refreshing straightforwardness.
“Fashion, to me, is joy,” says the mother of three, who has also been a passionate food blogger since 2013.
“It’s about feeling good in your skin and letting your outfit reflect your mood, creativity, and spirit. It’s not about following rules; it’s about expressing who you are.”
Fashion isn’t something Lilly embraced recently. Her journey with style began in her youth.
She vividly remembers watching her three sisters dress up for events and carry themselves with grace.
“That love for beautiful clothes and self-presentation has stayed with me,” Kan shares. “Over the years, I’ve learned to dress more for myself than for what’s trendy.”
“There’s more ease and confidence now,” she reflects, adding that her creative inspiration is wide-ranging, drawn from her travels, the beauty of nature, vibrant street style, and, of course, social media.
Creativity is what Kan loves most about putting an outfit together.
“I love mixing textures, colours and layering pieces to see how they all come together,” she enthuses. “It’s like painting a picture, except that I am the canvas.”
Her final look, however, is only complete with matching earrings and necklaces, which she says have become part of her signature style.
While she admits to feeling the pressure to “dress (her) age,” Kan brushes it aside with a confident shrug.
“I don’t let it bother me. I dress for myself,” she states. “Age shouldn’t dictate what you can or cannot wear. If it makes you feel good – wear it!”
Nevertheless, Kan knows that ageing brings questions about how to dress a changing body. She embraces this with grace by looking for flattering silhouettes that make her feel good and confident.
“Comfort comes first, but style follows closely. I don’t shy away from trends – I just adapt them to suit my body,” Kan explains.
Kan (right), in a casual outfit, poses with one of her daughters. — Lilly Kan
Her philosophy on ageing is equally empowering: “Ageing is a privilege. Grey hair, wrinkles – they tell your story. True beauty comes from confidence and how you carry yourself. There’s no expiry date on style.”
She is also mindful when shopping for clothes, focusing on comfort, quality, and uniqueness over fast fashion.
This formula certainly works well for her polished appearances, especially her Baju Kebarung and Cheongsam ensembles, which frequently manage to turn heads.
“People come to me to say they love my outfit; sometimes they’re surprised that I’m a senior. It’s always heartwarming,” she shares with a proud smile.
The marathon man takes a bow
Yum’s introduction to fashion was anything but conventional. In fact, throughout his 28-year career in civil engineering, dressing up was simply not part of the job.
While many find their style inspiration from television, film, glossy magazines, or social media, his fashion awakening came from an entirely unexpected place: A marathon race.
It was during his first marathonevent in Tokyo, Japan, in 2011 that Yum had his fashion epiphany, struck by the sight of Japanese runners enthusiastically donning costumes, many dressed as anime characters.
Intrigued, Yum decided to try it for himself, buying his first costume from a shop in Japan, and was surprised by the surge of confidence it gave him.
“The cheers I received while running in costume were incredibly encouraging,” recalls the former technical site engineer.
“Sometimes I’d wear multiple layers, but the energy from the crowd helped me push through races that lasted six hours or more.”
Yum believes that accessorising is key in putting together an outfit. — KK Yum
Over the course of 12 years, Yum completed an astonishing 112 full marathons across five continents – a feat that not only helped him discover his love for running and remarkable endurance, but also a vibrant sense of style and self-expression.
This newfound confidence soon seeped into his everyday fashion. He started to dress up for events and embrace bold colours and accessories, developing a fascination for bow ties and hats.
“I believe accessorising is key, and my motto is: It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed,” Yum says confidently.
Even now, when Yum visits high-street fashion stores, his first stop is the accessories section.
However, since retiring five years ago, he’s cut back on traditional shopping, with online stores becoming his preferred hunting ground for unique pieces over high-street brands.
Living in multicultural Malaysia has further enriched his style, offering him ample opportunities to dress according to diverse traditions.
He doesn’t mind going the extra mile to dress appropriately for various traditional functions or themes, especially for weddings and festive celebrations.
“I always make the effort to dress appropriately,” says the Ampang resident, whose love for travel and language has helped him shape his unique approach to fashion.
Yum is proud to own seven sets of Baju Melayu, which he proudly says is “a significant collection for someone of Chinese heritage.”
Not only that, his wardrobe also boasts Indian kurtas, which he pairs with a white dhoti for Indian weddings.
“Sometimes, I wear a kurta to Raya open houses too,” says Yum, who doesn’t believe in dressing according to age.
“Age is just a number. We’re only as old as we feel,” he adds. Thanks to his parents’ good genes, Yum looks younger than his 56 years and has yet to deal with grey hair.
“My father, now 87, still has a full head of hair – though it’s grey, much like the late (American) President Ronald Reagan,” he notes with a chuckle.
Yum in a tranditional Indian ensemble for an Indian wedding he was attending.
Rewriting the rules
Both Kan and Yum believe that dressing up is a personal act of self-affirmation, unrelated to external expectations.
“Style has no age limit. Don’t let society dim your light. Whether you’re 30 or 70, fashion can still bring joy and allow you to shine in your own way.
“Be bold. Be you. It’s never too late to express who you are,” Kan says.
Yum, who often receives compliments on his outfits, both on and off the race course, doesn’t dress to impress.
“I dress not to meet others’ expectations, but to feel good about myself.”
He concludes, “I believe that if you dress like a star, eventually you’ll become one. I’m still waiting for my time to shine.”
