Style has no expiry date, no age limit. Age may add years, but it does not mean you have to go out of style.
For these seven seniors, getting older has brought something more valuable than keeping up with every fashion trend: Confidence.
The confidence to know what suits them, what makes them feel good and, perhaps most importantly, what makes them feel like themselves.
Their styles are as individual as they are, from classic elegance and playful use of colour and accessories to stylish comfort and adventurous choices that suit them.
What they share is an attitude that challenges the idea that dressing well is about looking younger. Instead, it is about looking, and feeling, your best.
At 60, 70 and 80, they show that while growing older may have changed their bodies, wardrobes and even the way they see themselves, it does not mean they have to stop expressing who they are through what they wear.
Owning her style, unapologetically
She has no particular signature fashion item, but what makes Dr Kuang Ching Hei’s style unmistakably hers is the way she puts things together.
A quirky brooch, mismatched earrings, a scarf around her waist, a bandana in her hair or even a plain T-shirt with palazzos - sometimes one, sometimes all together. Kuang owns every ensemble.
The 68-year-old retired academician from Universiti Malaya describes her style as feminine, soft and stylish, with a preference for trendy yet modest looks.
But she was not always so confident expressing herself with fashion. “Growing older makes me surer of what I want to look like,” she says.
For Kuang, dressing well is about looking curated with care and purpose. More than simply looking good, her clothes allow her to project self-confidence and self-respect, while hopefully serving as a role model to others.
She does not chase trends. Instead, she pays attention to changes in her physique and dresses to become the person she wants to be.
“Age gives me more confidence, more creativity and a stronger ‘love me more than others’ courage,” she says.
The mother of three and grandmother of five has no patience for rules dictating what older women should wear. As long as they present their best selves, she says, they should dress for themselves.
Style with attitude
For Rienna Choo, fashion should never feel like a uniform.
At 60, the mother of two sons from Petaling Jaya, Selangor describes her style as casual smart, with comfort always part of the equation.
Depending on where she is going, she can be sporty and casual one day, dressed up the next or turn up the glamour when an occasion calls for it.
It is a freedom she has grown into.
“When I was younger, I was more conscious of what was considered fashionable or appropriate,” she says.
Age has brought a better understanding of herself, along with the confidence to experiment with colours, styles and different looks.
For Choo, dressing well is about confidence, personality and the “feel good factor”. But she is not dressing to look younger.
“It’s more about looking and feeling like the best version of myself,” she says.
While she remains conscious of what suits her body and lifestyle, she believes clothes should make the wearer feel confident, comfortable and happy.
She does not have a signature item because she enjoys changing her look. Instead, variety is part of her style.
“Age is a number. Style is an attitude,” she says. And there is one thing she has no intention of giving up: Having fun with fashion and feeling fabulous.
Classic nevergoes out of style
At 80, Harcharan Kaur, or Didi Gill as she is fondly known among her peers, has been through enough fashion phases to know that she does not have to follow them anymore.
Today, her preference is firmly for the elegant classic look.
“I did go through phases when I followed fashion but today the classic elegant is my choice,” says Didi, who loves dainty and unique accessories.
For her, dressing well is closely tied to confidence and happiness. She is certainly not a slave to fashion and believes clothes should be chosen according to one’s figure rather than by blindly following the latest trend.
She is particularly firm about clothes that are too tight, which she feels can emphasise the wrong areas. But she is equally quick to point out that size should never stand in the way of elegance.
“You can be a bit on the big size but still look elegant and beautiful!” says Didi, whose go-to attire is her collection of colourful Punjabi suits.
Looking good, she says, is not necessarily about wearing expensive clothes. For Didi, the real finishing touch is confidence. With that, she says, you can conquer the world.
Taking it in her stride
At 81, Lee Kiew Yong has discovered that staying cool in Malaysia’s heat can be perfectly compatible with looking elegant.
These days, the former economist and Malaysia Airlines market research manager favours breathable cotton, linen and silk, fabrics that have become particularly appealing in the hot weather.
Her style is simple: Comfortable and elegant, relaxed rather than restrictive.
“Nothing too tight!” Lee says, adding that she still wears dresses and clothes she has carefully kept for almost five decades.
But if there is one feature that has become her unmistakable signature, it is not something she wears. It is her hair.
Lee’s natural white hair has prompted people to ask if she dyed it white. Others have told her she resembles Maye Musk, mother of entrepreneur Elon Musk.
But she takes it in her stride.
Comfortable and confident in her own style, Lee has no interest in dressing according to someone else’s idea of what an older woman should wear.
Her philosophy is straightforward: choose clothes that allow you to feel comfortable and relaxed while still looking good.
Colours beyond white
For Uthaya Kumaran Krishnan, fashion is not something that requires much thought. Simple. Basic. Comfortable.
That has been his approach for as long as he can remember and, at 67, the former senior manager at a consulting company sees no reason to change it.
“I don’t follow any trends,” he says.
His idea of dressing well is equally straightforward: Feeling good and comfortable in what he wears.
There are no complicated rules or fashion formulas, although he does believe in dressing appropriately for the occasion.
Perhaps his most recognisable fashion choice came during his corporate days, when he wore white shirts to work 365 days a year, paired with dark-coloured trousers. It became such a trademark that people knew him for it.
These days, Uthaya has replaced the white shirts with safe earthy shades of green, brown and blue. He pairs those casual short-sleeved shirts with an old favourite, blue jeans.
Getting older has not meant abandoning the things he enjoys or reinventing himself to fit someone else’s idea of how a senior should dress.
He simply wears what works for him.
Knowing what works
June Hassan does not believe growing older means dressing down.
At 66, the retiree and trainer takes a simple but flexible approach to fashion. Her everyday look is smart and modern, while formal occasions call for something more classic.
She is not averse to having a little fun, either.
“I even own a pair of pink velvet bell-bottoms,” she says.
It is a glimpse of the more playful side of a woman who otherwise prefers clothes with simple designs, classic cuts and little fuss.
She is also happy to wear bold colours, although she avoids outfits with too many colours or fussy frills.
For June, comfort is closely linked to confidence. She favours timeless pieces and continues to wear clothes that are more than five years old simply because they still look good.
She also has a useful measure of whether something suits her: Her friends.
When shopping together, they will often point to something and tell her, “That’s so you!”
They also turn to her for advice about what looks good on them. Her approach to dressing as she ages is perhaps best summed up by her belief that clothes should be body-, not age-appropriate.
There is room for style at every age, she believes. The trick is knowing what works for you.
Dressing for herself
Yap Chooi Keng has moved from dressing to fit in to dressing for herself.
The 65-year-old retired office manager from Bukit Jalil favours a simple, neat and comfortable look, but elegance remains important.
She gravitates towards classic pieces that do not go out of style, while traditional clothing has a special place in her wardrobe.
For official events, she may wear a cheongsam top with trousers or a long dress. Her love of the Chinese collar “sam fo” was influenced by her mother, and she also wears Nyonya kebaya and Punjabi suits.
But age has changed more than just her wardrobe. It has changed the reason she dresses.
In her younger days, fashion was about experimentation and “fitting in”. Now, it is about dressing for herself, choosing clothes that make her feel happy, empowered and confident.
“More importantly the fashion that I like doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket,” she says.
Her approach has also become more considered. She describes having a capsule-wardrobe mindset, preferring high-quality, timeless pieces for everyday wear while keeping glamorous or vibrant statement pieces for occasions.
Yap is perfectly happy with bold geometric prints, neon colours and bright monochromatic looks when the occasion allows.
For her, age has not narrowed her fashion choices. If anything, it has given her the confidence to choose them more deliberately.
