This New Year’s, my 75-year-old mom surprised me by walking into our family dinner wearing a dazzling sequin dress. Known for her classic style, seeing her in such a bold outfit made me pause. When I asked why, she said, “It makes me feel festive and confident.” Her words made me rethink the societal expectations about how older people should dress.

Society often discourages bold fashion choices for older adults, especially women, who are expected to “age gracefully” by toning down their style. But my mom’s dress proved that self-expression has no age limit. Confidence, like fashion, is personal and doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all definition.

If a younger person wore a sequin dress, it would likely be seen as fun, but when my mom did, it was unexpected. This double standard highlights how aging is often associated with fading into the background. However, my mom’s bold choice was a reminder that aging is about embracing life and expressing oneself unapologetically.

Bold fashion choices matter even more as we age. They are celebrations of life, joy, and self-expression. My mom’s dress inspired me to see aging as a time for vibrant self-expression, not fading away.

Her outfit taught me several things: self-expression doesn’t have an age limit, confidence is contagious, and it’s never too late to be bold. The joy she radiated wearing the dress reminded me that what truly matters is how we feel.

Since then, I’ve reflected on how we stereotype aging and realized how much we internalize societal norms. My mom’s dress challenged these biases, teaching me that life is too short to worry about fitting in. Confidence and style should be celebrated at any age. So, wear the sequins, take risks, and embrace boldness—confidence has no expiration date.