At 76, Candace Cima isn’t just a grandmother—she’s a fashion influencer with a bold message about aging. But when she posted a video modeling a sleeveless knit midi dress, she never expected the firestorm of ageist and body-shaming comments that followed.
Cima, who has 11 grandchildren, confidently showcased her look on social media, only to be met with outdated opinions about “age-appropriate” fashion. Critics claimed the dress was too young for her and that she should cover up her arms at her age. But Cima wasn’t having it.
“It’s perfectly appropriate to have wrinkled skin at 76, and I’m not ashamed of it,” she declared.
Cima launched her blog, Life in My 70s, in 2019 to challenge societal expectations about aging and fashion. Now, with over 500,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, she’s proving that style has no expiration date.
“We don’t need to adhere to these old ideas in a modern world,” she said, encouraging women to embrace their evolving style with confidence. And it’s not just older women taking note—younger followers are flocking to her page, grateful for her empowering take on aging.
Stylist Samantha Brown backs Cima’s stance, calling the criticism outdated. “Women don’t suddenly have to dress from neck to ankle as they age—that’s an antiquated idea,” she stated.
In a world moving toward inclusivity and self-expression, Cima is breaking barriers and proving that confidence is always in style—at any age.
What’s your take on “age-appropriate” fashion? Should we finally ditch these outdated rules?