5 Trends Martha Stewart Proved Women At Any Age Can Rock

In a culture where women are supposedly past their prime at 35 or even younger by Hollywood's standards, Martha Stewart continues to defy expectations of who and what a woman should be at a specific age. Now in her eighties, the culinary mogul doesn't ascribe to the archaic notion that once a woman reaches a certain age, they're no longer allowed to indulge in specific trends After all, in 2023, she became the oldest woman to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition at the age of 81. Although Stewart's SI cover was met with critics crying Photoshop, because haters are going to hate and the misogynists are going to always miss the point: life doesn't end based on the number of candles on your birthday cake.

When asked by Page Six in 2023 about people dressing their age, Stewart responded, "Dressing for whose age?" She then explained that she doesn't think about her age when choosing her outfits. "I think people are more and more and more (fabulous) than they've ever been in their senior years, and I applaud every one of that."

Similar to Helen Mirren, Cher, and other celebrities who are confronting aging with confidence, Stewart has no qualms about living her life on her terms — and that includes fashion trends. So the next time someone tells you that you're too old or too young to wear something — and they will because everyone's a critic with an opinion they should keep to themselves — remember you only come around this way once. In other words, go ahead and wear those mini-skirts until you're 90 (or older!) if it brings you joy.

Although the very first selfie was taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius, the trend has become very much associated with Millennials because — no offense to Cornelius — they pretty much perfected it, turning it into a pop culture art form. Millennials also took selfies and spiced them up quite a bit too (nudes, anyone?). So when Stewart posted this thirst trap of her in a sexy negligee after a long flight, it really made a statement: sexy selfies have no age limit. 

To wear a plunging neckline after 40 is, to some, a crime against humanity. However, society's misogynistic views don't stand in the way of Stewart wearing a black dress with a neckline that plunges fairly low. The superstar wore a bustier style jumpsuit that revealed her decolletage during one evening out on the town. At the same time, in realizing that somethings are best left to the imagination, Stewart also paired her dress with an oversized matching blazer that said, "I'm sexy, but I'm also a sophisticated powerhouse with whom you shouldn't mess." She kept the accessories minimal, which allowed for the rest of the outfit to speak for itself. 

When it comes to showing "too much leg," you'll find people on both sides of aisle. There are those who believe anything above the knee or has a slit that reveals a knee, is okay until the end of time. Then, on the other side, the group that tends to be more vocal, there's a cutoff age when it comes to showing your knees. In fact, one 2016 survey put that age at 39. But because we're talking about Martha Stewart and those of us who will ultimately follow in her fashion trend footsteps, a knee (or two) can always use a little showcasing. Opting for a loose-fitting, sequin nude shift-dress with long sleeves and a high-slit, she showed how to partake in this leg-baring trend with confidence and sophistication in mind.

Often reserved for rockstars the likes of Lenny Kravitz (who apparently works out in leather pants), 27-Club member Jim Morrison, and a whole slew of punk rockers, leather pants are not exactly something you'd expect anyone to wear later on in life. Unless, of course, you're eternally a rockstar which, based on Stewart's penchant for leather pants, she is. Paired with an oversized blue sweater and holding a camera lens big enough to spot lions a mile away on the Serengeti, Stewart makes this look equal parts cozy and hand-me-my-microphone-ready. Must be all that time she spends with Snoop.

You don't have to pop in on the "ladies who lunch" in The Plaza's Palm Court to know that when it comes to jewelry, many women opt for smaller pieces the older they get. Whether that's because this is what's marketed to them or because they're all in their Bunny MacDougal era, big and bold pieces tend to be associated with younger women. But whether you take a page from the fashion book of Martha Stewart, who's often seen wearing larger jewelry, or Iris Apel, who was still rocking the most gorgeously outlandish accessories until her death at 102, the point is to take that page and own it. Take inspiration from the culinary icon by pairing a gigantic, bubble statement necklace or layers of pearls with a classic, black dress for the ultimate glamorous daytime look. Wear your hair up in a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" bun with a matching barrette to up the glam factor. 

Martha Stewart is just one of so many women, of all ages, who walked so other women could run. Make them proud. Remove age from the fashion equation and wear whatever you darn well please forever. Bikinis at 89? You better believe it.