271. The Fashion Industry Wants to Forget Us. Here’s Why I Refuse to Disappear After 50.
From Too Young To Be Old with Diane Gilman, The Queen of Jeans by Diane Gilman
March 5, 2026 · 19 min
About this episode
Diane Gilman discusses the fashion industry's neglect of older women and offers practical advice for rebuilding a wardrobe that fits their changing bodies and lives.
In this episode of Fashion Thursdays with Diane, Diane Gilman gets brutally honest about what it feels like to be an “OG” (old girl) completely iced out of the fashion industry. She talks about how Baby Boomers went from inventing the Youthquake and living in six‑inch heels to being treated as an afterthought by brands that openly admit they don’t want to dress “old ladies” because “they’re going to die soon.” Diane pushes back on the idea that older women don’t spend on fashion, asking whether it’s really that—or the fact that almost nobody is making clothing that truly fits our changing bodies and lives. Drawing on her experience creating DG2 for middle‑aged women, she explains why fast fashion’s tiny sizing and cheap construction don’t serve women 55+, especially those navigating semi‑retirement, new businesses, or dating and social lives after divorce or loss. Instead, she lays out a practical, self-loving way to rebuild your wardrobe around who you are now: identify your “challenge zones” (like waist and midriff), prioritize soft, stretchy fabrics and knits, invest in a few great tailored pieces like blazers, and use accessories—scarves, jewelry, prints—as the fun, removable…
People in this episode
Host: Diane Gilman
Topics covered
- fashion industry
- older women
- wardrobe rebuilding
- self-love
- body positivity
- aging
- style after 50
Keywords
- fashion
- older women
- wardrobe
- self-love
- body positivity
- DG2
- Baby Boomers
- style
- aging
- Manhattan
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: DG2
Places: Manhattan
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