Just What Is a Fashion Crime at 50+? And Do You Even Care?

At some point after 2013 (about the time I transitioned from a 20-year teaching career into a writing career, which included the wonderful ability to work from home), the fashion industry and I had a mutual, albeit unspoken, parting of ways.  A quick disclaimer: fashion and I have always had an uneasy relationship. I considered it a win that I could dress in (relatively) complementary pieces and get out the door by 5:45 a.m. every day. My only real big worry? Wearing shoes that matched.

So this 2014ish breakup? It wasn’t messy. I didn’t throw any plates or hangers. But I did look at a pair of my high-waisted, stiff-denim mom jeans — you know, the kind requiring a lung-collapsing shimmy to button — and said, Nope. I’m done.

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I chose peace. I chose oxygen. I chose the comfort-over-style movement.

For years, I heard “beauty is pain,” and that looking put together required a structural engineering degree and many layers of shapewear that made me feel like a bratwurst. But here’s the good news: the fashion police are over-leveraged and understaffed. They’re not coming for you, but if they do? You can easily outrun them because you’re wearing sensible shoes — and I’m wearing breathable bike shorts under my skirt.

The anatomy of a fashion “crime”

So what constitutes a fashion crime these days? Well, it depends on whom you ask. My teen’s guy friends say it’s wearing something other than a hoodie and shorts — no matter the weather. IYKYK. And the biggest anathema to his gal pals? Pretty much the same. They’re also into baggy, comfortable cargo pants and oversized shirts. None would be caught wearing belly-baring shirts or skin-tight pants (though they make an exception for leggings).

Have a comfy dress that looks suspiciously like a very chic nightgown? Is “athleisure” your middle name? Relax. You’re good! As for me? If choosing a flowy, cool cotton maxi dress over a polyester bodycon suit is a crime, you’re gonna have to lock me up. A very simple hierarchy of needs governs my personal style:

• Temperature regulation: Pennsylvania’s hot, sticky summers demand fabrics that breathe, not fabrics that trap sweat like a greenhouse.
• Structural integrity: If a garment has a built-in bra, I consider it a spiritual victory. (A dress or skirt with usable pockets equals nirvana.)
• Friction management: Let’s talk about chub rub. It’s real, it’s painful, and it can rob my summer joy. My defense? Thin shorts or lady boxers under every skirt.

The great 2026 shift: Comfort is actually… trendy?

The latest Vogue article featuring the spring trends made me smile. Why? Because the high-fashion world has finally caught up to those of us who’ve been prioritizing comfort for years. According to this magazine and Who What Wear, the Spring/Summer 2026 trends look remarkably like my working-from-home-and-running-a-few-errands-over-my-lunch-break wardrobe.

Is the industryfinally moving away from restrictive to embrace the relaxed? It sure looks so. Turns out that after years of everyone realizing they can work in (fashionable yet comfy) sweatpants, no one wants to return to hard clothes.

Former crimes turned high fashion

• The oversized button-down: Once considered sloppy, the extra-large linen shirt has become a staple. It’s cool. It’s cotton. It hides the fact that you may (or may not) be wearing a real bra underneath. AND it flatters nearly every body type.
• Wide-leg everything: From palazzo pants to relaxed trousers, the skinny silhouette may finally have joined the witness protection program.
• The coastal grandmother evolution: Consider this trend an ode to expensive-looking comfort. Think: neutral tones, breathable fabrics, and shoes you can stroll in for a mile or more.

Spring/Summer 2026: How to be stylishly comfortable

Want to lean into the trends without sacrificing your soul (or circulation)? Welcome to this season’s playground. You can absolutely look snazzy, and like you just stepped off the runway while wearing something that feels like a hug.

1. The fluid silhouette: The trend reports for 2026 are obsessed with fluidity. Translated into average human-speak, it’s fabrics that don’t cling. Look for A-line midi dresses and column skirts. And if you like a little bling, fringe is in, too.
2. Focus on cool tech and natural fibers: Natural fibers are back in the spotlight. Linen, hemp, and organic cotton star in this year’s spring fashions.
3. Linen-silk blends: You get the breathability of linen with a bit of silk’s sheen, so it’s polished for work or dinner but feels like a breeze.
4. Seersucker twists: Southern grandpas, you’ve got company. Wide-leg jumpsuits (aka socially acceptable pajamas) are using modern seersucker material, and I am here for it.
5. The rise of the built-in: I’ve seen multiple influencers talking about the revolution in integrated support. Designers have finally realized that we women over 50 (and, really, women of all ages) appreciate garments that do the work for us. Look for sundresses and tank tops with high-quality, molded-cup support built directly into the bodice.

Here’s the good news: The fashion police are over-leveraged and understaffed. They’re not coming for you, but if they do? You can easily outrun them because you’re wearing sensible shoes — and I’m wearing breathable bike shorts under my skirt.

Navigate the trends without getting lost (or losing your mind)

You don’t have to adopt every trend to stay relevant. Pick those that serve your idea of style and comfort. I’m slowly prepping for a Caribbean cruise later this summer, and here are the tips I’m using to update my warm-weather wardrobe:

• Prioritize the third piece: If you’re wearing a simple cotton tank and relaxed trousers, throw on a lightweight, sheer kimono or open-weave knit vest. You’ll add some style without adding heat.
• Embrace footwear freedom: The ugly-cool sandal trend is still going strong. Think ergonomic footbeds with metallic straps. You get the arch support you need with a fashion-forward finish.
• Play with color: 2026 is leaning into lime greens and sunset corals (and I am so here for it after winter’s beiges!). These colors flatter nearly every skin tone and make even the simplest cotton tee look intentional.

Avoiding the chub rub

Let’s get specific about dealing with (or better yet, avoiding entirely) the rash you get between your thighs when your legs rub together in warmer weather.

When humidity hits 90%, the thigh friction struggle is real for most of us ladies. Look for slip shorts specifically designed for under-dress/skirt wear. They’re thinner than athletic bike shorts and often have laser-cut edges to avoid a visible line. Definitely take advantage of the new technology that’s gifted us with moisture-wicking fabrics.

Choose shorts long enough to cover the areas that touch. And read reviews to see whether the legs roll up or stay put. You can also use anti-chafe balms and sticks (I like Monistat chafing relief powder gel, and so does my teen) or powders like Gold Bond (which also makes a friction defense stick).

Your body, your rules

Whenever I watch the Oscars or another award show (love those Red Carpets!), I remind myself that fashion’s a game with made-up rules. Ok, so Miranda Priestly did say that Andy’s “lumpy blue sweater” wasn’t just blue, turquoise, or lapis, but actually cerulean, chosen by the fashion industry to define trends, proving that even if you shop from the clearance bin, high fashion influences what people wear.

BUT if you feel confident in a flowy cotton tunic and sandals that actually support your feet, you’ll look and feel better than the person constantly tugging at a too-tight/too-short skirt or wincing in four-inch stilettos. (Ask me how I know!)

Go ahead. Commit the “crime.” Wear the elastic waistband. Live in leggings and flowy skirts. Buy the dress with the built-in bra. Rock the bike shorts. If the fashion police show up, tell them you’re rocking the trend for 2026. I bet they won’t be able to catch you anyway, because you’ll be too comfortable to slow down.

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