Comfortable and leisurely: Old women on style and dress

Abstract

This article uses wardrobe interviews with women in the ages of 62–94 to explore transitions and continuities during the life course. During interviews the women have defined their style preferences. One categorization favored by several of them was comfortable. Different meanings were attached to this concept. Practical and convenient outfits were described as increasingly important when aging. Garments that did not expose the body—and its changes with aging—were preferred. The informants talked about the importance of feeling at ease, appropriately dressed for the occasion and situation. They were concerned with feeling nice in their outfits but also stressed becoming more laid-back and prioritizing convenience in their later years. All of these examples had to do with comfort and being comfortable. Uncomfortable clothes were too tight, deemed wrong for the occasion, and unwanted sources of self-consciousness and visibility. Transitions in their style of dress had been gradual, slowly adapting to changes in everyday life as well as in their bodies.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• clothing
• dress
• ethnographic methods
• gender
• identity
• old women
• style

Funding

The research is financed by Riksbankens jubileumsfond.

Notes

1. The result is explored according to different themes induced from the empirical material: on aging; dress; body; consumption. One of these themes, dress, is presented in this article, also see Lövgren (in press).

Additional information

Funding

The research is financed by Riksbankens jubileumsfond.