When It Comes to Size, Age Doesn’t Matter

A couple of weeks ago, I was buying a pair of jeans online, and the website had a size-checker I used to, well, check my size.

Height—check. Weight—check. Shape—check. Age—HUH?

What in the world does one’s AGE have to do with one’s SIZE?

When I reached out to the customer service center to ask about the rationale behind this question, here is the response I received:

“(We ask) for customers' age when determining jeans size for a few reasons. Firstly, it helps them provide jeans with specific fits and styles that are popular among different age groups. Age can also serve as an indirect indicator of body proportions, allowing brands to create sizing charts that cater to the average body proportions associated with different age ranges. Lastly, age can be used as a demographic factor for market segmentation, helping us understand our customer base better and designing jeans that meet the needs and preferences of different age groups.”

To me, there is SO much wrong with that explanation, where should I begin?

As to the first statement, I should note that I had already chosen the style I wanted to purchase, so the idea the website was going to provide me with a “specific fit and style” that is popular among my age group is completely invalid.

Re: the second statement, while age can serve as an indirect indicator of body proportions, a more accurate indicator would be one’s actual measurements: waist, hips, inseam, etc. Yet, the site did not ask for that.

Lastly, while age is most certainly a demographic factor worth considering, I wonder if any one age group—especially Women 60+—has any single preference in terms of jeans style? Low-rise, mid-rise, high-rise? Loose fit or skinny fit? Straight leg, boot cut, or wide leg? Or any of the myriad combinations thereof?

The fact is—as I’ve said many times before—age is simply an indicator of time spent on this earth. Period. Not taste. Not style. Not size. Not fit. Not body type. Not ANYTHING but TIME. And it’s high time retailers and clothing designers stopped pigeon-holing Women 60+ into some preconceived notion of how we should look based on historical mores or social conventions or ageist stereotypes.

It’s nearly 2024, and just as our generation of women helped set the style trends in THE ‘60’s, so shall we set our own style trends in OUR 60’s—and beyond.

PS: The size the website’s size checker selected for me? It was completely WRONG. Turns out when it comes to size, age DOESN’T matter.