Ageless Style: Renate McSherry of Style Alive After 55 on Pro-Age Fashion, Confidence, and Dressing Well After 55

If you haven’t yet discovered Renate McSherry of Style Alive After 55, you are in for a treat . A Canadian lifestyle and fashion content creator with a European sensibility, she grew up in the Netherlands surrounded by women who treated quality and fit as non-negotiables. Renate has built one of Instagram’s most genuine and engaged communities around pro-age style and dressing with confidence after 55. What started as a creative outlet after losing her mother has grown into a platform with real reach and real resonance: her scarf tutorials alone have earned millions of views. She is exactly the kind of voice the Ageless Style Series was made for, and I know you are going to love her casual relaxed style and voice.

Renate, your platform is called Style Alive After 55 — what was the moment or turning point that made you realize you had something important to say about style and aging?

There wasn’t really a defining moment or a turning point. At the time, my mother had just passed away, and I used to talk to her every day. I live in Canada and she lived in the Netherlands. It left a void and I needed to fill that. I have always loved fashion (I’m by no means an expert) but had no presence on social media at the time. It just sounded like fun, and a creative outlet to put together outfits every day. I asked my son to set up an IG account and stylealiveafter55 was born! My account grew quickly, so that was very motivating, and I just kept going. 

How would you describe your personal style philosophy in a few words, and has that philosophy shifted as you’ve gotten older — or deepened?

I definitely got my style from my family. I have two sisters and my mom had five sisters. Clothes that were bought for me even as a child were well thought out, high quality, and I got to pick them myself. I tend to be a little more classic. When I was a teenager in high school, I dressed preppy and I still like that style. I think the fit is the most important aspect. Make sure your clothes fit well. A well-fitting inexpensive blazer will look much better than an ill-fitting expensive one. 

So many women hit a certain age and feel culturally invisible when it comes to fashion. What do you say to the woman who has quietly stopped shopping for herself because nothing feels relevant anymore?

I think we hit a certain age and because our body doesn’t look like it used to, it is not as much fun to shop for clothes anymore. Nothing looks like it used to, and sometimes (especially here in North America), it feels like nobody cares what we wear anyway. I would say that women should wear what they love. So, treat yourself to well-made and well-fitting clothes that make you look good. Because looking good makes you feel so much better. Don’t dress for anyone but yourself. 

You’ve built a beautiful Instagram community around pro-age style. What surprised you most about the response you received when you first started sharing your outfits and perspective?

What surprised me most was how big the over 55 community on IG was. It was wonderful to make new friends who were willing to help. It was wonderful to get all this (mostly positive) feedback. On the other hand, I was taken aback by some of the comments and messages that were, let’s say, not very nice. 

Is there a particular outfit you’ve shared that resonated far beyond what you expected, and what do you think it touched in your audience?

It’s not a particular outfit. I used to do a lot of scarf tutorials that were very well-received… Some of them would get millions of views – I was very surprised by that!

Pro-age style is a mindset as much as a wardrobe. How do you think confidence and self-perception feed into the way a woman actually gets dressed each morning?

When I was younger, I used to get excited every day to pick out an outfit, even if just to take the kids to school or to music lessons. As I got older and went through menopause, my body changed. Clothes that I used to love just didn’t fit or look the same. I think if a woman in her 50’s or beyond doesn’t feel good about herself, she is probably going to dress to blend in or disappear. No bright colors or flashy accessories. She doesn’t want to be noticed. 

What are the biggest style myths about dressing after 55 that you’d love to retire forever?

When my grandmother was alive, she would tell me that a married woman shouldn’t wear jeans! I think even at our age we should experiment with all the jeans styles that are “in” and trendy. We don’t have to stick to the basic straight-leg jean. The other thing a friend once told me is that at your son’s wedding you should wear beige, blend in, and be quiet. My son is getting married this summer and I am definitely not wearing beige, and/or blending in, or being quiet! Wear colour and do not blend in!

When you’re working with your own wardrobe, how do you balance investment in quality pieces with the joy of experimenting and playing with trends?

I have always loved shoes, bags, and blazers, and won’t compromise on quality. I feel shoes make or break an outfit. Having grown up in Europe, good quality leather shoes and bags were an absolute must. Having said that, I do like to experiment with trends in tops, pants, dresses, and skirts. A good blazer also doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It just has to fit well. 

Accessories are something many women in our audience feel strongly about as a vehicle for personal expression — how do you approach them, and do you think they carry more weight as we get older?

I’m a big fan of scarves and have an extensive collection. Again, I’m very picky about the quality. A good scarf will elevate a very basic outfit and is a woman over 50’s best friend. I definitely think expressing yourself through bold jewelry and scarves becomes more important as we get older. I love a good pair of big, shiny earrings any day!

Is there a style “rule” you once followed that you’ve since happily broken — and what finally gave you permission to break it?

A rule that I used to follow is that I would never combine certain colours, like black and navy, or pink and red. Instagram has given me the green light on mixing colours and patterns to my heart’s content. There really are no rules. 

For a woman who wants to start dressing more intentionally but doesn’t know where to begin, what’s the one practical first step you’d recommend?

I would say, get a capsule wardrobe of 12 basic pieces in neutral colours that are high quality and well fitting that you pick with great care and build from there. 

I think we can all agree that great skin is the ultimate foundation for everything — so I’d love to know, what does your skincare routine look like these days? Are there any hero products you absolutely cannot live without, and have you found that your routine has shifted at all?

I was blessed with pretty good skin, no acne or breakouts even in my teens. Unfortunately, I did not take very good care of my skin when I was younger and was exposed to the sun a lot. I’m lucky the damage was contained and my skin is pretty easy to take care of. 

As I got older, I paid more attention, so I use a cleanser at night and a moisturizer from either ZO or Vivier (both medical grade) at night and in the morning. I also use SPF every day. I actually really like the tinted moisturizer from Dr. Hauschka. I probably still don’t give my skin the attention it needs but at least now I take my makeup off at night!

Okay, let’s talk makeup — because I know our readers are always on the hunt for products that actually work for skin like ours! What are the makeup products sitting on your vanity right now that you reach for again and again? And do you have any tips for how we can wear them in a way that feels fresh and modern?

I have never been a big makeup person but as I get older I am definitely paying a little more attention. The makeup line that I love at the moment is Jones Road. They make it easy to look good. I use their foundation, blush, and lip colours. I use mostly neutral shades. I think at our age that just works best. As for eye makeup, I have never worn any. I lost my right eye to cancer when I was three, so I’ve never wanted to draw attention to my eyes. I have recently had revision surgery to my upper and lower lid to make my eyes more symmetrical so I might actually try eye makeup!

I always say that finding brands that truly get the over-50 woman is half the battle — so I have to ask, are there any brands that have really earned your loyalty? Whether it’s because of their quality, or the fact that they actually design with us in mind, I’d love to know who you’re championing right now!

I do a fair amount of traveling and one of the brands that has been a lifesaver is Anatomie. Their pants and jackets are feather light, fit in my carry on, and can be mixed and matched. Another brand I love is PuraCashmere – their cashmere sweaters are the best! High quality and great styles. And Kal Rieman for her classic, well-made pieces that will last for years. 

Finally — what does ageless style mean to you personally? Not as a trend or a hashtag, but as a way of moving through the world?

To me, ageless style means that regardless of my age, I leave the house feeling good about what I wear. Be confident. There are no rules, if it makes me feel good, then I’m doing it right. My motto is: leave the house as if you are going to run into someone you haven’t seen since high school!

If you could give your younger self any words of advice, what would they be? 

I would tell my younger self to stop worrying about what others think of me. 

Share your words to live by:

Wear what you want, do what you want, and take care of yourself first. Take good care of your skin and your teeth, they have to last a lifetime!

Love Renate’s philosophy: Leave the house as if you might run into someone you haven’t seen since high school is one I am absolutely stealing, and I suspect you will too. More than a style tip, it’s a quiet reminder that how we present ourselves to the world still matters, at every age, and that dressing well after 55 is less about following rules than finally having the confidence to break them. That is the very heart of what this Ageless Style Series is all about. You can follow Renate’s daily outfits, scarf tutorials, and pro-age perspective on Instagram at @stylealiveafter55 and at stylealiveafter55.com. Get to know her. She is so worth your time.

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You can catch up on any of the previous Ageless Style Interviews you may have missed here.