I'm a Gen X but my fashion choices are oddly similar to Gen Z

I’m in my 40s, but honestly, I still feel like I’m 29 years old. Is that weird? Am I in a state of delulu? Don’t get me wrong, I love this stage of my life – but I really don’t feel my age. Maybe it’s because I dress the same way I did 20 years ago. I still find it easy to pull off trending looks from the ’90s because to me, they are perennial.

As a teen during the era, I worshipped the grunge band Nirvana and its frontman Kurt Cobain who, with his dishevelled hair, thrift-store finds, and rebellious anti-fashion stance, became an unintentional fashion inspiration for many youths at the time. His iconic flannel shirts, worn-out cardigans, chunky boots, and baggy jeans earned a place in their wardrobes. Cobain’s influence turned thrift stores into new hubs of fashion inspiration for like-minded individuals who thrived on the idea that they could mix-and-match from different eras to curate their looks, and create their own identity.

Kurt Cobain and his wife Courtney Love with their baby Frances Bean in the 90s.

When I was an adjunct fashion lecturer at Lasalle College of the Arts a few years ago, I found my style oddly similar to my Gen Z students. Was I dressing like them, or were they dressing like me? I just wore what I love, and so did these teenagers. Many fashioned themselves as we would have in the ’90s. Almost every generation since Gen X has found a renewed interest in grunge, embracing the trend in their own way.

As a generation that embraces realness and authenticity at its core, Gen Zs too frown upon being pigeonholed, just as they do with how they dress. They are hungry to create their own unique aesthetic, which is why they don’t subscribe to just one look or one trend. It’s also the reason why thrifting is such a huge part of their fashion aesthetic.

Gen-Z musicians like 22-year-old Billie Eilish express their angst through their personal styles, rejecting the “flirty babe” aesthetic embodied by millennial idols such as Ariana Grande. Instead, they lean towards an aesthetic that is less strenuously sexual, but requires more chaotic improvisations. Eilish’s preference for oversized, ’90s-inspired hip-hop and skater looks is also an act of rebellion that is as provocative as it is empowering.

Billie Eilish is a Gen Z music and fashion icon thanks to her non-conformist stance towards fashion.

My So-Called 40s

But what is it about the ’90s that is so intriguing to Gen Zs? Many have attributed it to the nostalgia stemming from its music, trends and attitudes. Of course, social media is pivotal in its role for fostering a cross-generational appreciation for music and fashion. Type #nostalgia on Tiktok, and you will be hit with tens of billions of views, a clear indication that Gen Zs can’t get enough of the ’90s. As for us Gen Xers living in a Gen Z world, the familiarity of ’90s trends presents a different kind of escapism: It reminds us of our youth.

54-year-old Gwen Stefani, performing with 21-year Olivia Rodrigo at their debut Coachella gig earlier this year.

Ah, to be young and free again.

I can’t speak for all Gen Xers, but reliving my teen wardrobe of distressed cardigans, biker jackets, floral-print dresses, and combat boots (thanks to my job as a fashion editor, I can wear all these fits to work) makes me feel connected to my younger self again. And suddenly, taking up a hip-hop dance class or bleaching my hair doesn’t seem so out of character for a woman in her 40s.

But wait. Before I continue, let me just say that as a human being, I am definitely more invested in a person’s mind rather than their age. And it’s a given that most people don’t really “feel” their age – they just feel like themselves! Still, I am innately curious about how I appear to others now that I’m in my 40s.

Many Gen Xers and Millennials don’t really look our age, and I believe it’s a result of our heightened awareness towards our skincare and diet, coupled with a holistic approach to our well-being, compared to previous generations.

That’s why I’d like to think that dressing like I’m in my 20s is not just a physical representation, but an internal manifestation of my youth. I am mindful of what I eat, and I work out not just because I want to have a bangin’ bod (though I’d be lying if I said that’s not a key reason), but because I am also acutely aware of my health, and how I want to be stronger and fitter as I grow older.

I often get told that I don’t look my age. I’m not ashamed to say that I lap up that compliment gladly. Why wouldn’t I? It takes a lot of work, physically and emotionally, to look and feel young. The reality is that I don’t look like I’m in my 20s, but I also don’t look like how my mum used to look in her 40s.

I have a 12-year-old who loves dressing up as much as I do, and she doesn’t judge me when I wear socks with my Adidas Sambas paired with a Skims slip dress, or when I style myself in an oversized plaid shirt, vintage Nirvana T-shirt, and baggy jeans (that’s my OG ’90s fit).

So, I am going to take a cue from my daughter and dress the way I feel. And right now, I still feel like I’m in my 20s.