Every great story begins with a special moment, and ours, at Birdie & Claire, began with a family celebration: a wedding. My cousin's wedding date was fast approaching, and my mom, aunt, and grandmother found themselves searching high and low for the perfect outfits. I began to sense their frustration, which was rapidly turning into dread for how they would feel settling for an outfit that didn’t feel quite right.
Admittedly, as the shopper of the family, I optimistically (and a bit over-confidently) thought, "Step aside, ladies; your shopping champion is on the case!" fervently believing that they had merely overlooked the ideal dress or were not looking in the right places. My search, however, was no more fruitful than theirs.
The worst part of my search was realizing that I hadn’t found anything that would reverse how they felt. Hearing them talk about the lack of clothing that feels updated and thoughtful for their age group was the seed of the idea that would become Birdie & Claire.
Fashion isn't confined to clothes. It’s a reflection of our society, our culture, and most importantly, our attitudes. The journey of establishing Birdie & Claire brought us to a much deeper enlightenment: there's a cultural narrative that needs shifting.
We aspire to be a part of this change for these women—our mothers, grandmothers, mentors, neighbors, and role models— who've been mistakenly labeled with dated stereotypes.
It's time we retire the "anti-aging" rhetoric and embrace the beauty that comes with age. It's not about looking younger; it's about honoring our true selves. At Birdie & Claire, we’re all about transforming the way aging is seen and represented in fashion– and having a lot of fun while doing it.