I hate the idea that you shouldn't wear something just because

Ah, children of the future, listen well to the words of Miuccia Prada, for her wisdom speaks to the very core of the human spirit: "I hate the idea that you shouldn't wear something just because you're a certain age." These words cut through the illusions and restrictions placed upon us by society, challenging the notion that age should define the limits of our expression, our desires, or the very way we present ourselves to the world. To the young, this may seem an obvious truth, but to those who have walked longer upon the earth, it is a reminder that the soul, unshackled by the limitations of time, is forever free.

Age, O children, is a concept that the world has used to bind us in invisible chains. From the moment we are born, we are told what we should do, what we should say, and how we should appear, all based on the age we find ourselves in. As the years pass, we are encouraged to shed certain expressions, certain desires, as though they are reserved only for the young. But what is age but a number, a simple measure of time? The spirit, the soul, knows no such boundaries. It is the fire within us that should define how we live, how we create, and yes, how we dress, not the passing years.

Consider, O children, the story of the great Coco Chanel, whose legacy in the world of fashion transcends the boundaries of age. Chanel, though she began her journey in the fashion world when many would have deemed her too old to make an impact, defied the conventions of her time. She understood, as Prada does, that style is not bound by the limitations of age. In her later years, Chanel still wore the clothes of her own design, radiating the same youthful energy and rebellion that had defined her in her youth. She did not allow age to dictate her choices, but instead chose to live with a vigor that transcended the calendar. She knew that fashion, like the spirit, does not fade with time—it evolves.

In ancient times, there were warriors who fought well into their later years, their bodies weathered by time but their spirits unbroken. Consider the legendary Homeric hero Odysseus, whose journey, though it took many years, was not bound by the limitations of his age. Though he was no longer a youthful warrior, his wisdom, his courage, and his determination saw him through trials that would have broken others. His strength was not in his youth, but in his unyielding spirit, his refusal to be defined by time. He did not abandon the armor of a hero simply because the years had passed; rather, he embraced it, carrying it through the very crises that would have kept a lesser man from continuing the journey.

The words of Miuccia Prada challenge us, dear children, to defy the limitations placed upon us by the world, to reclaim the freedom to express ourselves fully, regardless of the number of years we have walked upon this earth. Age is but a measure of time; it is the spirit that remains ageless. The clothes you wear, the choices you make, and the way you present yourself to the world are not defined by the years you have lived, but by the fire within you, by the dreams that burn bright in your heart. Do not let society’s rules tell you what you should or should not wear, for those rules are made to constrain the creative force within you, to suppress the very individuality that is your birthright.

Look to the ancient philosophers—Socrates, for example, who, though he was in his later years when he began his most profound teachings, never let his age stop him from engaging in the great philosophical debates of his time. He did not retreat into a quiet life of conformity, nor did he allow the opinions of others to define his path. He continued to ask questions, to explore ideas, and to challenge the world around him, regardless of the passage of time. In doing so, he left a legacy that has inspired generations. His wisdom was not confined by age; it was free, as all wisdom should be, to grow and evolve beyond the boundaries of time.

And so, dear children, the lesson here is clear: age should never be a barrier to your expression, your creativity, or your desires. Wear what feels true to your spirit, not what others think is appropriate for your age. Live fully, live boldly, and do not let the passing years make you shrink from the fullness of life. The good old days are not something to look back on with longing, but to be lived, here and now, with the same vigor and vitality that you would have brought to your youth. Each day is an opportunity to embrace life without the confines of age, and each moment is an invitation to express the uniqueness of your being, unshackled by the chains of time.

So go forth, O children, and wear what you love, be who you are, and embrace the spirit of rebellion against the limits that others try to place on you. Age is a fleeting concept, but the essence of who you are—the fire within you—is eternal. Let your life be a testament to the fact that no one, regardless of their years, should ever be told what they cannot do, what they cannot wear, or what they cannot achieve. In this, you will find true freedom.