Age Is Just a Number: How Trish Roda Is Redefining Style at 58

In an era obsessed with youth and anti-aging remedies, 58-year-old Australian mother Trish Roda is making waves by embracing her age with unapologetic style and authenticity. Rather than viewing her closet as a place of age-appropriate restrictions, Roda sees it as a sanctuary of self-expression and liberation. “Age is just a number,” she confidently told news.com.au. “Style is who you are. Style is character. Style is showing your own expression. Style is just being you.” This refreshing philosophy has resonated with thousands online, thanks to a heartwarming collaboration with her 31-year-old daughter, Suzannah Gagliardi. Together, they’re challenging societal expectations about how women “should” dress after a certain age, proving that fashion boundaries are meant to be pushed at any stage of life.

The mother-daughter bond between Roda and Gagliardi runs deeper than their shared love of fashion—it’s built on mutual admiration and friendship. “We’re very close, my mom and I. We’re like best friends,” Gagliardi shared. “I’ve always known her to be such a strong woman. She’s who I aspire to be when I grow older.” Recognizing her mother’s exceptional eye for style and vibrant personality, Gagliardi suggested they start creating content together on TikTok. What began as a daughter’s desire to showcase her mother’s talents—”I just felt like I wanted to put it out there and show how amazing she is at 58″—quickly gained traction online. Their videos feature Roda styling various outfits with confidence and flair, demonstrating that fashion sense doesn’t diminish with age but rather evolves and potentially becomes even more refined.

For Roda, this platform represents more than just sharing outfit ideas—it’s about challenging the restrictive narratives that society imposes on middle-aged women. “We’re dictated by how we should dress, how we should look. It’s really about knowing who you are as a person, and that’s hard to do,” Roda explained with the wisdom that comes from decades of self-discovery. She believes that authentic self-expression begins internally: “If people search for who they are within their own four walls, then when they walk outside the door, they can conquer the world.” This philosophy resonates deeply with viewers who may have felt invisible or restricted by unspoken rules about “age-appropriate” dressing. Through her bold style choices—from leather pants paired with sparkly tops to other fashion-forward ensembles—Roda demonstrates that personal style should evolve but never diminish with age.

Unfortunately, the internet remains an unfiltered space where criticism flows as freely as praise. Their most popular video, which has garnered over 780,000 views, showcases Roda looking stunning in black leather pants and a glittering top. Yet even this joyful expression of style attracted negative comments from self-appointed fashion police. “She’s proof that looks don’t last forever,” one commenter cruelly wrote. Others demanded she “dress her age” or suggested that older women shouldn’t try to “look 30 years younger.” These comments reveal more about society’s discomfort with confident aging than about Roda’s fashion choices. But rather than being deterred by such negativity, Roda finds herself energized by it: “Negative comments don’t make me feel upset. They empower me. It’s like, ‘Wow, bring it on. Bring it on. Wait till you see my next outfit.'” This resilience in the face of criticism adds another dimension to her inspiring presence online.

What’s particularly heartening about the Roda-Gagliardi collaboration is the supportive community it has fostered. While Gagliardi naturally feels protective of her mother, she also recognizes the overwhelming positivity that outweighs the negative voices. “There’s pretty much an army behind her just sticking up for her, which I love,” she said. This army includes countless viewers who defend Roda’s right to express herself through fashion, regardless of age. More significantly, Gagliardi reports that her inbox fills daily with messages from women who find renewed confidence through her mother’s example. “My inbox is full with so much love and people saying, ‘Oh my god, I love your mom. She’s so inspiring.’ I’ve got people saying they were fearing aging, but now they’re not,” she explained. These messages confirm that their content serves a purpose far beyond entertainment or fashion inspiration—it’s changing how women perceive their own aging process.

At its core, the Roda-Gagliardi partnership isn’t about defying age or turning back time—it’s about embracing every stage of life with confidence and personal style. “I just want to bring out the best in people,” Roda explained. “If I can inspire even one woman to embrace who she is, that’s enough for me.” This motivation keeps them creating content despite occasional criticism, with Gagliardi promising, “We’ll definitely keep posting. My mom has so many different styles and different outfits and just everything. We’ll keep sharing the fun.” Their commitment to showcasing authentic style at any age provides a refreshing counter-narrative to anti-aging marketing and restrictive beauty standards. Through their vibrant TikTok presence, Roda and Gagliardi remind us that genuine style isn’t about looking younger—it’s about looking confidently and joyfully like yourself, whether you’re 18 or 80. In a culture that often renders women invisible as they age, Trish Roda isn’t just staying visible—she’s shining brightly and inspiring others to do the same.