Meet Terri, whose love of fashion drove her out of retirement

Imagine having such a love for dressing up that you decide to come out of retirement, part-time, because you missed being able to express yourself through your clothing. This is what a style rebel does.

Terri Durling of Halifax did just that. She worked as an executive and legal assistant before retiring. After spending a year at home, she started looking through her work clothes to sell or donate them, but she just couldn't part with them.

So she found a part-time job working in the legal department at Dalhousie University five and a half years ago, before retiring again at the end of January when her job became redundant.

But the 69-year-old is not hanging up her hat. She'd like to get into something fashion-related in the future, which could involve volunteering.

Durling is the quintessential definition of joie de vivre! 

Video produced by Musemo Handahu, Kristen Brown and Jane Nicholson for CBC.

Durling grew up in rural Nova Scotia, in Digby, and as a young girl wore hand-me-downs from her mother. Understandably, this is not a teenager's ideal style esthetic, but Durling made it work.

Through her home-economics class, she gained the skills to help her tweak the clothes to make them her own and discover how she wanted the world to see her.

As a full-time style maven, Durling's hats, expertly layered pieces, statement jewellery, the occasional mixing of prints and the signature red lipstick introduce her to you before she speaks. When she does, you're inspired to not be so hung up on getting older.

Durling is an advocate for fighting ageism through the medium of fashion. It's a mission that was amplified when she came across the photographer and author Ari Cohen's Advanced Style blog. This movement celebrates the incomparable and slap-you-in-the-face style of older women and men.

Durling is doing that in Halifax, by living her life so boldly. She refuses to be made invisible and her spirit rages wilder than ever. 

From a young age, she has always leaned on this truth. It didn't (and still doesn't) matter what others think of her clothes. As long as she is happy and feels the truest form of herself then anything negative that anyone has to say holds little importance!

I tip my wide-brimmed straw hat to Durling. She's a woman after my style-obsessed heart with a zest for life I hope to emulate in my older years.