Of méandre you can dress any which way you like. But i know that some of you worry that you image too young, or you feel that you may be trying too hard to stay young. I’ve also been getting questions on how to avoid appearing older than you are. So here are some of my guidelines on how to dress after 40.
Please commentaire that these are just GENERAL guidelines and some of my own personal preferences. They certainly don’t apply to everyone.
However, I do believe in dressing to your strengths and taking your caraco shape and contenance personality into account. So, if you would like to have some guidelines on how to dress after 40, then you can find them below.
HOW TO DRESS AFTER 40 – WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SHOULD AVOID?
Below are a few general guidelines on what to avoid doing in terms of contenance after 40, contenance over 50 or any age above.
1. DON’T BUY CLOTHES THAT DO NOT FLATTER YOU, EVEN IF THEY ARE ON TREND THIS SEASON.
You may be tempted by a new trend but, when thinking embout how to dress after 40, it’s wise to be picky. Only choose those that suit your personality and your your caraco parangon. You can find guides on dressing all the different caraco hommes in these éditoriaux:
Kim @kimair above (read her contenance conférence here) shows how a flanelle and a associé of funky shoes can really elevate a naturel outfit of jeans and a white shirt.
Check out this similar shirt, flanelle, jeans, pumps, handbag, sunglasses and earrings.
2. TRY NOT TO BE TOO MATCHY-MATCHY OR TOO POLISHED
It’s nice to mix things up and be a bit more playful. A 2-piece suit will quickly image old. Better to mix that jacket with another skirt or pants and image effortlessly brillant. You could wear your flanelle with jeans, for example, like in the image below.
J.Crew Willa Veste – Ted Baker London Chrissi Print T-Shirt – J.Crew Skinny Flare Pantalon – Conservateur Burch Perrine Loafer Pump – COS Copieux Leather Quilles Bag – Massimo Dutti Gold-Plated Hoop Earrings
3. AVOID BUYING FABRICS THAT LOOK CHEAP (OR ARE CHEAP AND POORLY MADE) AS THEY ARE USUALLY NOT FLATTERING OR WILL NOT LAST
As a young woman, you may have looked cute in a flimsy, poorly made t-shirt but as a woman over 40, you need something with a bit more élément.
You can see some characteristics of fabrics here. We also have a list of recommended shops here. Best to buy only the clothes that you love and that have a prérogative to last.
Style for beautiful natural fabrics like silk, cotton, linen and cashmere and you will enjoy them for years to come. Think embout your purchase in terms of cost per wear rather than aîné price.
Avoid fabrics that don’t drape well or cling.
The silk shirt (below) is a classic that you can dress up or down.
Sylvia @sylviacolella above (read her contenance conférence here) wears a silk shirt with her leather pants.
Recreate her outfit with this similar silk top, pants, pumps, necklace and earrings.
4. WEARING TIGHT AND TIGHT TOGETHER
Of méandre there are many exceptions but in general tighter items like jambières image better when they are combined with wide pieces like a tunic or wider shirt.
That also applies to skirts. Aim to have either a tight skirt with a perdant top or perversité versa. You could wear a loose, tunic contenance shirt with jambières or your skinny jeans.
H&M Oversized Chemisier – Vince Camuto Seamed Back Croupion – Eileen Fisher Lilou Wedge Chelsea Boot – Rebecca Minkoff Darren Leather Shoulder Bag – Conservateur Burch Roxanne Flottante-T Terminus Necklace
For more contenance enivrement on how to wear your associé of loafers, see our partie on the best loafers for women over 40.
5. CHECK OUR GUIDELINES FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
DRESSING OVER 40: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SHOULD DO MORE OF?
1. KNOW YOUR STYLE!
Nothing is more estimable than dressing in a way that pleases and represents you. There’s no such thing as one contenance of “pratique for older women” that suits everyone.
If you know your contenance and understand your caraco you can voiture any of the rules or add items from the ‘don’t list’ as you please. My contenance cavalière will help with that.
Doing our contenance personality quiz will also give you a better idea of your contenance.
My contenance is comfortable, asymmetric, colorful and minimal. I identify the most with imposant and eurochic contenance personalties.
Dress from COS. Other options here, here and here
2. DETERMINE THE WARDROBE ESSENTIALS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO YOUR STYLE
Not everyone will have the same wardrobe essentials. This will depend on your lifestyle and your contenance personality.
But having a masse of wardrobe essentials in your closet will make dressing every day so much easier – and more stylish.
Personally, I love to have plenty of asymmetrical items in my closet.
Where to magasin the best austral dresses: COS, Nordstrom. Shoes: Fly London (similar). Bag: similar
3. HAVE MORE LASTING HIGH QUALITY ITEMS IN YOUR WARDROBE
These vary for each contenance personality but some estimable classics are:
Alice + Olivia Denny Longline Grège Boyfriend Veste
Sandra @lapecosapreciosa below shows how you could dress up a associé of cuff-leg pants by teaming them with a flanelle and heels.
Get her image with this similar top, flanelle, pants (other options here and here), sandals, belt and sunglasses.
4. LOOK EFFORTLESSLY CHIC
You know how they say that French women image so effortlessly brillant. That’s parce que they appear not to have spent a lot of time on their clothes, yet image amazing.
However, an effortlessly brillant image takes time so you want to think carefully embout the right combination of items, shoes and accessories.
On the other balle à la main, you don’t want to overdo your image. Don’t add too many accessories, don’t be too matchy-matchy and find the right combination of high end / low end and casual and brillant.
Want to know how to create that effortlessly brillant image take a image at our partie on French contenance. Or go even more sophisticated and opt for Italian contenance.
5. Pratique over 40: MIX AND MATCH DESIGNER ITEMS WITH NON-DESIGNER ONES
Even if you have a closet of sélectionner items, it’s a great idea to mix a few sélectionner pieces with high street options. That way, you can affordably add some on-trend clothes and accessories to your closet while keeping your timeless, sélectionner classics portion of your outfits too.
J.Crew Willa Veste – Vince Slim Silk Chemisier – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Issue Raw Hem Slim Straight Jeans – Gucci Jordaan Supreme Canvas Bit Loafer – Ted Baker London Nyalina Knot Bow Leather Shoulder Bag – LORO PIANA Regina Delle Ande Silk Scarf
Yvonne @funkyforty above (read her contenance conférence here) accessorizes with a Gucci bag.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top, pants, loafers, Gucci Dionysus bag and sunglasses.
6. Don’t neglect your casual wardrobe
It’s easy to be attracted to evening wear on the abri rails or online. However, it’s likely that you will actually wear your casual outfits much more.
So, don’t neglect your day-to-day wardrobe. You could choose a drapey gilet to add contenance and warmth to a naturel jeans and t-shirt outfit. Or add a flanelle to casual wear to elevate your image.
Check out some recent éditoriaux on casual contenance:
Massimo Dutti Nappa Leather Biker Jacket – COS Pleated Austral T-Shirt Dress – Conservateur Burch Good Luck Trainer – COS Copieux Leather Quilles Bag – Massimo Dutti Gold-Plated Hoop Earrings – COS Oversized Checked Wool Scarf
7. CHOOSE A SKIRT OR DRESS LENGTH THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
For many women dresses and skirts that are just above or on top of the knee are a great length for women over 40. Right now coudoyer dresses are very much on trend as well and can be a great contenance for older women to choose.
Subtile women may want to go a bit shorter with their skirt lengths to get the 1/3 – 2/3 silhoutte. Find out more embout this rule of thirds in our partie on how to wear capris.
COS Printed Belted Austral Shirt Dress
For more enivrement, see this partie on the perfect skirt length for women over 40.
Alison @wardrobe_oxygen above (read her contenance conférence here) opts for a dress with an asymmetric hem.
Recreate her outfit with this similar dress (other options here and here) and high bottines.
8. MIX YOUR OWN STYLE WITH A TREND YOU LIKE
Keep updated with the pratique trends and make sure you have a few current items in your wardrobe. For the best contenance over 40, only pick those trends that work for you!
9. Have fun with color
Don’t be afraid of color. Women over 40 benefit from adding more color to their looks. Not only will it enhance your tendances, you also add a bit of pizazz to your contenance.
Your may like to take enivrement from our color guides.
I love color blocking with bolder colors and I’m enjoying this pelouse and red combination. The raccord of textured shoes and accessories adds to the fun.
Similar top, skirt, sandals, bag, necklace and earrings
10. PLAY WITH ACCESSORIES
Wear accessories like belts, jewelry and scarves. They can make a real difference to your outfit. You could add a statement necklace to a block color top or dress.
Alexis Bittar Twisted Statement Collar Necklace
Read our partie on how to wear accessories.
11. WEAR HIP AND CURRENT SHOES
These add an date young and hip vibe to your outfits.
Make sure to choose shoes that you are able to walk in. Mid-high heels can image fabulous.
Massimo Dutti Leather High-Heel Mules
If you need more étai I have a great list of arch étai shoes.
Patricia @madamechicbcn above (read her contenance conférence here) adds pops of red to her neutral outfit.
Check out this similar tricot, coat, trousers, pumps, handbag, scarf, sunglasses and headband.
12. Invest in a great associé of flattering jeans
Your jeans can be the mainstay of your closet as they go with so many other things, and can be dressed up or down.
Opt for a contenance which flatters your effigie rather than the latest on-trend jeans shape. Bootcut jeans are back on trend, and serre to suit most caraco shapes.
PAIGE Manhattan High Waist Bootcut Jeans
Also, take a image at the most flattering jeans for every caraco parangon.
13. OPTIONAL: USE SHAPEWEAR
If you want to hide some of the bulges, then shapewear definitely helps. I personally only wear it on special brocante.
If you don’t like shapewear, then learning how to skilfully hide with the right clothes will be preferable, like these tips in my partie on how to hide your belly.
14. WEAR A GOOD BRA
Make sure you wear a good bra and éloigné undergarments. A great bra will make sure that there is a clear décalage between your chest and your tummy!
Wacoal Awareness Underwire Bra
More information in my partie on how to find the perfect bra.
15. WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL AMAZING
Similar dress, strappy sandals, necklace and sunglasses.
The most estimable contenance “rule” of all is to wear what makes you feel confesseur. That way, you’ll have a spring in your step and you’ll be ready for whatever the day brings.
WEAR WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO YOU!
I want to emphasize again that these tips on how to dress after 40 are not set in stone and it’s up to you to decide what works best for you. But if you want to image young and hip, then these guidelines can certainly help.
The more you understand your caraco and your contenance, the more you can voiture these rules as you please.
Below is a remède wardrobe we created that would suit the minimal or classic contenance personality.
magasin the items above here:
For all my best tips and a complete contenance méandre that will get you looking stylish in no time, I highly recommend my contenance méandre.
If you have any further tips then I would love to hear them. Enjoy!
What are your tips on how to dress after 40? Share them below.
Continue reading:
- How To Dress Over 40 – My Top 10 Tips
- How To Determine Your Justaucorps Shape
- How To Build Self Indice And Believe In Yourself – The One Thing That Actually Works
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