For some reason, a lot of people think that fashion for older women has to be bad. From out-of-touch online advice to boring, “Grandma” styles on the racks, it feels like the odds are stacked against you.
Let’s put a stop to that right now. At Next Level Wardrobe, we don’t believe in telling you, “You’re too old to wear that!” Instead, we’re all about helping you to dress like the best version of yourself at every life stage.
Keep reading for our stylist-approved style tips and outfits for older ladies.
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How To Stay Stylish As You Age in 6 Easy Steps
One of the biggest things we notice with our older clients is that they get caught up in bad advice. They end up aging themselves accidentally. Then they stick to that style because they don’t know what else to do.
Here are three simple steps to bypassing those fashion mistakes that age you.
1. Focus on Style Not Trends
One of our least favorite “fashion rules” is: dress your age. But what does that even mean?
Style for women over 60 (or 50 or 40) looks different for everybody. There’s no “right” way to age OR dress.
But that doesn’t mean we’re telling our older clients to start wearing fast fashion or trends off Instagram. Instead, we encourage them to focus on style over trends.
That means, looking for quality, well-fitting, timeless pieces that fit their lifestyle.
2. Find A Style Role Model
If you’re struggling with identifying your style, it’s time to find a style role model.
This should be someone who’s neither trendy nor frumpy. You should look at what they wear and think, “That’s aspirational and relatable to my life and goals.”
To find your role model, we recommend heading over to Pinterest. Type in a few words that describe what you want from your wardrobe. Do you want to dress like a successful CEO? Search, “CEO Style” or “Professional Outfits”.
Do you want to add edginess to your closet? Type in “Edgy style” or “modern outfits”. Or do you prefer to keep things understated and classic? Try searching “Classic outfits,” “Minimalist style,” or “capsule wardrobe.
As you pin outfits and search for ideas, you’re sure to find someone whose style is right up your alley.
(The NLW Pinterest board is a great starting point for this.)
3. Don’t Shut Off Your Personality
The second step to avoiding clothes that make you look older is to NOT shut off your personality.
So much of the (bad) advice out there is that an older woman can only look stylish if she conforms.
Wrong!
Style, fashion, and clothing are all ways we express ourselves. Furthermore, they’re part of each individual’s personal brand. (And no, you don’t have to be a celebrity or CEO to have a personal brand.)
Your brand is how you present yourself to the world. It’s how you want others to perceive you, what first impressions you want to give off, and where you want to be in the future.
All of that is unique to you. If you don’t let your personality inform what you wear, you’re missing out on the joy of fashion. AND, you’re missing out on opportunities.
Write down what you want your brand to be and what effect you want to have when you enter a room. This will help you pick the right clothes way more than following any fashion rule book.
4. Prioritize Fit
Thirdly, understanding style for older women means prioritizing fit. It sounds simple, right? Just wear clothes that fit.
Don’t worry, we know how complicated fit is and how many emotions are tied up in that too.
Most older ladies have undergone at least one (if not more) significant rounds of body changes. It’s all a part of the aging process. From having kids, to menopause, to health changes, all of that affects your body shape and size.
No one looks the same way they did ten or twenty years ago. So why would you expect yourself to wear those same clothes and have them fit the same?
No matter your age or size, you’ll look “old and frumpy” by wearing clothes that don’t fit.
When shopping for clothes, prioritize fit. Don’t settle for an item that “kind of” fits or feels “just okay”. Invest the time to try out multiple silhouettes, styles, and brands to find your perfect fit.
5. Invest in Quality Pieces
Usually, when you think about reminding people to value quality over quantity, you picture saying that to younger shoppers.
It’s true that folks struggle with dressing in their 30s because they’re not used to seeking out quality.
But we see the same issue when it comes to fashion for older women too. Many women get to a certain age and stop caring as much about their appearance.
Maybe they have other priorities like busy work schedules or taking care of their families and loved ones. Or maybe they’re too overwhelmed by all the changes in style that they don’t want to bother with shopping.
Either way: the result is the same. These women forget to put themselves first and invest in quality pieces and themselves.
Wearing low-quality clothing not only means you’ll probably end up wasting more money burning through poorly-made pieces. It also means you’re hurting your confidence. Well-made clothing that fits you and makes you feel good boosts your mood.
All of a sudden, getting dressed every morning isn’t a hectic chore. Instead, it’s smooth sailing because you’ve bought pieces that you really love, need, and take care of.
6. Partner with A Stylist
Our last tip for finding your style as an older woman is working with a stylist.
Stylists (good ones, anyway) are experts in their craft. They have experience working with a wide variety of customers and all sorts of style challenges.
They’ll help you find your style, get you to try new things, and support you every step of the way.
At NLW, we work with many older ladies, and the concern of how to stay current with their style comes up constantly.
What we do is educate our clients on what’s in, what’s out, and what works best for them. We listen to their struggles and goals and lay out a personalized plan to get them to the finish line.
If you’re ready to ace fashion for older women and upgrade your closet, apply for our styling services today.
