I’ve been busily creating an online course for women over 50, Inspire Your Life, and that process has required a LOT of research, including fashion for women over 50.
That has led me to ponder the phrase, Fashion over 50, itself. What is that? So, in the way that I typically do, I researched the phrase ‘Fashion Over 50’ to see what some of the top results were.
This is a sampling of what I found:
- How to stay fashionable after 50
- Must-have wardrobe pieces for women over 50
- How to be fabulous at 50
- Style guide and wardrobe tips for women over 50
- First date fashion over 50
- Best tips to look young over 50
Now, there is nothing wrong, in my opinion, with any of these statements. We all want to dress with confidence and know how to look good at 50 plus. If that is what you’re searching for, there are plenty of answers for you, girl.
I’ve written similarly about fashion over 50 and 60, very sincerely. The advice, tips and outfit suggestions I shared have been helpful to many women.
So what’s my problem?The fact that we search for suggestions with regard to how we should dress after a certain age is common, and I’m up for checking out some tips, advice and a how-to here and there.
But for me, there is not a set of rules that we must follow in order to fit that ‘over 50’ fashion definition or view of acceptability.
Fashion Over 50 | Dress with Confidence | 5 Best Tips
Tip #1: There are no black and white rules for what we should or should not wear as we age.
Over 50, over 60 and beyond, there are no absolutes.
Having said that, we might create some absolutes for ourselves, because WE decided to draw the line, not because a blogger or fashion editor said we should.
I know, for example, that I will not wear crop tops anymore, and tank tops, even though I love the comfort and have worn them for years, are probably heading to the ‘no’ list, at least for public viewing. 🙂
Even though I’m in pretty good shape and am not overweight, I am not comfortable showing certain parts of my body to the world anymore. But that is my decision, not because I read somewhere that women over 50 shouldn’t wear tank tops.
Tip #2: Our selection of clothes and accessories should reflect who we are on the inside and be an authentic expression of that.
If your personality and expression is bold and dramatic, and you can comfortably wear hot pink high heels with your skinny jeans, go for it! Dress with confidence!
My authentic style expression is pretty much what you see in the photo above. A bit understated, nothing real flashy, always comfortable, and with my own style expression. That’s me.
Tip #3: The level of confidence we possess will play a part in how we dress.
By the time we reach our 50’s, we should be totally in sync with who we are, inside and out, right? Well…for some, yes.
But for many women in midlife, there are still uncertainties and lack of confidence in many areas, with fashion being one of them.
Am I wearing the ‘right’ outfit for this function? Will the girls on the golf league think I look okay? Am I overdressed? Under dressed? Does my (fill in blank) look too large? small? Will this outfit make me look old??
We still tend to worry too much about what others think of us, and that, my friends, comes down to confidence in ourselves and our decisions, whether it’s fashion related or not.
Remember this. You are awesome, just as you are, today.
This doesn’t mean we are not motivated to become healthier or take care of our bodies. But it does mean that we confident of who we are now, we know how to look good at 50 plus, and that is reflected in how we dress.
Here are several posts I wrote that have been helpful to many women in defining their personal style over 50 as well as gaining confidence in selecting their wardrobe pieces:
- Define Your Personal Style
- How to Dress for Your Body Shape
- How to Love Your Own Body, even when you don’t like it
- How Not to Look Frumpy After 50
Tip #4: Common sense is always a factor.
As with other areas of our lives, our fashion decisions should include the ‘common sense’ test. It may not be done consciously, but we all have our limits as to what we feel is right for us.
I can’t tell you what those limits are for you. But I know what they are for me. And if I’m not sure if a fashion choice is best for me…if I hesitate…ponder it…wonder if it is the outfit I want to show the world…then that is the answer. Don’t do it.
I will give this piece of fashion wisdom to you though, my friends. Invest in a hand mirror and always, always check the rear view before leaving home. Start with the hair and work your way down to the feet. Trust me. You want to do this.
Tip #5: We should do what makes us happy, and fashion decisions are no exception.
Trends in fashion are fun to check out, and some of us are really into it, like you fashionista girls. I think that’s awesome.
I’m not into fashion so much, though, so my idea of knowing what’s in style is to take a quick tour of the ladies clothing section at my department store of choice. But I’m perfectly happy doing that. I don’t really pay much attention to fashion for myself.
So, Fashion Over 50? What it means to me is making fashion decisions that make me happy, dress with confidence, and express who I am authentically as a woman and a person. How about you?
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Thanks for the tips and encouragement to choose what works best for me as an individual. We are each individuals, so it’s great to get ideas, then adapt as needed to make the style one’s own.
Yes, creating our own style is what it’s all about!
These are great tips. As I am wasting into my 40s I have shifted to more conservative cuts and more classic styles over trendy.
I know what you mean, Carly. For most of us, our selections change as our bodies change, and it’s a good adjustment most of the time!
Great picks and tips! It can be hard to know if you might be to “old” for a style but is I like it and it looks good on me, I buy it anyways!
I think those criteria make a lot of sense, Holly!
These are great tips. I think a few of them can apply to other ages as well. Especially the one about our clothes reflecting who we are on the inside.
I agree Sarah, some of these suggestions are timeless. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I totally agree, Candi. There are so many fashion advice posts out there but for me, I need to feel comfortable in what I wearing. That doesn’t mean dowdy, it means that what I’m wearing feels right, I’m not conscious of something being too short or tight. When I wear the garment, I know that I’m going to look good and that makes me feel good. I’ve found since I retired it was difficult to find a look that would suit my new lifestyle, however, you can’t beat ‘Classic’ style and that is what I try to wear. Thanks for the tips and have a beautiful day. xx
I agree, Sue! When you feel good and know that you look good, it’s the right choice. I’m a casually classic styled person myself most of the time. Thanks, as always, for stopping in! xo
I’ve always struggled with clothing. Initially, I was always heavier than I wanted to be, so I felt insecure in everything I wore. After losing weight, I had a hard time finding “adult” clothing that didn’t make me feel like a teen. I love all of the pieces you recommend and the perspective that it’s all about “fashion decisions that make me happy, maintain my confidence, and express who I am authentically as a woman and a person”.
I’m so glad you found some inspiration from this post, Sarah! It really is about what makes you feel good and confident. 🙂
Great advice and suggestions here. I’ve been slowly figuring out what my style is at this stage of my life. I went through a period where I was letting myself be too constricted by my age. And I think all it did was take some of the shimmer out of my life. I mean, it was just too boring! Now that I’m 56, I’m more comfortable taking the occasional risk if I feel good doing it – that’s all that matters.
Joan Senio
My Best Friend Adeline
https://kindness-compassion-and-coaching.com
You’re right, Joan! We may be getting older but we still can have fun with our styles if that makes us feel good. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I’ve never shown off much of my body. That’s not because I dislike my body but merely because I’ve been shy to flaunt the chest and legs! I’m a classic style dresser and always have been, so not much change as the years have gone by. The only change I would say I have made in my mid-fifties is that my heels have got slightly.. lower.
You have a classic, ageless style, Laurie and it suits you perfectly! You’ll probably still be wearing the same lovely outfits years from now…with slightly lower heels. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
So well said, Candi! I really believe we should all develop our own personal style based on what we think looks good on us. By mid life most of us know what our best features are and how we can enhance them. If I have any doubts about an outfit, I’ll ask my husband. other than that I wear what I’m comfortable in. Sharing to FB.
Hi Christina, I agree that we should know by our midlife age what works for us, and most of us do. It’s great that you have a 2nd opinion right next to you, too!