Aging gracefully is about more than your physical health. While your lifestyle choices, such as eating plenty of vegetables, taking calcium for strong bones, and taking care of your mental health with activities like yoga, are certainly important, your daily style can also play a big role in how old you look. You might feel amazing on the inside, but your clothes might not reflect just how confident and self-assured you actually are. Our style often serves as our first impression, so you want your inner outlook and outer appearance to match! Keep reading for 9 tips about aging gracefully in your daily style (with outfit ideas, of course).
1. Learn to embrace change
One of the best ways to dress your age without looking old is to learn to embrace change. This can be harder than it sounds! You might have been dressing in the same way for decades, but now you struggle with how to adapt your go-to outfits to your current lifestyle. It might be difficult to give up these well-known outfit combinations that you’ve relied on for years. However, it’s important to be able to recognize when certain looks just aren’t serving you anymore.
Aging comes with lots of change – to our bodies, our day-to-day routines, and our social connections. Being able to embrace these changes is a big step in rolling with whatever life brings. Part of this is dressing for who you currently are, instead of who you once were. Embrace the body that you currently have, and the life that you lead in the present. This will help you get off on the right foot in adapting your style as you age.
How to Embrace Change: Go through your closet, and donate, sell, or throw away anything that doesn’t fit your current body or your lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to invest in new capsule wardrobe pieces that fit you well and that provide for your current needs.
2. Prioritize fit and comfort
Along the same lines as embracing change, you’ll want to make sure that you prioritize a good fit and comfort when it comes to your wardrobe. Pieces that don’t fit or that make you feel uncomfortable don’t deserve valuable real estate in your closet!
How to prioritize fit and comfort: Make room for the new by getting rid of pieces that don’t make you feel your best. You might consider swapping out high-waisted, structured pants for pairs that are a little more flexible, with an elastic waist instead of a zipper and button. These can look just as classy, but are much more comfortable.
3. Don’t neglect trends completely
Although we certainly believe in timeless pieces here at My Chic Obsession, don’t neglect trends completely. Incorporating a trendy piece or two into your classic look can give you a modern edge and prevent your classy look from aging you. Plus, it can be fun to try a new trend now and again, and it will keep your look feeling fresh and exciting.
The trick is to stick with one or two trending pieces only. Trying to wear too many at once will only make it look like you’re trying too hard to fit in with the current trend cycle, and we’re going for classic elegance here – with that modern twist, of course.
How to Embrace Trends as You Age: Get inspired by French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu’s chic look below. She took a classic suit set and modernized its look by adding a pair of edgy black sunglasses and pointed-toe pumps. These are both trendy takes on classic staple pieces that make her outfit feel more modern!
4. Have fun with color, but don’t go overboard
As we get older, many of us go one of two directions. Some of us might fully embrace color and really lean into a bright wardrobe, while the rest of us might decide to stick to mostly neutral tones for a more classic look. There is a happy medium, however! Adding a pop of color to your outfits can add interest, without making your look appear too over the top.
When it comes to color, it always helps to know what seasonal palette is your best. This can vary by person; it might be worth getting your colors done, or trying to figure it out yourself by trying on different categories of colors in each “season” and analyzing which ones help you to feel your best.
How to Embrace Color: Incorporating color strategically into your outfits will help you to express your personality without aging yourself. Stick to one or two bold colors per look. If you know your colors, pay close attention to the shades that work best on you. One or two flattering colors can give your outfit a focal point and complement your natural features!
5. Go for a tailored look
sweater | pants | boots | belt | earrings
Ill-fitting clothes can be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to making older adults look older than they actually are. Clothes are often modeled on the bodies of younger men and women, which makes it difficult to tell how pieces will fit mature women and seniors, who might have slightly different body types. Ill-fitting clothes will not only look unflattering, but can also age you.
How to get a tailored look: If there’s one piece of style wisdom I’ve gained so far in my own aging process, it’s that good tailoring makes all the difference. Want to instantly look more expensive? Find a good tailor, or pay close attention to the fit of your pieces when you’re making a new purchase. Even if your pieces didn’t cost that much in the first place, good tailoring or the perfect fit will make them look more luxurious and help you to look more polished and put-together.
6. Balance slim-cut and oversized pieces
shirt | jeans | bag | sandals | earrings
On the same note as ill-fitting pieces, wearing too many oversized pieces can also give that “frumpy” look that we all want to avoid. And on the flip side, wearing pieces that are too slim-cut can also have an unflattering effect. Both of these dressing styles can be misconstrued as flattering, but the key is actually finding that happy compromise.
How to balance your pieces: For every oversized piece in your look, pair it with at least one other piece that has more of a slim cut. This will create visual balance in your look that also helps to balance out your body’s natural proportions. If you’re wearing a drapey, oversized tunic top, pair it with slim-cut jeans or trousers underneath. If you’re wearing wide-leg pants, stick to a close-cut sweater or shirt on top.
7. Find style inspiration from your peers
If you’re only searching for style inspiration in magazines like Vogue and general Pinterest searches, you’re missing out on a key piece of style help! Social media and magazines often disproportionately feature younger women and their style. While this can serve as helpful inspiration, what can be even more helpful is searching for fashion inspiration from your peers.
How to find style inspiration from your peers: Be intentional when you’re searching magazines and online sources for style inspiration. Try to search out articles, photos, and websites (like this one!) that feature women in your own age group if you want to see how styles look on bodies similar to your own, and being worn in lifestyles similar to yours. This will help you to curate fashion inspiration that serves your personal needs, with where you’re currently at in your life – not where you were 30 years ago.
8. Learn how to accentuate your best features
tank top | shorts | sandals | earrings | belt
We’re often marketed to based on the concept of what we wish we could change about ourselves. Eat this to lose weight, wear this to hide your midsection, use this to dye your hair, etc. However, one of the best ways to age with grace is to learn how to accentuate your best features.
How to accentuate your best features: Learning to accentuate your best features instead of spending so much time hiding the ones you don’t love is a mindset shift. However, this process can help to give you a more positive mindset about so much more than just your style and body. Focusing on the things you love about yourself can increase your daily mood, resilience, and positive outlook on life.
When it comes to fashion, make a mental (or physical) list of your favorite features. Then, dress to highlight those things you’ve written down. Maybe you love how toned your arms are thanks to a dedication to physical activities. If so, embrace sleeveless tops that show off your hard work! If your legs are a source of pride based on strength training and regular exercise, be proud of your healthy habits and don’t be afraid to embrace shorts. Highlight your eyes by matching your top to their color, or accentuate your waist with a belt.
9. Accessorize wisely
sweater | jeans | boots | watch | earrings
Accessories can play a big part in how old we look. Big statement jewelry (especially in matching sets), round-toed shoes, certain handbag styles… these types of accessories tend to look dated in modern style. These things were all once on trend, but have since been replaced by more modern variations.
How to accessorize: Even though you should always try to stick to timeless pieces when you can, sometimes accessories are the perfect place to try out trendy pieces! The trick is to look for styles that have a more updated look to them. Swap round-toed shoes for square or pointed versions. Choose one statement piece of jewelry, but keep the rest minimal. Lean into handbag styles that have clean lines and a bit of structure. These are just a few examples of the big impact that small accessories can have on your look!
Master the Art of Aging Gracefully
Aging gracefully is about more than just getting enough sleep or making time for meditation. While the hours of sleep you prioritize and the number of whole grains you eat certainly help you to age well, aging gracefully is also about the things you can’t see. Practice gratitude, seek out new experiences, take care of your emotional well-being, and try to live an overall healthy lifestyle. These things will help you to glow from the inside out (as well as prevent health issues). Then, everything else is the cherry on top. These 9 tips will help you to dress in a way that reflects how good you feel on the inside!
Ready for more tips to help you look as chic as you feel? Up Next: 9 Ways to Look Fabulous Over 50 (Without Looking Like You’re Trying Too Hard)
Excellent post! Love all your points, especially “embrace change” and “prioritize fit and comfort.” You do good work. Thank you!
I really appreciate that. Thanks, Terri!
I’m only 5foot 1 , so think they’d make me look even shorter
Love this section from latest email. Appreciate it so much that you think and show what we “older” ladies can wear but not looking out of place….if you know what I mean!
I know exactly what you mean! 😉