There comes a point in every woman’s life when she takes a look at her closet and dreams about starting over. I think we’ve all been there! If you find yourself standing, frustrated, in front of your closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear… even though hangers and hangers full of clothes are staring back at you… Then it might be time for a wardrobe reset. You certainly don’t have to get rid of everything, but going back to the basics of good style will help you move forward in the right direction! If you’re ready to build a timeless wardrobe in your 50s or above, keep reading for 9 helpful tips to help you do just that.
1. Determine Your Body Type
If you’re ready for a redo when it comes to your closet and wardrobe, one of the best places to start is a reflection about yourself. Ask yourself questions, and get to know yourself better! It may seem like a silly thing to do after 50, but there’s good reason for it. As we get older, we change and evolve, and our style doesn’t always keep up with us and our changing needs.
A great question to start with is, “What is my body type?” If you want to prioritize a flattering, confident fit over 50, knowing your body type can help you to prioritize certain fits and silhouettes that work well for you. If you have an hourglass body type, you might want to reach for pieces that accentuate the narrowest part of your body – your waist. This means you might gravitate toward adding a belt to more shapeless pieces, wrap dresses, etc. Knowing your body type can help steer you in the right direction of clothing styles that will make you feel confident in your own skin.
Related:
How to Dress an Inverted Triangle Body Shape (& Outfits!)
How to Dress an Oval Body Shape: Dos and Don’ts
Your Fashion Guide to Styling Rectangle Body Shape Outfits That Flatter
How to Dress for Triangle Body Shapes: Fashion Tips and Tricks
2. Declutter Your Closet
Once you reflect on what styles suit you and flatter your body type and personal style, it’s time to start the decluttering process. This can be challenging, but it’s so important! Clearing away the dead weight will paint an even clearer picture of your current style, and which pieces excite you to wear.
Often times, decluttering can be difficult if you tend to form emotional attachments to certain pieces (I know I’m guilty of this). What’s important to remember is that the clothes themselves don’t hold your memories – you do, and they’ll always live with you! If you’d like, consider taking a photo of the piece. Once you have it printed, you can write the memory associated on the back of that piece. It’s a great way to retain that memory without the need to have the physical object hanging in your closet, taking up unnecessary space.
Beyond just items you might have a sentimental attachment to, clear away pieces that don’t currently fit you or your personal style. It can be tempting to say, “This will fit great someday” or “Some day I’ll have the perfect occasion to wear this,” but if those pieces aren’t currently serving you, they’re taking up valuable real estate in your closet that could be occupied by something that you’re actually excited to wear now.
Decluttering will make room for the new, as well as help you to narrow in on what you really love – it’s the perfect step to find a better sense of direction to to where you want to go with your personal style.
Related: 9 Mental Hurdles Holding You Back From Decluttering (& How to Overcome Them!)
3. Start to Fill in the Gaps
After you’ve shaved down your wardrobe to pieces that you absolutely love and feel excited about wearing, it’s time to analyze where there are gaps. If you’re wondering what pieces you might be missing, take a look at a capsule wardrobe over 50. This capsule wardrobe will help you identify the classic, basic pieces that are the foundation to a great wardrobe. These are the pieces that make it so easy to get dressed in the morning! They’re easy to mix and match, wear from season to season, and are usually best to choose in neutral shades.
Once you have a solid foundation full of timeless, staple pieces, then you can move on to more of your statement items. They’ll be much easier to wear once you have a great selection of basic items to pair with them!
4. Prioritize a Good Fit
Don’t just purchase the first white tee and blazer that you lay eyes on. Make sure you prioritize a good fit! When you’re rebuilding your wardrobe over 50, it’s the perfect time to pick up pieces that flatter your current body type and preferences. Your tastes may have changed over the years, so it’s the perfect time to experiment with new silhouettes and shapes that you’ve never tried before.
Although pieces that fit well might cost a little bit more, they’ll be worth it. Pieces with good weight and construction will naturally fit your body well, and make you feel put together.
5. Find a Good Tailor
Speaking of the perfect fit, a good tailor is a very valuable connection to have. Whether you’re a DIY’er who can alter your own clothes or you have a local tailor whom you can bring your pieces to, good tailoring will ensure that your clothes fit you perfectly. You shouldn’t have to conform your body to fit the clothes!
It’s a very rare occurrence to find a piece of clothing that fits your body just perfectly. From hemming to taking in to letting out, a good tailor will ensure that your piece is comfortable, and flattering to wear. It’s often these small, personalized touches that make you look expensive. So, if you want to truly make your clothes work for you instead of the other way around, put some of your clothing budget aside for custom tailoring.
If a tailor isn’t in the budget, pay extra attention to measurement specifications when you’re ordering clothes online. For example, petite sizing may make a world of difference if you have a smaller stature!
6. Focus on Neutrals
As you’re starting the rebuilding process of your wardrobe, try to stick to neutral colors – at least at first. When it comes to your capsule pieces, staple items in neutral colors will go a long way. T-shirts in black, white and gray, a tan or black blazer, a neutral trench coat, etc., are all important pieces to have when it comes to assembling your daily looks.
Although colorful pieces certainly have their place, you’ll want to keep these to a minimum. They can be trickier to pair with other pieces, which might take you right back to where you started – starting at a full closet with nothing to wear. Versatility is key if you’re looking for timeless style that will last.
7. Avoid Overly Trendy Pieces
Speaking of timeless pieces, avoid overly trendy pieces. Outdated trends are some of the pieces most likely to get shoved to the back of your closet once they are no longer in style. And there they’ll remain, until that trend inevitably comes back around. The problem is, that could take decades! Falling victim to trends will cost you time, money, and valuable closet real estate.
Instead, focus on classic staple pieces that won’t ever go out of style. The trick is to find the staple pieces that also align with your personal style goals and personality. You might not be a blazer girl, but a more casual denim jacket could serve a similar purpose and be more applicable to your daily life.
8. Consider your Lifestyle
When you’re rebuilding your wardrobe, it’s also important to take your current lifestyle into consideration. Don’t take into account what it used to look like, or what you’d like it to be. Think about the climate that you live in, how you spend your days, what your weekends look like, what your hobbies are, etc.
You may work from home, and so a row full of blazers and suit separates have no place in your new wardrobe. Or maybe you used to work from home, but now you’re back in the office. This means you might want to invest in more business casual pieces that could also be adapted for weekend wear. These sorts of considerations will ensure that you get the most wear out of your pieces, and get your money’s worth.
9. Don’t Neglect Your Accessories
The right accessories are key to good style. They can take your outfit to another level with the right additions. Plus, accessories are a great way to showcase your personal style, experiment with statement pieces, try out trends in small doses, etc.
Accessories can also help to dress your look up or down. They have a lot of power, so don’t ignore their presence in your wardrobe! If you’re starting to rebuild these pieces as well, there are also capsule accessories that you’ll want to consider. A structured leather bag, a small pair of gold or silver hoops, a neck scarf, a black or brown belt, a nice pair of sandals, white sneakers, etc., are just a few examples.
Ready to Start Over?
There’s so much freedom in the decision to start over! But don’t feel like you have to reach a certain age before you do so. Starting fresh can be a beneficial process at any point if you’re unhappy with your style. It’s never too early or too late to take stock of what you’re not happy with and then make a change for the better. Life is too short to regret the pieces hanging in your closet!
Looking for more information about how to find pieces that fit your body type? Up Next: How to Dress Your Over 50 Body Shape: 11 Easy Tips to Save
