How to Be an Over 50 Woman With Ridiculously Good Style

It’s never too late to reinvent your style… or refine it! Great fashion and taste have no age limit (or minimum). And you never need an excuse to take a fresh look at your current wardrobe! As we get older, it’s natural to want to mold and shape our go-to outfits to better fit our current lifestyles, and while redefining your sense of fashion can seem a little bit daunting, there are certain tips and tricks that make it so much easier to elevate your style for over 50. Keep reading for 10 easy tips to be a woman over 50 with ridiculously good style.

1. Embrace quality basics

I might be preaching to the choir here if you’ve been a longtime reader of MCO, but let me tell you, quality basics really do make all the difference! If you want to instantly look more fabulous and put-together, the right foundational pieces can instantly get you there – with little added effort on your part. In fact, investing in quality basics can actually save you money. You know they’ll never go out of style, so spending a little more upfront usually means you’ll save money on replacing these pieces again and again over time.

Never underestimate the power of a few core pieces to upgrade your entire wardrobe. When you’re wondering about what pieces to spend a little bit more on, think about what you wear the most, according to your climate and lifestyle. If you live in a colder climate, think warm sweaters, thick fabrics, and the perfect pair of jeans. If you live somewhere warmer, you might want to focus on lightweight tees, breezy linen button-downs, and 100% cotton staples. These pieces should have high percentages of natural fabric content and make you feel super confident with a good fit.

2. Only wear pieces that feel like you

This next tip can actually save you so much money, too! Not to mention closet space. If you want to have ridiculously good style over 50, focus on the hard-earned lessons you’ve learned over the years about what styles feel like you. We can all see an ad in a magazine and think that a piece looks good, but if it doesn’t mesh with your personal taste, it will stick out like a sore thumb in your wardrobe – and chances are you won’t reach for it all that often… or at all.

Style wisdom often comes with age, so make the most of it! Learn to trust your gut, and do regular audits of your wardrobe to see what’s there. You’ll start to recognize patterns, and learn what pieces you’re drawn to again and again. If it helps, dedicate a Pinterest board to photos of looks you’ve worn in the past, or inspiration that feels true to your personal brand.

3. Define your waist

This next tip has more to do with styling than shopping. Defining your waist is one of the fastest ways to instantly feel more confident in the clothes you already own! Whether you’re wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans or a sleek blazer and skirt set, adding definition to your waist will simultaneously give you a flattering look and also add shape to an outfit to make it appear more interesting.

When it comes to style for over 50, you might hear that you should avoid oversized pieces. But by defining your waist, you can ignore that advice in favor of continuing to wear your favorite pieces in a new and interesting way. You can define your waist by adding a belt, tucking in your shirt, or tying a sweater around your midsection. Whatever your favorite strategy, it will have a huge impact.

4. Thoughtfully incorporate trends

Even if you favor a more classic, sophisticated style for over 50, you might still want to consider trying out a trend now and again. These trends can be invigorating and help you feel excited about your capsule classics again. The trick is to pick and choose trends to try that actually align with what you love, rather than blindly reaching for any trend that you see come across on your social media. Being selective means there’s a good chance you’ll actually keep wearing that trend for years to come, even after it’s no longer “newsworthy”.

Moderation is also key when you’re incorporating trends into your outfits! Don’t try to wear too many trendy pieces at once. Go for a more subdued approach by trying out one trend per look.

5. Add personality with your accessories

Accessories can truly make an outfit – and are what set women apart who have ridiculously good style! Women with the best tastes know that accessories are one of the best ways to showcase their personality and unique sense of style. They’ll take an ensemble from good to great. And if you’re working to refine your style for over 50, accessories can easily become some of your favorite signature items that help you master your own personal style.

Whether it’s a cool pair of glasses, a luxe silk scarf, or chunky silver jewelry, your accessories can easily become one of the most memorable things about your daily looks!

6. Don’t make style about your age

Thanks to how many brands are marketed to us, it can be tricky to get outside the box and find pieces that feel like you, rather than the age bracket you currently fall into. But the truth is, clothes have no age restriction. They’re a tool to express ourselves, and don’t have to indicate how many candles decorate our birthday cake! If you want to wear a piece, don’t worry about how “old” or “young” it feels – if it fits in with your personal style, it’ll show in the confidence with which you style it.

7. Add texture and pattern

Texture and pattern don’t just elevate your look, they’re also more flattering than you think! Adding a textured or patterned piece to your look acts as a focal point and draws the eye. If you want to camouflage other areas of your body, you can make the most of patterns or textures in this way.

You can also use patterns or textures to make your outfits look more appropriate for the season. Add wool, tweed, and leather accents in December, and try light linens and easy stripes in the summertime.

8. Don’t be afraid to play with color

Neutral pieces are usually a go-to when it comes to leaning into a sophisticated style for over 50. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also play with color! In fact, the right amount of color can modernize your look and make you stand out in the best way.

The best way to style color over 50? Stick to one bold shade per look. It’s a good general rule to follow if you want to still keep your overall style relatively neutral, with just enough color to set your look apart.

9. Know your best silhouettes

Refining your style is a trial-and-error process, but it’s well worth the effort! If you want to be a woman with ridiculously good style, make sure you know your best silhouettes, or at least try to make the effort to figure them out. Your jeans are the perfect example. Depending on your body’s proportions, different styles of jeans will look best on you – from straight-leg to skinny to wide-leg. This could make even more of a difference for your style than where you buy your jeans from, whether you shop for them from a high-end boutique or somewhere more affordable, like Old Navy or Amazon.

10. Try before you buy

When you have the chance to do so, try before you buy. Doing so can save you a lot of grief (and waiting in long return lines at the post office). Shopping in person can also give you the opportunity to try on a wide variety of styles back to back, so you can compare and contrast silhouettes, colors, etc., to find what suits you best.

How to Have Your Best Style Yet Over 50

It’s never the wrong time to improve your style… and if you want to get your best look yet over 50, try these 10 tips for yourself. Over 50 is the perfect opportunity to embrace your best fashion yet, and feel like your most confident self!

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