Style With Age: Older But Better

We’re going to go ahead and say it - getting older may easily be the best thing that ever happens to your style. Sure, 4 inch heels aren’t as comfortable as they used to be. And yes, it’s probably time to toss those low-rise jeans you’ve been waiting to come back. But the good news is that most of the styles and trends that dissipate with youth are the styles and trends you probably shouldn’t have been wearing anyway.

While it's natural for your style to change organically as you get older just based on preference and lifestyle, with every milestone, it can be a good idea to reassess about what your style says about you.

Ditch The Juvenile Digs

Have you ever reached for something in your closet that you remember loving to wear only to realize that it now gives the impression of raiding your tween niece’s closet? While there are no blanket rules (and it's completely up to you to decide if you've outgrown anything), you might decide that those a-lined mini skirts no longer complement the look you're going for. or you think it's time for you to stop wearing crop-tops. It's all about what you feel confident wearing and what helps you to get the look that you want. There are some items of clothing that might be more likely to look younger, or like you're trying to look younger.

Keep Your Personality

Inevitably, there are things about who you are that will change as you gain more experience in life, while other things might stay the same. The same goes for your sense of style. For instantce, you might change your mind about what sort of shapes and outlines you feel comfortable in, but your love of wearing bright colors might remain the same. Or you might still love well fit, clingy silhouettes but your inclination towards prints and patterns may change. Keeping in tune with what inherently moves you and what no longer serves you is a great place to start for defining a more functional style that still speaks to who you are. There are plenty of ways to let your personality shine through as your style changes, so don't feel like you have to dress in any particular way.

Take Context Into Account

There’s something about age that helps a person read a room and that same skill can be applied to style. One of the most important style lessons that comes with age is what to wear and when. More than any sartorial item, nothing gives away youth and inexperience like dressing inappropriately for a situation. While it’s true that the social dress codes we often adhere to are arbitrary, many of them are in place for a reason. Therefore it benefits us to be conscious of them. Wearing specific types of ensembles, and even hair and makeup styles, for different contexts can, in fact, get you ahead in many cases, in the sense that how you present yourself always your first impression. Develop different styles for work, socializing, and other activities.

Consider Spending a Little More

Getting older doesn't necessarily mean being more financially comfortable. And in fact, it unfortunately means you have more expenses - especially when you bring having a family into the mix. Still, it makes sense to think about spending a bit more money on some of your clothes and accessories. A quality purse, classic jacket or coat, pair of shoes for work, or a fine jewelry set can all be items worth paying more for. And when you break down cost per wear, you may even that these items can be more affordable than fast-fashion items. They'll last longer, look good longer, and withstand the trends.

Make Glasses Stylish

While contact lenses are an option, for those who don't need them or prefer to wear glasses, there is a huge range of stylish options to choose from. With plenty of designer products are available, such as Céline or Tom Ford glasses, the trick is to go for quality frames that suit your face shape. Quick tip: reference your favorite pairs of sunglasses for frame shapes that will complement your face with actual lenses.

Find Your Denim Style

If you're someone who regularly wears jeans, you might find yourself changing up the cut as you get older. Like we said before, toss those low-rise jeans right now but keep those high-waisted jeans at the front of your closet. They're stylish, mature, and can look flattering on just about anyone. While skinny jeans will always have their place in your wardrobe, consider a straight cut or even something with a bit more room throughout the leg. A good pair of mom jeans is for everyone - not just moms.

Get Real Jewelry

Remember when we said you should probably invest a little more coin into certain items? When it comes to jewelry, it’s worth saying it again. It’s easy to amass quite the collection of cheap jewelry through the years. And while some costume jewelry is always fun to mix things up, your essentials should be quality - especially as you get older. Real gold, silver, and other metals can look better and last longer than cheaper materials. And as a sidenote, you don't need to wait for other people to buy you quality jewelry as a gift, either. You’re a grown ass woman. If you want something, buy it for yourself and wear it whenever you feel like it.

Rethink Your Hairstyle

Remember all those crazy hairstyles you had when you were younger? Well that’s yet another benefit of getting older - you get to learn from your mistakes. Your hairstyle is definitely something to take into consideration when it comes to your overall look, as it can either complement your features or make you look older, or even more tired. While many go for a shorter style when they're older, it's definitely not essential. It's important to stick with something that you know suits you - but don't be afraid to try out new things too. If you do want to try something different, don’t go for anything drastic. Take it in baby steps and make sure you’re working with a trusted hairdresser.

Tone Down Your Makeup. But Also, Wear More.

The natural inclination is go overdo your makeup when you're younger - and toning it down as you go up in years is often a natural progression. After all, you have a real career now. You can't really wear anything too wild at work and going all out for a night out just feels…. exhausting. We’re big on the less-is-more beauty fans over here, we really believe that donning a little less makeup can often make you appear decades younger. Bonus is that the older you get, the more practiced you are at doing your makeup.

And now that we’ve told you to wear less makeup, another approach is to actually wear more - just not in the way you used to. Instead of going heavy on the eyes, opt for a bolder lip than you’re used to, or spend a little more time defining your brows (especially since they tend to thin out a bit with age)

While we obviously don’t believe in following all the rules around here, making a few tweaks to adjust your look to your age can open you up to a world of confidence. After all, there’s nothing sexier in a woman than owning who she truly is, inside and out, top to bottom - age included.