Throughout life, our fashion choices evolve, reflecting our experiences, confidence, and personal growth.
Reaching 50 and beyond is an exciting time to refresh and reinvigorate your unique sense of style. It’s a chance to show off your personality, embrace your body, and make bold fashion statements that let everyone know who you truly are.
Here, we’ll explore various ways to make your style stand out after 50, helping you to feel confident, stylish, and unapologetically true to your authentic self.
1. Embrace colour
One of the most impactful ways to make your style pop is through the use of color. As we age, many of us tend to gravitate towards neutral shades, but incorporating vibrant hues can instantly elevate your look and boost your mood.
It’s important to find the colours that make you feel confident and enhance your natural features. These might be shades that complement your skin tone or bring out the colour of your eyes.
If you’re hesitant about wearing bold colours, you could begin by incorporating them through accessories. A bright scarf, statement necklace, or colourful handbag can add a pop of colour to a neutral outfit. For something bolder, you could mix unexpected colour combinations – such as complementary shades like blue and orange or purple and yellow – for a striking look.
For further tips on embracing colour, check out our article; 10 tips for dressing with colour and confidence.
2. Play with texture and patterns
Adding different textures – like silk, leather, wool, and lace – and patterns – such as florals, stripes, polka dots, and animals prints – to your wardrobe can add depth and interest in your outfits.
The key is always in how you style textures and patterns. Complementary patterns like stripes with florals or polka dots with plaid can work well when balanced in scale and colour. Small-scale patterns pair nicely with larger ones, while geometric prints can complement patterns of irregular, imperfect shapes.
When wearing patterns, it’s also important to consider the scale. Larger patterns can be more flattering and easier to wear than tiny, busy prints. Animal prints often work as neutrals too and can be mixed with other patterns.
If you’re not into patterns but what to add a new dimension to your outfit, then making sure to wear patterns with different textures (for example, a leather jacket over a lace dress or silk skirt with a cotton T-shirt) can help to keep things interesting.
3. Invest in statement pieces
Every wardrobe benefits from a few standout items that can elevate any outfit. For example, a striking necklace, pair of earrings, or cuff bracelet can transform a simple outfit into a head-turning ensemble.
You could consider developing a signature accessory style too – whether it’s oversized sunglasses, colourful scarves, or unique hats. Part of the fun of this is about finding new accessories to add to your collection.
A beautifully cut coat or jacket in an unexpected colour or pattern can also make even the simplest outfit underneath look intentional and stylish. And the same applies to shoes. So if you wear a lot of black, why not add a coat or pair of heels in a vibrant colour?
4. Update your classics
Classic pieces are the backbone of any wardrobe, but updating them with modern twists can keep your style fresh and current.
Look for trench coats with unique details like asymmetrical closures, unusual colors, or textured fabrics. Or try a blazer in a bold colour, with interesting buttons, or in a longer length for a contemporary twist.
The little black dress is another classic fave. But for a new take, you could experiment with different necklines, lengths, or embellishments.
5. Embrace current trends selectively
While chasing every fashion trend isn’t necessary, incorporating a few current elements can keep your style up to date. When thinking about this, it’s a good idea to select trends that align with your personal style and body type. Not every trend will work for everyone, and that’s perfectly normal and okay.
Take inspiration from current trends and adapt them to fit your lifestyle and preferences. For example, if oversized blazers are trending, you could find one that’s slightly looser than your usual fit rather than going for an extreme silhouette.
You can also pair trendier pieces with classic items to create a balanced, sophisticated look. This is also a great way to prevent having a wardrobe with a high turnover; as a proportion of your clothing will be timeless.
6. Focus on fit
Nothing makes a bigger style statement than clothes that fit well and flatter. The root of this is in getting to know your body; and freeing yourself from any notions of what you ‘should wear – instead choosing clothes that make you look and feel good.
You might want to invest in having your clothes altered to fit you perfectly. Doing so can make even inexpensive items look high-end. And remember that the chances are that the more comfortable you feel, the more confident you will be.
7. Develop a signature look
Having a signature style element can make your fashion choices memorable and distinctly you. One way to do this is to stick to a particular colour scheme that suits you and build your wardrobe around it.
As mentioned previously, you could also adopt a particular type of jewellery, scarf, or hat, and make them your style calling card. And/or if you love how you look in a certain cut of dress or pants, you could make that a go-to in your wardrobe.
8. Experiment with proportions
Playing with proportions can help you create interesting and flattering outfits.
For example, if you’re wearing something loose on top, you could balance it with a slimmer silhouette on the bottom, and vice versa. Or why not experiment with different hemlines for skirts and dresses? A midi length can be both modern and elegant while a maxi dress can be more relaxed.
Layering can also create interesting proportions. A long cardigan over a shorter dress, for example, can create a striking silhouette.
9. Invest in quality
Investing in fewer, higher-quality pieces often makes more sense than having a wardrobe full of trend-driven fast fashion. It means that you’ll have classic, reliable go-to pieces, shop less, and have a clearer idea of what’s in your wardrobe.
When selecting pieces for your wardrobe, try to look for items in natural fibres like silk, wool, and cotton, which tend to look and feel better and last longer. Look for well-made items with quality stitching and lining.
Also think about how often you’ll wear the item. Sometimes, spending more on a versatile, high-quality piece can be more economical in the long run if it’s something you’ll get ample wear out of.
10. Consider hair and make-up
Your hairstyle and makeup choices are also a key part of your overall style statement. So if you’ve had the same hairstyle for a while, why not consider changing things up? This might mean embracing your natural hair colour or texture if that feels right for you. Or, getting an entirely new cut.
As our skin changes, we often need to adjust our make-up routine too – perhaps by using a more moisturising foundation or adding a more colourful lip to bring vibrancy. It can help to experiment with different products and techniques to find what works best for your current skin.
A good skincare routine is also the foundation of any beauty regimen. So, try to invest time in caring for your skin to maintain a natural, healthy glow.
11. Cultivate confidence
When all is said and done, ultimately, the most stylish thing you can wear is confidence. This is why wearing what you love and choosing clothes that make you feel good is so important. If you feel confident in an outfit, that will shine through.
One way to make sure you appear more confident is also to practice good posture and smile more. Standing tall and moving with purpose can make any outfit look more stylish and a genuine smile is the perfect accessory to any outfit.
12. Break the rules
Remember, fashion rules are made to be broken. Don’t let outdated notions of what’s ‘appropriate’ for your age limit your style choices. If you love how you look in a mini skirt or bright red chinos, wear it. If you feel fabulous in bold prints, embrace them.
It’s also important not to be afraid to pair designer pieces with more affordable items, as this mix can create interesting and unique outfits. You can also mix casual and formal elements (such as trainers with an evening dress), or combine pieces from different style aesthetics to create a look that’s uniquely you.
13. Stay inspired
Keeping your style fresh and exciting requires continuous inspiration. You might want to follow diverse fashion influencers, in your age group and beyond. You could also explore different styles by visiting art galleries, traveling to new places, or simply people-watching in a busy area. Inspiration can come from unexpected places.
Style books and makeover shows can help you gather new style ideas and techniques too.
14. Shop mindfully
One of the best ways to look and feel good in what you where is to approach shopping with intention to build a wardrobe that truly reflects your style.
Try to regularly assess your wardrobe to identify what’s missing, and shop for pieces that will fill these gaps and complement what you already own. Avoid impulse purchases, if possible. Instead, before buying, consider how an item fits into your existing wardrobe and lifestyle.
It can help to mix up where you shop too so that your wardrobe doesn’t become one-dimensional. Vintage stores, boutiques, and even online marketplaces can offer unique pieces.
Final thoughts…
Making your style stand out after 50 is about embracing who you are and expressing that through your fashion choices. It’s a time to be bold, to experiment, and to wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable. Remember, style is deeply personal, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to develop a style that authentically represents you.
As you explore and refine your personal style, keep in mind that fashion should be fun. Don’t be afraid to take risks, try new things, and most importantly, wear what brings you joy. Your 50s and beyond can be your most stylish years yet – a time when you truly know yourself and can express that through your clothing choices.
Ultimately, the most stylish women are those who wear their clothes with confidence and grace. By following these tips and, more importantly, by staying true to yourself, you can develop a standout style that turns heads and makes you feel fantastic at any age.
For more style tips, why not visit the fashion and beauty section of our website?
How do you make your style stand out? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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