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Many people over 50 say there’s something unmistakably liberating about getting older. You’ve gotten to know yourself fully by now. You almost certainly care less about what people think. You’ve honed your thoughts and opinions, cemented your peeves and preferences…and most of the time, that feels pretty good.
But that confidence doesn’t always make it as far as the wardrobe. In fact, one of the most common concerns we hear from our style-conscious readers is about how to navigate new style choices as they settle into their 50s, 60s, and beyond. For many, the temptation is there to slip into the safe choice, the loose or baggy top, the muted tones, the comfy shoe/trainer hybrids.
It can be tempting, and even sensible, to dress for comfort and practicality, yet that can come, consciously or otherwise, at the expense of experimentation and expression. Even at the expense of our power.
But the good news is that dressing powerfully isn’t about following trends, forcing yourself into uncomfortable clothing, spending a fortune, or reinventing yourself overnight. Think of it more like making a few deliberate, intentional choices that put who you are back at the heart of what you wear.
If you’re still not 100% sure what that means, we’ve put together these seven tips for how to do it.
1. Start with fit, not fashion
If there’s one thing that can separate a powerful-looking outfit from a forgettable one, it’s fit. A well-fitting garment, made in a well-hanging fabric, will always, always look better, move better, and make you feel more powerful than an expensive or fashionable piece that doesn’t sit right on your body.
This matters more than ever as our bodies change over the years, especially if we might not be feeling great about some of those changes. The inclination can be to go bigger, baggier, more shapeless – maybe even to subconsciously make ourselves less visible.
And while there’s absolutely a place for relaxed silhouettes in your wardrobe (wide-leg trousers and oversized knits are both on-trend options right now), there’s a difference between a deliberately soft silhouette and clothes that simply don’t fit or that swamp us; the first one looks intentional and stylish. The second can read as drab or even frumpy, which certainly won’t make us feel powerful.
Marks & Spencer is always a good place to find quality, great value, tailored looks for women, like this sculpted, tailored collarless jacket and pants in a lovely moss colour (you’ll get some extra power points for the bold colour of this jacket, too). For men, this tailored stretch blazer is the perfect marriage of class and comfort.
2. Wear colour like you mean it
One of the more common things we see happen to wardrobes after 50 is a gradual shift away from bright, bold colours towards grey, navy, black, and beige. These are all perfectly good, perfectly wearable colours, and all perfectly safe. And safe is fine, but it does lean a little more towards invisible than powerful.
Colour is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have. It affects how we feel when we’re wearing it, how others perceive us, and the energy we bring to a room. There’s a lot of pop psychology out there on colour, and while it might not be hard science, there’s enough to it to get a general consensus…
Red reads as confident, passionate, and energetic, while gold is tied to optimism, prosperity, and high self-worth. A deep cobalt blue or rich emerald green might signal authority, elegance, and calm, and a warm, bright orange (a colour that’s very much having a moment right now) conveys creativity and warmth. Yellow tends to be associated with joy and happiness, and purple is about as “powerful” a colour as you can wear.
And the good news is that you don’t have to overhaul your wardrobe. One bold piece – a coat, a scarf, a pair of bright shoes – can be enough to shift the entire energy of an outfit. If you’ve always gravitated to neutrals or softer tones and aren’t sure where to start, accessories are a superb, low-risk entry point: a pair of big pink earrings, a colourful belt, a brightly toned bag. Start to introduce a flash of colour and see how you feel – these beautiful orange boots from Wolf and Badger will add a bold pop of colour to an outfit.
Men who want to wear more colour can pair a boldly printed shirt with chinos for an easy yet powerful look that will always balance well.
One note worth thinking about: those of you who have embraced grey hair might find that colours you wore brilliantly in your 30s and 40s now need revisiting. On the flip side, grey hair often opens up a whole new palette, with deeper jewel tones and richer shades working in ways they simply didn’t before.
3. Elevate the everyday
One of the biggest style shifts that tends to happen in our 50s is a move towards comfort and casualness – and honestly, that’s a good thing. Life is too short for clothes that make us miserable. But casual doesn’t have to mean low-effort or sloppy, and this is where a lot of people can lose their style mojo without realising it.
The secret is in the layering and detail. A plain white tee and well-cut jeans are a brilliant foundation for those who want relaxed, comfortable, and easy – but add one or two well-thought-out elements, and it can transform your look completely. A striking blazer, a great belt, or some statement shoes instead of the default trainers. A big, cosy but very cool cardigan like this one from Next can add to your comfort while also saying, “I’ve put this outfit together” rather than “I just threw this on”.
For men, elevating the everyday might be as simple as swapping a plain sweatshirt for a classy zip-through knit, or adding a shirt under a casual jacket.
4. Invest in your shoes
People notice shoes more than almost any other element of an outfit, and research shows that we look at people’s shoes to find out who they are – their shoes tell their story. Worn-out, unloved, purely functional footwear might say “I’ve stopped caring”, where a stylish, well-maintained pair of shoes can suggest the opposite.
This doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable. The era of suffering for style is well and truly over, and the good news is that beautiful, well-made,e comfortable shoes are more available than ever. For women, soft, supple deck shoes are having a big come back, and a pair of these or a well-made trainer in a clean, simple colourway can anchor an entire outfit.
These cow print deck shoes from H&M are as comfortable as slippers but will add a whole lot of personality to a simple look. For men, a nice, well-kept pair of Chelsea boots is always a great way to keep a casual look, feeling powerful.
5. Find your signature
Powerful dressing isn’t just about looking good – it’s about looking like you. And one super effective way to achieve that is to cultivate a signature look: a style that’s all yours, something that people associate with you specifically. Think Steve Jobs and his iconic polo necks, or Carrie Bradshaw’s legendary shoes.
It doesn’t need to be anything as dramatic or out there as Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe, mind you. It might be that you always wear a particular kind of jewellery – a chunky ring, a stack of simple gold chains, a particular style of accessory like leather, boho, or chunky resin bangles. It might be a particular colour you wear in different ways, but that you make yours, or that you cultivate a beautiful and unusual belt or scarf collection, or always choose a slightly unexpected print. The point is, it’s your thing.
For men, where there may be fewer options for developing a signature style, jewellery is a great option. A well-chosen watch, a signet ring, a simple chain – these are small details that, curated well and worn together, will add a great deal of character. And it’s that character, more than anything, that will make you feel powerful rather than simply well-dressed. The point of a signature is that it roots your style in your personality, your vibe, which is, after all, where your power is.
6. Stop dressing for other people
This is perhaps the most important point on the list, and for many is also the most difficult to act on – because so many of us have spent decades, consciously or otherwise, dressing to meet other people’s expectations.
The expectations shift over time, of course – what was appropriate at 25 gives way to what’s “professional” at 35, which eventually gives way to what’s “appropriate for your age” at 50 and beyond. And somewhere in all of that, many of us can lose the thread back to what we actually love, what makes us feel genuinely good, what expresses who we actually are.
Psychologists even have a term for this: enclothed cognition. It’s based on the idea that people who dress in a way that feels authentic and personal to them tend to have higher confidence, a better mood, and can even perform better in challenging situations (they don’t call them power suits for nothing).
Getting dressed in something you genuinely love is no small or trivial thing; it can make your whole day. If you want to wear 10 bright colours layered on top of each other, and it makes you feel good, do it. If you love a retro adidas tracksuit and don’t want to stop wearing them, lean in and get some really cool ones. The point is to be you, in your purest form.
7. The devil in the details
Powerful dressing extends beyond just your clothing to our overall grooming, presentation and style. Most of us know by now that the dreaded “bad hair day” can scupper our whole look, and if we want to feel powerful when we present ourselves to the world, this can extend from hair to our grooming in general.
Keeping your hair, skin, and nails well looked after shows that you care for yourself, you see yourself, and that the details matter to you.
None of this needs to be elaborate or expensive. You don’t need to have a salon blow-dry, but rather a few key styles that look good and neat. You don’t have to spend hours at the salon or the barbershop every single week, or sport a pair of long acrylic talons, or remain in a state of constant “self-improvement” at a medical aesthetics clinic.
Just think of it this way: if you don’t want to be invisible, you have to see yourself fully first, and take care of the small stuff.
Final thoughts…
Ultimately, dressing to feel powerful is less about what you wear or about following the latest trend, and more about expressing yourself fully, and meeting the occasion with the right outfit.
Style, and feeling powerful at this stage of our lives is less about keeping up or fitting in, and much, much more about showing up, fully and unapologetically, as exactly who we are…and …maybe even saying “hey, look at me!” And honestly, what could feel more powerful than that?
Has your relationship with getting dressed changed with age? Have you found a particular piece, colour, or style that makes you feel unstoppable? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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