17 Life-Changing Pieces Every Over-40 Woman Should Have In Their Spring Wardrobe
We might even venture to call it a “capsule wardrobe.”
by The Candidly Team
Spring is full of pretty clothes. And that’s all well and good apart from the fact that we’re adults now, and we don’t just need our clothes to be pretty.
We need clothes that fit us extraordinarily well. Clothes that feel like joyful little solutions to getting dressed every - single - day.
Skirts that flatter our waists. Sandals with arch support. Tops we can wear a bra with. Bras that don’t feel like sweaty torture chambers.
We found 16 pieces that work miracles for us, as over 40-women who need more from our clothes than to just look good on a hanger. Or a 6-ft tall model.
Owning these things made us feel 87% more confident about heading into the season. And they made us look 92% better.
You could question our math. Or you could just take a look for yourself.
1. The Everyday Midi Skirt That Gives You Perfect Proportions
It’s weirdly hard to find a skirt that fits really well. So many have a tight waistband that makes everything below it splay out into a “spare tire.” Or the skirt itself is so full, you feel like you’re on your way to a Renaissance fair. So to find one with the exact right cut and most comfortable fit was a real thrill for us.
This genuine find of a skirt from Free People is floaty and has elastic in the back so it smoothly fits your belly but then falls into the most perfect folds that don’t add volume to your hips and thighs. Like so…
It’s magical in spring and summer because it feels like light pajama pants but looks chic with everything. Fitted tanks, basic tees, strappy sandals, cushioned sneaks. The hourglass it gives is irresistibly good. We personally own it in black, ivory, and sugar magnolia but the blue heron and brownie are calling to us.
Price: $60
2. The 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket That Costs $50
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket
Very few pieces of clothing simultaneously make you look cool and younger without looking like you’re trying to look cool and younger. But then you have the jean jacket, which is a little like a pony tail in that it magically unleashes a sort of carefree cuteness. It’s also the ideal piece of outerwear to match with anything non-denim. Every skirt, dress, and pair of pants you wear looks better when styled with a jean jacket. Plus, it layers over sweatshirts and sweaters, so it’s suitable for our ever-fluctuating levels of coldness. We love this one, because the fit is *chef’s kiss* and the material is organic and not at at all stiff. But the price, my friends, behold.
Price: $50
3. The Chic Minimalist Sandal With Actual Support
We’ll only talk about something that fashion sites like to call “an investment” when it’s so supremely special, so extraordinary, so problem-solving that we feel it’s genuinely worthy of your time ... ahem, hard-earned dollars. For us, this particular shoe ended a decades-long search for a sleek, graceful, whisper of a sandal that also gave us cushioned support and comfort and even a smidge of height. Ancient Greek Sandals arguably make the prettiest and most well-crafted sandals in all the world, but they added to that an entire collection of what they call “comfort soles,” styles like THIS, equipped with memory foam and let’s maybe call it … love? Needless to say, our clean-line loving hearts and antiquated feet both feel very seen by these sandals.
Price: $295
4. The Single Most Flattering Cropped Pant
The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve
Truth be told, these pants rank amongst our favorites year-round. The stretchy, smoothing fit is just unreal on bellies and butts. But every season they surprise us with new colors we sort of lust after because we imagine how they’ll turn all our neutral clothes into outfits. Also, if you buy them in black, you’ll have yourself the best work/ going out/ everyday pant in your closet.
By the way, our Editor-in-Chief pictured above achieved that perfect sweater tuck using THIS life-changing device, which makes it so your top stays put all day and doesn’t add extra bulk by having to be tucked into the top of your pants.
Price: $120
5. The Favorite Sweater We Wear As a Top
The sleeves on this sweater immediately reminded us of THIS iconic look. But the fact that it has clean lines while still being spacious means we can toss it on alone with high-waist jeans and not look our usual level of disheveled. Instead, we’re totally put together - chic even! Plus, the shorter length is a great little hack for making our legs look longer.
Price: $89
6. The Absolute Easiest Everyday Dress
This is one of those problem-solving pieces we keep talking about, because a dress is already an outfit unto itself and the fit of this one is unquestionably gorgeous. The scoop neckline is amazing on chests, the 3/4 sleeve is very flattering on a thicker arm, and the pocketed skirt is great on hips, thighs, and lower bellies. The material is a luxe European jersey, so it’s soft and stretchy and feels like buttery leggings. But add a belt and cushioned heels, and you’re fancy enough for a party.
Price: $110
7. The Flat-Out Dream Skirt
Aritzia Wilfred Twirl Pleated Skirt
Ah yes, another skirt. It is spring after all, and good skirts, though so hard to find, are so gloriously easy to wear. This skirt is essentially the less unhinged, more wearable version of Carrie’s from SATC. Take a look.
The light, chiffon pleating hangs beautifully, but the fact that it has an elastic waistband even though it’s a “dressier” skirt is what outright tipped this one into perfection territory.
Price: $150
8. The $30 Pullover That Everyone Keeps Asking Where We Got It From
Narural Lightweight Cotton Sweater
If we had to name a single thing that could turn a casj and cozy everyday sweater into a chic statement, it’s this: stripes. This one has the best of them in countless combinations. And an amazing size range.
Price: $30
9. The Jeans That Always Look Great On You
Madewell Curvy Kick Out Crop Jean
These jeans are immensely flattering and have loads of stretch without ever losing their shape. They’re amazing on curves if nothing fits your waist but then also CREATE curves if you’re self-conscious about a flat butt or a poochy tum. We turn to them maybe more than any other jeans in our closet. Scroll for proof.
Price: $138
10. The Just Right Jacket For That Morn And Evening Nip
Free People Quilted Knit Jacket
Admittedly, we get a little lost with outerwear sometimes because we all just kind of want to wear an enormous and soft sweater all the time, but we also want the tailored, nice look of a coat. Which is why this jacket was such a missing piece. It’s that midweight, warm enough, extra soft coat that pretty much works with everything. And we’re big fans of all 5 colors it comes in. Also the price.
Price: $198
11. The Stunning Skirt That Singlehandedly Solves What To Wear To That Event
Lilysilk A-Line Silk Maxi Skirt
Finding an occasion dress is one of those sounds-fun-but-quickly-turns-hellish experiences. It’s just so hard to find things that fit us on the top and bottom exactly how we want it to. Which is why this skirt might be the most worth-it splurge of this or any other season. It’s silk charmeuse and completely stunning. But the cut is so easily flattering. It doesn’t poof out on the hips. Even the pockets (which are amazing) don’t even look like they’re there.
And the beauty is we can wear it with any pretty top we’ve ever purchased and suddenly we have our easiest, most comfortable “occasion outfit.”
It gives you such a nice silhouette without requiring a single piece of shapewear you can’t wait to rip from your skin. It’s not cheap, but the cost-per-wear is very low once you account for the hours/ money it saves you having to pick out yet another event dress you wear only once.
Price: $240
12. The Best-Fitting Parisian Tee
Everlane The Supima® Micro-Rib Scoop-Neck Tee
This is another piece we rant about ALL the time, and the reason is no other tee looks as good on our arms, frames our glorious chests, and smooths over our cute belly pooches than this one. We already had it in every solid color they’d released, because we live by the rule that once you find the best version of a thing, you buy multiples and call it a day. But then it came out in stripes, and now, our favorite tee is making us look French-lady chic.
Price: $40
13. The Stretchy Little Audrey Hepburn Pant We're Eternally Searching For
Everlane The Bi-Stretch Work Pant
Marvelously stretchy and oh sooooo good on curves. Is this not the ponte pante we’ve been longing for since we watched Audrey Hepburn basically do anything? Wear it with the above stripe tee to complete your Parisian look. And maybe even add both #13 and #14 on this very list, because we’re fairly sure we just created a highly foolproof spring “look” as the fashion people say.
Price: $78
14. The Perfect Transitional Trench
Another one of those classic things that just instantly makes look like 27x more sophisticated versions of ourselves. This trench is so light and layerable, making it perfect for spring. And the color matches everything.
Price: $189
15. The Pop Of Red Mary Jane That Makes Our Outfits Come To Life
Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat
Red is very much a trend right now, but what we like about it is it’s really not a trend at all. Red was always a timeless, albeit romantic color (like black or white but more fun). And the brilliance of owning a graceful ballet flat in red is that you can wear this shoe with loose jeans and a white tee, and you have just created an exciting and really chic outfit. And then maybe swipe on a stroke of THIS, and enjoy feeling totally invincible.
Price: $98
16. The Short-Sleeve Going-Out Top That Still Covers Your Arms
This is another gem we dug up from Lilysilk, and we’re eager to tell all who will listen just how wild we are about it, because the shape is sooo, sooo smart. See how the arms drape just enough to feel like we have a bit of coverage and how that high (albeit dramatic) neckline allows us to wear whatever damn bra feels good (see #16)? And then there’s the very soft, not at all restrictive elastic band to nip the waist and make it sit perfectly with any pant or skirt we choose. We wear it with jeans, and it is hands-down our best going-out top.
It’s real silk, of course, and repeatedly makes getting dressed up a million times easier.
Price: $129
17. The Most Comfortable, Breathable, Feels-Like-Nothing Bra
Truekind® Daily Comfort Wireless Shaper Bra
It ain’t a looker and it’s certainly not the sexiest thing we own, but don’t we just want our bra to feel like air itself, to create zero bulges on the back and sides, and to make our boobs look very, very good and round and natural but also lifted? Is that too tall an order? It took far too many years but we found THE ONE. And just in time for warmer weather!
Price: $29 - $48
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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