8 Style Trends You Think Are Too Young For You But Are, In Fact, Perfect For Over-40 Women
Nothing scary. We swear.
by The Candidly Team
After years (ahem decades) of doing “work” on our self-esteem, we’re finally feeling less self-conscious about our physical selves.
Well…generally speaking. At least, in some ways.
And we now see how it was sort of a curse that back when we were young enough to carelessly say carpe diem to trends, we were probably at our most self-conscious.
But there’s a bit of a caveat that comes with our newfound confidence. And that is that we’re scared as hell of looking like we’re tryyyying to look younger. And of failing, of course. But mainly just the trying part.
Yes, we still want to look cute. And chic. And attractive. And vibrant. And OURSELVES.
But we’re also just a teeny-weeny bit, irrationally afraid of coming off like this:
Obviously, this is a deeply dumb concern for most of us.
For starters, anyone can wear whatever they feel like at any age (said in half-hearted PSA voice). But more importantly, most of us don’t have an ounce of interest in dressing like we’re 16. However, we tend to overcompensate by shutting the door to styles and trends and pieces of clothing we like just because we decide we’re too old.
The truth is, there are many au courant styles out there that are so good, so flattering, so problem-solving for women well over 40 that deserve their day in the sun. Just like us.
And here are 9 of the best of them. All good. None scary.
1. KiND OF CROPPED TOPs
Right, so we don't mean early 2000s crop tops that were cut just below your boobs and paired with low slung jeans that made the boniest of hip bones look like love handles. We're talking about a short(er) length top that barely leaves a sliver between the hemline and the top of your now thankfully high-waisted bottoms.
And this length looks arguably better than the extra band of fabric on most shirts that we either have to awkwardly tuck or layer over the bumpy tops of our pants. Both can create bulges we don't necessarily love and actually make our midsections look thicker, whereas tops that hit just above the hips have the effect of nipping our waist and making our legs look longer.
Pair any of the below with any high-waist pant or skirt, and you'll instantly look taller, narrower, and more hourglassy than ever.
J. Crew Cropped boatneck T-shirt
A striped boatneck is already a trend-defying staple and a very lazy way to look classic and chic. The French call it a mariniére, and French is precisely how it makes us feel. Because it’s a wee bit boxy, having it cropped makes it hit at juuust the right flattering spot at the waistband, so our legs look longer even in flats, as you can see from one of us modeling it below.
Our in-house model actually had hers tailored to be a smidge shorter, which costs like $10 and might be worth it if you don’t mind a sliver of skin peaking through now and again. Otherwise, you can leave it as is and it will still have that waist-whittling, elongating effect.
Price: $29.50
Quince Baby Alpaca-Wool Cropped Cardigan
Where a lot of sweaters can be cozy but kind of swallow us up, this one keeps us looking styled and like we still have an actual shape. Once you get over the softness (You won’t. We own one. And we haven’t), you’ll appreciate how exceptionally good it looks with every bottom you already own. We wear ours near daily with our favorite high-waist jeans and get asked constantly where we bought it. See proof of one of us wearing ours the very day we’re writing this below. Also, the price is wild given the quality.
Price: $60
J. Crew Cashmere shrunken crewneck sweater
This might be our favorite pullover. Ever. It’s classic and cashmere, and the cut completely conceals our stomach but goes in right at the small of our waist, so we genuinely look better in it than in most things in our closet. And because of its nipping shape, we can wear a looser fit bottom and still look polished while feeling sort of like we’re in pajamas.
Price: $118
Everlane The Silky Cotton Way-Short Shirt
We’ve talked at length about this shirt internally. Written about it publicly. For anyone who doesn’t love wearing tight things up top or showcasing their bellies, this button-down is game-changing. Buttoned up, it gives us lots of space to breath, and left open, it’s a crisp layering piece, as you can observe here on another real human.
In both cases, we look put together and like we actually pay attention to tailoring.
Price: $88
2. OFF-SHOULDER THINGS
Showing a hint of skin in strategic spots makes it so the looser, cozier clothes we feel most comfortable wearing look more styled and alluring without having to resort to the wild cut-outs designed exclusively for 22-year-old size 2s.
For example, a slightly off-shoulder but otherwise oversized and slouchy sweater looks chic (dare we say sexy) over skinny jeans, fitted skirts, or literal leggings. And we still get to feel "covered up."
Also, an off-shoulder style, be it on a dress or even just a t-shirt, makes us look more dressed up, so it's an easy way to add a little edge when going out…but in an elegant sort of way.
Universal Thread™ Long Sleeve Midi Bodycon Dress
We wrote about this dress in another article, and you guys have been snatching it up. And we fully support it. It’s verrry flattering on curves. It covers our arms, but the off-shoulder neckline is so chic and steers us ever so slightly into the realm of sexy(ish). We dress it up with tall boots and our most statement of statement earrings, because with a dress this classic, we can!
Price: $28
Free People We The Free Midnight Pullover
If this is giving Flashdance vibes, we’ve done our jobs. We’re more than a little obsessed with this sweatshirt, because the neckline and shape are more flattering than any of the other 737 sweatshirts we’ve tried on. You can opt to pull the shoulder on or off depending on your mood. Pair it with melty leggings for an evening in or pour it on over a silky slip skirt on days you’re feeling your puffiest, and you have a perfect cozy-chic, dress-up uniform. It also comes in a sea of cute colors. Size down though, because it is spacious.
Price: $158
We The Free Gigi Long Sleeve
You know how we keep saying, wear this drapey thing with this fitted thing to get perfect proportions. Well, this is that fitted thing. It looks good with every pant and skirt we own and smoooooooths like nothing else.
Price: $58
Free People C.O.Z.Y Pointelle Pullover
This sweater actually falls below our bottom, which we love, because sometimes we have zero desire to show our bottom. But you get a little shoulder, and it’s all just as well. Enchanting even. Especially in rusted red. But toast might be our favorite.
Price: $30
Limited-edition Anna October© X J.Crew cashmere off-the-shoulder sweater-dress
Admittedly, we were sold on this limited edish dress the minute we saw the creamy cashmere sleeves pulled down over the hands, the way we wear all of our sweaters all of the time. It showed that this dress is clearly made for cozy people, but at the same time, the draping is so elegant and so well-designed, while the fabric is thick enough to make us look smoothed like icing instead of bumpy and self-conscious. Also, the color is called “snow,” and while that means literally nothing, it sort of punctuates the entire winter queen fantasy that filled our heads the minute we saw this dress.
Price: $398
3. MARY JANES
It's actually pretty hard to find a shoe as incredibly versatile, not to mention timeless, as a Mary Jane. It works with everything from cropped jeans to full maxi skirts. Plus, it's amazing how a single strap elevates your whole outfit much more than a basic flat or pump, which can sometimes read businessy or boring.
Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat
These have that graceful Audrey Hepburn shape that make us look as styled as if we were wearing heels. But without all the hassle. The leopard elevates every basic thing we throw together (black turtleneck with black pants anyone?), but we also, of course, wear them on repeat in, you guessed it, black.
Price: $90 - $110
Bandolino Cariann Pump
The grown-up Mary Jane and every single thing we want in a party shoe. They’re a perfect chic shape, but the steady, supportive block heel is really the star, because we’re not hating our lives the entire time we’re wearing them, which ends up being the case with 92% of all heels. Also, they look 3x more expensive than what they cost.
Price: $51
4. JEAN JACKETS
A denim jacket makes us look and feel young(er) in a way that feels easy and unforced. The fact that they have a tailored cut makes it so they're infallibly flattering even if we were to layer one over a mumu. They match everything, barring the exact same color jeans, and have a low-key way of turning the rest of our clothes into a “look.”
They're also one of those rare pieces that can dress things up or down, but, in a funny way, they can do both at the same time. Throw one on over a silky slip dress with white sneaks, and you have something you could just as naturally wear to the market as you would on a date night. Swap your blazer for a jean jacket at the end of the day, and your work uniform becomes a going-out outfit. It’s all just so effortless.
Universal Standard Kelsey Denim Jacket
We could show you others, but this is just the best one. HANDS. DOWN. We wrote a love letter to this jean jacket because it made us remember what it was like to lust after the ones worn by Julia and Drew in the 90s, and then we finally got to own our own, and whoa, we pretty much looked just like them. No, really. Cool, casual, crisp, Calvin Klein ad-ish. Jean jackets are universally magic that way. It helps that this one has stretch so our arms can move, and the size range is A-MAZING.
Price: $138
5. BAGGY BOTTOMS
Don't be afraid to lean in to loose-fit jeans, wide-wide-leg trousers, or parachute pants. They're wildly comfortable and extremely flattering on thicker thighs and pear shapes.
The key thing is that they require balance, meaning you need to wear them with tighter things up-top like a smooth, fitted tee or a tissue-soft turtleneck so we don't just lose our shape altogether and instead get that in-n-out silhouette we all have to varying degrees but are oft stumped on how to accentuate.
The Avery Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers by Maeve
Hang out with us long enough, and we will bring up these pants. We’ve written entire dedicated, completely unsponsored articles about them, because as far as wide-leg trousers go, these blew us away on every level. They feel as comfortable as loungewear but the drape, pleating, and tailoring are superb on hips, butts, and thighs. We look longer and chicer every time we wear them. Lately, it’s been with a creamy cardigan, tucked like so.
We shouldn’t say this, but if you’re going to buy one pair of pants on this list, make it these. And let your Katharine Hepburn era commence!
Price: $148
Everlane The Baggy Jean
These jeans are so flattering on the bottom half of our bodies, and we don’t just look like slobs, because we balance them out with a fitted tee, tank, or turtleneck. Polish it off with a stretchy blazer and a loafer, and voila, we’re a French lady level of effortlessly chic.
P.S. If you’ve been a little “meh” or just plain unaware of the magic of Everlane jeans, just know the fit around our bellies and butts have converted every one of us behind the scenes at The Candidly.
Price: $128
Free People To The Sky Parachute Pants
These pants fit and feel exactly as excellent as they seem like they’d fit and feel. But trust us when we say they look just as good on a non-skinny, non-lanky, non-model. They’re a dream on curves. And while they’re as comfortable as PJs, they can be styled 127 ways. All chic.
Price: $78
6. PLATFORM SHOES
Chunky shoes are a shining example of something we wore in the 90s that, despite being reclaimed by 19-year-olds of today, remain an ideal option for us. They’re not only comfy and supportive but they balance out our outfits, so we don't look top heavy or like our shoes were just a clumsy afterthought.
Wear them with your drapiest, wide-leg pants when flats would just get lost or with cropped jeans when more slender styles make for awkward proportions. And if you choose a blockier heel when dressing up, you won't need to make up some excuse to go home early because your feet are throbbing from standing at a cocktail table for 97 minutes.
Sam Edelman Laurs Lug Sole Loafer
As much as a lug-sole loafer has become a trend of late, it’s also a sort of ageless shoe you will turn to ALL. THE. TIME. It works with every pair of pants we own. But we’re partial to putting them on with a shirt or sweater dress which makes us feel sort of smart and fashiony. Sort of.
Price: $105
Aerosoles Cosmos
We’re all about pampering our feet. It makes us sound old, but guess what, our feet are old. And fatigued. But they do not look it in these shoes. And neither do our legs, or really the rest of us. These shoes make everything more gorgeous. But yup, they’re Aerosoles, and yup, we feel like we’re walking on an orthopedic cloud.
Price: $135
7. SHORT SKIRTS
Shorter skirts and dresses can be highly flattering on curves and again, make our legs look longer. They're especially good for apple shapes or those of us who tend to like to wear things a little looser but still want to look styled as opposed to just seeming like we threw on a sack.
Most shorter styles can be worn with tights and tall boots, so we're not technically showing a ton of skin. But, if you’re up for it, you can also embrace the leggy look and add a comfy block heel (see above), which beautifully balances out more flowy fitting pieces (the below sweater dress, for example). In either case, we get wildly elongated and won't for a second have to worry about eating bread or bloating, because legs just aren't the hormonal basketcases that our bellies tend to be.
Free People Larkspur Midi
The perfect short(ish) midi. The long waistband and floaty skirt are an actual dream on a bellies and thighs.
Price: $78
Maeve The Colette Skirt
This skirt is made from the same “magic material” as Anthropologie’s most beloved pants. It molds us into those clean lines we dream of when we pull on a dreaded pencil skirt. But unlike the others, we feel not at all bulgy and like we can still breath. Wear it with any of the slouchy or skimming sweaters on this list, and you will look eye-catchingly good.
Price: $98
Boden Abigail Jersey Dress
There are few things in life that are cut to be this flattering. The wide, ruched waistband is a godsend for those of us with a lower belly pooch. Plus, we get to live the dream of covering our arms and hips but still feeling low-key sexy. All thanks to that cuuuuute length.
Price: $85
8. PUFF SLEEVES
They don't have to be Seinfeldian. Puff sleeves can be subtle, slightly voluminous, and therefore, soooooo flattering on arms. The wee-bit billowy effect has a way of making our waists look narrower. Pair a puff-sleeve tee or button-down with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt to create the prettiest proportions, where we don't feel like everything we're wearing is skintight.
Or you can tuck it into a draping high-waisted pant to create a loose, yet-tailored look, where everything is comfortable without coming off too baggy.
Boden Supersoft Frill Detail T-shirt
Like we said, we can be really subtle with this trend, and still, your arms will look perfect. This shirt comes in like 10 colors we want, because the fit is so good, we’d wear one daily. Also, it’s buttery soft, sky-high quality, and comes in a long-sleeve version you can see one of us wearing below.
Oh, and it sizes up to 22.
Price: $35
Pomander Place Black Long Sleeve Livia Puff Sleeve Top
Adding a little volume to a ribbed tee gives us really nice, narrowing lines. Not that we need narrowing, but we also don’t want shirts that add bulk and are hard to tuck. This one is just 10 out of 10 on our arms and bellies, whether left in or out.
Price: $98
Hill House The Louisa Nap Dress
If you require a dress that feels like a nightgown but gives you an easy, always-fits, deeply romantic look, we have found the dress. Well, we and the rest of the world. It’s insanely popular, and should you try it on in your own favorite color, you will understand why.
Price: $150
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.
We have to eat.
