These 6 Outfit Templates Will Make You Look Younger (But Not Like You’re Trying To Look Younger)

 
 

by The Candidly Team

Right, so maaaaaybe we mis-titled this article. Because rest assured, none of this is gonna be about some sad effort to dress young. No one’s about to suggest you start wearing pigtails and knee socks and hoodies that say “can’t adult today.”

What it is about is NOT wanting to look older because of how we dress.

Clothes are powerful in that way. Small choices we make in front of a mirror in the morning make a huge difference in terms of whether or not we age ourselves down or up.

 
 

So while we’re not going to introduce some convoluted system or monstrous effort that involves wearing dumb things like barrel jeans or injecting ourselves with painful potions, we are gonna break down some very easy, very good ideas about how to dress in a way that evokes a fresher sort of chicness. An uncontested coolness. And okay fine, we’ll just come out and say it - a youngness.

There are 6 templates that, because of how they fit and flatter and feel on our bodies, work a little magic in making us look younger.

Here we break down exactly what those 6 looks are and the exact pieces that help us to achieve them. Some you will whiz past. Others you will love. All of them will look good on you. That we can’t explain. They just will.

 

1. This Foolproof Leather Jacket Look

 

Why It Works: The way a leather jacket, an ankle jean, and a lace-up boot come together is like a teeny tiny symphony of coolness. But it’s all still luxe and understated enough to keep us feeling like our chic and sensible selves. The trick is to pick pieces that fit us exceptionally well, the scarf adding loads of softness and the leather making everything look 3X more expensive.

The Pieces: Since this outfit is about layers, we start with THIS exceptionally flattering tank, mainly because our chests and waists have never been as well framed. We don’t shut up about THIS leather jacket because while it’s perfect and lasts forever, it’s literally $150. THESE jeans are equally affordable and they have that ideal slim but not suffocating fit. And they hit at just the right spot to wear with THIS pair of ankle boots. They’re from our new favorite boot brand because their designs look modern but also like they’ll never go out of style. To polish it off, we wrap ourselves in THIS buttery soft scarf that goes on for days but the fabric is thin enough to not add ridiculous bulk.

SHOP THE LOOK

 
 

2. This just-right skirt look

 

Why It Works: A lot of us get squeamish about wearing short things the minute we hit 39, but we forget the glorious proportions we can get out of showing our legs. The trouble is anything “short” these days usually means so far up our ass that we can barely stand in the gust of a sneeze without fear of flashing the entire coffee line. Or it’s so tight, we can’t try it on without the urge to start running rapid-fire lines from the first 15 minutes of Pretty Woman. Point is, the balance (AND cuteness!) we dream of achieving by wearing something short(ish) is still possible, and it’s possible in the form of a perfect length, perfect volume skirt. And guys, we think we’ve found it!

The Pieces: THIS is the skirt that sort of made us believe again. The long stretchy band is wildly flattering on waists, and it is even loved by even those of us who loathe our legs. The length is 100% “safe,” while the shape is 100% flattering. Because it’s Free People, it’s spacious, so sizing down may be a smart choice.

We pair it THIS lightest, airiest, and single best-fitting, wide-strap tank (so it completely conceals any sign of a bra). We then slip on THESE, our favorite cozy-chic slide sandals and THIS throwback wrap bracelet that just makes us outright happy. The finishing touch is THIS divinely slouchy bag that fits our hoards of crap. Messy bun is also highly recommended. The results are a level of comfort we’re usually only accustomed to in PJs. But the look is spring fashion itself.

SHOP THE LOOK

 
 

3. This Cool Girl Denim Look

 

Why It Works: There’s already something subtly daring about pairing denim on denim, but add that pop-of-red lip, and we felt like we’d stumbled on brilliance. The reason is less flowery than it sounds. Elevating classic, casual things we wear daily like a chambray button-down or straight-leg jeans with something a bit more exciting like a red lip color or a sleek, heeled sandal is a way to make it more youthful. More joyful. Dare we say even a little sexxxxxxier. Eek.

The Pieces: THIS is probably the softest, most well-crafted button-down we’ve found which is great in terms of comfort but also means it falls in a flattering way that isn’t stiff or hard to tuck. And then THESE Levi’s are so satisfyingly high-waisted and just better than designer jeans that cost 2-3x more.

We’re pretty over the moon about the comfort level of THESE block-heeled sandals, which still read very strappy despite their cushioned support. Also nothing pairs as well with blue jean than that creamy tan color, which is one of the reasons we’re also mildly obsessed with THIS bag. The final step is of course that pure, poppy red lip we all spend our lives looking for. Well, search is over?? It’s THIS.

SHOP THE LOOK:

 
 
 
 

4. This Easiest Way To Wear A Dress Look

 

Why It Works: A jean jacket is YOUTH PERSONIFIED. But it’s also the magical piece of outerwear we can wear year-round that gives us that wee bit of extra arm or belly coverage and makes us feel more confident in all our most loved dresses. Tossing it on over a striped midi or a floral maxi dress and sandals just adds that confident sense of polish and completion.

The Pieces: THIS is our favorite jean jacket by far. It’s a perfect fit, 100% organic cotton, and uh… $50!?!? With dresses, we can obviously go in lots of lovely directions but two of our absolute favorites are THIS stunning printed maxi and THIS very French, fitted midi dress.

We keep things casually chic with THESE super minimalist flip flops that come in every nude shade under the sun. Finally, THIS petite bag and all its many colors and patterns might be the biggest hack to up-level every outfit we wear.

SHOP THE LOOK:

 
 

5. This Elevated Look For Us sweater-and-tee ladies

 

Why It Works: At first glance, we may not realize why this simple look is so effective. Once again, the answer is the fit. How many times do we do basic tees and boring jeans and frumpy sweaters and slip-on sandals and call it giving up? A few small tweaks and select choices completely transform it into something intentional and of the moment and waaaaaay less old and sad.

The Pieces: It starts with the perfect-fitting, whisper soft tee - THIS tee. Stop buying the bad ones. Your life will change. And then instead of an unfortunate itchy, fraying, bulky cardigan, choose something long with clean lines. THIS knit (yes, knit) coat is another season-defying piece that feels like a dream and makes us look 17x more put together no matter what we wear under it. Also, it costs less than $50.

When done well, a stretchy skinny jean is still pretty damn flattering and butt-and-belly-complementing and just plain makes us look younger. THIS pair is unreal on curves. Unreal. We balance them with THESE leather slides - the only elegant slide being made. And we’ve been wearing THIS subtle opal chain daily, because it makes our most basic things (like t-shirts and jeans) come to life.

SHOP THE LOOK:

 
 

6. This Effortless Skirt Look

 

Why It Works: There’s an art to piecing together things we effortlessly look our best in that still manage to come off carefree or, honestly, almost accidental. Looking natural and like our skin only exists to touch the sun is one of the tricks to looking young. But what we actively adore about this outfit is that even though it’s simple, the materials and fits are extremely nice and flattering and quietly luxurious, and so we secretly know every one is a winner that we can pull from our closet and rest assured that they will come together seamlessly without us having to think about it.

The Pieces: There’s some repeats here, including THIS foolproof tank, THIS $50 jean jacket, and THESE nude flips. Toss those on with THIS unbelievable airy skirt that nips our waist and gracefully conceals our hips and thighs, and all that’s left is a few statement accessories that still feel like something we can wear daily. We’re personally mad about THIS chain bracelet and THIS gorgeous coin necklace, both from Jane Win. She’s making breathtaking pieces that turn clothes into looks. And we’re lazy, so we need it.

SHOP THE LOOK:


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