8 Things We Were Sure We’d Hate As 40-Year-Old Women But Actually Love
Is dressing like our mothers really so bad?
Image: The Idea of You | Amazon MGM Studios
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by The Candidly Team
Many of us can distinctly remember thinking when our moms were in their 40s that we will never EVER repeat her fashion choices. The 8 pairs of shapeless slacks she rotated between, the many colors of cutesy, little cardigans. The mom jeans (of course). And please don’t get us started on the tennis shoes she wore with EVERYTHING. Why were the soles so thick?
But the point of this article isn’t to rag on our mom’s style or to pretend we’re doing any better than she was now that we’re 40. We’re actually here to admit that she had a few things right.
There are some “grown up” clothes that don’t equate to grandmother. Or if they do, they equate to “cool grandmother” or the ever-popular “coastal grandmother.” There are 8 things we happily wear today that we swore we never would. But boy were we wrong. Here’s why:
Images: Sex and the City | HBO
1. CARDI SETS
Boden Eva Cashmere Crew Cardigan And Vest
We all love our soft sweaters and cashmere cardis, but wearing them with a matching top can add extra styling power to an outfit as long as the rest of the elements are more cool and youthful. In fact, combining something sophisticated and classic like a cardi set with something modern and casual (think wide-leg, high-waist jeans and sweeping maxi skirts) is one of the best ways to look younger without seeming like we’re trying to look younger. The colors and fit of this cashmere vest and cardi from the British brand Boden make it a staple you will love and rely on for life.
Price: $179 for the cardi, $139 fior the vest
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan Sweater And Tee
And if you’re looking for the tee version of a cashmere cardi set at a phenomenal price, Quince is a million percent where you should be shopping.
Price: $45 for the tee, $80 for the cardi
Image: The Philadelphia Story | MGM
2. SLACKS
The Avery Wide-Leg Pleated Trousers by Maeve
Remember when slacks were the mom jeans of pants? But wide-leg, tailored, and pleated pants have come so far. The right pair can be wildly chic and impossibly flattering. This pair deserves to win awards for how incredible they are on curves. Elastic in the back. Comes in other colors. Legs go on for days.
Price: $148
Aritzia
The Effortless Pant™ - Crepette™
This pair from Aritzia is slightly more straight-leg, but how they fit is nothing short of magic. See why we love them so much HERE (lots of photos of us in them FYI.)
Price: $148
3. PANTYHOSE
Noosh Play Semi-Opaque
Panty hose were the thick things our grannies wore to bed to help their circulation, but that doesn’t change the fact that they make legs look smooth and lump-and bump-free or that they make us feel less self-conscious in not so long skirts with very tall boots (ugh, we love the fall). Plus, the real problem with tights in general has always been that they tear so easily, and thanks to modern innovation we have gorj pairs like these that LAST and LAST and LAST. There are so many colors, opacities, cute little designs, we’re dizzy with how many we want.
And they even have a little trickster of a pair with a skin-colored, fleece lining so we get warmth and the illusion that we shaved our legs this winter.
Price: $34 for the semi-opaque, $36 for the fleece-lined
Image: I Love Lucy | CBS
4. House Dresses
Quince 100% European Linen Button Front Dress
Tie waists and fit and flare cuts are a curvy girl’s dream. How could we ever NOT want to take advantage of that? This dress from Quince is beyond flattering on all shapes. Plus the price is bananas.
* Gifted
Price: $60
Sézane Véronique Dress
Do yourself a favor and look closely at the detail on this dress. We’re pretty sure if we owned it, we’d have mastered fall fashion in the comfiest way possible.
Price: $230
Everlane The Daytripper Dress
Hate tie waists? No problem. Just choose an A-line dress that isn’t too long so you can layer with tights and boots and scarves, and look 10,000% put together. This particular cut is spectacular on apple shapes.
Price: $96
Image: Friends | NBC
5. Laces and Crochets
Sézane Suzania Blouse
I mean, do we really need to persuade you to wear more lace? It’s a detail that adds character and femininity and intrigue and luxury. This top has the benefit of making anything else you wear it with look like a full-on LOOK. Plus, the length is so perfect, you don’t need to fuss over a tuck.
Price: $135
Boden Crochet Mix Stitch Sweater
Again, zoom in on the detail. It makes it look WILDLY expensive, not to mention original.
Price: $60
Image: Working Girl | 20th Century Studios
6. Chunky white tennis shoes
New Balance Classics 327
We will not do foot pain. Not anymore. And say what you will about our beloved Working Girl pictured above, a nice thick, white sneak is not only blissfully cozy, but it can balance an outfit so we don’t look top heavy. This pair feels like a cloud and comes in many colors, our favorite being linen and sea salt. (Or as Sally Field in Steal Magnolias would say “the colors are white and white.)
Price: $105
Image: Sex and the City | HBO
7. Comfy Granny Panties (and Bras)
EBY High Waisted Panties
Stop suffering the thong. There are plenty of seamless panties out there that hold us in and don’t make us hate our lives. This pair comes to mind.
Price: $19
Neiwai Barely Zero Spaghetti Strap Bra
If you want complete support, anti-gravity round shape, and a bra that really truly feels like nothing - no digging, no slipping, no seams, this bra is bliss. Tell every woman you know about it. We started with you.
Price: $39
Image: Downton Abbey | ITV
8. Floral Blouses
Sézane Annie Shirt
Again, our moms were right to not completely fear prints. The right one can headline an outfit. Just don’t wear loud prints and bright colors with black on the bottom. It’s a surefire way to look older. Instead, choose something elegant and perfect like this and tuck it into long jeans or a non-black, wide-leg pant.
Price: $145
Madewell Semi-Sheer Split-Neck Top
This top reminds us of why we still love prints. They too can be understated and chic when styled with your best-fitting staples. This shirt is a prime example. It looks just as incredible tucked into a long pant as it does into a slinky, fitted column skirt. And no matter what, you look put-together.
Price: $100
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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