Some of the most useful style advice for women over 50 doesn’t come from magazines. It comes from women who photograph their own outfits week after week, in real bodies, real weather and real budgets. They show what actually works when you wear it.
We’ve picked eight independent bloggers whose work we admire, along with one post from each that’s a great place to start. Every photo below belongs to the blogger who created it and is shown with credit and a link back to the original post.
1. Une femme d’un certain âge: easy casual outfit formulas over 50
Susan Blakey has written une femme for many years, with a focus on polished, French-inspired style for women over 50. This post is for the days when you don’t have the bandwidth to think about clothes: three go-to formulas, coordinated neutrals, full monochrome and classic casual with a collared shirt and loafers.
What to take from it: her rule of sticking to a maximum of three neutrals in one outfit is one of the simplest ways to look put together. And if you go monochrome, mix textures so the look doesn’t fall flat.
2. Fabulous After 40: how to wear a leather jacket over 40, 50 and 60
Deborah Boland is an image consultant, and her guide answers a question many women quietly ask: is a leather jacket too young for me? Her answer is no, and she shows how proportions, colours and the pieces you pair with it make even an older jacket look current.
What to take from it: if you own a leather jacket you’ve stopped wearing, try it with something softer or more polished than you’d expect, such as tailored trousers or a fluid dress, instead of just jeans and a tee.
Read the guide on Fabulous After 40
3. Wardrobe Oxygen: styling a stomach, to tuck or not to tuck?
Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen writes real-life style advice for women in midlife. This post takes on the old “rules” about hiding a tummy, questions where they came from, and then shows several tuck and no-tuck options so you can see the difference for yourself.
What to take from it: stop following rules about what you’re “allowed” to wear and experiment instead. Try a full tuck, a front tuck and no tuck with the same outfit, take a photo of each, and keep the one you like best.
Read the post on Wardrobe Oxygen
4. Susan After 60: 7 days, 7 looks
Susan documents a week of real outfits: a blazer and jeans for a doctor’s appointment and a bank meeting, lunch at an outdoor cafe and more. Most of the pieces are not new, which is exactly why the post is so useful.
What to take from it: try your own “7 days, 7 looks” week. Photograph what you wear each day for a week. You’ll quickly see which pieces do the most work and where the gaps are, without buying anything.
See all seven looks on Susan After 60
5. Not Dressed As Lamb: all-time favourite summer outfits
Catherine Summers is known for colour, print and the hashtag #iwillwearwhatilike. This post gathers her favourite summer outfits from several years of the blog, from patterned wide-leg trousers with a black vest and draped scarf on holiday in Santorini to a simple grey wrap maxi dress with a hat and flat sandals, and a green floral asymmetric midi dress.
What to take from it: summer dressing gets easy when one great piece does the work. Her looks are also a good reminder that bold colour, print and a bit of boho are not “too young” at any age.
Read the post on Not Dressed As Lamb
6. Style at a Certain Age: 1 outfit accessorized 3 ways
Beth Djalali takes a single outfit and changes only the accessories, moving it from casual to date night. It’s a clear demonstration of how much handbags, jewellery, belts and shoes change the mood of a look.
What to take from it: before buying a new outfit for an occasion, try changing the accessories on one you already own. A statement necklace, a different bag and dressier shoes can do more than you’d think.
Read the post on Style at a Certain Age
7. Midlifechic: summery outfits, midlife lately
Nikki Garnett’s “midlife lately” posts are relaxed round-ups of what she has actually been wearing, mostly snapped by her husband while they’re out and about. This one starts with a weekend trip to London, exploring Brixton Market in easy summer outfits, and carries on through the following weeks.
What to take from it: real-life photos are more useful than styled shoots when you’re working out what to wear for a day out. Notice how her outfits are built for walking, eating and sightseeing while still looking pulled together.
8. 50 Is Not Old: classic black and white
This early post from 50 Is Not Old features a black velvet blazer, a thrifted find, over a white top and a patterned skirt. It’s a simple, elegant reminder that black and white is one of the easiest colour combinations to get right.
What to take from it: thrifted and second-hand pieces can be the stars of an outfit. Velvet, tweed and good wool blazers turn up in charity shops often and add instant polish.
Read the post on 50 Is Not Old
Find your own style next
If these posts have you thinking about refreshing your wardrobe, start with our guides to updating your style in your 40s, 50s and 60s and the fit mistakes that make outfits look dated. You’ll find more outfit ideas across the style over 40 hub.
All images in this article belong to the bloggers credited and are used to feature and link to their original work. If you are one of the creators featured and would like your image or post removed, please contact us and we’ll take it down promptly.
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