20 Must-Know Style Tips For Everyone Over 40 (3 of 4)

Outerwear should match your existing outfits

Just because you turned 40 doesn’t mean that you have to give your wardrobe a complete makeover. Instead, you should focus on making the most out of any piece with the right set of outerwear, says Carmen Alfaro, founder of Moda Kalon fashion brand. If you still have your favorite pair of jeans from your 20s or the mini skirt you once loved, you can use them and add a bit of inspiration to give yourself an age-appropriate look that stands out from the rest. You can pair it up with a blazer or poncho in neutral tones and you are good to go, says Alfaro.

Kimono to your rescue

Co-founders of popular fashion brand Area Stars, Scott Sussman, and AJ Majumdar point out that a kimono can be a really good choice for women who have hit their 40s. Not only does it update the style, but it also makes sure you are warm at all times when there is a drop in temperature or the AC is making everyone shiver. And the fact that you can pair it up with your everyday look with a variety of outfits makes the kimono one of the best items to make its way into your wardrobe.

Your body temperature should dictate what you wear

For those in their 40s, peri-menopause is a thing that needs to be factored in to make sure you are wearing the clothes that best suit you. Cave says that her team often recommends eucalyptus-based clothing because of its cooling properties and the ability to soak up moisture. She further explains that by wearing a fabric that best suits you, you can feel good in what you wear and that automatically translates into better looks.

Try trends that you are comfortable with

New York based celeb stylist Samantha Brown points out that it is crucial to understand that your comfort rather than age should be the parameter that decides what clothes you want to experiment with. By incorporating your inspirations with trends, body type, and profession, one can easily come up with style choices that make you look great in your 40s.

If you want to try that trending animal print, you should go for a piece that feels naturally best for you along with a silhouette that you are comfortable with. If you haven’t worn short skirts in ages, wearing a leopard print micro mini won’t make it for you!

Show off your features with the best eyewear

According to the leading designer at Garrett Leight California Optical, Elena Doukas, people often tend to wear bigger glasses in order to cover up most of their faces. She explains that while it may look cute, bigger frames often underplay your features instead of enhancing them.

She recommends that less is definitely more in terms of eyewear. So, instead of covering up your face with large frames, one should ideally think about playing up the features. For women in their 40s, shapes that work the best are usually the ones that angle slightly upwards at the edges, such as the cat-eye design. This small detail can work wonders for your look.

As for the color, Doukas recommends that it is important to sport eyewear that matches your hair color, skin tone, or the outfit you are wearing. If you are a big fan of neutrals, you can go for black, grey, or crystal tones. If you wear a lot of browns or navy, going for tortoise frames will work best for you.