300 Women Share What Fashion Over 50 Looks Like For Them

My style has evolved a long way from when I was a teenager—I’m prioritizing quality, fit, and personal alignment more than I ever did then. (RIP to so many Wet Seal clearance purchases that were never worn). But now in my mid-thirties, I’m wondering how my next decade will look style-wise—and the decades beyond that too.

So we created a quick style survey for our readers over 50 to see how they approach style and fashion these days. In a whirlwind of responses, we heard from over 300 of you, either over or just around 50 years of age, and were inspired by every single response. We started by asking for the top three words you’d use to describe your style, and the resounding response? Comfort and classic styles are key.

The top ten words most used in over 300 responses are below, but check out the image for more words you all used!

*One note, as I was reading the results, many readers described their style as “boho” or “bohemian”—and we’re thrilled that you all are embracing less mainstream styles that are driven by your own whims! But for the sake of this survey, I’ve updated that term to “artistic” instead. Those words above are tied to anti-Romani sentiment, alongside another commonly used term in fashion—all these words are based on sweeping generalizations, historical inaccuracies, and have encouraged harm against the Romani population. The more you know!

Next, we asked you all to share your style icons, and you shared celebrities, brands, and influencers that inspire you most. Here’s what you said:

And now for the main event—after hours of reading through and painstakingly culling down your responses, we’re sharing some highlights of your style philosophies.

There are also several contrasting approaches, like where to draw the line on miniskirts, or how much (or little) color to wear. Whatever you choose and whatever your preferences, we’re thrilled that you all are embracing what *you* want to wear. We’ve got a whole new perspective on adding new pieces to our wardrobes now, thanks to all your thoughts.

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Style Philosophies Of Women Over 50

• “I used to want my style to reflect what I wanted to bring to the table—intellect, passion, power—but now I see it as what I can offer with generosity: whimsy, comfort, attention.” – Maggie, 48
  
  
• “[My style is] my calling card, my first impression, my chance to be exactly who I am—something I was unclear about when I was younger but have total clarity on now” – Jenny W, 50
  
  
• “Not ‘giving up’, and trying to stay modern without overdoing it. Also trying to fit my menopausal body into clothes that look good and feel good.” – JM, 51
  
  
• “My clothes HAVE to be comfortable and I need to be able to move. I’m busy and if I have 10 minutes to do some yoga there is no time to change. That said, I never wear yoga pants, etc. in daily life. While I’m always dressed for last-minute yoga, a pair of statement earrings and I’m ready for the coffee shop as well.” – Anonymous, 51
  

“Not ‘giving up’, and trying to stay modern without overdoing it. Also trying to fit my menopausal body into clothes that look good and feel good.”

—JM, 51

• “I still dress however I like! I’ll wear a miniskirt, shorts, if the mood strikes just as easily as a pair of wide leg jeans with platforms. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of old clothes I can—and do—still wear!” – Arcadia M, 52
  
  
• “I find myself now and then still drawn to ‘fashionable’ items, but in general I believe, I have found ‘my’ style; plain, no fuss but sort of cool-chic. And that is a very relaxing kind of state.” – Nicole E, 52
  
  
• “Wear what I like and what feels good on. Break a rule or two. Dress up even when you don’t have too just for fun. None of these have been my mantras until this past year.” – Anonymous, 52
  
  
• “I like to be youthful and appropriate for my age at the same time. My perspective has definitely changed over the years, I was always on top of the latest trends when I was younger.” – CH, 53
  
  
• “I like to know what is in fashion but tend to stick with what I like, possibly making ‘modern’ tweaks. I used to be far more conscious of what I thought other people thought!! I would not leave the house without makeup on.” – Claire H, 53
  
  
• “Since gaining weight I don’t feel confident in anything I wear. I need help matching pieces together.” – VSM, 53
  
  
• “I try to be contemporary but not trendy. I’ve never been super trendy but always try to be myself. Comfort is key for me. I think style is personal. It’s whatever you want it to be and whoever you are. Regardless of age.” – Anonymous, 53
  
  
• “For me it is about being seamless. Having what you need for every occasion but being free to wear what you want when you want. Freedom. No rules. Simplicity. I also want to add fun. It should be fun to get dressed for the day.” – Karen S, 54
  
  
• “Welcoming comfort while still maintaining a publicly presentable ‘look’ for the workplace. Knowing the styles and fabrics/materials that do and do not work well with your body shape. Not trying to dress like you’re still 24, but not giving in to ‘the frump,’ either. This has pretty much been my style since my 20s and 30s.” – Anonymous, 54
  
  
• “Clothes that fit look the best. Keep it simple.” – Anonymous, 54
  
  
• “I want to express my own style regardless of what industry and society say. So not what, say, Athleta thinks I should wear and also not what society says is appropriate for a 50 year old. Whatever feels truly me. Some things I wear, middle schoolers are wearing (high top white sneakers) and some are just comfy and me (resale Free People, or if it’s new it’s sustainably sourced) and good for my body—like Softstar Primal shoes!” – BMH, 55
  
  
• “My perspective has DEFINITELY changed. Comfort is much more important, and breathable fabrics are necessary due to menopause. But I’m having a hard time defining a style for myself. I cobble together colors, fabrics and items most of the time, but I wish I could figure out a consistent way to dress, for work and for leisure. In my opinion, certain styles and colors can definitely age people (and since my spouse is 8 years younger than me, I’m not trying to look like his mother lol). I have always liked black clothing, thank god, because it’s very forgiving as I age. And I appreciate pockets WAY more than I used to.” – IV, 55
  
  
• “I have always loved fashion, I even dreamed of being a fashion designer in my teenage years! What has changed, is that now, in my 50s and overweight, I have more confidence to wear clothing styles, colors, patterns that I would not have worn even ten years ago. I wear what I like and those little voices in my head saying: too old, too fat, etc. have become whispers! I still dream of doing something with fashion in my next phase as I have been in HR since I entered the adult working world after college!!” – KH, 56
  
  

“Now, in my 50s and overweight, I have more confidence to wear clothing styles, colors, patterns that I would not have worn even ten years ago. I wear what I like and those little voices in my head saying: too old, too fat, etc. have become whispers!”

– KH, 56

• “As long as I am clean and neat looking, I’m happy with myself. It took many years for me to stop worrying about the way I looked and what others thought about it. When COVID hit, I saw people wearing very laid back clothing and thought, well if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me too. I won’t wear anything that is not comfortable. I don’t need to look like I’m on a magazine cover and I spend big money on more important things like when something breaks around my house. Style to me is about priorities. Do I have to have those expensive jeans or can I get something fixed around my house instead?” – LW, 56
  
  
• “I value style over fashion. Fashion conveys a temporary look or feel, but style lasts over time. I have always owned quality essentials, but I used to buy fashionable clothes and wanted to fit in. Now I don’t care what people think and wear what makes me happy and fits perfectly—no adjusting or compensating for something that doesn’t fit or feel comfortable.” – Renata G, 56
  
  
• “Being mostly invisible/considered ridiculous by the young ‘ins is NBD, but also offensive too. I deserve to have choices that suit me without being sized into some old lady wear.” – SB, 56
  
  
• “I wear what I like and what is comfortable, whether it is the ‘fashionable in-thing’ or not. I do tend to pick more bold colors and patterns than I used to.” – Anonymous, 57
  
  
• “Fashion means classy, simple, and comfortable clothing and accessories that I feel good wearing. I am very tall and thin and have found finding clothing that fits very difficult throughout my life. I used to be happy wearing anything that had long enough sleeves or inseams even if the item was too baggy or otherwise didn’t fit properly. Now, I am more picky about my clothing—if it doesn’t really fit, I don’t purchase it or wear it. This means I have less to choose from and don’t take fashion lightly by going to the store and just buying throw away items. I sometimes still make mistakes with purchases, but I put a lot of thought into items—when will I wear it, how often will I wear it, and will it be wearable with many other items I already own?” – Doris B, 58
  

“I’m struggling to find a classic style of clothing that matches how young I feel with my actual age. I wind up feeling frumpy and wearing yoga pants everyday!”

– Kim C, 58

• “I’m struggling to find a classic style of clothing that matches how young I feel with my actual age. I wind up feeling frumpy and wearing yoga pants everyday!” – Kim C, 58
  
  
• “The younger me was interested in wearing brand names for clothing, pocketbooks etc. Now, I am not interested in buying items that are way overpriced just for the brand name. It’s not important to me.” – Patricia M, 58
  
  
• “Style means more to me now than it used to because when you are young you can pull off a good look without much effort. As you age you have to know yourself. Know the colors, fabrics and styles that flatter you. It simplifies your closet and your life and you will feel more confident.” – Michelle D, 59
  
  
• “I’d actually like to dress more stylishly, but it’s expensive, I’m often dirty from work I do, and I like to be comfortable. I just want to throw clothes on and go.” – Anonymous, 59
  
  
• “I really look for pieces that fit well and are comfortable—I really didn’t concern myself with comfort in my younger days. Comfort does not mean baggy or sloppy to me; it’s the way the material feels on my body. I like more classic pieces and can pair with a more trendy top or bottom. I really enjoy wearing dresses and jumpsuits—one and done!” – Anonymous, 61
  
  
• “Even though I am a mature woman I like to remain current with my fashion. I like to follow trends to a certain degree but I also want to wear age appropriate clothing (no more miniskirts for me!)” – Anonymous, 61
  
  
• “Being very thoughtful in what comes in—both with where I shop (secondhand primarily) and if I really need it, love it, and it adds value. Kind of staying in a color palette, too. But, in general I’ve never had a large wardrobe…I want to feel good in what I am wearing and truly feel like me—my personality versus what someone else is telling me to wear. And, now as a professional space creator (organizer), I see so much that doesn’t get worn.” – Heidi L, 62
  
  
• “The older I get, the more invisible I feel. So, I try to dress in a way that makes me stand out a bit—more youthfully, I guess.” – Jenny M, 63
  
  
• “Updating silhouettes makes me feel current, relevant, and confident. I have tried to add more color but find myself going back to black often.” – Anonymous, 64
  
  
• “Fashion means almost nothing to me. I wear what I like. And I’m a bargain hunter and a consignment store shopper. I’m a stewardship nut! And I don’t like buying expensive clothes. I’m 5’1” and do wish more retailers would make petites.” – JPW, 65
  
  
• “Style means dressing in a way that makes me feel good about how I look. I am nonconformist in that I hate wearing pants, and I color my hair in shades of blue, green and purple. I fight the impulse to dress in ways that fit in, but sometimes I lose that fight.” – Laura, 65
  
  

“Style means dressing in a way that makes me feel good about how I look. I am nonconformist in that I hate wearing pants, and I color my hair in shades of blue, green and purple.”

– Laura, 65

• “I live on the coast so I like comfort with flowy dresses and minimal, simply cut separates made with natural fibers. That said, I’m a large woman with mega health issues so I love easy, comfortable clothing but it’s hard to find clothes in my size (4X) that don’t look like they came from Walmart or the dollar store, ya know? Big women love style and sustainability too…just sayin’ 😉” – Lyn T, 65
  
  
• “I feel that it’s still a big part of who I am. I get a lift in my spirit when I have on a cute outfit, even if it’s very casual.” – KLO, 66
  
  
• “I don’t want my clothes to stand out—I want them to complement me in a subtle way, so that I look stylish but not trendy. And I really hate fast fashion for a bunch of reasons, mostly environmental.” – Suze S, 66
  
  
• “No one is looking at me! That’s really freeing.” – Anonymous, 66
  
  
• “Since I transitioned to gray hair four years ago, my colorist gave me some good advice: Make sure you dress with a sense of style that balances your grey hair and keeps you looking smart.” – Joanne C, 67
  
  
• “Comfortable but in style (teen style!!) shoes that are cute but work with arthritis, which usually means crooked toes etc. [I also like] capris that are fitted, but not baggy and have pockets, or straight leg pants.” – Anonymous, 69
  
  
• “When I was young I couldn’t afford the clothes I really wanted. Now that I can afford them, I no longer have the body.” – Anonymous, 70
  
  
• “In my last quarter I’m more interested in clothes that fit, feel good and that I enjoy wearing. I might not be the epitome of fashion but I don’t want to be irrelevant either!” – Anonymous, 71
  
  

“In my last quarter I’m more interested in clothes that fit, feel good and that I enjoy wearing. I might not be the epitome of fashion but I don’t want to be irrelevant either!”

– Anonymous, 71

• “Quality not quantity, clothes that fit, limited pops of trendy items. My style has refined over the years but not drastically changed.” – Anonymous, 71
  
  
• “Often lifestyle influences one’s fashion style. Now that I’m retired and since the pandemic, my needs and lifestyle have changed. More casual, more comfortable, easier. As a younger woman, all my focus was on looking a certain way. Mostly to attract men, which is not unlike other species. Brighter colors, pruning before an event or date. Style is a statement of where you are in your life and what you think of yourself. Today I feel sexy, my style will probably exude that message. Tomorrow I have an important meeting, my professional clothes will come out. Although, throughout it all, for the most part regardless of my age or lifestyle, my basic look always peaks through……classic with an edge.”” – DS, 72
  
  
• “I’m curious about what’s ‘in,’ but maintain my uniform of at least 20 years.” – Anonymous, 75
  
  
• “To look and feel my best without looking dated. A little verve thrown in to classy/classic” – Anonymous, 76
  
  
• “At this stage of my life, I want to remain classy, fun and a little trendy. Being retired leads to more casual clothing than when I was in the workforce. I still feel that some trends are only appropriate for certain ages.” – Anonymous, 77
  
  
• “I enjoy knowing what things are trending, but still try to stay true to the comfortable side of what my style projects.” – JBC, 80
  
  

“I’m curious about what’s ‘in,’ but maintain my uniform of at least 20 years.”

– Anonymous, 75

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Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. Born and raised in Indiana, she studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits and cat, or gaming. Say hi on Instagram!

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