Look stylish at any age by avoiding these common outfit mistakes that can add years to your appearance.
Developing a youthful yet age-appropriate sense of style is challenging to achieve as you mature.
These are the most common outfit mistakes to avoid if you want to stay fun and fashionable in your later years.
Forgetting Accessories
Every outfit needs some accessorization to look complete. A few jewelry pieces, a fashionable scarf, or a chic purse can instantly pull your outfit together. Accessories are the perfect finishing touches to add multidimensional colors and textures.
Cheap Undergarments
Investing in high-quality undergarments is incredibly important as you mature. Cheap, ill-fitting bras and shapewear can make any outfit look frumpy. Splurge on at least one nice pair of undergarments to smooth and accentuate your natural body shape in all the best ways.
Frumpy Shoes
Many opt for function over fashion and end up with frumpy footwear. Clunky shoes can drag your outfit down and ruin an otherwise cute look.
You don’t need to force your feet into sky-high stilettos or knee-high boots to look and feel young again. Shop for cute and comfortable shoe styles, like flats, slip-ons, sandals, and boots, that offer foot support without distracting your outfit.
Hiding Your Figure
Embracing your new body type can be daunting as you age. Styles that were once flattering in your younger years could do a disservice to your mature figure, so you may feel inclined to wear baggy clothes to hide your body.
However, this detracts from your appearance and can even draw more attention to the features you’re insecure about. Simple styling tips like adding a belt to your dress or tucking your shirt can boost your confidence and help you learn to love your changing body.
Ill-Fitting Clothes
Poorly fitted clothes can instantly make you look years older. Wearing too big or small pieces gives you a lazy appearance and distracts from your outfit. Try various styles in different sizes to find what looks best on your body type to look stylish and put together.
Shopping at the Same Stores
Creating a collection of trendy yet timeless pieces is challenging when you limit yourself to a single clothing brand. It’s easy to get comfortable shopping at one store and making it your go-to when you need new clothes. Consider stepping outside your comfort zone and exploring new fashion brands to diversify your wardrobe.
Being Afraid to Try New Trends
Combining timeless staples with the latest trends will help you look young at any age. You might be hesitant to try modern styles and unsure whether you can pull them off.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new clothes and accessories you don’t typically wear. Incorporating several trends into your closet gives your style a fresh, youthful twist.
Wearing Too Much Black
Who says you have to avoid color the older you get? Many people make the mistake of creating an all-black wardrobe, believing it’s the most flattering and age-appropriate option.
Exclusively wearing black can make you look older than you are. There’s nothing wrong with having a closet full of tasteful basics, but add a few pops of color to avoid looking bland and boring.
Covering Your Neck
Sagging skin can cause you to feel insecure about showing off your neck. Rather than hiding beneath turtlenecks, embrace your mature beauty with various necklines. Entirely covering your neck makes you look old-fashioned and drab. Instead, opt for scoop or v-necks, classics that are always in style.
Not Dressing for Your Age
Dressing too old or young for your age is a common fashion mistake. As you mature, you may feel more comfortable in oversized, shapeless pieces that cover your body.
Alternatively, you could wear tight tops and short skirts in an attempt to recapture your youth. Avoid both extremes and land somewhere in the middle by creating an age-appropriate closet with a mix of enduring basics and fun pieces.
Only Wearing Long Skirts
While a miniskirt may not be the most flattering option in your later years, you don’t have to stick with floor-length hemlines. Skirts are a closet essential at any age, and finding the correct length for your body type is crucial. Knee-length to mid-calf skirts are ideal for mature fashionistas who want to look feminine and composed.
Outdated Glasses
Eyewear can significantly impact how old you look. Outdated frames will age your face and make you appear years older than you are. Treat yourself to a new pair of sleek, stylish, and versatile glasses to wear with your entire closet.
Going Overboard
Wearing an outfit that’s too over-the-top is a surefire way to age yourself. Competing colors, prints, and silhouettes can result in a head-turning fashion moment for all the wrong reasons.
Plan your pieces ahead of time for a cohesive appearance that isn’t too busy or overwhelming. Sometimes, less truly is more.
Unflattering Colors
Regardless of age, knowing what clothing and accessory shades flatter your features is essential. Different palettes look appealing based on your hair, eye, and skin colors.
Wearing the wrong shades can wash you out or clash with your undertones, affecting your complexion. Take time to try on many different colors and find what highlights your natural features to look young and healthy.
Matchy-Matchy Outfits
There’s a time and place for clothing sets, but avoid getting too matchy-matchy. Color-coordinating your entire outfit or wearing matching tops and bottoms instantly ages you. Instead, wear complementary colors that pair well together without going entirely monochromatic.
Makeup has the power to transform your entire appearance
Creating the perfect mature makeup routine is essential to look and feel your best at any age. Many common mistakes can add years to your face without you realizing it.
14 Makeup Mistakes That Are Making You Look Older Than You Actually Are
Leave these outdated fashion trends in the past
Wearing clothes that have gone out of fashion can significantly age you. Keep your wardrobe fresh and current by replacing them with more modern styles.
Trendy No More: 13 Fashion Trends That Have Lost Their Appeal (And What to Wear Instead)
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
