Style rules for 40 year olds

[sowhatusernameisnttaken]

When I turned 30 I imposed a few new style rules on myself in the hope I would start looking and dressing better. Now I'm soon to be turning 40 I'm thinking what my new ones should be. What are/were yours as you approach/when you turned 40?

[SesameSparkle]

Being aware and looking in the mirror to see what works is just so important. So many folk love bretons on here, but no matter how much I try, they never look right on me. I think there's too much yellow in my skin tone and that navy/white or red/white whatever stripe never looks good, even if the plain colour would be okay. A simple white tee shirt however can look great.

[MaQueen]

I'm mid 40s. A few years back I started shopping a lot in White Stuff/Fat Face/Boden because I was lazy and it was what my friends were wearing.

But I've recently lost weight and decided I wanted to freshen up my wardrobe and look. I've decided that that White Stuff/Boden just doesn't work for me, and looks frumpy on me.

I started following a blogger on My Fashionable 40s, and really like her style. She's quite low key and mixes lots of high street pieces with a few quality items. She loves her jeans, and wears a lot of black, grey, neutrals....just like me. She also likes to get the most bang for her buck, and re-wears the same stuff in lots of variations.

She's opened my eyes to new outfits and colour combinations - before reading her blog I thought I was far too old to wear a biker jacket, or leopard print ballet flats (only worn when rest of outfit very plain and neutral...not Bet Lynch-esque, I promisel).

She's also reassured me that it's okay to still wear black - because as a warm skin toned blonde, it actually suits me. It's pastels which drain me.

Also, now having teenage DDs I spend a lot of weekends in H&M, NewLook, River Island and Top Shop...and I have discovered that TS jeans are very flattering and good quality and that H&M knitwear is excellent value.

Now, I have a wardrobe which spans from River Island t-shirts to All Saints and And/Or from John Lewis. I really like my new look and get so much pleasure out of choosing outfits. I think I'm mainly getting it right as my DDs are often complimenatry (and keep bleddy borrowing my jeans and jumpers).

[Arealhumanbeing]

I tried buying better quality at 40 but it stuck 5-10 years on me. Hobbs etc.

I'm picky about fabrics but pretty much wear what I did in my 30's.

[Floisme]

Yeah I'm often surprised at how early some people start talking about wanting 'grown up' and better quality. I look for it now but I'm 60 and getting saggy and I need my clothes to compensate but 40? I often can't tell the difference between a woman in her forties and one in her thirties and when I can, it's normally not her age - it's because she's got small children and she's knackered.

I think because 40 is seen as such a milestone, there's a subtle pressure to start dressing differently. I say don't rush it - you have many, many years of complaining about high street quality ahead of you

[teta]

I think the only style rule that is applicable here is to try and not put on weight in your 40's/50's.If you stay slim you can carry on wearing pretty much the same things.My weight has fluctuated so much that my expensive high quality clothes don't fit me any more.I do think natural fabrics feel and look better, rather than polyester which looks fine on my 18 year old.

[0ccamsRazor]

My one rule is simple.....rules are made to be broken.

For me rules are restrictive, I wear what I want, when I want and do not give a rat's arse what other people think.

That is the beauty of living in our modem times, we can choose from so many different styles, we can express our individuality.

[MercuryMadness]

Surely context is everything.

I am 45 and we holiday in Cornwall. I make sure to have a couple of decent hoodies with me because even in Summer, Cornwall can be windy and cold.

Would I wear a hoody in London? No.

[danTDM]

I look more or less the same at 45 as 35????
what a weird thread.
sexist too.

HTH

[neveradullmoment99]

Well for me, I used to love prints. Now when i put them on, they are just not really me anymore. So my biggest change is block colours rather than print. I do like printed things just in small doses! or smaller prints!
I love black. I will also wear black loads. Black is great and even if you cant wear it, reallly you still can, just not at your face.

[neveradullmoment99]

Oh and I am 49

[CosmoClock]

I agree about prints. Or is it that they're just not stylish right now? They feel wrong on me. Occasionally, even a print that is beautiful, I wear it once, even stripes feel wrong on me.
I did buy a jumper with one embroidered flower on it, otherwise it's all black! I like it.
I'd like if more garments had a bit of print on them, say just around the edge of one sleeve. I like that. You rarely see it.

[AnotherGreenDot]

I'm 53. These rules work for me: avoid extremes. Nothing too short, too tight, too loose, too long, too sparkly, too fashionable. Avoid clothes that will 'date'.
Clothes should fit but not cling.
Base your outfit on one neutral colour plus one bright/ interesting colour or pattern. Only 1 pattern at a time.
Try and avoid weight gain.
Necklace, bracelet, earrings: choose any 2.
Buy the best quality you can afford.
No black or white near the face (but ok elsewhere l).

[PollyPerky]

what is the difference between being 39 one day and 40 the next?
None.

Don't go by a number, that's silly.

Go by your shape, colouring and lifestyle.

I'm early 60s but told I look mid 40s. DD (late 20s)and I share/buy same clothes- tops, coats, same bags. And I don't look mutton as lamb.

[blueshoes]

I avoid mini skirts. Legs which were never long to begin with are not what they used to be.

Better fabrics, not thin disposable-type clothes.

I used to avoid sleeveless clothes and would try to have at least capped sleeves but since losing weight, am back to wearing sleeveless.

I wear more dresses and fewer separates. Almost never wear trousers these days, other than jeans.