Your 40s are a golden age for fashion . Physically you’re not that different to what you were in your 30s (or so I tell myself), but emotionally you have an extra decade of wisdom and confidence.
You now care less about what others think of you; a crucial component of cementing your own style. Life up until now has basically just been a rehearsal. You know who you are and what you want – you know your body shape and can start to dress for it without chasing trends.
Better still, your budget has probably grown and now it’s time to have fun and make some fashion investments. As a 40-year-old fashion editor, here is my six-point guide to making your 40s and beyond your most stylish era yet.
Pay attention to fabrics
Catherine, Princess of Wales, during her recent visit to the Isles of Mull and Iona, Scotland. She wore a Boden’s longline linen shirt (£98, boden.com) and Holland Cooper’s wool blazer (hollandcooper.com, £549)
Natural fibres are a must: linen, cotton, wool and silk all allow your skin to breathe – unlike synthetics, which trap sweat and can cause you to overheat. Your skin can get more sensitive as you get older and nylons and acrylics may aggravate it.
They also build up static, which means clothing clings and you’re forever fiddling with it. Natural fibres last for years if you treat them right. The Princess of Wales gave a masterclass recently when she stepped out in Boden’s longline linen shirt (£98, boden.com) and Holland Cooper’s wool blazer (hollandcooper.com, £549).
Comfort is key
But this doesn’t mean leggings and sweatshirts. Ever. Instead, look for subtle design touches that make life easier: elasticated waists on tailored trousers, trapeze-style tops and dresses, and well-fitting pieces that don’t cling or require constant adjusting. If you don’t like heels, skip them — flat shoes are your friend.
Smarten up
Alexa Chung at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize 2021
When you’re in your 20s the grunge look is easy to pull off. Two decades later and the same outfit starts to make you look like you’ve simply given up (note former grunge fan Alexa Chung’s new ladylike wardrobe).
Get rid of anything old or tatty. If your jumpers have lost their shape and your trousers are sagging at the knees, let them go. This isn’t about what others think, it’s about self-respect. Neat is a necessity. Ironing is tiresome, yes, but it can transform your clothes. Consider a handheld steamer.
Finishing touches
Spend on jewellery — and maybe a silk scarf or two, like this gorgeous design from Le Scarf (left). Finishing touches lift a look, giving you more mileage from your wardrobe. Choose pieces that mean something to you and that you’ll wear for life. When it comes to price-per-wear, these investments are more than worthwhile.
Focus on the foundations
White shirt, £140, and tailored trousers, £128 (reiss.com)
Now’s the time to perfect your capsule wardrobe – fewer things, worn more often. This will differ for everyone, but think: a great blazer, quality jeans (like Levi’s Ribcage jeans, £110, levi.com), a crisp white shirt (£110, withnothingunderneath.com) and a cashmere jumper (£220, riseandfall.com).
Look for items that work for weekends, workdays and social events. Have fun with colour, pattern and prints – but leave the outlandish stuff to the young’uns. You’re working towards a signature style that makes both shopping and dressing easier.
Slimming shapes and clever cuts
Avoid extremes — no skintight dresses, no bubble hems, no massive sleeves. Your sweet spot, instead, is in the middle: think wide-leg jeans that are fitted through the hip and gently flared, or a dress with a defined bodice and fuller skirt . You’re aiming for that perfect point midway between boring and eccentric.
