It’s tired advice that once you get older, you should lean into neutrals, elevated basics, and prim-and-proper pearls and stripes. While your wardrobe can certainly include those elements, it should also be filled with items that help you dress fun over 60. After spending decades collecting your pieces, now is the time to show them off and create outfits that make people on the street stop and think: “Wow, who’s she?”
If you need a little help upping the fun factor in your wardrobe, look no further. We asked personal stylists how women can dress in more exciting ways in their 60s and beyond. From cool outfit formulas to ways you can reimagine your current pieces, their advice will change the way you look and feel.
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Abigail Valentine, a personal stylist at Joy & the Valentine, notes that a common outfit formula for many women is basic pants and a fun top. To make that formula more exciting, she suggests flipping it.
“Lately, I have been urging women to concentrate on a basic top with fun pants,” she says. “Instead of classic straight-leg jeans, try wide-leg trouser jeans or swap your basic khakis for bold patterned pants.”
Pair those pants with a white linen button-down that’s either knotted at the waist or worn open with an undershirt, Valentine suggests. Already, your outfit will be ten times more interesting than if you stuck to your usual concept.
Dressing more fun doesn’t require a trip to the mall. Instead, think of new ways to utilize the clothing you already own!
“If you have a dress that you love but rarely have the opportunity to wear, try throwing a T-shirt or a button-down shirt on top to give the illusion of a skirt,” suggests Valentine. “Or, if you have a button-up dress, try undoing all the buttons and wearing it as a duster.”
By looking at your clothes with fresh eyes, you’ll unlock countless new outfits and make styling choices that appear more layered and exciting.
If you’re having trouble doing this on your own, invite over a stylish friend to help you with a closet cleanout and repurposing day. You’ll have a blast trying things on in the mirror and seeing how many new combos you can make.
Injecting color and print into your wardrobe is a quick way to spruce it up.
“So often, women of a certain age want to lean into safe, dark colors, but bright colors like cobalt blue or orange-red can be so flattering and have a youthful energy,” says Andie Sobrato, a personal stylist and image consultant. “I think about how linen trousers, which are popular among my 60-something clients, can be made more exciting by foregoing a standard off-white and going for a yellow or even blue.”
Don’t be afraid of modern patterns, either. Just because you’re in your 60s doesn’t mean you have to stick to florals and stripes. Find a cool print that calls to you and give it a try.
Now that you’re in your 60s, you’ve likely collected tons of fun purses, belts, and jewelry. And if you’re not wearing them in heavy rotation, now is the time to start.
“The best way to maintain your personal style is to concentrate on the accessories, or as I like to call them, the links of an outfit,” says Valentine. “Basic jeans and a T-shirt can really take on any personal style if they are paired with a belt, jewelry, handbag, or sunglasses that really feel true to you.”
The best part is that these pieces don’t have to be expensive. If you see something cool at an art festival or flea market, take it home. By cultivating more fun doodads, you can create a more fun overall look.
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Stylists’ final tip for dressing more fun in your 60s is to continue to wear the items you love.
“If you used to love wearing a print, color, or silhouette in your youth, you can certainly keep elements of that at your current age,” says Sobrato.
To make the look appear more mature and sophisticated, Sobrato recommends choosing one element and leaning into it. “For example, if you are attracted to animal print, go ahead and throw in a leopard flat, or if you love leather jackets, you can still wear them—maybe you just opt for a slightly different cut.”
Finally, when an item of clothing makes you feel amazing, wear it often, no matter what you assume others might think. When you’re true to yourself, your style will shine.
