Being at an older age should not be an obstacle to liking fashion and knowing how to dress well. And no age is a reason to hide behind baggy clothes that hide your figure and leave you shapeless.
The fashion and style consultant Fernanda Maranho points out that a very common mistake that ladies make is that many, because they are a little overweight, tend to wear loose and shapeless clothes (cut / shape), and then they end up looking like they have a silhouette. bigger than they actually are.
“Age is no excuse for not having style,” says the consultant. But unfortunately, the fashion world sometimes ends up forgetting the more mature women and creating more models of clothes for the younger ones, which can end up making it difficult for the ladies to appreciate fashion.
Fortunately, with some tips and look inspiration, it is possible that even in a world where fashion is focused on young people, mature women can also create stylish looks that value their age, personality and silhouette.
How to create beautiful formal looks for ladies
For inspiration to create elegant formal looks, check out the suggested combinations below and also the consultant’s tips on each look. It is worth remembering that you can adapt the looks with other colors and styles that best suit you.
1. Straight or structured dress
“This dress model is great because it is classic and timeless. Besides, it has this cut under the breasts that shapes the body and leaves the silhouette elegant”, says the consultant.
“Another positive point of this dress is that it is super versatile. Changing the accessories it can be used both in more casual and more formal events. And it also transitions well between summer (if worn with open shoes) and winter (combined with tights, boots and coat)” he suggests.
For feet, the consultant recommends shoes with medium and thick heels; “They’re always more comfortable, but still stylish,” she says.
2. Shirt + tailored shorts
“Tailed shorts are always a great resource to stay stylish even in summer. To make the look more up-to-date, roll up the sleeves of the shirt (this is a great trick to reduce the volume of the upper part of the body) and secure the front of the shirt to the waistband of the shorts”, suggests Fernanda.
3. Silk tank top + tailored pants + blazer
For events that require a certain formality and elegance, the straight tailored pants + blazer combo is a sure bet, says the fashion and style consultant. “Dare the color of the blouse worn under the blazer, it will brighten your face and bring a fashion element to the look. Two-tone shoes and a necklace complete the look.”
4. Long tank top dress with boat neck
The fashion consultant says that a great resource for those who want to disguise their love handles is to invest in dresses with this diagonal drape. “In addition to camouflaging the region, it also cinches and shapes the body,” she says. As for accessories, she suggests: a beautiful golden necklace draws attention to the face and illuminates it and the pearl clutch is elegant and timeless.
Casual outfit ideas for ladies
To create cool and comfortable looks for everyday life, bet on key pieces that you like and vary the looks by changing other items in the composition, such as accessories and shoes. See below for cool ideas that you can adapt and more tips from consultant Fernanda Maranho.
5. Cache-coeur knit dress
Fernanda highlights that investing in dresses is a practical (as it is a single piece) and elegant way of dressing. “To choose the best model that enhances your body, keep in mind what your attributes are. Do you have a little defined chest and arms? A sleeveless model and boat collar fits like a glove. Do you have a lot of boobs, a little belly and lots of curves? Opt for one that has a V neckline, empire waist and straight or flared skirt. Do you prefer a model that suits all body types? The famous envelope dress is democratic and timeless.”
6. Coat or tunic + bootcut jeans
According to the style consultant, for the day-to-day, nothing is more practical than jeans. A great model that fits all body types is the flare pants. This model has a medium waistband (about two fingers below the belly button), is tighter in the thighs and opens a little from the knees.
“Because it is a neutral piece, it can be combined with wider gowns (just be careful not to be too wide as too much volume ends up visually increasing your body), shirts, silk tank tops.. with practically any type of blouse and coat ” says the professional.
She also adds that for the day, it’s worth pairing it with flats or low sandals. But there is a warning: when we buy pants, we must choose to wear them with flat shoes or heels, and have the hem made according to this choice.
7. Chemise + leggings
“We know that there is nothing more comfortable than leggings, but it is necessary to be careful. As they are tight pants, we have to keep in mind that they contour our body, that is, it does not disguise anything” guides consultant Fernanda Maranho.
“If you can’t live without leggings, pair them with a longer blouse or shirt and belt it out with a belt. And if you are short, choose to wear the same color of shirt and pants or similar colors. This trick elongates the silhouette”, suggests the professional.
8. Overalls
Fernanda says that if you think that just because you’re over 40 you can’t wear fashionable pieces, you’re wrong! The jumpsuit is super high and we have a very large and democratic selection of models.
“If you are very skinny and almost without curves, you can abuse models with tapered legs and pleats in the waistband. If you are more curvy, choose a model in a darker color, which has straighter or wider legs (pantalona type) and with sleeves” guides.
“Sharp-toe trainers also help elongate the silhouette and can be used to add a splash of color to the look.”
Tips from a stylist to get you dressed and feeling good
Otília Reis, stylist at Ores Maison, in Belo Horizonte, is the interviewee who reveals a little of her vision of fashion for women and talks about her experience as a woman in this area:
“The world today is experiencing moments of great transformations in every way. In the case of women, there have been some radical changes. We stopped being ‘luxury dolls’ and went to face the world outside. We became professionals and with that we had new activities and a different social life, with greater desires and desires, adding many changes.”
“But a big transformation that we go through is having a longer life cycle. Today a woman of 50, 60 years or more is still young, beautiful and often with an enviable body! Unlike years ago we were considered ‘old’.”
“I take myself as an example that at 57 I am a stylist, I have several social and professional activities and many desires and now I am going to do a graduate degree in Fashion. Although I have a degree in economics, I want to specialize even more so that in the future I can teach and transmit my experience of more than 30 years working in this sector.”
“A big question I’m always asked: “how should this ‘mature’ woman dress? If we are still young in body and mind, there is no change in clothing! Just minor adjustments. Fashion has become very democratic, everything is allowed as long as it is in tune with three items: your lifestyle, your physical type and your personality.”
- Lifestyle: “your social life, places you frequent (formal, informal or sporting) and the work you do. The kind of life you lead will influence your wardrobe. If you are a lawyer, for example, you will dress differently from a teacher or a doctor” guides the stylist. But it is worth remembering that you can mix styles and that you can dress differently in your personal and professional life.
- Physical type: “as I said, everything is allowed according to your physical type” suggests Otília. That’s why it’s important to know your body, find out what your silhouette is and value your strengths.
- Personality: “for each one there is also a way of dressing” says the stylist. A woman with a strong personality may prefer to venture out with more masculine and strong looks, while a woman with a sweeter personality may opt for looks that show this delicacy. And best of all: if you want, you can mix several styles, as long as you feel good and happy.
So don’t get carried away by the idea that you’re “too old” for something. It’s never too late to be happy and invest in beautiful looks that make you feel elegant at any age. Don’t be afraid to like fashion and care about your look. There is no right age to take care and love yourself.
More looks to inspire you
The fashion world has gained more and more fans among more mature women and with that the emergence of fashion blogs aimed at this audience has also increased. Below you can see some looks from these blogs to inspire you to also venture into fashion with style.
It is also worth remembering that many women are adopting gray or totally white hair and getting rid of the need to live dyeing their hair, enjoying a different look that matches their age. This is just one of the many “trends” that are emerging from the female desire to be more free and natural, loving each other at any age and in any form.