This month is the New Year’s of the fashion calendar, ushering in a slew of fun trends, fresh shoe styles and new must-haves for every type of shopper. And while Gen Z may be overjoyed by the rise of Taylor Swift-approved sandals, cowboy core and jelly sandals with socks, more mature shoppers like me may be more interested in embracing a different wave of trends. (Unless jelly sandals are your jam, in which case you do you, dear reader.) To help you wade through the seemingly endless options and narrow your focus, I've cherry-picked six chic and still fun trends perfect for women over 50.
6 Fashion Trends That Are Perfect for Me and Other Women Over 50
A red-hot sweater and wrapped leather are looking fresh RN
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1. Sleek Long Skirts
I appreciate the tailored look of a long skirt, especially ones with a trouser waist and zipper because they look a little more dressy than all-the-way-round elastic-waist skirts. This sort of skirt is so long, you need a slit in the front or back, or possibly a bit of A-line shape, so that you can walk. (I have suffered too many years in tight clothes to wear anything too restrictive.) And finally, I like these skirts for the way they keep my legs covered more than minis or knee-length skirts—it seems more fall-appropriate as well as more sophisticated.
2. Pops of Red
This summer's rage for accent red in an outfit is continuing into fall, and it's a great option for mature women in lieu of entire looks in crazy bright color-blocking. Red is attention-getting without being too flashy, and also looks classic. Microtrend alert: TikTok has proclaimed cherry red as the trendiest of all reds for fall.
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3. Bomber Jackets
There are endless ways to wear this fall trend, and I love that there are so many versions of the jacket itself to experiment with: Cropped! Oversize silhouettes! A rainbow of leather hues! If you’re going for a posh aesthetic, opt for a classic black version and pair it with a fisherman's sweater and loafers. Or, if you’re more of a boho gal, try the jacket over a flowy dress in a floral print with a knee-high boot.
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4. Wide-Leg Pants
Wide-leg pants are a total boon for over-50s, since they are figure-flattering for wider waists and hips (in case those are part of your midlife body like they are mine). Besides being figure-balancing, these trousers, which come in fabrics to suit everyone's fall weather, from the deep South (linen) to the Pacific Northwest (lightweight wool). I'm buying a couple pairs, so that I can hem one to wear with my sneakers and another pair for heeled boots...win-win.
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5. Longline Vests
Not since the 1970s Norman Lear sitcom Maude have long vests been so hip (Millennials, it's a Gen X reference, just take my word for it). Hip-length or longer, these pieces can be worn alone as a shirt, over long-sleeve T-shirts or button-front tops and and also layered under matching suit jackets. The look is a little bit menswear and a little bit office-appropriate—and visually, it creates a long visual line which I appreciate on my increasingly boxy bod.
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6. Wrapped Leather Pieces
This look is really sophisticated, a vibe I try to ace on the regular as an over-50 woman. From jackets with long shawl collars to glove-thin leather wraps to wear over a jacket, the wrapped leather trend is Euro chic styling that elevates everything from jeans and a T-shirt to business suiting. I opt for faux and real leather in neutral shades, since they seem more upscale and classic than bright hues.
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