What To Wear Over 40

For many women, their 40s are a time of transition when it comes to fashion. Clothes that fit in their 20s or 30s may no longer be in style, comfortable or flattering, or may not reflect the status they've achieved at work. What's more, it's normal for your tastes and preferences to change over time. 

As more and more people are returning to the office after working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, many women are using the shift as an opportunity for a wardrobe refresh. If you're among them, our style experts at North Shore Exchange have prepared a quick, helpful guide to work fashion over 40, so that you'll never have to open the closet door and wonder what to wear to work again.

Even if you're not working, these tips are a great way to ensure that you look fabulous wherever you go. 

Bright Colors

As the world reopens, people are using bright colors (one of this year's trends) to create a sense of exuberance and celebrate the return to normalcy. You can work bold hues into any part of your outfit—shoes, pants, skirts, blouses, and accessories are all fair game! Keep it classy and avoid overdoing it by color blocking.

If your office requires a more serious tone or if your personal style tends toward the understated side, use bright colors as an accent rather than the focal point of your outfit—think purses, belts, or shoes. 

Florals

Floral patterns are also on the rise again. As with bright colors, you'll want to be careful not to overdo it with florals, particularly if you have an executive position. Small floral details like a classy designer scarf can elevate your outfit and keep it current. 

Blazers and Jackets

Flexibility and utility are key qualities to look for as you build out your new wardrobe, and they also happen to be on trend right now, as are comfortable clothing items. Combine them all with items like structured blazers, which are formal enough to dress up a look but also versatile enough that you can pair them with a variety of different outfits, from pants to dresses. 

Functional Handbags

Purses these days need to do more than just be decorative. According to Wendy Serrino, NSE CEO and co-founder, one of the biggest criteria for womens' handbags nowadays is that they be able to fit a laptop inside. Gucci and Louis Vuitton, both of which are very hot right now, offer tote bags and other large handbags big enough to accommodate your work and life necessities, as do other popular designers like Kate Spade and Tory Burch. 

Jewelry

Jewelry adds an essential finishing touch to any outfit. The ideal jewelry collection is classic and timeless. For that, you'll want to focus on simple, classic pieces that can be worn separately or layered (a style that's popular right now) for different effects. Unbranded jewelry is in right now, but you can't go wrong with evergreen brands like Tiffany, David Yurman, Harry Winston, Lagos, and Marco Bicego. 

A Word About Quality…

If you haven't already, your 40s are a great time to start curating a collection of high-quality, timeless pieces that will serve you for the rest of your life. The best way to do that is to shift your shopping habits to designer items. Luxury clothing, handbags, and shoes made from better materials and generally last longer than fast fashion products do. Additionally, designer clothing is typically made to be tailored to the owner, meaning that you'll own clothing that truly fits you—a must for any woman in the upper echelons of the business world. 

However, investing in quality over quantity doesn't mean breaking the bank. Thanks to luxury resale stores like North Shore Exchange, designer purses, clothing, shoes, and more are more accessible than ever. North Shore Exchange authenticates every item they sell to ensure quality and pristine condition. What's more, they also offer consignment options so that you can offload your unwanted items and refresh your wardrobe all in one place. 

North Shore Exchange is a nonprofit luxury consignment shop that offers pre-owned and pre-loved designer furniture, clothing, vintage jewelry, and accessories. Our expert Merchandising team carefully inspects all products to ensure authenticity, so you can shop for discount luxury items with complete confidence. Explore high-quality, timeless handbags, jewelry, clothing, or home accessories and decorative objects!