10 Outfit Templates To Master If You’re Over 40 And Sick Of Clothes
Images from FootwearNews, Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest
by The Candidly Team
As much as we’d like to look “put together,” the act of putting together looks we admire can get just a little… boring, tiring, tedious, overwhelming… feel free to stop us anytime and insert your own adjective.
Even when we buy things we actually like, the problem becomes how to mix, match, and marry our clothes to create outfits we genuinely want to wear. It all feels mildly…exhausting.
What we’d really love to solve our closet fatigue (besides a live-in butler/stylist who lays out these ideal outfits each morning alongside a silver tea tray full of scones), is basically a template.
Or maybe like 15.
Yup, just 15 iconic, easy-to-wear and absolutely foolproof outfit templates that ensure we look equally chic to every woman who has mastered them before us. Or maybe just don’t make us look like we’re wearing yet another pair of daytime pajamas.
Quite frankly, we’ve obsessed over what looks should make up such a list, but we’re confident that our efforts can now save you some of your own precious hours of staring into the void that is your existing wardrobe.
So, without further ado, here are the 15 outfits guaranteed to look exceptional.
1. This Killer Street-Style LOOK From Jennifer Aniston
The Skinny Jeans
Abercrombie Curve Love High Rise Skinny Jean
In a sort of surreal plot twist, Abercrombie is making some of the best jeans for curves that we’ve found. Truly. We love THIS pair because they’re super high-rise, balance hold with stretch, size up to 37, and come in five different lengths. In short, they’re better than the designer jeans that cost twice as much.
Price: $90
The Sleek Jacket
We’ve searched for a version of this prototypically perfect jacket pretty much every year of our adult lives. There are a few ways to go with it, one being leather. And THIS is a gorgeous leather option at a price we’re fairly floored by. But for a non-leather option that mimics the clean lines and slim-fit of Jennifer’s, we love this one.
Price: $79.50
The Black Ankle Boots
This is maybe the most gorgeous bootie around, and the comfort is a million percent there. They happen to be wildly on sale at the moment, AND we loved them so much Nisolo gave us a code. Use CANDIDLY20 to get 20%. Not sponsored. Just nice.
Price: $175 - $250
2. This JEAN JACKET & MIDI SKIRT PAIRING From JESSICA ALBA
The Classic Jean Jacket
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket
A jean jacket is the easiest layering piece to throw on any season and instantly look classic and cool. It’s one of very few things that have a way of making us look younger but not in a trying-to-look-younger kind of way. The way it balances with a skirt makes it a go-to uniform in spring/ summer.
Price: $50
The Perfect Fit Tank
Pepochic Women's Scoop Neck Ribbed Tank
A perfect fitting tank is the ideal base layer to pair with a loose midi and jean jacket. This is our favorite-fitting tank...from Amazon. Ignore Amazon’s inability to master a decent product image. This tank frames our upper body like no other, and it’s $17.
Price: $17
The Prettiest Pleated Skirt
Aritzia Wilfred New Twirl Pleated Skirt
In addition to this being the lightest, most flattering pleated skirt that comes in no less than 7 colors we want, the waist is elastic so the comfort is endless.
Price: $150
The Floaty, Waist-Nipping Midi Skirt
Again, an elastic waist that makes us feel like we can actually breathe. The skirt is full enough to flatter curves but not so full it makes us look wider. It really is sort of the dream staple skirt.
Price: $60
3. This CLASSICALLY CASJ LOOK FROM PRINCESS DIANA
The Effortless Button-Down
The Bennet Buttondown Shirt by Maeve
The beauty of a button-down is, of course, that with almost zero effort, we get to look completely put-together. And after years of searching, we’ve finally located the very best button-down being made. There are very specific reasons we crowned this shirt our favorite, which you can hear us go on and on about HERE, but to summarize, it tucks, ties, folds, and fits in the most flattering way. All with ease.
Price: $98
The Jeans That Look (And Feel) Glorious On Our Thighs and Waist
Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean
We all need that one perfect-fitting pair of jeans that defies trends and will never go out of style. The stretch on this pair is pretty remarkable.They glide over thick thighs and big butts without gapping at the waist or sagging at the seat. We’ve never felt so well shaped but also like we can still breathe.
Price: $138
The Essential Loafer
Once again, this choice is all about balancing comfort with chicness. These are the loafers we slip on year after year, because they’re timeless and gorgeous, but the slight lug-sole offers a bit more arch support and does wonders to balance our looser fitting shirts and pants.
Price: $158
The Everyday Belt
J. Crew Classic Belt In Italian Leather
We sometimes forget how a belt instantly makes anything we throw on into a look. This one is flawless, and every time we fasten it on, oops, we’re “styled!”
Price: $49.50
4.This Casually Chic Look from Kate Middleton
The Tee Every French Woman Loves
J. Crew Classic Mariner Cloth Boatneck T-shirt
We’re not sure what it is about a striped tee, but it’s one of those pieces that’s both effortless and Audrey Hepburn all at once. It’s one of 8 style pieces every French woman has in her closet. And this perfect version from J. Crew is 100% cotton and sizes up to 3X.
Price: $36.50 - $49.50
The Impeccably Tailored Ponte Pant
Speaking of Audrey Hepburn, we happened to finally find the perfect, stretchy, flattering ponte pant we search for every time we watch one of her movies.
Price: $98
The Fitted Blazer
Boden Semi Fitted Jersey Blazer
A gloriously stretchy, jersey blazer from a classic British brand. It fits superbly well and mimics the natural curve of our waistline.
Price: $180
The Comfy Espadrille Wedge
Call them the little black dress of sandals, these espadrilles win lots of points for being wildly comfy with plenty of arch support, and of course, looking easily elegant with pretty much everything we wear.
Price: $145
5. ThIS Pretty, Black Maxi Dress LOOk From Jennifer Aniston
The Endlessly Flattering Maxi Dress
This dress is not only blissfuly comfortable but wildly flattering. In fact, the thrill we felt when we discovered it/ tried it on ourselves is fully documented HERE. It may be the easiest piece to pull from our closet any weekend day or summery, going-out-to-dinner evening to look instantly chic and lovely. We wear it with our nicest sandals and softest cardi, so we feel like we’re home lounging whilst looking entirely put-together.
Price: $108
The Chic, Non-Black Handbag
Sometimes the best way to elevate your entire look is to simply select an accessory in a non-neutral color. This handbag in “bone” makes anything we where instantly more alluring and chic. In fact, you can one of us model this exact bag with the above dress. The combo is effortlessly chic, and no one has to know how cozy we feel wearing it.
Price: $198
6. ThIS Flawless White TEE Look From Jennifer Lopez
The Best White Tee You’ll Ever Own
Everlane The Air Scoop-Neck Tee
It’s a lot harder than it sounds to track down a simple, flattering white tee that fits the exact way we want it to, but alas we found THE ONE.
Price: $30
a Long Wide-Leg Jean
Madewell Kick Out Full-Length Jeans
A gloriously long, sliiightly kick flare jean can be as chic and flattering as your most tailored pants. This pair sort of dresses up our simplest looks, making our laziest jeans and tee combos into actual outfits.
Price: $138
The Comfiest Of Wedge Sandals
Franco Sarto Clemens Espadrille Wedge Sandal
We love a wedge for comfort and support, but this one also happens to elevate our whole outfit, so our casual jeans-and-tee combo suddenly become an actual “look.”
Price: $115
7. This CHIC BLACK AND WHITE Look From NAOMI WATTS
The Winning White Blazer
Favorite Daughter The Suits You Linen Blazer
This blazer is one of our favorites, because it’s perfectly oversized but has the cleanest, crispest lines. Plus, it dresses up for more formal occasions.
Price: $378
The Wide-Leg Jeans Of Our Dreams
Paige Anessa Crop Wide-Leg Jeans
The struggle to find a pair of soft, stretchy wide-leg jeans that don’t gap at the waist or sag at the seat has felt somewhat endless. That is until we discovered these jeans. They’re perfect on curves; you can see them on a non-6ft-tall model HERE. They’re more than we’d normally spend on a single pair of jeans, but we’re wearing them 3X as often as any other pair in our closet.
Price: $229
The Softest Black Tee
A good ol’-fashioned perfect quality tee. Whisper soft and the fit is excellent.
Price: $39
The Graceful White Sneak
Dr. Scholl’s Women’s Time Off Sneaker
Despite being Dr. Scholl’s and therefore orthopedically comfy, these sneaks are truly chic. Like a ballet flat. And they match everything we wear.
Price: $70
8. This PERFECT FALL LOOK FROM CAREY MULLIGAN
The Sleek Coat
Yousify Womens Notched Lapel Collar Double Breasted Pea Coat
We all want the sleek lines and pretty proportions of a perfect, chic fall coat. But get it in an interesting color and suddenly you’re not dressed like everyone else. Of course, this one also comes in every neutral shade we typically lust after - at a price where we can afford to get it in more than one color no less.
Price: $60
The Striped Sweater
J.Crew Heritage Cotton Rollneck™ Sweater
Wearing a stripe on your gorj pullover is yet another way to elevate your look and make it look more “styled.”
Price: $89.50
The Impeccable Trousers
Maeve Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers
These happen to be the pants we talk about any time we mention the most flawless , tailored, flattering trousers in the world. We go on and on about them HERE. We even show you what they look like on a real person who isn’t a 6ft tall model. But the point is, if you’re going to buy anything on this list, do yourself a favor and but these pants.
Price: $148
9. This Elegant, Yet Easy-To-Wear Look From Jennifer Aniston
The Exceptional-Fit Tee That Can Dress Up
Skims Cotton Fits Everybody T-Shirt
THIS tee from Skims is entirely about the fit. It just looks great on everyone.
Price: $48
The Cropped Wide-Leg Pant
Maeve The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants
Anything wide leg with stretch that still shows off shape is a winner in our book. THIS cropped pair stands alone when it comes to fitting smoothly and looking sophisticated.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Price: $120
Image from Something’s Gotta Give | Columbia Pictures
10. This “Coastal GrandmoTher”Look From Diane Keaton
The Easy, Drapey Pant
J. Crew Sydney Wide-Leg Pant In Bi-Stretch Cotton Blend
One of our favorite pairs of easy, wide-leg pants with just a wee bit of stretch, so we get to feel like we’re still in pajamas.
However, if you’re searching for a pair in black, THESE pants from Aritzia are the stuff of dreams, nipping at the waist and nailing the shape, drape, and subtle movement we strive for in a tailored trouser.
Price: $98
The Only Turtleneck We Actively Love
Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Turtleneck
Of all the components that go into the “Coastal Grandmother” look (and we sourced all of them HERE), the turtleneck might just be the most iconic. And yet, if you’re anything like us, you still need to be sold on this particular style. THIS is the turtleneck that finally convinced us, with its light and dreamy-feeling ribbed texture and the beautiful fit that gives us glorious lines no matter what we wear it with.
But if a turtleneck will just never be your thing, the crewneck version of this shirt happens to be our favorite long-sleeve tee in on this planet.
Price: $50
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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