10 Things We Should Stop Wearing Over 50

Many “stop wearing” lists for women over 50 mention the cute stuff, the sassy stuff. The stuff we should NO LONGER (according to the writer) be wearing. This is kind of the opposite. This is the stuff that we should NEVER START wearing to begin with. Most of these items are aimed at women of a “certain age”.

These are the types of things that tend to creep into our wardrobes because they are marketed as being comfortable or flattering or practical. And even if we rule out flattering, two out of three ain’t bad, right? Wrong.

Why can’t we have comfortable and practical AND cute and flattering and stylish and modern. Why can’t we have it all? For each of these items, there is a better option that checks all the same boxes but is still CUTE.

Here, my list of 10 things we should stop wearing over 40.

Athletic Sneakers with an Outfit

Athletic sneakers should be athletic clothes. Fashion sneakers should be worn with regular clothes. Since I’ve made the case for a sneaker replacing a comfort shoe so many times, some women think that this means simply wearing your running shoes with your cute outfits, and this doesn’t work. Note: I’m not talking about the bulky fashion sneakers, which, although they are not my thing at all, are undoubtedly trendy and can work with outfits if that’s your look. I’m talking about your running shoes.

Manly Khaki Pants

No pun intended, but manly pants look manly, and they’re not cute or flattering to a female shape. While there is nothing wrong with the color beige/khaki/camel, and I’m jealous because I wish it was my color (it’s so chic), the boxy khaki chinos that are essentially man-pants in women’s sizes are not cute. Try your favorite pants silhouette, and just make them beige, rather than going for a classic khaki.

Just say no these.

And choose these instead.

Sparkly Flip Flops & Sandals

Platform flip flips and diamante trim or whatever it’s called do not go hand in hand. Flip flops are for casual wear only, and no amount of sparkle is going to make them dressy. These shoes are dated and definitely aging. If you want a dressy flat sandal, go for a sleek metallic instead.

Say no to these.

And try these instead.

Double Layer Hems

These tops, often tunics, have a double layer which is designed to minimize tummy bulge. Their effectiveness is debatable, but their impact on your style is not. These are aging and truly unflattering, and should be skipped. If you have tops like this, just tuck them in.

Covering Up With Black

First of all, you don’t need to be hiding, covering up, or making yourself less noticeable because you’ve put on a few pounds. Weight fluctuation is a fact of life for many women. And wearing black if it’s not your color doesn’t help you look slimmer. Instead, it makes you look more tired. Choose your favorite and most flattering colors, and wear them instead. All the world will see is the glow you will get from wearing your best colors.

Beige Rubber Soled Shoes

Why do comfort shoes often come with beige soles. They instantly read “comfort” and also “blah” and also a little “frumpy.” The same exact shoes with a white rubber or foam sole would look so much better, more modern, and more versatile with outfits. Check this side by side comparison for proof.

Short Pants & Long Shorts

When shorts get too long and pants get too short and they meet in this muddled middle-ground, style loses. Flattery loses. Common sense loses. Are they pants? Shorts? No one knows for sure.

Shorts that are tight and end right above the knee are rarely flattering (unless your tall with very slim legs), and neither are too short pants. Don’t let these happen to you.

Too Many Rings

There is such a thing as too much bling. Sadly, even the most sentimental pieces of jewelry can go in and out of fashion, and although I would never advocate getting rid of anything meaningful, I would suggest wearing them one at a time to create a more modern look. Piling on your costume or more dated or more bulky pieces is really not a modern look and often not flattering to the hands.

If you want to layer rings or wear them in multiples, make them delicate.

Slip on or Velcro Sneakers

Slip-on sneakers and velcro sneakers fall into the workout-only category. They are not for wearing outfits. I truly think that if you’re looking for a stylish workout shoe, they need to have laces, and fortunately, there are elastic laces that give you on the ease of a slip on but the style of a lace-up.

Just say no to styling these with clothes.

Bedazzled Clothes

Sparkly t-shirts have not been in style for a long time, and are in a category aimed solely at mature women. I don’t get it. They are dated and can also look cheap. Avoid these styles. The same is true with badly embellished bags, pants, and pretty much anything else. If it’s got sparkle, it should be well made or it will pull down your whole look.

What do you think of my list of the items to avoid over 50? And what would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments!