One of the biggest things on readers’ minds seems to be, “What do I wear to look casual but classy over 40?
A few days ago I posted a great solution – The Boyfriend Jacket. Other 40+ bloggers seem to agree. Here’s a street chic look at the boyfriend style jacket and how these bloggers wear it to look Fabulous After 40!
Make It Funky
Inspired by menswear trends, jacket designer Nora wears her gray, houndstooth boyfriend jacket with a pair of chic cropped trousers and a fun graphic print t-shirt.
To make it dressier, Nora has added heels and a soft, silky, art- inspired t-shirt from Zara. It’s interesting how something as simple as the right t-shirt can really add a lot of class to an outfit. Steer clear of concert tees or worn, messy tees that make you look sloppy.
The boyfriend jacket Nora is wearing is the “Beverly” and is part of Nora’s fabulous jacket collection which can be seen in its entirety at Jacket Society.
Make It Colorful
How do you pull off wearing colored jeans in a way that isn’t too loud? Susan has the right idea.
For a 4th of July dinner with friends, style blogger Susan from Fifty Not Frumpy wore this pair of red denim skinnies by Nine West with a smart, lightweight, navy blazer.
The dark jacket cools down the bright jeans just a touch, but the look is still vibrant and on trend. Susan’s jacket also has a slight sheen to it, which helps give the outfit a dressier look. A basic white tank and statement necklace round out Susan’s patriotic outfit.
Make It Bold
Once you start shopping for a boyfriend jacket, you’ll find them in all sorts of colors, prints, and cuts.
Alison is an inspiration in her lemon yellow boyfriend blazer. To create some interesting contrast she has paired it with a bold, striped top and turned up the cuffs to create a sporty look. Her gold tassel necklace adds a sophisticated touch. To see more of Alison’s unique and colorful style, visit her blog Get Your Pretty On.
For more tips on how to Tweak Your Chic® by incorporating color in your wardrobe, pick up a copy of my ebook, “Color Me Fabulous”.
I’m always on the lookout for Stylish women to feature. Be sure to add the #fabulousafter40 HASHTAG to your Instagram posts so I can find you easily!
I could not imagine a better choice than the blazer or as it’s known these days, the boyfriend jacket. It dresses jeans up instantly and always allows for a look with an edge. In my world, I need to wear serious clothes or things that have the structure saying “I am serious”. My “go to ” piece is always a well constructed blazer that fits well and that can be dressed up or down. It’s also my travel staple for sprucing up the casual look.
Great post!
FF
I love the first look with the light blue houndstooth jacket. That entire outfit is how I would like to look a lot more often – classy, but with an edge! Where would I get that great jacket?
I love how you can make an colorful jacket more stylish by adding dark slacks and a beautiful scarf. What a difference a couple simple changes can make.
Gorgeous jacket!
Also thought you might like to have a peek at this new series I’ve started today by midlifers.. http://momentsofwhimsy.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/encouragement-for-the-journey-pt-1-wk-411/
Your advice is always great, but what about VERY casual clothes?. What is good to wear to a ball game in the summer or swim meet in the winter (90 degrees and humid indoors, but well below freezing outside)? I’m not a fan of ballet flats, and unless sandals are apprpropriate, I’m not sure what to put on my feet, much less anywhere above that?
Hi Mia,
That is a GREAT question… and very specific situations. To the ball game…here is a post:
https://www.fabulousafter40.com/off-to-the-ballpark-casual-vs-frumpy/
To the swim meet… stick with some nice slip on sneakers.