What to wear to work in your 40s? Whether you’re climbing the career ladder with a new company, or simply looking to stay chic in the office, how you dress in the workplace can impact on how you feel and how others perceive you.
At 40-something, you have tons of career ahead and a rep that people should take seriously. Careful selection of your work clothes can help you reinforce the image you want — which I’m guessing is more mature and responsible than someone fresh out of college but also more motivated and versatile than the folks who are counting down days until retirement.
This post may contain affiliate links*So looking polished at work is important. But not sooo important that it keeps you up at night and causes more stress than the project stakeholder meeting you host every Friday morning. Keep things easy by investing in five key pieces that’ll create the right professional looks for the A-player that you are.
What to wear to work in your 40s
1. A great coat or two
A great coat is essential part of any workwear wardrobe. Don’t ruin your perfectly pull together outfit by throwing on a scruffy jacket during the winter. A belted mac or woolen winter coat is a savvy and stylish investment that will last for many years to come.
Look out for timeless cream, camel, grey, black, navy, or check styles that won’t date and will work with other smart items in your closet.
2. Sheath dress
An elegant sheath dress is a versatile piece that every woman should own. Opt for lined styles that won’t cling to the body and natural fabrics such as cotton, silk, linen and wool for comfort.
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Super-versatile, shift dresses can be worn under blouses, with a blazer or alone to suit your mood. While neutral shades such as grey, navy and black are safe options for corporate environments, colorblock and printed styles are great for those who work in creative sectors.
3. Shirt dress
If your workplace is a little more casual, a shirt dress straddles the balance between relaxed yet smart. Paired with tights, court shoes or ankle boots, a shirt dress is a classic and comfortable option.
Look out for dresses with a waist tie to add definition to floaty fabrics. A belted waist will create shape which prevents flouncy styles from looking sloppy.
4. Wide-legged trousers
Wide-legged trousers paired with a crop-length blazer is a no-fail combo for the female professional. It’s also super flattering to most figures.
5. The waterfall jacket
Ditch the 80s shoulder padded blazers and power dressing of 20 years previous in favor of softer tailored pieces. The waterfall jacket is a great place to start. It’s less aggressive visually than a heavily structured blazer, plus the relaxed fit and soft fabric means it’s more comfortable too.
6. The office ankle pant
A structured ankle-length pant can be a workhorse in your weekday rotation. The silhouette pairs beautifully with a lightweight tucked in blouse (and blazer if the office is cold) plus your favorite set of kitten heels.
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Consider injecting some personality into your workwear by defining a signature piece for yourself. That might be a bold tote bag, a neck scarf, a statement necklace, or a cuff bracelet. That piece, whether you use the same one regularly (like a tote bag) or you have a collection of low-cost cuff bracelets can deliver a pop of color or shine to your otherwise neutral career pieces. That addition adds polish and pulls your whole look together.
More on what to wear to work
For more workwear advice, see these topics in our workwear guide:
MoodyIkuko
Tuesday 15th of December 2015
Beautiful looks! Great tips!
tvg watch
Sunday 8th of November 2015
i like it thank you for sharing it
ocpio
Thursday 5th of November 2015
Awesome choices and nice collections.