The 9 Best Going-Out Clothes Women Over 40 Swear By
Before we dive in, let’s remember that age is literally just a number—you should wear what you love, no matter the year you were born. That said, we often turn to women over the age of 40 for expert shopping and style inspiration. Because when you think about it, by the time you’ve reached this age, you’ve developed quite the sense of sartorial confidence thanks to years of trial and error. As a result, you’ve most likely developed a wardrobe full of timeless, versatile staples.
On that note, while we recently covered the casual basics women over 40 turn to, we thought we’d take a moment to uncover the night-out basics this set swears by as well. And to get that top-notch inspo, we went straight to the experts—i.e., some the coolest women on Instagram with enviable, fashion-forward feeds. That’s right—Grece Ghanem, Kim Mitchell, Renata Jazdzyk, and Cathy Williamson all shared the going-out basics they rely on to build those top-notch 5-to-9 outfits.
Intrigued? Keep scrolling for a bit of visual and shopping inspiration, and take your after-hours style to the next level.
"A blazer is not only meant for the office. It can be thrown over a slip dress, styled with a tee, or even with a daring lacy top. A night-out blazer can be printed or even in velvet." — Grece Ghanem
"Eye-catching boots are the go-to element in my wardrobe whenever I go out! They can easily change a simple dress into something more glamorous." — Renata Jazdzyk
"A black skirt is a go-to. A knee or a midi length one look great with a silk button down or an off-the- shoulder sweater." — Kim Mitchell
"I think every woman needs a pair of dark jeans or black trousers for going out. A great date-night look is paring your favorite style with a thin turtleneck sweater, pretty pumps, a rhinestone belt, and a great clutch." — Cathy Williamson
"Yes, a little black dress is a go-to for going out. However, I prefer a midi silk slip dress as it brings back a '90s feel. By combining a slip dress underneath a leather jacket or blazer, you can create a unique look with room for creativity and edge. You can opt for a single colored dress, or choose to be daring with a multi-color or animal-print slip dress." — Grece Ghanem
"I love wearing jeans, a tee, and a blazer when going out. To make this kind of outfit more spectacular, I always like to add a statement bag." — Renata Jazdzyk
"Statement earrings add sparkle and shine; they're the fastest way to switch up a work look into something more evening-ready." — Kim Mitchell
"When going out, I like to feel comfortable. I love wearing jeans with a beautiful unique top. Something eye-catching with big puffy sleeves, silk, glitter, metallic, etc. Paired with simple heels, I’m ready to go out." — Renata Jazdzyk
"Finally, an LBD is always a good idea. You just can't go wrong." — Cathy Williamson
Next, check out the denim outfits women over 40 swear by.
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.
-
I'm in My Classy Era—4 Special-Occasion Looks That Radiate Elegance
Sponsor Content Created With Net-a-Porter
By Raina Mendonça
-
I'm a Fashion Editor—I Reach For These 2 Pieces When I Don't Know What to Wear
Ready in 10 minutes or less.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
I Want an Elegant Spring Wardrobe—These 32 Nordstrom Finds Have My Attention
Elevated finds inside.
By Grace O'Connell Joshua
-
I'm Already Prepping My Summer Wardrobe—I Only Have Eyes for These Elegant Nordstrom Items
Plus, they're all $150 and under.
By Ana Escalante
-
Nordstrom Shoppers Lose It Over This Affordable Shoe Brand—Shop the Best Pairs
Click if you like trendy shoes.
By Allyson Payer
-
What to Buy From Nordstrom If Your Vibe Is Elegant But Your Budget Is $100
If that's not a good sales pitch, I don't know what is.
By Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour
-
I Made a List of Fresh (But Still Classic) Basics I Would Happily Wear for the Next 5 Years
They'll never let you down and can be styled endlessly.
By Kristina Rutkowski
-
I Shop for a Living—These Are the Only 5 Pieces to Buy From Shopbop's Sale
Out of more than 16,000.
By Eliza Huber