I'm 55 and a Former Nordstrom Buyer—I Think These 8 Items Look Best With Jeans

We recently caught up with 55-year-old stylist, influencer, and former Nordstrom buyer Susie Wright for her thoughts on the seven basics she thinks work best for everyone. And while age clearly has nothing to do with what she should or shouldn’t wear, we thought her sartorial point of view over 50 was intriguing given her storied fashion career and years of experience building well-rounded wardrobes for herself and her clients. On that note, we wanted to garner some further style advice from her.

Given that Wright wears jeans on the regular and we know many of you do as well (although we understand that you may not be wearing denim a ton at the moment), we thought it could be of interest to get insight on the specific basics Wright thinks look best with jeans.

Keep scrolling to uncover the eight items Wright thinks every denim lover might love, plus a bit of styling inspo. And while you may already have many of the pieces in your closet, we also shopped out a variety of items in case you’re interested in adding something fresh to your wardrobe.

1. Tie-Up Shirt

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"This shirt style is chic and looks great with jeans. Lately, I’ve seen several I love, like this classic white one by Madewell. Depending on your mood, you can loosen the tie for a more relaxed look, or tie it a bit tighter."

2. Graphic Tee

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"An easy way to instantly make all your denim cool! These tees look great knotted at the waist with slide sandals or with a blazer for a more polished outfit. Currently, I’m loving all of the Anine Bing tees—they’re perfect under any kind of jacket and are super stylish."

3. Black Separates

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"As much as we all like a little color, most of us gravitate toward black from time to time, like with this ensemble featuring the black cami and cardigan with jeans. Classic but edgy, it’s an instant mood-lifter because it always, always works."

4. Loafers

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"You’ve probably noticed that loafers are everywhere lately. Talk about comfortable and timeless! These fashion-forward shoes go with every style of denim."

5. Pretty Blouses

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"Adding a cute blouse to a great pair of jeans lends a pretty touch to an outfit. There are many styles that are easy to wear, including the Paige Abriana blouse in this photo."

6. Sneakers

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"I just love the sneaker trend. They look great with basically everything in our closets, and they’re so comfy. Try an old-school favorite like the Nike Cortez, or go for something of-the-moment like from the French fashion brand Veja. You’ll wear them all the time."

7. Silk Camisoles

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"I can’t think of a better way to elevate your denim than with a silky cami. My clients love these simple tops because they’re so versatile (and sexy). Pair with a cozy cardigan for an at-home date night."

8. Playful Accessories

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(Image credit: So Susie)

"Sometimes overlooked, these finishing touches are necessary to complete our denim outfits. Try a smaller crossbody bag (you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one) and some pretty jewelry like layered necklaces and bracelets."

Please note all imagery featured here was taken prior to social distancing. 

Next, check out six on-trend ways to wear your skinny jeans.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

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.