Spring is a moment of renewal, of transitioning your wardrobe into something that reflects that. For many people, it's also a moment to reassess (spring cleaning, anyone?) and to cultivate clothes that better align with who you are and your tastes. To do that, parsing through spring trends can be a helpful guide in determining what you do and don't love, but even better than that is looking to the women who know personal style best. Many of those fashion icons are women in their 50s and beyond. There is wisdom and knowledge that comes with age, and their outfits and strong sense of personal style validate this.
In a world that's obsessed with youth, I'd argue we often miss the plot. More value should be placed on the women who have lived through decades of trend cycles, who have had so many rich experiences, and who have had time to distil their personal style. It's something worth celebrating, and this spring is shaping up to be exactly that culturally.
Gracing the most recent cover of Vogue is 76-year-old Meryl Streep, shot by famed photographer 76-year-old Annie Leibovitz and styled by the inimitable 84-year-old Grace Coddington. (Beautifully timed for the upcoming release of The Devil Wears Prada 2). A 61-year-old Sandra Bullock and 58-year-old Nicole Kidman are back together on a press tour for Practical Magic 2. Both 80-year-old Debbie Harry and 67-year-old Madonna are back in the studio, releasing albums this year. This is proof more than anything that age is just a number and by no means indicative of what you can do and how you should dress.
This is something Sarah Seung-McFarland, Ph.D., a fashion and design psychologist and founder of Trulery agrees with.
"I often hear that women over 50 feel they need to 'dress their age,'" she explains. "As a psychologist, I don’t subscribe to that at all. It reinforces the idea that personal style has an expiration date, when in reality, style should continue to evolve with you. It’s less about dressing your age and more about dressing the identity you want to project."
Both Sarah and stylist Emily Stott shared their thoughts on the spring trends women over 50 are wearing this year, but it's true that these trends indeed transcend age. If anything, these women are simply guiding lights for anyone from any walk of life to dress their best.
5 Spring Fashion Trends Stylish People Over 50 Are Wearing
1. Unexpected Colour Pairings
Style Notes: One popular trend this spring that Sarah notes is unexpected colour combinations. She says that these "mirror the idea that style doesn't have to become more restrained with age, and can actually become more considered and interesting." Some of the more popular combinations she's seen are lilac and red, pink with washed-out browns and Tiffany blue with emerald green.
Shop the Trend:
An elegant dress for spring and summer, and a perfect choice for wearing with bright red or pink, as Sarah suggested.
Such a vibrant pop of colour. Plus, tomato red is also trending this spring.
In place of brown, white and blue denim, the most stylish people are wearing khaki.
A light turquoise cardigan contrasts well with so many shades, from tomato red to lilac to brown to navy.
2. Statement Jewellery
Style Notes: This spring, wave away the idea that your best, most boldest pieces of jewellery should be reserved for special occasions. Sarah explains that statement necklaces, rings, earrings and more can be worked into your everyday outfits.
"There’s something luxurious about bringing a little opulence into your daily life, where even routine moments start to feel special," she says.
Shop the Trend:
I can't stop thinking about this necklace. It's a must for minimalists who want something that serves as a statement.
This is bold, but timeless thanks to the combination of earthy brown tones and silver.
A cuff always adds an air of elegance to an outfit.
A hammered texture and longer lengths make these a dreamy pair of earrings for holidays and summer wear.
3. Statement Skirts
Style Notes: Emily shares that she's obsessed with skirts this year. Statement skirts offer shape, colour and movement to your outfit and are extremely versatile.
"The full midi length (bubble hem optional) is perfect at this time of year when the weather is still changeable, as it can be worn with boots, a lightweight knit and a jacket right now, and then a bare ankle, loafers and a shirt on the warmer days," she says.
Shop Statement Skirts:
Emily also mentioned that polkadots are another chic trend she's picked up on for this spring.
Stripes are bold and playful, and I particularly love this colour combination.
Ruffles always deliver a statement without relying on patterns or bright colours.
The gathering on this skirt gives it such a unique shape. The butter yellow is, of course, ultra-trendy, too!
4. Khaki
Style Notes: A colour that's emerged as a wildly popular shade for outfits this spring is khaki, and it's being worn in every which way, from denim to blouses to handbags.
"Khaki is huge and also a universally wearable shade that goes with everything and yet has a bit of an edge," says Emily. She also notes that she's thrilled to see the return of pale pink, baby blue and butter yellow. "We're spoilt for choice this spring!"
Shop the Khaki Trend:
Balloon cuts of denim have been big this year. It's a great alternative to the more dramatic barrel shape.
DeMellier's beloved New York bag comes in a khaki shade.
Halter tops are so elegant, and this light khaki hue is easy to style.
Mesh ballet flats are sticking around this year, too. They're very versatile when rendered in khaki.
5. Business Meets Athletic
Style Notes: A harmonious blend of business attire and casual athletic wear has been appearing this season. The mix of these near-opposites works surprisingly well together. You can swap trainers for derby sneakers for a more elevated take and wear blazers over top of laidback trousers. Sarah has also noticed three-quarter zip windbreakers with skirts and kitten heels.
"It's very Gen Z, but it works when grounded with something classic," she says. "The contrast keeps it modern without feeling like you're trying too hard."
Emily adds that as someone who lives and works in the city, "I love a trend that’s versatile as well as adaptable." This one fits exactly that.
Shop the Trend:
COS always delivers on office-ready staples, like blazers and tailored trousers.
Derby shoes are a fun alternative to more sporty-looking trainers.
This windbreaker comes in a cool grey and a bold red.
These would look excellent with the above windbreaker for a business-meets-athleisure look.
Meet The Experts
Sarah Seung-McFarland, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in fashion and design psychology. Her work examines how clothing and interiors influence identity, emotional experience, and well-being. She is the founder of Trulery, a platform that brings together a curated vintage shop, psychology-informed styling and consultation, and editorial storytelling.
Emily Stott lives in London and has delved into hundreds of clients’ wardrobes in her twelve years as a personal stylist. In 2016, her book ‘Shopped’, a memoir of her own style journey, was published by September Publishing.
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