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 10 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 retailers 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.
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