Style in Your Fifties Just Hits Differently

 

Looking in the mirror at 50 something is a whole new experience for me and it hits differently on so many levels. It’s not the same as glancing at your reflection in your thirties, when you were still trying to figure out who you were and what you wanted your style to say about you. 

Now, the lines on your face may tell their own stories, but your body has changed shape more times than you can count, and somehow, shopping for clothes feels like a little act of digging through a bale of secondhand clothing.

It’s funny how nobody really prepares you for this part of ageless style. People talk about ageless style in vague terms, how you should embrace it, how it’s a privilege, how you’re wiser now. 

And all of that is true. But they don’t mention how much your relationship with your wardrobe shifts. They don’t tell you that you’ll stand in the dressing room debating whether to buy the funky dress you love or settle for the safe black slacks. 

They don’t warn you that you’ll start questioning what’s “appropriate” for your age, as if your birth year should have the final say in how you show up.

I’ve found that style in your fifties just hits differently because it’s no longer about impressing anyone. It’s not about fitting in or measuring up to somebody else’s idea of what’s flattering. It’s about claiming what feels like you. 

That doesn’t mean you wake up every morning feeling completely confident or immune to the little voice that says, “Are you sure you can pull this off?” But it does mean you get better at answering that voice with, “Yes. I can.”

These days, shopping feels more intentional. Instead of chasing the latest trend or buying something just because it’s on sale, I ask myself simple questions: Does this look good on me? Will I actually wear it? Is this something I’ll be excited to put on, even on an ordinary Tuesday?

In my thirties, I’d buy pieces to keep up like heels that hurt my feet, jeans that were too tight, blouses that looked polished but never felt right on me. 

I was dressing for some invisible audience I thought I needed to impress. The truth is nobody and mean nobody really cares. Except a few trolls that want to be mean on the internet. But, even that doesn’t bother me because my block list is longer than the nile river. #notkidding

Now, I’m dressing for the woman I’ve become. She likes funky black tones and colors that make her feel alive. 

She loves a little bit of edge. I always wear a  leather jacket, and lots of jewelry jewelry. She’s not afraid to layer a short or long top over jeans and call it a day. Yes, darling that is me. #tangiebell

Style in your fifties is a different kind of freedom. You’re less interested in following rules and more curious about what happens when you break them. You realize there are no style police waiting to ticket you for wearing bright colors or mixing patterns. You finally understand that nobody is paying nearly as much attention as you once feared. And even if they are, that doesn’t have to be your problem.

What I love most about this stage is that everyday looks feel special and I create the style I want to wear. 

The simple act of getting dressed becomes a way of honoring yourself. You don’t need an event or a reason to wear something that lights you up. A trip to the grocery store is enough. A walk around the neighborhood is enough. #girlstrut

Your life doesn’t have to be extraordinary for your outfit to feel that way.

I know a lot of women my age who feel stuck in the in-between. They want to look stylish, but they don’t want to look like they’re trying too hard. 

They want to feel relevant, but they don’t want to lose themselves in trends that don’t fit who they are anymore. If that sounds familiar, I hope you give yourself permission to experiment anyway. 

Try on the statement coat. Wear the bold lipstick. Put on the funky sneakers you think are “too young.” #girldoit

Because the truth is, style isn’t about age. It’s about energy. It’s about the way you carry yourself when you walk into a room. It’s about the confidence you build, piece by piece, every time you wear something that feels like a reflection of your truest self.

And that’s what makes style in your fifties so satisfying. You’re not just wearing clothes you’re telling the story of everything you’ve lived through, everything you’ve learned to love about yourself, and everything you’re still discovering. 

So if you’re standing in front of the mirror today wondering whether you should play it safe or have a little fun with what you wear, I hope you lean into the fun. 

Let your closet be a place where there are no wrong answers. Let your style be a space where you get to be exactly who you are, no edits, no disclaimers.

Because this is your time. This is your season to show up fully wrinkles, wisdom, and all and wear what what the FUNK you want. 

That’s the new flex. And honestly, that’s what makes style in your fifties hit so much differently.

What’s one piece in your wardrobe you’ve been scared to wear—but secretly love?

Drop it in the comments or tag me with your look. Let’s make this the season you stop holding back.

See In In The Next Post

Xo Tangie