Stylist Tells Us 5 Outdated Items That Women Over 40 Should Avoid Wearing

Though age is just a number, many people use that number to guide their beauty and fashion choices. Sometimes, if an ensemble you once loved no longer feels right when you wear it, the problem could simply be that the look no longer feels like it's in your age bracket (though you shouldn't always let age define your style). Fashion stylist and lifestyle expert Joseph Katz spoke exclusively to Glam about which clothes and looks tend not to suit women over 40 so that we can put our best foot forward when planning our future outfits. 

In addition to running his Skype Style program, where he helps people around the globe look and feel their best via Skype sessions, Katz is also a guru when it comes to planning age-appropriate attire. Of course, he suggests watching out for the usual suspects that are hardly flattering for any age group, like low-rise pants, but he also stresses that his advice should be taken as a guide only — not as hard-and-fast rules that can never be broken. "The key to looking your best in fashion is truly wearing what makes you happy," he explains. "If a particular trend or style makes you look great and you feel good, go for it." That being said, there are at least five things that tend not to flatter women over 40, so feel free to adopt them if they resonate with you and your fashion goals. 

We've got bad news for anyone who loves the baggy jean trend. Overly loose garments might have the ultimate cool factor going on, but they tend to lose that punch as you get older because of the way they tone down the rest of your 'fit. "Overly baggy clothing can make an outfit look less polished," Joseph Katz explains in our exclusive conversation. "Opt for something a bit more streamlined and tailored as it will create a polished look." 

Of course, that's not to say that you have to swap your favorite baggy jeans for a skinny pair. Firstly, you should always keep wearing your favorite of anything, regardless of what the trends or age-related fashion guidelines say. Secondly, there are lots of in-between silhouettes, so you don't have to make the huge leap to skin-tight pants. Straight-leg jeans, for example, offer a happy medium and have also been one of the biggest denim trends of 2024. Loose-fitting tops and outerwear pieces can still be flattering as long as they're not so baggy that they drown you. Your sleeves and hemline are easy to tailor, so you only need to focus on finding clothes that fit well in the shoulders, even if there's a little wiggle room elsewhere.

We're guessing that very few people are shocked to hear this, but low-rise pants are among the least-flattering garments ever created. That's true regardless of your age. By the time you reach your 40s, you should be well past forcing yourself to adopt trends that you don't feel comfortable in, so it's time to show the low waist the door. "This is a tricky trend to wear, so I would opt for a medium or classic rise," Joseph Katz tells us exclusively. "High-waisted or mid-rise jeans offer a much more modern, flattering fit."

A staple of the '80s through the late '90s, high-waisted jeans, in particular, are a classic style that isn't going anywhere. The most common way of wearing them is tucking your top into them, but you could also opt for a well-fitted crop. If you don't want to go all the way with a high waist, a medium-rise fit will also do the trick (and keep you from looking like you're on your way to a Y2K dress-up party). 

We get it: If you're the kind of person who has your favorite brands (and maybe spent a pretty penny acquiring them), it's natural to want to show them off. Logomania tends to come in and out of fashion, but as the years go on, plastering your outfit with obvious labels and logos becomes less impressive. Joseph Katz recommends "keeping them to a minimum" to maintain a quieter, more sophisticated aesthetic. 

"Logos can be fun to wear but I always opt for subtle logos," he shares exclusively with Glam. "A nice belt with a logo or handbag with logo is a nice touch." Handbags, in particular, have taken a turn toward quiet luxury since 2023, but you can't go wrong with a belt that shows off the label on its hardware — as long as the rest of your outfit is a little subtler to balance it out. 

While capri pants are definitely fun to wear — perhaps that's why they've been trending in 2024 — they tend not to be the most forgiving of bottoms. As Joseph Katz explains exclusively to Glam, you might want to rethink their place in your wardrobe post-40 because they often create the illusion of taking away your height. "Capri pants can cut off your leg and make your silhouette look shorter," Katz says. "Ankle-length pants or slim or medium-cut trousers can offer a more elegant and lengthening look."

To make yourself look taller still, you could opt for a midi skirt or dress, or pair your longer-length trousers with a V-neck shirt. Ankle-length jeans will also be doubly elongating if they're high-waisted. There's nothing wrong with being any height, but adding the illusion of even a few inches with your clothing choices creates a more refined look that always works for those in their 40s. 

Axl Rose will tell you there's no age limit to wearing distressed jeans. And there's not really, but the reality of ripped jeans is that they can create a very young look. This is something you might not be comfortable with, especially if you're not a rock star! "While a bit of distressing can be trendy, overly ripped, frayed, or distressed washed jeans can come across as too youthful," Joseph Katz tells us exclusively. "A clean, dark-wash jean or a well-placed rip or two can keep the look modern and age-appropriate."

This logic doesn't just apply to jeans, by the way. Tops that have fashionable rips and tears can go from edgy to over-the-top quickly if there's too much going on. If you do want to keep your look more mature and sophisticated, go for either rips in your bottoms or tops — not both — and keep those rips to a minimum. Let them be the trimming of your outfit rather than the statement feature.