Keep Your Confidence: How To Dress Stylishly Over 30

I turned 38 earlier this year. Ten years ago I'd have quivered at the thought of turning 30 and yet here I am, heading straight towards 40 and honestly, I've never felt better. 

In fact, I feel as though, in the last few years, I've really started to find my style and gain confidence that I never knew I had. Still, I realise that, for a lot of women, this is still a bit of a touchy subject. 

One of the most difficult things about getting older is that it's not always appropriate to wear the things we would have worn in our 20's and even before. But that doesn't mean we can't slay (as the kids say) and look as beautiful as ever. 

I can say with 100% honesty that I believe women get better with age. You start to grow in confidence, gain a better knowledge of fashion and style and are much more easily able to put together outfits that compliment you.

If you're heading towards 30 or are already well into your fourth decade, like me, then this guide is for you. I've put together some useful tips on styling yourself at this stage of life so you can feel well put together and confident no matter the occasion. 

The Joy Of Being In Your 30's

I have heard a lot of 20-something year old women talking about how they feel old as they approach 30; I felt the same. But when you think about it, 30 isn't old at all. 

In fact, having lived through almost all of my 30's now, I can confidently say that this has been my favourite decade so far. 

Reaching your 30's often means gaining a greater knowledge of yourself and the world around you. It means improved financial security. It's about entering a new stage of life and letting go of your youth while not quite being ready to pick up the knitting needles and bingo dabber. 

Being in your 30's is fun; that's all there is to it. 

But one of the things that many women struggle with is knowing how to dress once they reach the big 30. The truth is that it's not that difficult when you have a few handy tips. 

How Your Style Changes When You Hit 30

By the time 30 rolls around, many women will have started to have children and the one thing that we all know about this (aside from the lucky few) is that it changes your body. When your body changes, so your clothing choices need to as well. 

After 30, women tend to take on a new level of maturity and I strongly believe that this should be reflected in your style. 

That's not to say that I think you shouldn't look fantastic or that you should start dressing like a nun. Quite the opposite; 30 is a time to move away from the more youthful trends and into something more elegant and sophisticated. 

Back in your 20's, if you're anything like me, you'd have worn much more girly outfits, often those that are more revealing, especially on a night out. But that's something that I personally think needs to change once you hit 30.

Not because you can't look good but because your personality changes and I think clothing should be an extension of this. Plus, accepting that you've reached a new stage of life can be very uplifting. 

Tips On Styling In Your 30's

It's easy for me to tell you that you need to start thinking about fashion differently once you hit 30 but without some advice to send you on your way, that's a very broad statement for me to make. So, with that in mind, I'd like to offer some tips to help styling in your 30's much less daunting. 

I think it's also very important to keep in mind that not all of these tips will work for everyone. I'd suggest picking out the ones that will work for you and incorporating them with some of your own creativity. That way, you can follow the 'rules' for dressing in your 30's at the same time as adding that personal flair. 

Start A Capsule Wardrobe

If you have read any of my previous posts, you'll know that I'm massive on the idea of a capsule wardrobe. If you're new to this concept then I've written an in depth guide on how to create a capsule wardrobe which contains all the information you'll need to get started. 

In short, a capsule wardrobe contains a variety of basic pieces that can be mixed and matched with anything else in your closet. The beauty of this is that you'll find the days of standing in front of the wardrobe wondering what to wear will be long gone. 

Dressing in your 30's should be about making yourself look elegant and polished and a capsule wardrobe can help you to achieve that. 

Don't Get Sucked Into Trends

I personally think that one of the worst things you can do in your 30's is to fall for fashion fads. Yes, there might be some that look good but they won't be around for long. 

The biggest danger here is that you'll end up buying items that you only wear for one season which then become useless. Going back to a capsule wardrobe, you won't ever have this problem. 

Moreover, unless you can afford to buy designer items, fashion trends are often mass produced by fast fashion brands and there are lots of reasons why this isn't a sustainable option. 

Don't Be Afraid Of Your Dress Size

I remember back in my 20's, I was proud to say that I was a UK size 8 (for reference, I am now a UK size 14). I actually thought that showing off my small size was something to be proud of. But, I was never happy with my body and it was only the media that had convinced me I needed to be stick thin to look good. Actually, when I put on weight and gained more curves, I truly, for the first time in my life, started to feel confident in my own skin.

But even in my later 20's when I went up to a size 10, I would kid myself into thinking I could still fit into size 8 jeans. I'd stubbornly buy jeans that were clearly too small and didn't look good rather than swallowing my pride and admitting that it was OK to size up. 

I think that, by the time we reach 30, we should at least have started to try and feel more comfortable with our bodies and how they look. There's no 'perfect' figure. Even women that are deemed to have the perfect figure by society have their hang ups so it's better to just embrace what you've got. 

Once you start doing this, you'll lose that sense of disappointment you feel when you have to buy a size larger. Now, I don't care what the label says, I'm looking for a good fit and a number doesn't define who I am or how I look. 

What's more, you have to remember that different brands size their garments differently. While you might fit into a size 10 in one store, you may need a size 14 in another. The items are exactly the same size, it's just the writing on the label that's different. 

Have Different Outfits For Different Occasions

I sometimes look at my 17 year old daughter and notice how her wardrobe is very 'samey.' The outfits she will wear for an evening out are very similar to what she wears for college. And this is something I see a lot of the younger generation doing. 

There's nothing wrong with this but I think that once we get a little older, we need clear definition between outfits. 

This means having certain outfits for an evening in a restaurant, for running errands, for work and so on. Again, this will make choosing an outfit for any occasion much simpler.

Less Is More

I'll be the first to admit that I wore some pretty revealing outfits back in my youth. I look back now and cringe because, in my opinion, it looks tacky. This is a conversation I've had with my daughter and, having been there myself, can honestly say that young girls only dress so provocatively to catch attention. 

Hearing people say 'but I'm comfortable in this backless, fitted mini dress' is beyond me. 

Not only does comfort play a role but if you want to look more elegant, you need to realise that less is always more. 

An attention grabbing outfit doesn't have to be one that reveals your entire body. In fact, I find that I receive far many more compliments on my appearance when I dress a little more modestly.

I'm not saying that we need to completely cover up; where's the fun in that? But I am saying that just showing a small amount of skin looks so much nicer. 

For example, if you're wearing a shorter skirt, I'd recommend going for a higher cut top, perhaps with longer sleeves. Similarly, if you're wearing a lower cut top, opting for trousers or a maxi skirt looks so much more sophisticated. 

Accessories Are Your Friends

Earlier, I talked about creating a capsule wardrobe and I'll 100% stand by this for as long as I love clothes (that'll be forever, by the way.) But pairing basic items together can make for a bland outfit, right?

But that's where accessories come in.

I think that, in your 30's, it's a great time to start investing in high quality accessories that completely change up the look of your outfit. 

Things like elegant pieces of jewellery, leather belts, handbags, scarves and sunglasses can all make a real difference. 

I've invested in a few different pairs of designer sunglasses as well as more expensive bags and scarves whose quality will stand the test of time. So, while you have to spend more upfront, you won't need to replace these items for many, many years. 

Avoid Immature Pieces

I won't lie, I can't stand it when I see women in their 30's wearing cartoon-printed t shirts, overly cropped tops or dungarees. 

These might look cute on a kid or a teenager but on sophisticated women, they simply have no place. 

Don't get me wrong, if you want to wear that Mickey Mouse sweatshirt when you're lounging in front of the TV on a lazy Saturday, go for your life. But if you're leaving the house, it's time to ditch the kiddy clothes and start dressing like the elegant women you are. 

Finding Your Inspiration

If you're keen to find Women's clothing that will elevate your style then it's all about doing your research. I'd strongly recommend creating mood boards and browsing websites like Pinterest that have more inspiration than you could shake a stick at. And this isn't just for clothes but for women's accessories as well.