By Melanie K. Nelson
Transitioning from a 20-something to a 30-something can be tricky. On one hand your life is getting more serious. You are focusing on building you career, taking relationships more seriously and finally figuring out who you are. On the other hand you are still young and fun and your clothes should reflect that! This conflict can result in very questionable fashion choices.
The good news is that your 30’s have the potential to be your most stylish decade! At this point in your life you most likely know your body pretty well and have a good sense of your what your life requires. Building the perfect 30-something’s wardrobe is easy if you break it up. I have divided clothes in to three categories: professional, everyday, and special occasions.
Your 30-something business attire is extremely important since this is typically a career-building phase. The biggest thing to think about is the level of formality of your office. If you work for a large financial firm, chances are that your office is more on the conservative side. On the other hand, if you are a teacher you have a whole different set of things to consider! My best advice is to gage the level of formality of your coworkers and go from there.
Regardless of your type of office place there are some universal rules.
- Focus on fit. Find pieces that fit you and flatter your body type and you will instantly look more put together.
- The office is not the place to make fashion statements. There is nothing wrong with experimenting with bold trends as long as you don’t debut them at work. The focus should be on you and your work, not your clothing.
- Start with a few classic, high quality items and then build the rest of your work wardrobe from there. While it may be more fun to buy printed blouses and cute accessories, you will get much more mileage out of a classic black pencil skirt and some solid color button ups.
- When in doubt ere on the side of more formal!
This outfit is a great example of being stylish while being appropriate in an office setting. This is a great dress for the office because it is interesting but still has a modest cut. Add a classic black blazer (arguably the most versatile piece in a woman’s wardrobe) and a simple black belt to emphasize the smallest part of your waist. It’s great that loafers have made a comeback! They are a great choice if heels aren’t your thing or if you need a little more support than flats offer. Accessorize with some simple jewelry and you will look ready for that next promotion!
Next, we have your casual everyday outfits. Now that we are in our 30’s the old standby of leggings and hoodies isn’t going to cut it. It time to look more polished and put together. The key to simple stylish dressing when you are busy is to develop a uniform. Now, I am recommending wearing the same thing everyday, but if you have a go-to formula for your outfits you won’t have to choose between looking put together and getting ready quickly. My go-to uniform is a v-neck tee shirt, simple jeans, and a fun scarf. The reason that this is my favorite look is that it is made up with key pieces that can be mixed and matched for a wide range of occasions. Pair the shirt with light wash jeans and a striped scarf and you are ready to run errands. Switch the jeans to a darker wash, replace the scarf with a statement necklace and throw on a blazer and you are ready for a casual night out with the girls. The great thing about having a casual outfit formula is that when you have more time to get dressed you can play with other trends, but in a hurry you will never have to sacrifice style!
Finally, we have those special occasions where you want to look sexy and feel confident! There is no reason that you can’t wear an attention-grabbing outfit, as long as you are getting the right kind of attention. The key to a fabulous age-appropriate outfit is balance. Want to wear a tighter dress? Avoid showing too much skin. Feel like rocking a bold print? Keep everything else about the outfit classic.
These three outfits are great examples of fun, attention grabbing outfits that are age appropriate. The first outfit has form fitting dress in a great bright blue. The high neckline, partial sleeves and length help to temper the sexiness. Add a fun graphic necklace and nude pumps and you are all set for a great night out.
The second outfit is a great example of how to wear a fun printed dress. Since the dress is bold, keep everything else simple while playing up the black and brown tones in the dress. A cute tan leather jacket, some classic black riding boots and simple jewelry complement the dress without fighting for attention.
The last outfit is perfect for a big date night! This dress features a low neckline but it’s covered by sheer lace. It strikes the perfect balance between being sexy but covered and is a perfect example of a 30-something va-va-voom dress. Accessorize with simple black or nude heels and some simple sparkly jewelry. Want to cover up your chest a little bit more? Choose a long layered necklace that will help to compensate for the low neckline. If you are really feeling daring, sweep on a coat of red lipstick!
The moral of the story ladies is it that your 30’s are really your time to shine! Focus on choosing items that fit well, complement your body shape, and get you age-appropriate attention and this could be your most stylish decade yet!
Office Outfit:
J.Crew Noir Tweed Dress (jcrew.com)
Jones New York Collection One Button Blazer (bloomingdales.com)
Clarks Diamond Ada Patent Lather Pumps (lordandtaylor.com)
Basic Black Belt (rue21.com)
Casual Outfits:
Old Navy Women’s Vintage Style V Neck Tee Shirt (oldnavy.com)
Jones New York Collection One Button Blazer (jny.com)
Warehouse Straight Leg Jean (jcrew.com)
Citizens of Humanity Blue Straight Leg Jeans Ava (citizensofhumanity.com)
TOPSHOP MARSDEN Suede Desert Boots (topshop.com)
Women’s Prabal Gurung for Target® Pointy-Toe Pump – Nolita Print (target.com)
High Quality Silver Tone Statement Necklace (etsy.com)
J.Crew Multicolor stripe scarf (jcrew.com)
Evening Looks:
MISSONI Ivory/Black/Cinnamon Cotton-Linen-Blend Dress (missoni.com)
Dolce & Gabbana Black Lace Ruffle Dress (dolcegabbana.com)
Carven Draped T-shirt Dress (barneys.com)
Oakwood Leather jacket (yoox.com)
KATE SPADE Licorice Pump Powder Patent (katespade.com)
Ash Black Caprice Suede Court Shoes (ashfootwear.co.uk)
Nine West Shiza Boots (ninewest.com)
Multi-Strand Chain Bib Necklace (etsy.com)
Rebecca Minkoff Double Heart Necklace (rebeccaminkoff.com)
