The 10 Biggest Outfit Mistakes for Women Over 50

4. The mistake: Overdoing the skintight look.

Many mature women still love the form-fitting effect of leggings, skinny jeans and snug tops. It’s the payoff for losing a few pounds, a consistent exercise regimen or a self-love reset. But the pleasing hug of these pieces can turn sour when both top and body are clingy.

The solution: You have two choices. Balance a tight bottom with a looser top or modify cling on top with a looser bottom. Grab any tunic top, spacious button-down or slouchy sweater and slip on your leggings or skinnies. Or keep the bodysuit or fitted top and swap skinny bottoms for an A-line midi skirt or wide-leg pant. No need to go to extremes. Even modified volume, as in relaxed tops and pants or straight-leg jeans, offers enough room for contrast if extra volume isn’t on your love-to-wear list. Check out the J.Jill Smoothing Ponte Leggings in Black, ($79, jjill.com) shown here with a white tunic and long vest, the Cupshe Women’s Striped Drop-Shoulder Sweater in Colorblock ($37, target.com) over skinny jeans, and the Vineyard Vines Metallic Pleated Midi Skirt ($120, nordstrom.com) worn with a snug striped top.

(Left to right) Banana Republic Factory Cable Turtleneck Sweater in Black; The Colette High-Rise Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans by Maeve: Sparkle Edition in Rinse Wash-Plus; Zara Women Rectangular Buckle Thin Belt in Black or Burgundy

AARP (Banana Republic, Anthropologie, Zara)

5. The mistake: Going all in on the voluminous trend.

Some women have fallen in love with the aah factor of generously cut clothes and their ability to camouflage extra pounds. It explains why they’re snapping up oversized button-downs, boyfriend blazers, roomy drop-shoulder sweaters, wider pants and long full skirts. So, here’s the problem. Sometimes these outfits look great on tall, thin models — but in real life make you look bigger, boxier and shapeless. One of the secrets to a more becoming look is to reveal your neck, forearms or ankles. Head for a V-neck, boatneck or ballet scoop neckline instead of crewnecks, three-quarter or rolled sleeves; ankle-cropped pants instead of full-length ones; and midis instead of maxis. Exposing these three spots can prevent you from drowning in excess fabric.

The solution: Another quick tip is to put together roomy pieces in the same color to create “flow” and a vertical line. You can also suggest a waist by doing a half tuck of the top or loosely belting airy tunics, cardigans and dresses. Take a look at The Colette High-Rise Cropped Wide-Leg Jeans by Maeve: Sparkle Edition in Rinse Wash-Plus ($138, anthropologie.com), shown with a loose shirt and half-tuck. You don’t need a narrow waist to do the body “cinch,” just a slight indent with a narrow belt like the Zara Women Rectangular Buckle Thin Belt in Black or Burgundy ($25, zara.com/us) is enough to add just a hint of shape.

6. The mistake: Wearing uncomfortable clothes and accessories.

Looking fashionable isn’t worth wearing outfits that are disruptive. Trust me, if what you’re wearing doesn’t feel good, it won’t look good and will show up in your body language and expression. Offenders include: fabulous heels that are too high; pointed-toe flats that pinch; itchy sweaters; annoying skirts with tight waistbands; asymmetric hemlines or high slits that make sitting a challenge; pants and jeans that are too short in the rise and reveal muffin tops; and heavy earrings that hurt your lobes. Donate them ASAP.

The solution: Take a tough-love approach and delete anything in your closet that makes you tug, fidget and complain. Substitute flats, wear only skin-friendly fabrics, go up in pant rise, choose skirts with elastic waists, even wide hemlines and no slits, and opt for lightweight earrings or switch to necklaces and bracelets for bling. The payoff is a smile.

Bibi Lou Suzy Pumps in Red at Anthropologie

AARP (Anthropologie, 3)

7. The mistake: Taking the classic match-y match-y route.

Some women like to look “coordinated.” They insist on shoes, belts and bags that “twin” in color and tone to their outfit. They’re fairly strict about wearing tailored pieces with tailored accessories, casual or sporty ones with their mates in shoes and bags. There’s nothing wrong with this tactic — in fact, going for a head-to-toe monochromatic effect can look incredibly posh. The downside? As a daily diet, your outfits can begin to feel dull and stuffy.

The solution: Get more creative and stop playing it safe. Mix categories — day and night, tailored and sporty, classic and trendy — in the same outfit. Use white tops and jackets to brighten dark neutrals and your face, and add pops of unexpected blush and lipstick colors like pink and red in clothing and accessories to wakeup-tired looks and outfits. You might try the Uniqlo Women Knitted Short Jacket in 00 White ($50, uniqlo.com/us), the Banana Republic Women’s Cashmere Rugby Sweater Polo in Wild Orchid Pink ($150, bananarepublic.gap.com) and the Bibi Lou Suzy Pumps in Red ($130, anthropologie.com) to kick off a change.

8. The mistake: Not tweaking the fit for your body.

So you snapped up a jumpsuit, a fast-fashion dupe of a trendy skirt and top, or finally bought the pants you’ve been eyeing. Now what? When clients show me their “great buys,” nine times out of 10, the outfits are a bad fit. They’re too big, too long or too short, too baggy or shapeless. The seats of pants sag, skirts stop at the widest part of the calves, pants dribble over shoes, jacket sleeves cover the hands, and button-downs are so big they’re more like caftans than shirts. Visually this adds up to a sloppy look, like you’re wearing someone else’s clothes. Remember: You can be 5-foot-1 and wear the same size 14 as a woman who is 5-foot-7. This includes “ankle pants” and “midi” hemlines that fall to full length and maxi length on women who are under 5-foot-2. Even petite sizing can use an adjustment.

The solution: Haul all new pieces (and old clothes you wear often) to the tailor. Just getting skirts, pants and jeans, and jacket sleeves hemmed to the right length for your proportions makes a huge difference. And please do a DIY snip of the tacking stitches that keep clothes purchased online in shape when they are shipped to consumers. Pockets are often basted closed; skirt and jacket vents are stitched, too. They’re meant to be removed the minute you decide to keep them. You’d be shocked how many women neglect to do this!

(Left to right) Mango Women Shopper Bag with Padlock; Everlane’s The Day Glove Shoe in Bordeaux Suede; H&M Women Ballet Flats in Beige/Black

AARP (Mango, Everlane, H&M)

9. The mistake: Overdoing branding and logos.

Being a brand snob has become a national habit. There’s nothing terrible about wearing well-made, stylish clothes and accessories with a visible designer name or logo until it becomes the focus of your entire outfit. We’ve all seen women wearing a bag covered in famous initials and shoes, belts and bracelets boldly ID’d with a signature buckle or closure, and even sports and athleisure apparel that shouts a brand name. Even look-alike brands that mimic the patterns and design of well-known labels get in on the fun. The point of a great outfit is making you look and feel good, not to be a walking ad or a boast about your paycheck.

The solution: Limit an outfit to one or two branded items at a time. Consciously wearing a special designer item, whether it’s an Louis Vuitton tote or a pair of Tory Burch ballet flats, is fine, but resist piling on logo on logo. Instead try adding some super-stylish looks like Everlane’s The Day Glove in Bordeaux Suede (on sale now for $69, everlane.com), the H&M Women Ballet Flats in Beige/Black ($25, hm.com/en_us) or the Mango Women Shopper Bag with Padlock ($56, mango.com/us) to your accessory lineup.

(Left to right) Loft Cozy Off the Shoulder Midi Sweater Dress in Silver Oat; Eloquii Colorblock Column Skirt in Black + White

AARP (Loft, Eloquii, Loft)

10. The mistake: Displaying too much skin.

Some women over 50 have the magical ability to ignore a sun-damaged chest and leg discolorations. Others pay no attention to flabby thighs and chubby or dangling upper arms. Both wear whatever they want, whenever. Hooray for them! This attitude is admirable, especially in summer, on a tropical beach vacation, for sports and gym workouts. But how about at work and social events? The truth is there’s a fine line between looking sexy and comfortable in your own skin and looking tacky. Aside from the above situations, wearing an outfit that reveals way too much skin — a dress with a plunging V neckline (front or back) at work or a spaghetti strap slip dress and a too-high slit skirt to a party — can look a little desperate. Unless you’re a celebrity, designate one show-off spot to bare and make it relevant to where you are and what you’re doing.

The solution: Great shoulders are one spot that every woman can display, as in the Loft Cozy Off the Shoulder Midi Sweater Dress in Silver Oat ($40, loft.com). V necklines that “land” above cleavage crack are more flattering than those that do a deep dive, and legs can look elegantly fabulous in a knee-ish skirt like the edgy NYDJ Faux Leather A Line Skirt in Black ($67, bloomingdales.com). On the other hand, even being fully covered can be provocative and sophisticated if you opt for supple fabrics like silk, satin, cashmere and knits like the Eloquii Colorblock Column Skirt in Black + White (on sale now for $20, eloquii.com) and the Jessica London Women’s Plus Size Wide-Leg Knit Jumpsuit in Chocolate ($46, target.com) that slide over and around curves.