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The Fall Fashion Forecast for Women Over 50

Six easy ways to refresh your wardrobe this season, including polished jackets, romantic fabrics and the return of scarves

Lois Joy Johnson,

Updated August 27, 2026

AARP

Updated August 27, 2026

a collage with models wearing a slim black leather jacket, a pair of wide leg jeans, a white sweater with lace detail and a pleated maroon midi skirt

(From left) Update your fall wardrobe with key pieces like the Nine West Women’s No-Collar Jacket; the Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans in Midnight Blue; the Loft Lace Mixed-Media Dolman Sweater in Ethereal Gray; and the Ann Taylor Pleated Midi Skirt in Satin in Rich Merlot.

AARP (Getty Images, Kohl’s, Quince, Loft, Ann Taylor)

Key takeaways

Brown remains the standout color for fall 2026, with versatile styling options and shades ranging from camel to espresso.
Wide-leg, dark-wash jeans, refined leather and suede jackets, and suede accessories are key updates for a modern look.
Satin, velvet, lace and printed scarves add texture and polish when paired with casual wardrobe basics.

Do fashion’s seasonal runway shows make you feel like you live in an alternate reality? Many women outside the fashion crowd say so. As a beauty and style expert and personal shopper for women over 50, I hear, “C’mon, who wears this stuff?!” And, “Even if I could afford those clothes, I’d never buy them!”

Here’s the good news. Those extreme styles do work their way down the fashion food chain to become wearable, affordable updates that women end up loving. Retailers are still loading up on merchandise, but here are six what-to-buy tips to kick off September.

a collage with a brown fleece jacket, a pair of brown wide leg trousers, a dark brown oversized sweater and a brown cable knit sweater

(From left) Lands’ End Women’s Bouclé Fleece Coat in Honey Beige; Old Navy Women High-Waisted Fashion Wide-Leg Leggings in Black Coffee; Gap Women 100% Cotton Oversized Shaker V-Neck Sweater in Terra Brown; J.Jill Relaxed Waffle Top in Café.

AARP (Lands’ End, Old Navy, Gap, J.Jill)

1. Get into rich, versatile browns this fall

No matter what you’re craving — be it a cozy sweater, a new jacket or a show-off-worthy bag — buy it in brown, because it is once again the big color for fall. Dark chocolate, cocoa and espresso have the same go-with-anything versatility and slimming powers as black. And all shades of brown work together, so you can feel confident about a head-to-toe monochromatic brown outfit.

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You might combine dark brown leggings, the like Old Navy Women High-Waisted Fashion Wide-Leg Leggings in Black Coffee ($15, oldnavy.gap.com), with a warm brown tee, like the J.Jill Relaxed Waffle Top in Café ($79, jjill.com); a light brown topper, like the Lands’ End Women’s Bouclé Fleece Coat in Honey Beige ($60, landsend.com); a relaxed sweater like Gap Women 100% Cotton Oversized Shaker V-Neck Sweater in Terra Brown ($62, gap.com) and flats, like the J.Crew Factory Women Sueded Flex Penny Loafers in Antique Oak or Camel ($83, factory.jcrew.com). The right brown can even have a brightening effect on your skin. Just choose lighter, softer shades, like camel, mocha, sand and caramel for tops or jackets, rather than deep browns. And yes, you can wear all shades of brown with the black, navy and gray clothes you already own for a very modern mix of neutrals.

a collage with a brown suede ballet flat and two different styles of brown suede handbags

(From left) Sam Edelman Women’s Alie Ballerina Slip-On Ballet Flats in Café Noir Suede; Old Navy Women Large Preppy Bucket Bag in Earthen; Aqua Large Suede Hobo Bag in Brown.

AARP (Macy’s, Old Navy, Bloomingdale’s)

2. Buy suede for a lush, expensive look

Suede is a big deal this fall. There’s nothing wrong with leather, but suede has the brushable nap and patina that’s giving everything from pants to loafers and bags a swanky spin. Don’t let suede’s vulnerability to rain and dirt scare you off. Use a water-repellent spray on boots, shoes and bags to block stains, then brush them gently with a suede brush (available at shoe repair shops). Think of suede the way you do a great haircut or manicure: A little extra maintenance is worth it for the way it makes you feel.

Have a look at the buttery faux suede in the spacious Old Navy Women Large Preppy Bucket Bag in Earthen ($24, oldnavy.gap.com), with an adjustable buckle strap and turnkey closure; or the Aqua Large Suede Hobo Bag in Brown ($178, bloomingdales.com). Then there’s the Soft Surroundings Faux Suede Bootcut Pants in Olive Night, Saddle or Coffee Bean ($100, softsurroundings.com), pull-ons that elevate every old sweater you own; and suede flats, like Sam Edelman Women’s Alie Ballerina Slip-On Ballet Flats in Honey Bourbon Suede, Café Noir Suede or French Merlot Suede ($120, macys.com), for a footwear update.

Most Popular

a collage with two different styles of dark wash wide leg jeans, and a model wearing a pair of wide leg jeans with kitten heel sandals

(From left) Old Navy Women High-Waisted Wow Loose Jeans in Dark Wash; Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans in Midnight Blue; Gap Women High-Rise Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans in Dark Indigo Wash.

AARP (Old Navy, Quince, Gap)

3. Switch to dark-wash, wide-leg jeans

In case you missed the memo, wide-leg jeans are continuing their turn in the fashion spotlight despite a resurgence of skinnier styles. They look freshest right now in inky-dark, even washes. Ignore the new low-rise versions (and there are many of them) that sit at the hips, and stick to a flattering mid- or high-rise cut.

The ones you want hug the waist and hips with a relaxed fit that gradually widens toward the hem. Take a look at the Gap Women High-Rise Stride Wide-Leg Ankle Jeans in Dark Indigo Wash ($59, gap.com), available in a choice of regular, tall or petite inseams; the Old Navy Women High-Waisted Wow Loose Jeans in Dark Wash ($26, oldnavy.gap.com); the Quince Bella Stretch Wide-Leg Jeans in Midnight Blue or Deep Sea Blue ($50, quince.com), which come in regular, short, long and extra-long inseams; and the Banana Republic Women The Icon Classic Wide-Leg Jean in Vintage Indigo or Dark-Rinse Wash ($130, bananarepublic.gap.com), in regular, petite and long lengths. All three pairs hover above the ankle. Find the right ankle length for your proportions, and pair them with ballet flats, loafers, sneakers, ankle boots or kitten heels.

a collage with models wearing three different styles of brown leather jackets

(From left) Levi’s Women’s Plus-Size Faux Leather Bomber Jacket in Saddle; Nine West Women’s No-Collar Jacket; Loft Faux Suede Asymmetrical Bomber Jacket in Java Chip.

AARP (Kohl’s, 2; Loft)

4. Consider a refined but still cool leather jacket

Leather biker and moto jackets with plenty of attitude have been making women over 50 feel stylishly edgy for years. This fall’s batch of confidence boosters has moved on, replacing the tough-girl image with more refined bombers in leather and suede, both real and faux.

Check out the Maeve Imara Faux-Suede Funnel-Neck Jacket in Acorn or Navy ($168, anthropologie.com), a front-zip style that comes in standard, petite and plus sizes; Levi’s Women’s Plus Size Faux Leather Bomber Jacket in Saddle or Black ($120, kohls.com); the Loft Faux Suede Asymmetrical Bomber Jacket in Java Chip ($112, loft.com); and the Mango Women Funnel-Neck Leather Jacket in Black ($270, shop.mango.com), a double-breasted bomber-peacoat hybrid with a funnel neck. These tall, turtleneck-like collars are trending and offer protection against the cold and the wind.

Other leather jackets on the most-wanted list have a streamlined, outdoor-indoor look that can stand in for a tailored blazer. Take a look at the Modenaire Leather Button-Front Jacket in Black ($148, nordstrom.com); the Nine West Women’s No-Collar Jacket ($120, kohls.com); and the Quince Women’s 100% Leather Cropped Zip-Front Jacket in Dark Cognac Brown, True Black or Rich Brown ($225, quince.com).

My advice: Say no to bulky, oversized styles (even bombers) that create a stiff, heavy silhouette; pared-down leather or suede jackets that are so cropped or snug that midriff exposure is likely; and jackets where layering over anything heavier than a T-shirt is impossible.

a collage with models wearing a pleated maroon midi skirt, a white sweater with a lace detail at the bottom hem and a pair of brown velvet wide leg trousers

(From left) Ann Taylor Pleated Midi Skirt in Satin in Rich Merlot; Loft Lace Mixed-Media Dolman Sweater in Ethereal Gray; A New Day Women’s High-Rise Wide-Leg Velvet Pull-On Pants in Dark Brown.

AARP (Ann Taylor, Loft, Target)

5. Let romantic satin, velvet and lace elevate basics

The slip dress and slip skirt were only the beginning. Expect throwback fabrics and a little nostalgia to work their way into your closet as we approach the holiday stretch. What’s worth your attention here are basics elevated by romantic fabrics that can be worn day or night.

Styles like the Ann Taylor Pleated Midi Skirt in Satin in Rich Merlot ($159, anntaylor.com), with nicely defined pleats; the Banana Republic Women Stretch Satin Maxi Skirt in Sonoma Wine Red ($148, bananarepublic.gap.com), with an elastic waist and flowy, A-line shape; and A New Day Women’s High-Rise Wide-Leg Velvet Pull-On Pants in Dark Brown ($45, target.com) are simultaneously practical and posh. The trick is not to go head-to-toe dressy, but to pair these fancy bottoms with more down-to-earth tops. Anything from a relaxed boatneck sweater to a ribbed turtleneck or a tee and leather jacket will do it.

6. Chic print scarves to wrap and tie

Print scarves, those tasteful square-neckline fillers that women over 50 have wrapped, draped and knotted for years, are back, in paisley, floral and geometric patterns. Dig out your oldies or splurge on new ones, like the Steve Madden Vintage-Inspired Paisley Printed Square Scarf in Berry Multi or Blue Multi ($28, macys.com); the J.Crew Women Printed Silk Scarf in Equestrian Khaki, Kingfisher, Smoked Walnut or Navy ($80, jcrew.com); the Old Navy Outtek Silky Scarf in Dogs, Multi Floral, Black Floral and Blue Floral ($10, oldnavy.gap.com); or the J.Jill Printed Square Scarf in Classic Navy Multi ($59, jjill.com).

My advice? If you are buying new, look for scarves around 30 to 40 inches square for maximum versatility as a neckline-filler. Smaller squares (think bandana-size) work better tied around a ponytail, knotted as a trim for crewnecks, or on the strap of your bag for a touch of color and style.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Lois Joy Johnson is a beauty and style editor who focuses on women 50 and older. She was the beauty and style editor at Ladies’ Home Journal and a founding editor of More magazine. She has written three books: The Makeup Wakeup, The Wardrobe Wakeup and The Woman's Wakeup.

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