The women I spoke with in their 20s shared a desire to hone their professional style. Angie, a 24-year-old merchandising coordinator, has opted for a more polished look in recent years. “As I have gotten older and entered my professional life, I find myself trying to look fashion-forward and put-together at the same time,” she says. “I now take a lot more care in my appearance before leaving the house than I did in my college years.” Maddie, a 24-year-old e-commerce coordinator, says she’s had to “mature” her wardrobe: “[In college], my weekday outfits were athleisure/loungewear and weekend outfits were very trendy. Now, I try to create a capsule wardrobe to wear any day of the week.” 

Lisa, a 58-year-old real estate agent, recalls a similar experience. “When I entered the workforce in my early 20s, I always dressed very professionally and conservatively and older than my age,” she says. “I wanted to convey that I knew what I was doing.” For our brand manager, Emma, who is 31, getting older has meant gaining confidence about what she likes wearing. “When I was in college and my early 20s, I subconsciously forced myself to participate in trends that, looking back, did not suit me,” she says. “I’m now much more wary of trends and time-test them before making a potential purchase. I do indulge in an occasional fad-ish piece, but time has taught me that good style has nothing to do with trends.”

I turned 30 last year, and the biggest change in my style now versus in my early 20s is the sense of clarity I feel. I know what I like, and, importantly, I also know what I don’t like. This doesn’t mean I never participate in trends; it just means I’m selective about them, and when I do incorporate of-the-moment styles into my wardrobe (hello, gorgeous mesh flats), I pair them with forever staples like my Milo jeans and Larissa sweater.  

Callie, a 41-year-old VP of brand & creative, sees age as just one “filter” in determining what to wear. “I don’t think age has impacted the way I dress to a huge degree, but there are times I think through whether or not something is ‘age appropriate,’ and that’s usually when it comes to fit or trendiness,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s just about adjusting the trend to my own style or age group. My personal style has stayed fairly consistent over time, but I think I’ve become somewhat more minimal and classic as I’ve gotten older. I’ve learned that if something isn’t comfortable or doesn’t fit me right, I’ll rarely end up wearing it, so it’s not worth purchasing.”

The longer you live, the clearer it becomes that (fashion) history repeats itself. Today, some people think of wide-leg jeans as a Gen Z trend, but the women I spoke to proved that the style is for everyone. “I wore the original wide-leg jeans as a kid in the 70s,” says Lisa. “We called them bell bottoms. I also wore them when they came back in style in the 90s and were all low-rise, and now, I’m enjoying their renewed popularity in a higher-waisted style.” 

“I wear wide-leg jeans all the time,” says Callie. “I actually have three pairs of Milo jeans in different colors. To me, they’re an ideal wide-leg jean, because they hug my waist and butt and just have more volume in the leg, which means they don’t overwhelm my petite frame. They’re also super stretchy, and I like that I can adjust the hemline so I can wear them with different types of shoes. I usually try to wear them with something slimmer and more streamlined on top to balance the proportion, but occasionally, I’ll play with a fully oversized look.”

Most of the women I interviewed said they see age as a factor in getting dressed, but not always in the way you might assume. “I’ve never been one to dress young for my age, and I’ve always preferred a more formal look in the workplace,” explains Lisa. “But now that I’m getting older (and my clients are getting younger), I’m making a conscious effort to dress more informally, which I associate with a ‘younger’ look. My go-to outfits are a pair of excellent-fitting pants, most often in black, (I have multiples of the Foster pant, Sammataro jeans, Horton pant, and Smith pant), a base layer, and either an M.M. jardigan or one of my Moreland jackets. It’s a simple formula that can be dressed up or down with shoes and accessories, can be adapted for any weather or season, and travels well.” 

Julie, a 65-year-old office manager, says that while she’s retired pieces like micro-shorts from her wardrobe, she still has fun with her style: “I’ve always paid attention to trends, but I often tone them down. No leopard dresses for me, but a leopard belt, shoe, or bag feels really great at my age.” Julie also proves that you can always incorporate new silhouettes into your rotation: She just got her first-ever pair of wide-leg jeans! Naturally, she went with the Milo.