The Middle Ground Between Trendy and Frumpy

Most mornings don’t start with inspiration. They start with standing in front of a closet thinking, why does nothing feel right. There are plenty of clothes there. But everything feels slightly off in one of two directions: Too trendy. Too frumpy. And somehow both at once depending on the day.

If you’re in your 40s or beyond, this is a very real style shift and I’m guessing you’ve felt it, too. Your body has changed. Your lifestyle has changed. Your taste has probably gotten sharper. But your closet often hasn’t caught up with any of it. And shopping doesn’t help! The stores are full of cropped, mini, or micro or else frumpy, stuffy, and mumu.  Where is the middle ground? 

We are in the midlife space where getting dressed feels harder than it should.

The good news is this is not a “buy everything new” problem. Thank goodness!  We can fix this with balance and strategy.

Let’s start with one modern piece, not a modern outfit. The fastest way to tip into “trying too hard” is layering too many current trends at once. Instead, pick one. A barrel jean. A slightly updated sneaker. A wide leg trouser. A fresh color. Then anchor it with everything else staying familiar and simple.

For example:

Modern wide leg pants with a clean white tee and simple jewelry.

Or straight jeans with a current shoe and a classic button down

One modern note is enough. The rest is support. Keep your silhouettes or fabrics you feel comfortable in and bring in the modern one note at a time.

Accessories are a great place to start if you’re a bit hesitant.  A trendy bag, piece of jewelry, or scarf can bring a modern flair to your classic outfit without breaking the bank!