Eight women reflect on how the defining decade has impacted their style.
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Or, at least, thats the fashion pipe dream for the decade.
In reality, there’s really no blueprint for dressing in your 30s.
In short, personal style is exactly thatpersonal.
And your 30s are just another chapter of self-discovery.
By not dating men anymore, I feel like I can be much more liberated with my fashion.
Now, I wear whatever the fk I want.
By not dating men anymore, I feel like I can be much more liberated with my fashion.
I can be a little more alternative and funky.
Im wearing things that I wouldn’t have before [coming out].
Now, I wear whatever the fuck I want.
Gabby Windey in an outfit emblematic of her fun, flirty, and ’90s-inspired style.
Basically, I recommend everyone becomes a lesbianyou’ll have way more fun shopping.
Since being onThe Bachelorand making more money, my style has evolved.
Now, I value not dressing like everybody else.
I’m doing a lot of vintage shopping and treasure hunting for pieces that make me feel good.
A zero-regrets splurge purchase:Last year, my coming-out gift to myself was a pair of Prada loafers.
Theyre comfortable, timeless, and go with everything.
Right now, Im wearing whats best for my body and makes me feel comfortable.
Im proud of that.
The state of her style:Right now, I function in two worlds and two fashion extremes.
I work remotely, so I wear loungewear and sweatpants when I’m home.
But when I go out, I dress up and attempt to make a statement.
I like to wear bold colors, like oranges, yellows, blues.
Brittney Oliver in a printed dress featuring her favorite color, yellow.
I went through a terrible recovery.
I was wearing clothes from college that I hadn’t been able to fit into in years.
A year later, my mom passed away, and the weight came back.
Grief is a beast.
It’s really frustrating to have to relearn how to dress my body again and again.
People get married, have babies, and their bodies change.
People experience grief or medical health conditions, and these things affect your body.
But when you’re scrolling on Instagram, you see images of women that look fantastic and healthy.
It’s overwhelming to maintain how you look when youre dealing with obstacles that affect your health and wellness.
I have to remind myself that I’m doing the best I can.
Which means, right now, Im wearing whats best for my body and makes me feel comfortable.
I’m proud of that.
An outfit should allow you to focus on what really matters and the work that you’re doing.
Her style in three words:Professional, classic, and crisp.
Her power piece:A bright, fitted blazer.
I pack one even when I go on vacation.
An outfit should allow you to focus on what really matters and the work that you’re doing.
In that sense, [fashion] is like a supporting character to you and your job.
To me,thatspower dressing.
Kaitlan Collins in a white Michael Kors suit moderating the 2023 CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall.
But now I look at my 30s as my twenties, part two.
I can still have fun, but I’m more settled into myself.
If an outfit doesn’t reflect who you are, you’re just wearing a costume every day.
Elyse Fox in one of her many “fly ‘fits.”
It’s one step towards that self-care process of gettingyouout of your head.
Let me just wear this funky dress and see if I feel good in it.
It reminds me, You have worn this T-shirt during a depressive episode before, and it worked.
By no means do I feel like I must dress as a mother now.
Honestly, I feel more playful, lighthearted, youthful, and alive than ever before.
My style still fluctuates quite a bit between girly, more androgynous, or even masculine.
The impact of pregnancy on her fashion:My pregnancy era has been my favorite style era to date.
It was really liberating to have a new body shape to dress.
Molly Baz pictured with her favorite photo partner, her son, Gio.
Now that Im postpartum, I am entering a new phase.
Honestly, I feel more playful, lighthearted, youthful, and alive than ever before.
I just kind of dont give aneff.
I still have fun with clothes, but I care way less about what people think about them.
I took that to heart and dressed like such a nut when I was younger.
I was the intern at various fashion magazines in head-to-toe leopardleopard tights, dresses, and shoes.
I wasn’t discerning with what I wore.
Every day, I looked like I was coming out of a different costume party.
I wanted to stand out, and clothes were a way to do that.
Sue Williamson, dressed as playfully as ever.
When I entered my 30s, I didn’t feel like I had as much to prove.
I feel so much more relaxed when getting dressed now.
I’m a little more established and don’t have to be screaming for attention anymore.
I’m more thoughtful about where I’m going and what’s appropriate for each occasion.
I still have fun with clothes, but I care waylessabout what people think about them.
I’m going to be a white-haired lady wearing head-to-toe leopard.
On a practical level, it made comfort a much bigger priority.
It reminded me that aging is a privilege, and you should always just wear the fun thing.
A through-and-through Sue buy:I just bought some burgundy knee-high Courreges boots that feel very Sue.
Those [boots] helped me come back to myself.
Buying myself something special is a gift to celebrate choosing me and having the courage to start over.
On allowing fashion to be fluid:I dont buy into the idea of having to define your style.
Life is constantly changing, and I am ever-evolving, so naturally, my style is, too.
Sometimes I get inspiration from my 10-year-old daughter, and sometimes I’m inspired by a 60-year-old woman.
Chriselle Lim wearing her prized Bulgari Serpenti watch.
The tradition of treating myself started on my birthday four years ago.
Now, my birthday has become more of an independence day.
Buying myself something special is a gift to celebrate choosing me and having the courage to start over.
What makes you cool is how you take pieces and make them your own.
But 20 percent of the time, have fun and take those risks!
Try out trendssometimes they work, and sometimes they dont.
Most times, you will love them at the moment and hate them by the next season.
But you should at least try them.
Amy Smilovic [the creative director of the fashion brand Tibi] calls it creative pragmatism.
I ask myself: How long am I going to be out of the house?
Is this outfit made for day to night?"
But I alwaysalwaysmake sure my outfit has some funk.
On honing her style over time:My fashion has always been more on the preppy side.
I remember thinking, Who do I want to be?
How do I want to present?
I wanted to look well-dressed and still feel creative, but I didnt really know what that looked like.
My style still has this preppy aesthetic to it, but it doesn’t feel too uptight.
Classic but also creativethats Lindsay.
Im at this point of womanhood where Im like, Its okay to make mistakes.
I dont expect to be perfect all the time, even though I would love to be.
I’m willing to try something different and push my style a little further.
If I don’t like something Im wearing, I don’t have angst about it.
Read more stories in honor of Marie Claire’s 30th anniversaryhere.
“Prince William has just stood on a chair and bitten the mouse’s head off.”
“The Spencer genes are so strong.”
It was previously alleged King Charles’s “patience was wearing thin” with his brother.
