Getting older doesn’t mean your wardrobe suddenly needs a complete overhaul. But sometimes the clothes we’ve been wearing for years can start to look dated without us even realizing it.
Often, it’s not the individual piece that’s the problem but how it fits, what it’s paired with or how the entire outfit comes together.
Here are 12 fashion mistakes that could be adding years to your look.
Wearing Clothes That Don’t Fit Properly
Clothes that pull, bunch or hang several sizes too big can make an outfit look dated no matter how much you paid for it. Pay attention to how something fits your body now, not the size printed on the tag.
Keeping an Entire Wardrobe From Another Decade
There’s nothing wrong with keeping older clothes you still love, but wearing several noticeably dated pieces together can make it look like your wardrobe hasn’t changed in years.
Pair those favorites with more current jeans, shoes or accessories instead of getting rid of everything you already own.
Related: The ’80s Items Nobody Wanted Back Then That People Can’t Get Enough of Now
Trying Too Hard to Dress Younger
Wearing something simply because younger people wear it can sometimes draw more attention to your age than less. Take the parts of a trend you genuinely like and work them into outfits that still feel like you.
Matching Absolutely Everything
There was a time when the handbag matched the shoes, the belt coordinated with both and the jewelry followed right along. Mixing complementary colors, textures, and metals can make an outfit feel less planned and more current.
Wearing the Wrong Undergarments
Sometimes it’s not the dress or blouse fitting strangely; it’s what’s underneath. A properly fitting bra and underwear that work with the clothing can completely change the way an outfit hangs on the body.
Wearing Too Many Statement Pieces at Once
Big earrings, a chunky necklace, several bracelets and a bold handbag can all be great individually, but together they can overwhelm an outfit. Let one or two pieces do the talking and keep everything else a little simpler.
Related: Vintage Accessories From Grandma’s Era That Still Look Chic Today
Choosing Fabrics That Look Stiff or Shiny
Some overly shiny synthetics and stiff fabrics can make even a relatively new outfit feel dated. Softer knits, denim, cotton, linen and other fabrics that drape naturally can give everyday clothes a more relaxed, current feel.
Wearing the Same Jeans You’ve Worn for Decades
You don’t need to replace your jeans every time denim trends change, but an extremely dated cut can age the rest of the outfit. Trying a slightly updated rise, leg shape or wash can make all the tops and jackets you already own look different too.
Never Updating Your Eyeglasses
Glasses sit right in the middle of your face, so frames you’ve been wearing for 15 years can date your look faster than almost anything in your closet. You don’t need the trendiest frames in the store, but occasionally trying a more current shape can make a surprisingly big difference.
Hiding Your Shape Under Oversized Clothes
Loose clothing can be incredibly comfortable and stylish, but wearing oversized pieces from head to toe can sometimes overwhelm the wearer. Try balancing a roomy top with more structured bottoms, or wide-leg pants with something that adds a little definition to the upper half.
Saving Your Best Clothes for Special Occasions
Keeping all the clothes you really love tucked away while wearing the same tired basics every day doesn’t do your wardrobe any favors. Wear the good sweater, put on the nicer shoes and actually enjoy the pieces you bought because you loved them.
Assuming Looking Current Means Following Every Trend
Trying to keep up with every microtrend can leave a closet full of clothes that feel dated almost as quickly as they arrived. A few updated pieces mixed with flattering clothes you genuinely like will usually look more natural than dressing according to whatever happens to be popular that month.
