Today pink is associated with feminine clothing, sometimes even with romantic style. However, prior to the beginning of the last century, it was reserved for baby boys. This guide features how to wear pink over 40 in a young, preppy way without looking like trying too hard or like being an Old Lady.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.
Pink Is a Versatile to Style Color and Perennial Trend
It’s no secret that I love pink looks, and wear it a lot. One of my blogging friends once said “You wear your pink like a neutral!” Well, she is right. However, you can also style it as a statement, especially magenta.
Blush is an eternal classic for ballet-inspired tulle skirt looks at any age.
A very edgy street style combination that recently popped up is to wear pink with camouflage. A variation is the combination of the light red with olive as the new black.
Which Pink Is Right for You?
There are warm and cold, light and deep, as well as bright and soft variations. To look your best, pick the hue/shade/tint of your color palette. Otherwise, you will look washed out. Typically, blondes with light skin color and blue eyes look great in cool powder or blush. Blondes with golden skin look great in coral, salmon, or baby pink attire. Brunettes with dark brown eyes look great in fuchsia.
This means there exists a pink in the right hue, value and chroma in your color palette. Another aspect is whether you prefer a style with neutrals or love a bold color statement (me).
Tip: Technically, pink is a pastel. Like red and many pastels, it can make you look heavier than you really are. Therefore, create vertical lines when styling this shade to offset the effect. Furthermore, you need to pick the right pastel to not look old in pastels.
How to Style Pink the Modern Way
Pink is currently full-on trend. When you’re over 40, you recall the pink trend of the 1980s. Every woman would wear pink with black. I did too! And, yes, I still think it was super chic, and still is. When you wear the color combination use trendy pieces as shown in the next photos.
Also, think out of the box regarding prints and patterns. Sure, a dress with pink flowers is a classic. Wearing a pink plaid skirt at the office is a modern take on both the color and the traditional weave.
Break Old Fashion Rules – So Chic
Starting in third grade, I was allowed to pick my outfit of the day. However, my mother had strong rules about what to wear together and what not to wear together. For instance, I was not allowed to wear pink with brown or red with pink. My mother claimed that red and pink look like a “rosarotes Schweinchen” (red-pink piglet). Today, one would probably say Miss Piggy alert. In the case of brown and the lightened red, she would say that these colors “beissen sich”, i.e., they clash.
Nevertheless, you can wear these colors together. Yes, it’s tricky, but when you keep the colors distinct from each other, it works. Why? They are in the same color family. Pink works well with brown because brown is a neutral color.
The above photo proves that you can pair hues of red and blush. In the winter outfit inspiration, the pumps and dots on the socks complement the color of the sweater.
Pink as a Neutral vs. Statement with Brown
Outfits in this color combination have a fresh modern vibe. As an example, I paired a pink sweater with a brown waterfall cardigan and chocolate brown leather pants for a modern office winter look.
Take a Print or Pattern for Color Pairing Inspiration
The next two inspirational looks demonstrate how to pair colors using a scarf or a pattern. The scarf features red and pink together. The beret, sweater, shoes, and skirt repeat these colors. The vest, sunglasses, and leopard spots on the tights repeat the background color of the scarf.
Tip: Repeat color accents three times to tie a look together.
The colors of the sheath include two hues of pink on a burgundy background. The sheath permits many looks with the pink leather jacket look as long as the sweater repeats one of the sheath’s hues.
Try Different Shades of Pink in One Outfit
Of course, you can style a monochromatic look in this color. You can also repeat the color when it appears in the print or pattern of another piece you wear, as shown in the example outfit below.
A Fall’s Do Orange with Pink
This look uses color blocking a black leather skirt with an orange belt, orange bag and a pink cardigan worn as sweater/blouse with pink cap-toe nude orange seamed pumps. More on which colors work with orange.
Accessorize Your Outerwear with a Pop of Pink
Outerwear is an outfit, too. Typically, some of your indoor outfit will show. Therefore, always think of your outerwear just as an additional layer. The example below illustrates how a printed scarf can tie an outfit together. Its pink, bluish, tan brown, and burned-red patterns repeat the colors of the leather coat, gloves, and bag.
The left and middle photos show how to use salmon to add a pop of color to a winter outdoor look. The right image shows how to wear fuchsia as a statement when styling outerwear. The burgundy gloves and beret, as a darker variation of fuchsia, tie the look together.
When Layering Peeling Off a Layer Must Lead to a Great Look Too
When layering clothes, keep in mind that your look should still look complete and stunning when you peel a layer off. The outfit above illustrates how the necklace achieves this effect. It adds interest to the outfit. While the necklace repeats the vertical lines when worn with the cardigan, it becomes a statement piece without it.
Wrapping Up: How to Wear Pink over 40
This color is more versatile than one would think at first sight. You can wear pink as a neutral and color statement. One can wear this color at any age when it has the right hue, value, and chroma of your color palette.
When you wear a color combination that was It a couple of decades ago, style the look in a modern way. Go for a different hue of the colors at least.
Photos: G. Kramm
© 2013-2025 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
