Best Stylist Secrets to Look Modern in Tweed over 40

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Tweed is a high-quality fabric, sustainable and a classic. However, it’s also often associated with conservative, old-fashioned. This post covers how you can look modern, young and hip, open -minded in this fabulous fabric.

Contents
  1. Tweed Dreams and Nightmares
  2. Tweed Is an Often Overlooked Classic
  3. Stylists’ Tips to Style Tweed
  4. Create Cool Looks with a Tweed Jacket, Blazer, or Coat
  5. Try a tweed skirt with (fake) twinset for an interesting business casual look
  6. Add interest by wearing it your way
  7. Wear a Tweed Skirt/Dress beyond the Office
  8. What to Wear with Coarse Wool Pants
  9. Further Tweed Outfit Ideas
  10. How Not to Wear Tweed over 40
  11. In a Nutshell

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

Tweed Dreams and Nightmares

Fashion has its great tweed moments. Which girl has never dreamed of a Chanel tweed jacket? How awesome did Jackie O. look in her tweed skirt? Tweed is a classic stylish material. Tweed is a classic and it is so versatile. A high-quality tweed skirt is worth the investment. However, it’s important to know how look great in tweed over 40, well, to not look old-fashioned or Old Lady.

Don't wear tweed the old-fashioned way. #agelessstyle Click To Tweet

What I mean with this is that tweed is also associated with often boring conservative winter clothes, i.e., suits, skirt suits with a hem below the knee. Tweed was also what our mothers wore for Sunday’s Best when they were our age. Some of us may have worn a tweed (skirt) suit with pumps to our first job interview with a black cashmere sweater or a white button-down shirt in the 1980s.

 

Tweed Is an Often Overlooked Classic

Tweed is a classic stylish coarse wool  fabric and is so versatile to style. An item in this material is worth the investment. However, don’t wear it your mother’s way or like we styled it in the 1980s. You want to strive for a modern great look in tweed over 40.

street style blogger in turtleneck sweater, skirt, aviator, riding boots

style blogger in bomber jacket riding boots, coarse wool skirt, cashmere sweater
Brooks Brothers cashmere turtleneck sweater, Rebecca Colins necklace, Moda International aviator jacket, Eddie Bauer skirt, Hipstik tights, Sanchez riding boots

Stylists’ Tips to Style Tweed

  1. Try to style a straight, just above-the-knee tweed skirt casual with a sport vibe by adding a belted cable knit sweater and statement sneakers.
  2. Wear a tweed jacket with a white button-down shirt or turtleneck sweater and jeans or leather pants and pumps for the office (if your dress code allows denim and leather).
  3. For date night try a distressed denim just above the knee skirt with sequin top and a tweed blazer, a clutch and black patent leather pumps.
  4. If you can pull off high waisted pants, try a pair in tweed and pair them with a turtleneck sweater and pumps. Think a modern interpretation of Marlene Dietrich’s signature style from the 40s.
  5. For the daring, try pairing a tweed skirt with a floral top. So unexpected.
  6. Get your tweed piece in an unexpected cut, for instance, cut as a motorcycle or bomber jacket. Style it like you would style a piece in that cut.
  7. A tweed coat in a classic cut works with nearly everything. Add a pop of color with your accessories. Think of your outerwear like you think of your OOTD. Your outerwear is your urban/outdoor OOTD.
  8. Wear a straight tweed skirt with riding boots, opaque tights, a crew-neck sweater, a bomber jacket and chandeliers for casual Friday.
See these stylists' secrets to look great in tweed over 50. #fashionover50 Click To Tweet

Create Cool Looks with a Tweed Jacket, Blazer or Coat

A tweed jacket provides instant chic Business Casual Style with a white button-down shirt or turtleneck sweater and jeans or pants and pumps for work. A Chanel-type tweed jacket with a graphic Tee plus distressed jeans make a cool Casual Friday look. A just above-the-knee denim skirt with sequin top and a tweed blazer are perfect for going out for drinks with the girls on Friday night. A tweed coat in a classic cut works with nearly everything and is great for a capsule coat wardrobe. It looks so posh chic with a pop of color.

Glam up your tweed clothes. #trendwatch Click To Tweet
midlife style blogger in posh casual work outfit with tweed motorcycle jacket and dark denim skirt
Casual posh work outfit with DIY statement necklace, Jacket Society motorcycle tweed jacket, Oliveo denim skirt, GNW tight, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, College Tee, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Nicole fall sandals (all own)

 

over 50 years old stylist in tweed motorcycle jacket and leather pants
Jacket Society motorcycle jacket, London Jean leather pants, Harley Davidson booties, Ann Taylor sweater, statement necklace, GNW polka dot socks, Steve Madden Mary Janes, Festina watch (all own), and layering top c/o Adea

 

leather cullotes and wool blazer
Anne Klein blazer button-down shirt, Jones New York button-down shirt, Christian Louboutain pumps, leather culottes, Coach bag and DvF sunglasses

 

older woman in leather pants and blazer

fashion blogger over 50 in leather pants fall work outfit
Newport News leather pants, Ann Taylor blazer, statement belt, Oscar de la Rente silk scarf, Philip Lim 3.1 bag, and Anne Klein pumps (all own)

 

A coarse wool skirt always looks stylish with a fine knit sweater, opaque tights and loafers. More on how to wear knits.

Try a tweed skirt with (fake) twinset for an interesting business casual look

One of my readers asked how to keep a classic winter outfit looking interesting. In this post, I created an OOTD that stays with the basic classics: A cashmere sweater, cashmere, cardigan, tight, boots and the American Classic tweet skirt. Instead of the typical twinset, go for an unexpected fake twinset with sweater and cardigan in the same material, but different color. Here you can either go with matching, color block, or one of the two having a pattern where you pick up one color. Use one color to ground your look. In this example, it’s the gray that occurs in the skirt, sweater, tight, and cardigan.

Create interest in your look by wearing classic pieces in an unexpected way. #styletip Click To Tweet

Add interest by wearing it your way

To make the outfit interesting I wrapped the cardigan around my shoulders instead of putting my arms into the sleeves. I hope Mademoiselle forgives me that I wear it my way. 😉

style book author in winter look with tweet skirt with sweater and cardigan worn over the shoulders
Fake twinset with a L.L. Bean arglye cashmere sweater, Moda International cardigan, Vince Camuto suede boots, gray GNW tight, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Bulova watch, gem stone bangle, Ray Ban mirrored sunglasses, and gray belt for shape (all own) for an unexpected classic, but interesting business casual look

 

You may be interested in seeing additional winter looks with the argyle sweater, or the tweed skirt.

 

Wear a Tweed Skirt/Dress Beyond the Office

A straight, just above-the-knee tweed skirt with nude pantyhose, a twinset, pearl necklaces and flat loafers are an evergreen classic that HR and Mademoiselle would approve any time. The tricks to not look dated are to make sure the skirt’s cut and shoes are modern; the colors are neutrals or the current It color.

style book author in coarse wool fabric skirt and Fair Isle sweater with tall boots and opaque tight
Eddie Bauer coarse wool fabric skirt, Eddie Bauer Fair Isle sweater, GNW opaque tight, Vince Camuto tall boots, and statement belt (all own)

 

Take inspiration where you see it and twist it your way. #personalstyle #agelessstyle Click To Tweet

But a skirt in this fabulous coarse wool fabric can do so much more for your personal style. Create a casual sporty weekend look with a cable knit sweater and statement sneakers. A coarse skirt with a floral top is an eclectic style Must-do. Wear a straight tweed skirt with riding boots and motorcycle or bomber jacket, opaque tights, a crew-neck sweater, a bomber jacket and chandeliers for Casual Friday.

midlife lady in long cardigan, belt, necklace, and knee length tweed skirt with boots
Office look with trendy long Philosophy cardigan, knee-length Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, Gucci belt, DIY silver and steal necklace, Hermes collier de chien bangle, GNW tight, and Vince Camutto slouchy boots (all own)

 

style book author in tweed skirt and floral bomber
GNW Luxe sweater, Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, GNW tight, Vince Camuto suede boots, Rebecca Taylor floral print silk bomber jacket, Hermes collier de chien bangle (all own) and baroque natural opera length pearl necklace c/o Pearl Clasp

 

style blogger in coarse wool skirt and cable knit sweater
Anne Klein cable knit sweater, Halogen coarse wool skirt, silk abstract floral print scarf, belt, GNW tight, Hermes collier de chien, and Jimmy Choo tall boots (all own)

 

style book author in otk suede caloches

influencer in denim and tweed work look in brown and blue
Outfit details: Carhartt gingham button-down shirt, Ann Taylor floral tweet skirt, Tailored denim jacket with thrifted collar, Dior over-the-knee boots, Yves Saint Laurent bag, Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, Moda International cashmere sweater, Festina watch, and Hermes collier de chien bangle (all own)

 

fashion blogger in winter work outfit with skirt and denim jacket
Eddie Bauer skirt, GNW Luxe sweater, Pavlova fringe scarf, Star denim jacket, GNW tight, and Vice Camuto suede boots (all own)

 

style blogger in Chanel style sheath dress
Navy Chanel-inspired sheath dress c/o Shein with own brooches, GNW Luxe sweater, GNW tight, Hermes collier de chien bangle and leather cuff, barrette, brooch and Antonio Melani booties

 

coarse wool sheath worn as skirt
Jeanne and Pierre sweater, BB Dakota coarse wool fabric sheath dress worn as skirt, statement belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, studded head band, GNW flannel tights, Jimmy Choo shearling boots (all own) and wooden sport watch c/o Jord

 

What to Wear with Coarse Wool Pants

High waisted tweed pants provide instant style with a turtleneck sweater and sturdy heel pumps. For Casual Friday skip the jeans and wear trousers in this fabric with a sweatshirt or tee. Add medium heel lace-up oxfords and a string of pearls plus diamond studs. At the ski resort, pants in this fabric look fabulous with a colorful fake Fair Isle sweater or and colorful Norwegian lice jacket and loben boots for dinner or drinks at the bar. What about an eclectic British inspired outdoor look with a slim pair of pants in this awesome wool fabric with Wellingtons or neutral color rain boots, a paisley button-down shirt and a corduroy jacket with leather patches at the elbows?

monochromatic weekend look with coarse fabric bottom and opaque tight
Eddie Bauer Fair Isle sweater, Hermes collier de chain bangle, statement belt, Eddie Bauer coarse fabric bottom, GNW opaque tights, and Vince Camuto tall suede boots (all own)

 

Tweed fabric is as versatile as denim. Wear it the same way for instant style. #agelessstyle Click To Tweet

Further Tweed Outfit Ideas

The floral weave of the skirt shown below looks unexpected. The unmatched suit combination creates a modern vibe.

woman in tweed skirt with blazer as unmatched suit
Ann Taylor floral weave tweed skirt with blazer, Landsend sweater, Kate Moss for Longchamp satchel, L.K. Bennett patent leather pumps, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, statement necklace, and Hermes collier de chien bangle (all own).

 

The next example shows an unmatched skirt suit where the blazer serves as outerwear.

influencer in mix prints/pattern
Ann Taylor floral tweed skirt with Burberry plaid blazer, silk scarf, L.K. Bennett patent leather pumps, Gucci scarf and Kate Moss for Longchamp satchel (all own)

 

The following is a nice Casual Friday look.

fashion blogger over 55 in tweed skirt and denim jacket
Great Northwest denim jacket, Ann Taylor tweed skirt, GNW Luxe sweater, GNW tight,LV bucket bag, DIY statement necklace and heeled ducks (all own)

 

style book author in a tweed skirt with floral top
Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, Notations floral top, BCBG statement belt , Festina watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle and Valentino pumps (all own)

 

mature style blogger in a tweed motorcycle jacket with sheath dress
Tweed Jacket Society motorcycle jacket over leather sheath dress, Anne Klein sweater, DIY pendant necklace, Festina watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Haftee, pantyhose and Apostrophe Mary Janes (all own) for work

 

over 50 years old Alaskan style blogger in tweed skirt with down blazer and polka dot tights
GNW polka dot tights, Vince Camuto slouchy boots, Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, Max Mara thin down jacket, Brooks Brothers turtleneck cashmere sweater, quartz pendant with rubberband necklace and Judith Leiber charm belt (all own)

 

fashion blogger in heels and above the knee skirt
Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, pantyhose, Christian Louboutin pumps, J. Crew long-sleeve, high neck silk top, and gemstone statement necklace (all own)

 

mature style winter work outfit with cardigan and tweed dress
Work outfit with teal GNW tight, teal GNW cardigan, Antonio Melani boots, Sak bag (all own), best girlfriend bracelet c/o Chico’s and tweed dress c/o Shein

 

midlife woman in a posh corporative office style
Ann Taylor floral tweed skirt worn with an Oliveo button down shirt, statement necklace, Tissot stone watch, Oliveo suede cropped blazer, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Kate Moss for Longchamp bag, and Dior over-the-knee boots (all own)

 

mature woman in tweed skirt with motorcycle vest
Eddie Bauer tweed skirt with GNW tights, fall booties, and Landsend cashmere sweater, Modalo Pippa bag, and VS leather vest (all own)

 

over 50 years old stylist wearing a tweed skirt with pop of color
Eddie Bauer tweed skirt with Brooks Brother striped cashmere sweater with layering top, GNW tight, and a pop of color with Christian Louboutin neon  pumps (all own)

 

fashion over 50 midlife woman in tweed motorcycle jacket with leather pants
Tweed Jacket Society  motorcycle jacket with London Jean leather pants, Salvotore Ferragamo pumps, Jaeger tote, Hermes collier de chien bracelet,  statement belt (all own), and layering top c/o Adea

 

over 50 years old blogger with shoulder long hair looking street chic in biker, skirt, boots and floral scarf
Eddie Bauer skirt, pantyhose, Anne Klein floral scarf, Lookbook Store leather biker coat, GNW cable knit knee high socks, Sanchez riding boots, sweater (all own)

 

midlife influencer in long cardigan and knee length tweed skirt with boots
Philosophy long cardigan, knee-length Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, Gucci belt, DIY silver and steal necklace, GNW tight, and Vince Camutto boots (all own)

 

fashionista in navy and white pencil dress, burgundy accents
GNW burgundy cardigan, silk square worn as bracelet, and GNW burgundy tight (all own) Mousse & Cloud booties c/o Coolway, sheath dress c/o Shein

 

Tweed Provides Stylish Thermal Comfort

Tweed is a great fabric. It has great insulation properties and can make the stretch from elegant to casual without problems. This means a tweed skirt, jacket or blazer are a good investment. Here are my tips to land a winning tweed outfit.

fashionista over 50 wearing a tweed motorcycle jacket

great look in tweed with unexpected cut
Jacket Society tweed motorcycle jacket with Brooks Brothers cable knit cashmere sweater, Oliveo striped leather skirt, Prada bag, DIY pendant necklace, Valentino pumps (all own), and wooden watch c/o Jord

 

When you like the tips above, you may also want to get my style book How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy your copy now.

How Not to Wear Tweed over 40

  1. Matching skirt and/or pants plus blazer as this combination was the go-to in the 80s for the twenty somethings. Thus, this look lets us over 40 look old-fashioned/trapped in time.
  2. Wearing it like your mother did. It would send the message that you never developed your own style and/or ideas. Copy-cat alert in the worst sense!
  3. Wearing a straight tweed skirt with lace flat shoes and a matching embellished twinset or a boxy long (shapeless) jacket.

In a Nutshell

In conclusion one can sum up the above tips into the three stylists’ secrets to create great looks in tweed clothes nobody told you:

  1. Unmatch the suits,
  2. Add bold color or prints,
  3. Glam them up.
Tweed fabric is as versatile as denim. Wear it the same way for instant style. #agelessstyle Click To Tweet

What tweed items are in your closet? How do you wear this fabric? Let me know, I am curious.

When you like these style tips, you may want to buy my style recipe book.

 

When you liked this post, please tell your friends and share the post so they can read it too (and owe you). You may also like to read about how to create a posh monochromatic look.

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Photos: G. Kramm

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