There’s something magical about turning 40. The noise settles. Your taste sharpens. You stop dressing to impress everyone and start dressing like the woman you’ve grown into—wise, unbothered, and very clear about who she is. Which is precisely why some style habits deserve to be retired by this chapter of your life. Not because 40 is some invisible fashion deadline, but because you finally know better. And knowing better should translate to looking better.
Here are the style mistakes no stylish, self-assured woman in her 40s should still be making.
Wearing Clothes That Don’t Fit—Either Way
Let’s begin with the most common offender: fit. By 40, you should know that a good tailor is worth more than a wardrobe full of designer pieces. Too-tight clothes don’t make you look youthful; they make you look uncomfortable. Too-loose clothes don’t hide anything; they simply drown your shape. Your clothes should sit on your body the way they sit on mannequins—clean, confident, intentional. Fit isn’t vanity, it’s respect for your silhouette.
Chasing Every Trend That Pops Up on Your Feed
In your 20s, experimenting was charming. In your 30s, it was forgivable. But by 40, your wardrobe should no longer behave like an algorithm. Every trend isn’t meant for everyone—and that’s a relief. Pick the trends that speak to your lifestyle and compliment your personal aesthetic. If it doesn’t amplify your presence or bring you joy, leave it on the hanger for Gen Z to play with.
Ignoring Quality Over Quantity
A stylish 40-something knows the power of investment. You don’t need 12 new handbags every season. You need two or three that will outlive the hype—and possibly you. Quality pieces age with grace; cheap ones age with spite. From leather to buttons to stitching, pay attention to the details. This is the decade where your wardrobe should say, “I understand craftsmanship,” not “I panic-bought this at 11pm during a flash sale.”
Sticking to the Same Hairstyle You’ve Had for a Decade
This isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about evolving. A dated hairstyle can drag down even the most carefully curated outfit. You don’t need a drastic chop (unless you want one), but you do need a refresh. Softer layers, sharper cuts, or a richer colour can completely transform how your clothes come alive on you. Your hair should reflect your evolution, not your nostalgia.
Over-Accessorising Because You Think It “Completes” the Look
Accessories should elevate, not overwhelm. By 40, the “more is more” phase has hopefully expired. You don’t need every statement necklace, earring, bangle, brooch, and belt fighting for attention. Pick one hero piece. Let it shine. Under-accessorising, ironically, often says you have more style than forcing everything to work at once.
Wearing Shoes That Torture You
Pain is not aspirational—especially not at 40. Your feet have carried you through jobs, children, heartbreaks, Lagos traffic, and countless reinventions. They’ve earned comfort. Luckily, comfortable shoes no longer look like punishment. You can have good arch support and great style. Block heels, beautifully made flats, mules, and well-structured sneakers are your friends. Leave the toe-crushing stilettos for nights when you’re carried into the car.
Avoiding Colour Out of Fear of “Doing Too Much”
This is the decade for boldness. If you’ve spent your 20s and 30s hiding behind black, navy, and beige, let 40 be your awakening. Colour adds personality, light, and energy. Even if you’re not a dopamine-dresser, a pop of red, a touch of emerald, or a smart print can instantly modernise your look. You’re not doing “too much.” You’re doing you—just brighter.
Holding Onto Clothes Because of Sentiment, Not Style
We all have that dress we swear we’ll one day fit into again. Or the jeans from ten years ago that hold “memories.” But a cluttered wardrobe muddies your style. By 40, your closet should be edited, intentional, and filled with pieces you actually wear. Keep the pieces that serve you, not the ones that guilt-trip you.
Mistaking Expensive for Stylish
After 40, authenticity becomes the true luxury. A ₦500k dress worn without confidence looks cheaper than a thoughtfully styled ₦50k piece. Style is in your eye, your posture, your choices—not the price tag. Anyone can buy clothing; not everyone can curate it.
Thinking You Still Have to Dress “Young” to Look Young
There is nothing more ageing than trying too hard to look younger. Your 40s are not the decade to be fighting teenagers on micro-mini hems or wearing clothes that look like you borrowed them from your niece’s weekend suitcase. Youthfulness is an energy, not a crop top. What actually makes you look young? Clothes that fit right, colours that flatter your skin, and a sense of ease. Simplicity is the new youthful glow.
Still Saving Your “Good Clothes” for Special Occasions
By 40, you should wear your good clothes now. That dinner dress you’ve been saving? Wear it to brunch. That silk blouse you reserve for “important days”? Wear it to work on a random Tuesday. Life is the occasion. And besides, what exactly are we saving them for—harmattan? Live a little. Wear the clothes.
Ignoring Undergarments Because “No One Will See It”
Ah, but we see it. Everyone sees it. In your 40s, good underwear is not optional. It smooths, lifts, shapes, and gives your clothes the foundation they need to look expensive. A great bra can change your entire posture. Proper shapewear can make a ₦25k dress look like couture. This is not about hiding your body; it’s about supporting it.
Buying Clothes That Don’t Match Your Actual Lifestyle
This is the age when you truly confront yourself:
Do you really need another sequined dress when you mostly go to work, church, school runs, and the occasional birthday dinner? Or is it just shopping excitement? A grown-woman wardrobe should mirror your real life—not your fantasy life on Instagram.
Wearing “Default” Outfits Because You Feel Overwhelmed
We all know the default uniform: black top + jeans + slippers. In your 40s, it’s easy to slip into autopilot because life is busy, but your wardrobe shouldn’t feel like survival mode. A grown, stylish woman has a few go-to formulas—blazer + tank + tailored pants, crisp white shirt + midi skirt, monochrome sets—that look polished even on chaotic days.
