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The Best Dresses for Women Over 50 in 2024

Perfect picks are not too short, not too bare, not too tight and loaded with style


spinner image a collage of women wearing dresses
(Left to right) Jean Smart, Lucy Liu, Tamron Hall, Cynthia Nixon and Hannah Waddingham.
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images; Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images (2); Getty Images)

Have you shopped for a dress recently? Looking for one is not what it once was. There’s no rifling through racks to feel the fabric or dressing room try-ons with a helpful salesperson bringing backup sizes (and her opinion) to you. Instead, urged on by sales, “the last three left!” alerts and promising customer ratings, women cross their fingers, hit buy and wait for the magic … the dress that will boost their body confidence and fit like a dream. It’s tricky. Updated styles and new lengths can make choosing a winner hit or miss. Not anymore! Here are six foolproof looks for all:

spinner image an orange dress and a pink dress
(Left to right) Eloquii Cross Front Flutter Sleeve Dress in Peppery Vermillion ($100, eloquii.com); Donna Karan Women’s V-Neck Belted Short Sleeve Dress in Tourmaline ($100, macys.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Eloquii; Macy's)

1. The look-at-me statement dress

The right color turns any dress you buy into a showstopper and compliment-getter and gives a basic wardrobe a blast of personal style. This is the one to reach for when you want to stand out in a crowd (for example, at a class reunion or crowded party), be memorable (a first date) or just to boost your mood. No need for a professional “color consultant.” Check your makeup for cues about what hues light up your face, brighten your skin and make your hair and eye color pop. Pinks, roses, corals and reds — lipstick and blush colors — never fail. Try the voluminous-sleeved Banana Republic Factory Voile ElbowSleeve Midi Dress in Dragon Fruit ($90, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com), the comfy knit Eloquii Cross Front Flutter Sleeve Dress in Peppery Vermillion ($60, eloquii.com) and the tailored Donna Karan Women’s V-Neck Belted Short Sleeve Dress in Tourmaline ($100, macys.com) for rave reviews.

spinner image women wearing three different dresses
(Left to right) Boden Wrap Jersey Midi Dress in Navy, Scattered Foil Spot ($150, bodenusa.com); Lane Bryant 3/4 Sleeve Faux-Wrap Jersey Midi Dress in Maritime Blue or Black ($29, lanebryant.com); Quince Women Tercel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress in Brown, Dark Olive, Black or Navy ($60, quince.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Boden; Lane Bryant; Quince)

2. The give-me-a-shape-fast dress

Every woman needs a wrap dress on call. It saves the day when extra pounds creep up, you feel bloated or haven’t worked out in weeks. Its success as a shape-shifter is partly due to design and partly to optics. Here’s how: The crossover design of wraps and faux wraps (known as a surplice wrap) creates a V neckline, which visually balances width at the hips and thighs and lifts and separates the bust, while the tie waist chisels even the smallest indent to create firm, defined curves. Longer wraps such as the Quince Women Tercel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress in Brown, Dark Olive, Black or Navy ($60, quince.com), the Lane Bryant 3/4 Sleeve Faux-Wrap Jersey Midi Dress in Maritime Blue or Black ($36, lanebryant.com) and the Boden Wrap Jersey Midi Dress in Navy, Scattered Foil Spot ($150, bodenusa.com) are especially flattering since the extra “midi” inches add “flow” and movement to elongate the body and provide bare leg camouflage. It sounds tricky since a dress has to work in many different spots — at shoulders, arms, bust, waist, hips and length — but stretchy fluid jersey wraps lead in adapting to every shape.

spinner image women wearing three different dresses
(Left to right) J. Jill Elevated Maxi T-Shirt Dress in Graphite Gray or Navy Blue ($99, jjill.com); Athleta Essential Midi Dress in Pyrite or Black ($53, athleta.gap.com); Woman Within Women’s Plus-Size Perfect Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee Dress in Petal Purple or Vivid Red ($31, target.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: J.Jill; Athleta; Target)

3. The I’m-into-comfort sneaker dress

A new category of dresses blurs the boundaries between sporty athleisure looks and streetwear. Casual T-shirt, polo and tank styles are an alternative to leggings and pair perfectly with sneakers, slides and sandals. They’re some of the best warm-weather wardrobe additions, and there are options in sleeve length and hemlines for all. Choose an elongated classic tee such as the J.Jill Elevated Maxi T-Shirt Dress in Graphite Gray or Navy Blue ($99, jjill.com), a knee-length swing shape such as the Woman Within Women’s Plus-Size Perfect Short-Sleeve Crewneck Tee Dress in Petal Purple or Vivid Red ($30, target.com) or a high-neck tank such as the Athleta Essential Midi Dress in Pyrite or Black ($53, athleta.gap.com) depending on your bare-ability. All three are style-worthy enough for coffee or lunch with the girls, a family barbecue or as a fashionable pool party cover-up. You’ll wish you had one on every beach vacation.

spinner image four women wearing different dresses
(Left to right) Everlane The Linen Short-Sleeve Wrap Dress in Cornstalk Chambray or Black ($158, everlane.com); Worthington Short Sleeve Midi Shirt Dress in Orange Soda ($48, jcpenney.com); Calvin Klein Women’s Printed Belted Surplice- Neck A-Line Dress in Black Latte ($139, macys.com); Kasper Women’s Printed Elbow-Sleeve Midi Dress in Black/ Sea Glass Multi ($89, macys.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Everlane; JC Penny; Macy's (2))

4. The I-mean-business dress

Power dressing for working women 50-plus is a tailored situation. Workplaces have eased up on dress codes, and dresses (not pantsuits!) are the key to looking polished and professional. The best choices are not stuffy dress-for-success styles or cookie-cutter sheaths that require heels and shapewear. For a business-like attitude, count on structure with a fashion twist in neutral colors. Edit your browsing to wrap, A-line, fit-and-flare styles and shirtdresses in a midi length with some sort of sleeve (long, short, cap, elbow or three-quarter). They’ll look on-trend and contemporary and allow you to cross your legs without tugging the hemline down. Choose crisp fabrics such as cotton and linen or substantial blends of polyester or viscose that keep their shape. Four examples are Everlane’s The Linen Short-Sleeve Wrap Dress in Cornstalk Chambray or Black ($158, everlane.com), the Allegra K Women’s Wear-to-Work A-Line V-Neck Midi Dress with 3/4 Sleeves in Navy Blue or Dark Green ($44, walmart.com), the Worthington Short Sleeve Midi Shirt Dress in Orange Soda ($48, jcpenney.com) and J.Crew’s The Elena Shirtdress in Cotton Poplin, Black ($168, jcrew.com) with a major Audrey Hepburn-goes-to-the-office vibe.

spinner image three women wearing different dresses
(Left to right) H&M Women Pleated One Shoulder Dress in White/ Gray Floral or Navy Blue ($35, hm.com/en_us); Ann Taylor Floral Linen Blend 3/4 Sleeve Shift in Magenta Shadow ($101, anntaylor.com) above knee; Chico’s Floral Lace Shift Dress in Classic Navy ($118, chicos.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: H&M; Ann Taylor; Chico's)

5. The this-makes-me-feel-sexy dress

To bare or not to bare? How much of your shape to show is always one of the top dress questions women ask me in my role as a fashion editor/stylist/personal shopper. Their concerns range from sun-damaged, crepey chests to leg discolorations and wiggly upper arms. There are no age-appropriate rules, but in the spirit of taste and body positivity, be selective. Designate one show-off spot at a time. For most women, this will be legs, shoulders or the neck/upper décolletage area. To display still-great legs, you might choose a just-above-the-knee dress (I call this a “long mini”) such as the Ann Taylor Floral Linen Blend 3/4 Sleeve Shift in Magenta Shadow ($169, anntaylor.com). Make the most of gorgeous shoulders (we all have them, regardless of size and shape) with the Sofia Jeans by Sofia Vergara Women’s Maxi Dress with Double Ruffle in Malay Leaves or Black ($26, walmart.com) or H&M Women Pleated One Shoulder Dress in White/Gray Floral or Navy Blue ($35, hm.com). And last, the major trend for black and navy dresses with sheer or lace details at sleeves, décolletage and hemlines gives not-so-firm arms, sun-damaged skin and legs a provocative way to reveal and conceal. Try the Chico’s Floral Lace Shift Dress in Classic Navy ($169, chicos.com) with lace sleeves and hem or the Alex Evenings Embellished Shift Cocktail Dress in Black ($199, nordstrom.com) with sheer black bodice and sleeves for an elegant hide-and-seek effect.

spinner image two women wearing a dress
(Left to right) Premier Amour Lace Long Sleeve Midi Sheath Dress in Black ($51, jcpenney.com); Calvin Klein Draped One-Shoulder Gown in Black ($199, macys.com)
Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: JC Penny; Macy's)

6. The I-need-a-wow-dress dress

Every year, women search the back of their closet for a fancy dress or gown from a wedding, bar mitzvah or other party they attended. The heat is on, and many wait too long, only to find at the 11th hour that the remembered sequin sheath no longer fits, the floaty chiffon looks dated and the beaded mother-of-the-bride gown feels frumpy. It’s time to look for a classy sophisticated black dress that can handle multiple festive situations. Black guarantees maximum versatility and never fails to make women feel chic. Choose your favorite length — knee, midi or long — depending on your legs (even the dressiest occasions no longer demand a long gown). Select a neckline that makes you feel glam without going overboard, and buy a supportive black strapless or multi-strap bra. The best styles are off-the-shoulder looks, including the Premier Amour Lace Long Sleeve Midi Sheath Dress in Black ($79, jcpenney.com), and one-shoulder looks such as the Calvin Klein Draped One-Shoulder Gown in Black ($199, macys.com) and the Dress the Population Tiffany One-Shoulder Midi Dress in Black ($148, nordstrom.com). Save the glitz and sparkle for your jewelry.

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