Shimmer—which is usually subtle and fine—is not the same as glitter, which can be chunky and messy (as well as a hazard if it gets into your eye.) That’s why a shimmer eyeshadow can stay, but glitter needs to go. The slippers are fine, but the original (and ubiquitous) Ugg boots are the sartorial equivalent of leaving your house in your oldest, most misshapen set of pajamas. Toss them and buy new ones ASAP. They’re inexpensive enough that there’s no excuse not to do this, and there are few things less professional than walking around with torn pantyhose. It’s time to upgrade to leather. Not only will it last you longer and endure more wear-and-tear, but it’ll also make your travel experience feel first-class—whether or not it actually is. It may be a handy place to leave reminders, post pictures, and create a secret vision board—but that’s why we have Pinterest. Your ex’s college sweatshirt may be the most comfortable thing you’ve ever worn in your entire life, but it’s also your ex’s college sweatshirt, and not worthy of a spot of honor in your closet. Return it—or burn it. The last thing any woman needs is for her pants to sag around the butt…on purpose. It’s not flattering even when you’re 20. You don’t need this. If anything, staring into a magnifying mirror will drive you crazy and cause you to obsess (and, if you happen to groom your eyebrows yourself, it’ll make you a little too tweezers-happy, too). J. Lo’s first fragrance, the fruity floral Glow, was a classic. But now, hundreds of celebrity-branded perfumes later, these star-studded scents have been watered down. It’s time to move on. If you’re a woman over 40, you probably have years’ worth of bridesmaid dresses languishing in the back of your closet. You may have paid a lot for them, but they’ve served their purpose and, let’s be real, who wants to wear an old bridesmaid dress anywhere? Consider donating them instead. Headbands are the beauty equivalent of Mary Jane-style shoes: a little fussy and very, very girly. You’re better off pulling your hair back into a clean, simple ponytail—unless your hair is short, in which case, employ bobby pins to keep your locks out of your face. It’s elastic hair tie—minimalist and easy—or bust. They look like you accidentally walked out of the salon in the middle of a single-process. To be fair, they’re handy if you need to section your hair while you’re styling it, but they otherwise should never see the light of day. And don’t even get us started on plastic banana clips. If you’re shuffling around in those white, hotel-branded slippers, you’re probably in need of some real ones of your own. Splurge on a pair lined with shearling or something equally soft and warm—it’s a worthwhile investment. The tiniest diamond is miles better than the biggest cubic zirconia. If you’re going to wear leggings, they should be reserved for exercise only. And if you’re going to break that rule (since we can all agree that they make for excellent loungewear) at least make sure they’re black, which looks more chic and flattering than bright, loud colors.
If you can’t bear to part with them—since that Morrissey concert might have truly changed your life—at least frame them.
Canned rosé is one thing. Tequila that comes in a plastic bottle is a different story, one that’s depressing and has a sad ending. Not only is the quality likely sub par, but it also looks cheap, too. You’re no longer in your 20s, nor are you dealing with sloppy roommates (or your sloppy self, hopefully). You can afford to buy—and not drop—basic wine glasses made of actual glass. Sweatpants? Perfect for curling up with Netflix. Zip-up sweater? Love it. Together? Not so much, and even less so if said sweatpants have any sort of wording or phrase on the behind. Let them go, please, for the love of all women everywhere. No one needs to know who designed every single item of clothing you’re wearing—or your purse. Some of the most elegant, timeless pieces (think silk button-down shirts) can speak for themselves. Throw. Them. Out. Decked-out keychains are only cool when you’re 14 and don’t have any actual keys to carry around. Otherwise, they’re loud, they weigh down your bag, and they reveal to the world that yes, you have been to Sea World. Tassels, whether on belts or your purse, exist solely to get in the way. Seriously—when has anyone ever been thankful for tassels? You can get away with the occasional accent nail, but a full set of nail art is a lot of things—none of which is “elegant.” Imagine leading a board meeting with hands covered in multiple polish colors. Go with your favorite color—or experiment with something bright—but lay off the whimsical details. If you can see the underwire, then it’s time to toss it. Also, bras that don’t fit well or feel uncomfortable fall under this heading, too. If you haven’t found one that suits you yet, take yourself to the nearest lingerie store for a fitting with a pro. Not only do charm bracelets get caught on your sweater, but people can also hear you coming from a mile away. Those charms are like tiny cowbells for humans, something that is definitely ridiculous in your 40s. Is your phone case blinged out? Or, maybe worse, designed to look like a banana? Then it’s definitely time to upgrade it to something sleek and simple. If you still want some flair, try subtle patterns or a set of your initials. Wristlet purses are a godsend when you’re planning to go out to the club and don’t want to schlep around your tote bag. And, since that actually sounds miserable past the age of 22, there’s no point in hanging onto that wristlet, either.
We’re not saying you should relegate yourself to “mom jeans.” Just opt for a higher-waisted style. You can still experiment with different silhouettes, from slouchy boyfriend jeans (cute and comfortable) to skinny jeans. Really, no one of any age should be wearing a peasant blouse, least of all a woman in her 40s. But if you’ve let yours linger in your closet since the early 2000s (the last time peasant blouses were in style), it’s time to add it to your donation pile. Sure, there’s something very Fifty Shades of Grey about a simple choker necklace. But if you feel bad about your neck, there’s no faster way to draw attention to it than with a choker. If a dust ruffle is supposed to prevent dust in any way, it does not work. The only purpose it serves is to simply hide the dust bunnies gathering under the bed—and, also, make you feel like you’re back in the 1990s. Due to the magic of the internet, being clueless about how often you should water your snake plant is no longer an excuse for having a not-so-green thumb. If you can’t tell whether you’re under-watering or over-watering your plant, toss it and replace it with a succulent. Succulents are so low-maintenance that you have to actively try to kill them.
You should be going through SPF so quickly that it never gets a chance to expire. That’s partly for skin cancer protection, but also for anti-aging. After all, a 2016 study in the journal Dermatologic Surgery found that using sunscreen on a daily basis can not only prevent sun damage, but may actually reverse signs of photo-aging, like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. We’re not going to imply that Fluffy needs to go in the trash. (We would not dare.) But consider hiding your beloved stuffed animal, gifting it to your child or a young family member, or, at the very least, not displaying it on your bed. Colored pencils are essential if you’re into art as a hobby, but if you find yourself writing checks and jotting notes in purple ink, it’s time to buy a box of new pens in black or blue ink. Affordable jewelry is always a good idea, but if you notice it turning your skin green, take it out of rotation. It’s not harmful, but the green can detract from the appeal of great accessories. Opt for metals like stainless steel, white gold, and platinum instead, all of which are less likely to react with skin.
If you’re missing the other half to a pair of socks—and have been waiting for it to reappear for weeks—give up and buy new ones. Because you’ll either wait forever, with one unmatched sock taking up space, or you’ll end up walking around with two completely mismatched socks. Neither of which are viable options for women in their 40s.
With all respect to Delta Gamma, these don’t hold much (if any) social cache once you’ve reached the real world—much less spent 20 years in it. This is that somewhat obnoxious collection of shot glasses you start when you’re in college and accumulate over spring breaks, bachelorette parties, and wild girls’ weekends. One or two of these is fine, but if someone needs to use a shot glass, your best option shouldn’t be one that reads “Keep Calm and Party On” in bright pink lettering.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Worn out shoes should not exist in your closet. You’re at an age now where you either need to suck it up and throw them out or take them to get repaired. Good shoes take up too much room as is—don’t let useless ones waste space entirely. This means overly embellished tops, shoes, and especially jeans—unless you’re wearing them ironically, of course. That meme about adults telling you there are holes in your jeans exists for a reason.
This goes with that whole idea that adults change their sheets once every week. The easiest way to do that? Have more than one pair of sheets.
Halter tops are hard for anyone to pull off that isn’t a 20-year-old Hollywood actress in the 1990s. There’s no need to accentuate that area. Just stick to tanks or short sleeves. It’s short, it’s tight, it’s just a no. This is the type of outerwear that just screams “rebellious youth.” That’s not the type of vibe you want to be giving after you’ve lived, experienced, and wised up. These should get thrown out the second you graduate from college. They’re great to have in small spaces, seeing as they fold up. But no mature person wants to sink into that at a dinner party. Inspirational quotes are fun and motivational, but do you really still need to have them covering your walls? That’s what notebooks and Pinterest are for. Not to mention, real art can be just as inspirational and much more appropriate on your walls. To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to follow us on Instagram!
