Where to Shop Now: Clothing Stores For Stylish Women Over 50
Every few months, I get a message that reads, “Where do you shop now?” It’s usually from a woman who’s over 50, frustrated, feeling invisible in the mall, and I totally get it. The fashion landscape shifts quickly, and not always in our favor.
So I’ve pulled together a fresh list of places I personally shop (and a few I browse for styling ideas), with real opinions on who they work for, why they’re worth considering, and what to know before you spend your time or your money.
Some of these brands are long-time staples in my wardrobe. Others come highly recommended by readers who value quality, comfort, and a polished, modern aesthetic. Whether you’re refreshing your wardrobe, rebuilding it entirely, or just curious where to look, I hope this guide helps you shop with more confidence and less frustration.
Best Clothing Stores for Ladies Over 50
Nordstrom
Nordstrom remains one of the most reliable and my favorite department stores to shop for well-made clothing that works for real life. They carry a wide range of brands and price points, with styles that lean classic and modern rather than overly trendy. Many pieces are available in petite, plus, and tall sizing, which makes finding a good fit a little easier.
Their website is straightforward to use and allows you to filter by fabric, inseam, brand, and other details that matter. They offer free shipping and returns, and their customer service can’t be beaten. Their in-store service is wonderful, but as with all retailers these days, their selection is much larger online. Here’s my latest Nordstrom try-on.
- Good for: wardrobe staples, denim, shoes, outerwear
- You can find their plus sizes here, and petites here.
- Tip: Brands like Caslon, Halogen, Wit & Wisdom, Nic+Zoe, and NYDJ often have versatile pieces that are easy to build into an everyday wardrobe.
More Department Stores:
- Bloomingdale’s: In Store/Online
- Dillards: In-Store/Online – mainly found in the south, but has a great selection for weddings and events, and carries many brands that Nordstrom does.
Investment and Timeless
Eileen Fisher
One of my favorite brands to shop is Eileen Fisher. I love their brand ethics, designs, and their size-inclusivity. Women come in all shapes and sizes, and EF recognizes that. It’s also one of the best-selling brands here on the blog because their styles are timeless, and they create sustainable fashion that stands the test of time. I won’t shop at fast-fashion stores and want to do all I can to ensure workers are paid a living wage. Building a sustainable wardrobe is more important to me as I age because I’m concerned about the impact of discarded clothing that is clogging our landfills.
Frank & Eileen
In a world of fast fashion, finding a brand that aligns with my values as a consumer can be difficult. Frank & Eileen is a woman-owned company with a 100% female leadership team and believes in sustainable, ethical fashion. On top of all of that, their pieces are timeless, versatile, and stylish.
J. McLaughlin
J.McLaughlin’s style is known for its bright colors, bold patterns, and playful prints, making it a favorite among those who appreciate preppy and chic fashion. While higher in price point than many of the things I tend to feature, they do have quality, classic pieces that can be in your wardrobe for years to come.
Jenni Kayne
Jenni Kayne’s clothing is known for its clean lines, neutral colors, and classic silhouettes, making it a great choice for those who prefer timeless pieces. They are very high-quality, classic pieces that will last you for years to come. With that amazing quality comes a higher price tag, so when I saw their best-selling Fishermen sweater marked way down during a Black Friday sale, it jumped into my cart. When the box arrived, I fully expected to send it back…until I touched it. It’s the softest cashmere I have ever felt in my life. I tried it on, and that was it. I could not send it back. I’ve since added 2 more to my wardrobe and adore them.
More Investment Brands to Shop
- La Ligne
- M.M. Lafleur…I have their 90s jeans and love them.
- Alex Mill
- AYR is known for its denim and button-down shirts.
- Rails
Everyday Wardrobe Builders
Chico’s
Chico’s is unique among major women’s clothing retailers because it carries styles to suit all women’s tastes and style preferences. Chico’s sizes are named a little differently than most brands, but here is a quick guide to make it easier for you: 000(0/XS), 00 (0/2– XS), 0 (4/6 S), 1 (8/10-M), 2 (12/14-L), 3 (16/18-XL), 4 (20/22-XXL). The brand also carries many garments in petite and some in tall. Their “No-Iron” shirts are amazing!
Talbots
Talbots is another go-to shopping destination for me! This size-inclusive brand has been providing women with timeless, modern, classic styles for 75 years, and their high-quality pieces last me for years and years. Talbots is also one of the most popular brands with AWSL readers.
Athleta
I’ve talked about my love of Athleta many times. You can read more about my Athleta favorites here. I find their pieces super comfy and perfect for everyday or travel.
Quince
I began adding Quince to my wardrobe a few years ago and have never looked back. I started with their classic $50 cashmere pullover and went on from there. We now have their amazing down pillows on our bed, French cutlery in our kitchen, and a cashmere throw on our couch. The quality is lovely, and the price can’t be beat. You may also enjoy reading my guide to Quince’s bestsellers.
More Mid-Level Stores and Brands to Shop:
- J. Jill – I love sharing J. Jill! It’s one of my readers’ favorite stores.
- Soft Surroundings – I’ve been seeing Soft Surroundings making a comeback! While I don’t think they have stores anymore, they do seem to be selling online.
- Boden – British brand expanding to the states that is classic and colorful, like Talbots.
- Tuckernuck – Classic and preppy.
- J.Crew – Classic and timeless pieces for all ages.
- Sézane – I love the quality and unique look of Sezane. They’re also a Certified B-corp, so their business practices align with my values.
Do you have any stores or brands to add to the list? Where are your favorite places to shop?
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
You are exactly right!!! These are the very same things my friends and I have been saying. We go shopping for clothes and say “what I have in my closet looks better than anything here”! Thank you for this post!
Thank for this post
Love this list. I sometimes order from many of these, but my tried and true are Talbots and Ann Taylor. I find Ann Taylor especially good for tailored looks (for work). Their regular pants are too long (I’m 5’5”) but their petite pants often work well for me.
Thanks for new places to shop
Great list! Jennifer, check out Von Maur, a Midwest family-owned chain of department stores. Wonderful stores, usually with someone at the grand piano playing. Always free shipping, and a no- interest charge card. My go – to spot for decades…
I will!
For working women over 50, I really like Ann Taylor. They feature good quality clothing in classic styles. I also like Loft but don’t order online from them because the sizes and quality are so inconsistent. I do find myself reaching for their pants as my go to basics for work.
Too bad these stores are in the USA except for Talbots. I really wish there was a Quince store in Canada. 😢
Quince has begun shipping to Canada, Eileen Fisher is also in Canada, along with Talbots, Gap, Banana Republic, Aritzia, etc
All the stores that you mentioned are excellent for the over 50 crowd. Some are way out of my price range. I have had luck finding sweaters, coats, and jackets at TJ Maxx and their sister store Marshalls. I’m not sure if these stores are out west. I bet any North East readers will know these stores!
Ooooh! The navy blue vest, jeans and turtleneck is just lovely on you! Your look! Best outfit ever! Can you tell I love it!
Thanks Carol
I have been wearing Chicos for years since I am a 16-18 size. I love their clottohes. they are usually well made (sometimes something NOT well made slips through). And the sales are fantastic! I just discovered recently that Quince has plus sizes! I always bemoaned that I could not wear the clothing! Lo and behold, the plus size section revealed itself. Since then I have bought the light down jacket and the long sleeve silk shirt. Quality is top notch.
Many of these sell plus sizes, and I will try to share more
You look perfect in the very first photo in the Nordstrom outfit.
Thanks Ellen
Thank you for the List of stores to shop. But the last year I’ve been extremely disappointed in the quality of Chicos, and just found out they were bought out by the company that also owns Talbots. It’s affected fabric, cut and finish. My loyalty is over. I love JJill but will start to also frequent your other suggestions.
LL Bean and REI come to mind as I lived and play in their clothes for most of my adult life. No longer athletic, I buy from LandsEnd, Quince, Chicos and JCP. My Gloria Vanderbilt and Liz Claiborne jeans last for many years. I raised my four sons in JCP clothes that I didn’t sew or knit for them. I obviously don’t have the budget that you have or many of the readers. Your style can be duplicated on a budget. I do it everyday as we are the same pale coloring and look the same shape even though I’m 81, and only 5’1” and 135 to 138 on bloat days. I love our casual and comfortable style.
Thank you for mentioning the new line of Loft jeans in your newsletter. I went ahead and ordered 2 pairs and am hoping I’ll like them…it always makes me nervous to order when there are no reviews but there is a local store in my city, so returns will be easy, if needed.
Favorite retailers for me: Nordstrom, definitely (there are none anywhere close to me but that free shipping/free returns is such a great policy!; J Jill (I love your try-ons from there–currently wearing a pair of jeans you tried back before the holidays and LOVE them); Athleta (love their Seasoft matching sets); Loft; and sometimes J Crew, Garnett Hill, and Talbots. You cover so many options and it’s appreciated.
The Seasoft sets are so yummy!! I hope to get into Loft next week to try the new jeans on.
I do like many of the retailers you listed. Id love to also include Uniqlo and LL Bean as others suggested. I’ve had great luck at those with some great basics. I also shop TJ Maxx and have found some great things as at an amazing discount. Always worth a look. Love your style and your advice.
Great additions!
A good post. I am going to take a deeper dive into Quince.
They’re great
I am a “true petite”, just over 5 ft and just under 100 lbs. my favorite store is Talbots because almost everything is available in petite. My next favorite is Nordstrom, because of their wide selection, free shipping for cardholders, and their shoe department has saved me (most stores do not carry anything below size 6, even if the manufacturer makes the smaller sizes).
I have noticed that many online size guides are not accurate, the size that is supposedly my best fit turns out to be too big about half the time…….some people attribute this to “vanity sizing” (people want to order a smaller size……) but I think it’s because if an item is too big, the buyer might keep it anyway, if it’s too small, they almost have to send it back.
Because, as a small person I often find an item doesn’t fit, I favor retailers that have a store within a 20 minute drive (for convenient and free returns) and most of the ones you’ve mentioned today do.
Hi Jennifer,
This is an excellent reference post for shopping options. I’m glad to see you include Boden. I have bought a few things from them and am very happy with the quality and value. They provide garment measurements which helps with picking the proper size. I love their Stamford Cord Blazer in particular – it has petite options. One site you haven’t mentioned is Pendleton. They have some nice quality wool items ( and also include garment measurements).
Yes! I haven’t shopped Pendleton but know they have amazing quality.
Hi Jennifer!
I know that you and many others love denim, but I find it uncomfortable and prefer soft(like sweats), and love that now some companies are making clothes that look like denim but are softer and more comfy! Denim goes with everything and can be dressed up or down, so I hope that more companies start making the softer alternatives.
Varley is another great brand for high quality knits and timeless styling.