The Most Flattering Fashion Styles For Women In Their 20s
Your 20s are all about making mistakes (and learning from them), trying out new things that scare you, and experimenting with your style. Your wardrobe should give an accurate portrayal of your independence while infusing your personality throughout. The key is to prioritize comfort without giving up your personal style.
Closet overhauls come with the territory of being a 20-something-year-old. It's okay because you have an excuse to be a fashion chameleon, which means that you can be more intentional about what stays and what goes. There are stores that cater to specific age groups. If you're in your early to mid-20s, Free People and Maxwell are two examples. And vintage lovers can get creative by sneaking in trends from the year they were born.
You don't have to look far for fashion inspiration, either. Who What Wear highlighted popular style icons in their 20s and their favorite staples, and the list included Yara Shahidi, Zendaya, and Dua Lipa. When you're ready to transform your closet, here are key pieces to acquire or hold onto, and fashion tips to try.
Modern workwear basics
Say goodbye to the traditional business attire that your parents had on rotation in the office. In your 20s, you can be more experimental with what you wear to your workplace. Depending on company policy, of course. According to Who What Wear, picking up classic work staples that you can layer and mix and match for years to come is a good plan of action.
Gravitate away from the conventional blazer, and pick up a tweed jacket instead, according to The Everygirl. For a more casual setting, you can pair tailored jeans or pants with structured tops à la fashion blogger Oleta Sylvena. She paired a cozy sweater vest with a sleek white blouse and slim-fitting jeans in a November 2020 Instagram post.
Another classic workwear staple is the trench coat. It will never go out of style. Fashion blog Love Cloth recommended multiple styling options, including pairing it with wide-leg cropped jeans or a flowy dress.
Sneak in pops of color
The daily decisions that come with being 20-something are endless. Naturally, there will be days when you'll want to dress for your mood. Before you reach for the monochrome outfit you've had in rotation for a while, consider clothing pieces in bold colors and incorporating them into your look instead.
Style blogger Merrick of Merrik's Art stressed that your 20s is the time to rock vibrant hues. When working in color, it can be as small as a statement bag or vivid, printed pants. Go for whatever makes you feel most comfortable and confident.
Bright sweaters and fun accessories are an easy way to test drive adding more color into your wardrobe without any heavy commitments, according to Today. And when you're ready to take it up a notch, color-block your way to the top with clothes in unexpected combinations. Over on TikTok, digital creator Tantri Namirah posted a fashion reel where she put together outfits in varying shades. In one daring look, she rocked a yellow blouse with lavender trousers.
Mix prints
Many aspects of your 20s will be full of trial and error, wardrobe included. Don't be afraid to think outside of the style box, and toss traditional fashion rules out of the window. Chances are, at some point in your life (or at many), you've been warned against rocking loud prints and patterns. Well, imagine rocking not one, but two patterns — or more! To pull off this look, recycle the color-blocking tip from earlier and go for prints in matching colors.
The perfect starting point for mix-and-match beginners is to incorporate more basics with black-and-white patterns into your wardrobe (via StyleCaster). This pattern can function as a neutral piece.
According to Buzzfeed, stripes are another neutral print, which means that you can absolutely wear them with your favorite floral skirt. Bonus if both prints share a color in common. Stripes are timeless and come in so many different variations that finding one that flatters your body type will be effortless (via Editorialist).