There is this uncanny feeling that your 20s fashion no longer works for you now that you’re 30. It can get a little awkward when you’re around friends and colleagues who are within the same age bracket and you look like you’re fresh out of university. What do women in their 30s or above wear anyway? And is it difficult to pull off mature yet chic? What are the outfit ideas for women in their 30s?

There are plenty of ideas out there for women who want to look fashionable at their age. I’ve got 6 you should try. And no, it’s not difficult to put together.

1. Simple and classy

Introducing the look that makes being elegant seem easy – almost like second nature. When women get to their 30s, they unconsciously go for the very mature look, which make people mistake their dress sense to be dull. But being 30 or above doesn’t mean you can’t look sophisticated.

To achieve the look, wear a simple short dress and layer it with a long jacket. The short and long combination brings a lot of balance to the outfit.

Keep each item in the ensemble a solid colour. For example, a dark brown long jacket draped over a white dress with lace details. Single colours make the ensemble look responsible.

To continue with the classy theme, style the outfit with a pair of stiletto strap sandals.

2. Billowy top over skinnies

Who said you can’t be in your 30s and wear skinnies? Dressing maturely doesn’t mean you have to drop the styles that are in vogue among the younger generation. You can be in tune with the trends and still dress your time.

To achieve the look, you need to work towards striking a balance. The skinny jeans or trousers you pick could be accompanied with a large size top. That evens everything out. You can style the outfit with a pair of ankle boots to give an edge to the outfit.

Again, stick with single colours. You can never go wrong with monochrome.

3. Blazers to capture both worlds

Imagine a Friday night after an extremely hectic day at work. You hit the bar with your colleagues immediately after you close. And there’s no time to change into party wear.

Blazers over a sleek formal dress can be the ideal combination for those Friday nights when you need to unwind from work. This ensemble looks great at the office and at the bar while enjoying a couple of drinks with friends.

4. Casual in a cardigan

It’s easy to achieve that casual look. But some take the casual a little too far. As a stylish woman you have to make a statement, even when your dressing speaks laid back and relaxed.

The combination is easy. All you need are a pair of jeans, a ruffled blouse and a cardigan. While the blouse and the jeans reflect the current trend, the cardigan helps to tone it down just enough to show that you are fashionable yet mature.

5. Using less to say more

Although all the outfit ideas here are fairly simple to achieve, you can go a lot simpler.

The minimalist approach to styling involves the use of pieces that achieve one major theme. There’s no need to accessorize too much. You can even go with no accessories at all. The focus is on one concept and one concept alone.

There are many ways to achieve this look but here’s one you can work with. A pleated skirt with a sleeveless top and ballerina flats to match.

The colour choice must be simple. You can go single colours that match or go all out with a single colour where you use distinct pieces. This is to help prevent making your two piece ensemble look like one.

6. The masculine look

Sometimes you’d like to put on an outfit that speaks strength. The masculine look is one that has garnered a lot of attention. For a lot of women, the masculine look shows boldness, character and audacity.

A black pantsuit combined with white collared shirt is enough to achieve this look. However, you can give it a bit of a feminine touch with black heels and a clutch purse.

How are you finding fashion and your personal style in your 30s?