Here's What A Professional Stylist Has To Say About Finding Your Style In Your 30s, 40s, And Beyond

I grew up in the era of wearing business casual to high school and, unfortunately, took it very seriously. So I've always felt like my fashion sense has been off. My closet isn't much better these days — it's mostly jeans and graphic tees. Honestly, it feels like my style really never graduated from my 20s.

So, I consulted someone who actually knows clothes: meet Maddy G , a professional stylist who shares menswear advice and styling tips on Instagram as @maddygstyle . She builds outfits for clients daily, so I asked her for her advice on finding our personal styles in our 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Here's her honest advice that's not only very enlightening, but actually super practical, too:

1. If you're worrying about "dressing your age," you're already worrying about the wrong thing. "Instead of thinking about what you should wear based on your age," Maddy G said, "I encourage clients to think about what feels authentic to them and what reflects their lifestyle, personality, and confidence."

2. If styles evolve because life evolves, then a "good" wardrobe mirrors and supports your actual life, not just looks good in theory. It's why when she's working with new clients, Maddy G begins with getting to know their daily lives. "I learn about what they do for work, their social life, the environments they spend time in, and how they want to be perceived," she said.

3. Lifestyles change, but the key principles of great style — fit, quality, and intention — remain the same, no matter your age.

4. Learn your body type! It's low-key confusing, but it's worth the time and effort. Understanding your body type helps you understand why certain materials look the way they do on you and is a key step in learning to enhance or play around with your natural silhouette. You're no longer guessing with your proportions; you're working with them. That's when fashion starts getting fun, and your personal style begins to emerge.

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If you want to dive into the details of how different body parts are in proportion to one another under each of the six core silhouettes, check the chart below. Let's be clear: Knowing your shape isn't meant to limit what you can wear. It's to help make sense of how certain fabrics, silhouettes, or proportions feel and look more natural on your body than others.

5. Now that you know more about your body type and have ditched the concept of "age-appropriate", you can start building outfits. And the quickest shortcut to a quality outfit is...in your pants. "A great outfit truly begins with the pants," Maddy preaches.

6. Next, you need a good white t-shirt. Not just the ones that come rolled up in a pack of five. Ditch those, and reach for a quality structured white tee. "It seems silly," Maddy said, "but a white t-shirt is the anchor to so many different looks."

7. Step up your shoe game! Shoes are often just as important as the clothes. Be intentional with what you walk out the door in, and work towards having a pair for different occasions.

8. You know what basic items to reach for. Now what? Start building a capsule wardrobe, a smaller collection of versatile pieces that you know fit you well, you'll feel good in, and that will work together. Before you get to your dream wardrobe, you got to start with the basics.

9. Once you feel like you have a selection of foundational pieces in your rotation, start bringing in those wild-cards that you like. "Add in a fun colorful sweater, your grandmother's vintage watch, your favorite pair of big sunglasses," Maddy said. "It's all about having go-to items, and adding in pieces that make your outfits feel like you . Because if you don't feel good in your clothes, the entire outfit is ruined."

10. You don't need a "great" body to have great style. That comes from fit, balance, and confidence rather than how much of your body is visible. And even if you do have a physique you've worked your *** off for, sometimes it looks better to not show it off.

11. One of the easiest upgrades you can make? Tailor your clothes. You'll be surprised what a few inches can do.

12. As you add in more and more pieces to your wardrobe that are in line with your personal style you're discovering, you don't always have to break the bank. As Maddy puts it: "Just because something is expensive, doesn't mean it looks good."

13. And finally: Everyone judges a book by its cover, because it's the first thing you see — so embrace that. Your outfit becomes the visual introduction to you. It signals our mood, taste, confidence, culture, and how much effort we put into presenting ourselves. That's the power of fashion. It shapes perception, and your personal style ultimately comes down to how you want to influence people (and yourself) to interpret you .

Thank you again to Maddy G for being our expert stylist. Check out her Instagram @maddygstyle for great menswear and styling content, or book her as your stylist through her website . I know I can't be the only one who's actually excited to start building a wardrobe and craft my personal style now that it feels more within reach. Time to put our best fits forward!

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