I’m Turning 40 Next Year—Here’s How I’m Approaching Fashion Now

It almost goes without saying that your style evolves as you get older. As the years pass and trends come and go, certain items are bound to fall by the wayside as you mature. Since style is so personal, and everyone, regardless of age, should feel entitled to wear whatever they like, we decided to reach out to one particularly stylish late-30-something woman. We asked her to share some insights into how her style has changed throughout her 30s.

We’re referring to Create & Cultivate’s editorial director, Sacha Strebe, who you might also recognize as Domaine’s former editorial director. Often clad in head-to-toe black and always looking effortlessly chic, the stylish content creator divulged that she has been making modifications to her wardrobe that make her feel cool, confident, and, most importantly, comfortable in her skin. Keep scrolling to see how she’s approaching fashion now that she’s on the verge of entering a new decade.

“When I moved to Melbourne in my early 30s, it was inevitable that I would start wearing more black. Australia’s most livable city is renowned for its all-black aesthetic and that cool art-curator vibe. I was drawn to it immediately because I love how it simplified getting dressed every day, and let’s face it, black always looks good.

“But there is an art to dressing in all black, and I really enjoyed perfecting the art of layering. I was also a new mom, so black definitely hides a lot yet made me feel chic and cool even if I was wearing all-black athleisure to the park.”

“Since I only wear black (yes, my entire wardrobe is filled with inky-hued clothing, the exception being white, gray, and denim), I now have a very edited wardrobe of designer pieces (mostly Australian designers such as Dion Lee, Christopher Esber, and Ellery) that I layer together with simple T-shirts, sheer turtlenecks, and leather pants—case in point.”

“In my 20s, I wore a lot of silver jewelry. I had a ring on almost every finger, necklaces, and earrings. Remember when chunky jewelry was popular? Abby Lee Kershaw was my muse at the time, and she really spearheaded this trend.

“Now, I opt for a less-is-more approach to everything, which is helpful since switching to gold jewelry is definitely more expensive. But I look at buying gold as an investment. It’s like wearing money that never depreciates.

“I’d rather save up and buy something I love in gold that I can always resell later if I fall out of love with it. That’s not to say I don’t wear costumes sometimes. I am currently obsessed with these hoops from my friend’s line F+H.”

“As I’m nearing the big 4-0, I am feeling more comfortable in my own skin and embracing my flaws—or at least what society has deemed as flaws. In fact, they make me feel unique. This confidence comes through my styling, too, from my fashion choices to my hair and makeup.

“I want to look polished and powerful now, but I also need to feel comfortable. I’ve found that the combination of these two (polished comfort) makes me feeling self-assured and fearless.”