Style in Midlife: Where to Shop for Closet Staples

In previous style advice articles on Wardrobe Oxygen, I've provided you with the basic closet staples for a woman in midlife. But now, where the heck do you buy them? We grown-ass women know that online recommendations can't always be trusted. They're motivated by influencer commission rates and biased by age, size, ability, and lifestyle. I'm here for some real-life prices, brands, and styles great for us.

I originally wrote this piece in January of 2025 to offer tips for those who may be starting their style from scratch. It's a new year, and I know that even more this year, folks may be spending less and wanting wardrobe workhorses that offer quality, longevity, and versatility. I decided to update it for a new year with updated lists of the best places to shop for closet staples, especially if you are a woman in midlife.

Where to Shop for Closet Staples

In 2026, it is near impossible to guarantee that something is in stock at the time of publishing. Even old reliable brands are becoming fast fashion with quick turnaround of new products and discontinuing of old favorites. However, I am sharing the places I have found success time and time again over the decades.

Where to Buy Jeans in Midlife

Jeans are one of the hardest things to shop for, right up there with bras and swimsuits. It's hard enough to find a pair that fits, but to find a pair that fits, holds up, and you like how they look on your body? That's priceless.

This collage shows the places I recommend when searching for straight leg dark wash jeans:

1. Democracy: Democracy jeans have great stretch and bounceback. Stick with the darker washes for a more stylish choice.
2. Good American: My hourglass friends, Good American is a great place to look for jeans with petite, long, and plus size options.
3. Lands' End: This may not be the name you think of when you're buying denim, but I have had a lot of luck with Lands' End jeans and you can find most every style in Misses, Petite, Tall and Plus sizes.
4. Madewell: Madewell jeans continue to be a favorite with women over 40, especially apple shapes with small rears and those with soft bellies desiring structure instead of stretch. The Curvy collection is great for those with a distinct curve from waist to hip.
5. NYDJ: Back in 2005 when I started Wardrobe Oxygen, I wore the NYDJ Marilyn jeans, and here 20 years later, I still recommend them for fit, quality, and adding sustainable business practices.
6. Old Navy: I don't find Old Navy jeans to hold up for more than one season, but I know many Wardrobe Oxygen readers swear by them and I appreciate the retailer's size inclusivity.
7. Talbots: High quality, classic yet modern fit, Talbots jeans offers curvy cuts, petites, plus, and plus petite.

Do not wash your jeans after each wear, and when you do wash them, wash them inside out and line dry. Once dry, you can throw in the dryer for a bit to bounce out the wrinkles. This will keep the wash crisp, and prevent the Lycra from breaking down. Spot clean when necessary, and than g them up outside or in a well-ventilated space and spray with a combo of vodka and water to get out smells. Essentially, the less you launder, the longer you'll be able to wear your jeans.

Where to Buy Ponte Pants in Midlife

Not all ponte (AKA Ponte di Roma knit) is created equal, and a higher price doesn't mean the quality is better. Look for a heavier-weight fabric, one without much of a sheen and one that bounces back when you stretch it. The collage shows in order (left to right, top row then bottom row) of the recommended ponte pants below:

1. Eileen Fisher: Quality and sustainability, Eileen Fisher is a trusted brand for ponte knit separates in sizes XS-3X and PP-PL.
2. Liz Claiborne: Ponte doesn't have to cost and arm and a leg. For a wallet-friendly option I recommend ponte pants from the Liz Claiborne collection at JCPenney. In sizes 0-30 with tall and petite options, it is also a relatively size-inclusive option.
3. NYDJ: NYDJ does ponte well, offering petite, misses, and plus sizes in the NYDJ ponte pants collection.
4. Spanx: Spanx is another retailer that has an entire category of ponte pants, offering them in sizes XS-3X in regular, petite, and tall.
5. Universal Standard: Universal Standard has become a favorite go-to for all things ponte, and the ponte pant selection is pretty fantastic. Offering sizes 00-40 in every style and color, Universal Standard sometimes also offers different inseams/lengths. If you're new to their pants; if in doubt, size down.

Even if the washing instructions say you can throw your ponte pants in the dryer, I recommend you line dry them to keep the black saturated, reduce the chance of shrinkage and breaking down of the elastic.

Where to Buy a Blazer in Midlife

The blazer may be the hardest item to buy in this collection of items. Find one to fit your shoulders, and the sleeves are a mile long. Fits in the arms but won't button over the vest. And how do you get one that looks cool, and not like you're half dressed for a client meeting or as a flight attendant?

First things first: don't buy a suiting jacket. If it has matching pants, that's not what you're looking for. You want a standalone blazer, which will be a more casual fabric, and where you'll find more variety in regard to construction. My picks on where to look, which are also in the collage above:

1. Banana Republic: Banana Republic carries sizes 0-20 with petites 00-14 and makes classic yet chic blazers. It has been a go-to destination for me for years. Occasionally you can find just as nice of a blazer for less at Banana Republic Outlet.
2. J. Crew: J. Crew is another great go-to for non-suiting blazers that are classic yet contemporary. J. Crew offers sizes 000-24 with petites 00-12 and talls 2-20.
3. Ralph Lauren (and the budget-friendly offshoots): Yes, Ralph Lauren is a high-end designer, but Ralph Lauren carries Polo Ralph Lauren and Lauren Ralph Lauren which are high quality and far more reasonably priced. You can find these Ralph Lauren brands at department stores like Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Dillard's, as well as the Ralph Lauren site, which often has the most extensive collection as well as size range (00-22W with petites).
4. Theory: For well-tailored trim blazers from higher quality materials, it's worth checking out Theory, offering sizes 00-18.
5. Universal Standard: You're going to see Universal Standard mentioned a lot in this article. The label does a good job of democratizing fashion with a beautiful size range of wardrobe staples with an edge. And this includes the collection of blazers.

Where to Buy a Classic Black Dress (AKA an NSLBD) in Midlife

You can buy a dress most anywhere, and gems can be found at all pricepoints. However, if you're looking for an NSLBD (not so little black dress), these are the places I have had the most luck for classic black dresses:

1. Ann Taylor: In the past couple of years Ann Taylor has been bringing it with better quality and cool style that is still appropriate for the office, the house of worship, and the special occasion. Ann Taylor always has a good selection of classic black dresses, and Ann is also one of the few companies that carries such apparel in petites up to size 16 (Ann Taylor carries 00-18, 00P-16P, and 0-18 tall).
2. Boden: Boden is a great destination for dresses, though be careful as many are from jersey which may read too casual. I filtered down to black dresses in the current collection. Boden offers apparel in sizes 00-20/22 and petite 0-22.
3. Lauren Ralph Lauren: Again, this is a label that carries classic elevated basics, and you are very likely to find NSLBDs in each season's collection.
4. Talbots: If you connect Talbots to a certain aesthetic or age, you need to take another look. The quality is better than most department store brands, the size range is extensive (misses 2-18, petite 0-16, plus 14W-24W, plus petite 14-24, and even curvy options. Here is a link to the current black dresses available at Talbots.
5. Universal Standard: See, it's Universal Standard again! But Universal Standard always has at least one black ponte or crepe dress that would be perfect for many of the life events thrown our way.

I don't care what the label says, launder this dress as if it cost you $1K. Once it starts looking faded, it has lost its versatility. The less it is laundered, the better. Consider undershirts like Numi to keep it fresh.

Where to Buy a Breton Top

Honestly, you can find Breton striped tops (also often called Mariners) absolutely everywhere. My personal go-to retailers for quality Breton tops is:

• Boden
• Kule
• Lands' End (if in doubt size down)
• Saint James
• Sézane
• Talbots
• Universal Standard

Look for the terms Breton and mariner; that will guide you to the heavier weight tops. And if you find the perfect one with long sleeves, it's not ridiculous to have a tailor or even your local dry cleaner shorten the sleeves for a more polished effect.

Where to Buy a Cotton Shirtdress

The cotton shirtdresses that have lasted year after year in my closet are either from Boden or Printfresh. Both offer quality and fun prints that transcend trends. However, there are plenty of other excellent retailers where you can find a great cotton shirtdress.

Some other places to find a versatile cotton shirtdress (please note, due to tariffs, I have updated this list to only companies based in the US or have plans in place to make shopping in the US seamless):

• Boden: As mentioned above, I have had consistent success over the years with printed cotton shirtdresses from Boden. Boden carries sizes 0-20/22 with petites up to size 10.
• Kemi Telford: With sizes XXS-XXL, Kemi Telford has cotton and cotton silk shirtdresses along with a range of other styles of dresses.
• Lesley Evers: Really fun prints and a few styles of cotton poplin shirtdresses in sizes XS-2X.
• Nooworks: The prints are really out there wacky colorful, but they carry a few styles of shirtdresses that are primarily cotton with a hint of stretch in sizes XS-5X. I own Nooworks cotton jumpsuits and like the fabric and the prints hold up well to gentle laundering.
• Printfresh: Known for pajamas, I also love Printfresh for colorful organic cotton shirtdresses in sizes XXS-XXL.
• Ralph Lauren: A good place to find classic stripes in cotton shirtdresses.
• Talbots: Each spring and summer Talbots has short-sleeve and 3/4 sleeve cotton shirtdresses with pockets and self belts in fun colors. I now own three; you can see me wear a blue and white one on a very humid July 4th, and here I wore a black and white polka-dot one in Savannah in August.
• Tuckernuck: Tuckernuck carries a range of retailers as well as an in-house brand and the aesthetic is totally cotton shirtdresses in pretty prints in sizes XXS-XXXL.
• Universal Standard: For the past couple of years, Universal Standard has offered cotton and wrinkle-resistant linen shirtdresses in a range of solids and prints, changing offerings each season.
• Zuri: Great prints, and a good choice if you prefer a looser fit. Sizes XXS-3X. Here I link to the ligher-weight cotton dresses that will better fit this concept.

Where to Buy Refined Black Tops in Midlife

Refined tops is so vague, and it's hard to say where to buy these, but below are some retailers where I have found interesting and elevated black tops. Each link goes to their current selection of black tops:

• Allsaints
• Banana Republic
• Chico's
• ELOQUII
• Frankie Shop
• Marcella New York
• Nation Los Angeles
• Reformation

Again, baby these tops to keep the black saturated. If they fade, they lose their versatility. This is also something that needs to be steamed or ironed to look crisp. This is more elevated than a t-shirt, and your care for it will determine how well it reads as dressy/cool.

Did I miss your favorite retailer? Do share it in the comments. I hope to continuously update this post to have the latest information and the best retailers!