3 Fashion Trends for Summer 2025 Perfect for Older Women (& 2 to Avoid)

Butter yellow is the on-trend color you should add to all your outfits for spring/summer 2025. It showed up everywhere on the season’s runways, and later, on the Jenner sisters at Coachella: Kendall in a softly pleated Proenza Schouler midi dress with pockets and an air of pastoral nonchalance; Kylie, predictably, opted for latex. The wash, it seems, contains multitudes.

But set aside the celebrity context, and the tone itself gives us something far more universal and democratic. For older women, this particular shade presents a welcome ease. This holiday-worthy hue is soft enough to flatter a wide range of skin tones, and warm enough to suggest vitality. The gentle tint is especially at home in natural fabrics. Consider a loose linen shirt or a pair of tailored trousers. If head-to-toe yellow feels excessive, a silk scarf or leather sandal in the shade does the job with less commitment. It also plays well with other pigments. Pair it with navy, camel, or even rich burgundy for depth, or keep it light with creams or dusty blues.

Of all the trends circling back into relevance this summer, boho may be the most apt for older women. Unlike so many seasonal obsessions pitched at the young and the restless, bohemian style is not trying to be provocative or futuristic. Case in point: it arrives with built-in ease through forgiving silhouettes and breathable fabrics. The comeback isn’t simply anecdotal, either. Data But Make It Fashion — the perenially reliable fashion data analyst on Instagram — banked on its return this year.

For centuries, the style has awarded designers an excuse to wax lyrical about the “free spirit,” though culturally, we tend to anchor it in the haze of the 1960s. Back then, it was romantic and political, effortful and insouciant, stitched through with ideals of anti-materialism and personal liberation. In its 2025 incarnation, the trend holds space for maturity. The proportions are gentler, the styling more restrained, and it honors individuality — deeming it particularly well-suited to the stylish older women of today. What’s more, a classic flare jean is easy to style for any occasion.

The hottest print trend for spring/summer 2025 is zebra print. Leopard print, as always, keeps its claws in the clothing conversation, and cow print was a microtrend that has since been milked dry. But zebra, stepping out of the safari and into the right hands, is proving itself to be surprisingly tasteful this year.

What makes it especially valuable in the older woman’s wardrobe is that it can add interest without the need for embellishment (which is a 2025 trend that may look better in editorials than it does in the everyday life of seasoned dressers). Admittedly, a zebra maxi dress might feel overwhelming. But a printed scarf or a zebra-print ballet flat can lift an otherwise minimal outfit. Alternatively, a crisp button-down in the pattern brings fun to tailored trousers without tipping into the territory of novelty costume.

The high contrast is flattering, and the linearity directs the eye in effective ways. Go wild, so long as you’re placing the stripes in the right way.

All woven lightness and imagined leisure, raffia has enjoyed a long-standing place in the summer wardrobe. But this season, its appeal is beginning to wear thin. Raffia, especially in its more affordable forms, practically just doesn’t age well. Lower-quality versions fray quickly and lose their shape — a problem magnified when paired with more refined pieces. For older women, whose closets tend to favor crisp and structured lines, raffia’s unruly texture resists refinement.

Nowhere is this more evident than in footwear. As raffia slides and sandals make their seasonal rounds, it might be worth noting they’ve found themselves on the growing list of outdated shoe trends you don’t want to be caught wearing during summer 2025.

Of all the outdated shoes that are aging you, chunky styles and platform soles are the declarative in 2025. Those oversized designs that once were a staple of streetwear swag have now receded into the background. As we move into summer 2025, the mood has altered. Slimmer silhouettes (namely, streamlined retro sneakers) are in, and the era of overbuilt footwear has run its course.

For older women, the case against the ultra-chunky shoe isn’t merely about trend cycles. Heavy soles can throw off the balance of an outfit, making the look feel bottom-heavy or unintentionally juvenile. In addition, they can visually shorten the leg line, which is something to consider if you’re petite or aiming for length and lift without the help of a heel. In comparison, the slender sneakers trending this year offer a cleaner, more contemporary line. They’re certainly more versatile, working well with either trousers, skirts, or dresses. A well-placed pop of color in your selection, too, can keep things interesting, without looking too teenage.