The ultimate dress guide: 25 best Canadian styles for women over 40
Many Canadian brands have plenty of stylish, age-inclusive (and size-inclusive!) options that don't sacrifice comfort or confidence. Think your favourite retailers like Reitmans, RW&CO, Simons, Aritzia, Suzy Shier and more.
From the best under-$50 frock to the perfect mother-of-the-bride pick, we've rounded up the top dresses for women over 40 — all from brands you'll feel proud to support. Keep scrolling to dive into our ultimate guide to figure-flattering, feel-good pieces for every body and budget.
In this guide: Best dresses for coverage & confidence | Best dresses on a budget | Best dresses for occasions | Best dresses for travel | Best casual dressesMore like this:
9 figure-flattering dresses from Reitmans perfect for women over 40
15 summer-ready dresses from Canadian brand RW&CO
24 incredibly chic summer dresses from Canadian brands

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Space 519 Aims to Be More Than a Luxury Store
CHICAGO — The new Space 519 store in Plaza del Lago in Wilmette, Ill., has something for everyone — and that's by design. There is fashion; dining, with three options ranging from grab-and-go to full service; home decor; gifts; fine jewelry, and apothecary, all in one mini-department store. More from WWD LuisaViaRoma Files for Protection Measures With Florence Court, Italian Chamber of Commerce Passing Grades for Back-to-school Shopping Hailey Bieber Preps Rhode for Sephora Debut 'You can't replicate this online,' Lance Lawson said during a walk-through of the 6,000-square-foot space located at the 1920s-era Spanish-style outdoor mall. Lawson owns Space 519 with his husband Jim Wetzel. 'If there was a website trying to sell you our favorite Swedish fish and a Khaite purse, you'd be like, 'What?'' Space 519 was among the first retailers WS Development, owner of the 100,000-square-foot Plaza del Lago, approached about the project. Located at the southwest corner of the mall with views of Lake Michigan, the store's neighbors are Jenni Kayne and Rag & Bone. James Perse has also opened. According to a mall sidewalk sign, Hermès, Oscar de la Renta, LoveShackFancy, Cynthia Rowley, Hill House Home, La Vie Style House, Peter Millar, Studs, Pilatesville and Veronica Beard are 'coming soon.' 'The first space they presented us had the restaurant on the second floor and we're like, 'no, the restaurant has to be on the first floor,'' Lawson said. 'When it's full and you hear the glasses clinking and the people laughing, the store feels very alive.' Women's clothing is the backbone of the business, but food and dining remain the 'secret sauce,' Lawson noted. The owners introduced dining at their Gold Coast location in 2018 and found it's a draw. Like that store, Plaza del Lago features The Lunchbox, located immediately upon entering, with coffee drinks and grab-and-go items, and The Lunchroom, a full-service, 50-seat capacity restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and brunch. New to the store is The Lago Room, a 40-seat, European-style café serving cocktails and wine. 'Everyone that dines does not shop,' added Lawson, noting that the Cowboy Cookies sold at The Lunchbox are his mother's recipe. 'The food is strong enough that many people come here just to eat.' The retail owners oversaw the entire project, including the decision to remove drop ceilings to uncover a skylight, tear down walls and install more windows. The center of the store is what Lawson and Wetzel call 'happy modern,' with track lighting and midcentury pieces such as a reworked 1950s Drexel sofa. Luxe collectibles, such as Fornasetti plates, are situated near oversize coffee table books. There is art throughout, including a 10-foot mural by local Winnetka artist Paige Spearin, who designed prints for Lilly Pulitzer, an oversize piece by Maggie Meiners, also from Winnetka, and a photography piece by Nick Mele. 'People are coming here for all of it,' Lawson said. 'They want to participate in the food, the styling, the broad range of price points. By having all those components, we can be a true destination.' The store features ready-to-wear from Jil Sander, Missoni, Proenza Schouler and Tibi. Exclusive apparel lines include Khaite, Thom Browne, Partow and Italian knitwear label Sasuphi. Accessory collections include Metier, Valextra and Savette. The store is about to launch a residency with Nak Armstrong, a CFDA Award-winning fine jewelry designer. Other key jewelry brands include ByPariah, Lizzie Fortunato and Gabriela Artigas. Apothecary brands include Vintner's Daughter, Augustinus Bader, D.S. & Durga and Dr. Few Skincare. Prices range from $6.95 for a greeting card to $295 for a Lou Lou de Saison silk sleeveless blouse to $3,995 for a Khaite leather jacket. While the luxury market faces global declines, Lawson said their business has grown 20 percent year over year. 'Since the pandemic, we've really hit our stride,' he said. 'Barneys closing in Chicago has been a catalyst for us. People loved the DNA of Barneys and we love being able to replicate that on a smaller scale.' The owners strategically stagger their orders so there's newness at all times. They also feature limited units in each size. 'That's something our clients always talk about,' Lawson said. 'So it's new, it's not on sale. So you know if you don't buy it, it's going to be gone.' Lawson said their goal is to increase business for both stores from the high single-digit millions to double-digit millions for the first year. Of that goal, the Plaza del Lago store is projected to do 25 percent less than the Gold Coast store during the first year. 'We're profitable,' said Lawson, noting they buy almost entirely in season. The real issue is the devaluation of the dollar, he said. 'When [President Joe] Biden left, it was 1.03, yesterday I did a trade and it was at 1.175. That's 14 percent more just in currency conversion because we buy a lot from Europe that we pay for in euros. Then you add for Europe 10 percent in tariffs. It's terrible,' Lawson said. 'At the end of the day it's a tax. We run on a 10 percent margin in the very best circumstances.' Wetzel said a big reason for their success is their sales associates, who lean in on Midwest nice. If Barneys is the store's aspirational DNA, the TV show 'Cheers' is the vibe. 'It's like going back to your favorite restaurant all the time,' Wetzel said. 'You know what you're going to order. You love that salad. You know that martini is going to be super cold. That's why you keep going back.' Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns


Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Reinvent Your Personal Style for the Back-to-School Season
Maddie Orlando wears Kaia sip vest and skort. Artless Forever In the blink of an eye, we're going to be in the thick of 'back-to-school' season and while some may lament at the notion of scaling back one's personal aesthetic, think of it as more of an opportunity to reinvent your style and engage in a thoughtful 'refresh'. Education in the classroom is the obviously priority, but school is also about self-discovery, learning about your personality, and continuing to finesses your sense of style as the years progress. I speak with founder Maddie Orlando of it-Girl brand Artless Forever about embracing the 'learning process' of reinventing your personal style. In being the founder of this ultra popular brand, and a fashion creator with a strong online presence—she is a go-to source for style advice. 'Artless is rooted in effortless minimalism and is simple by design, encouraging our customers to use their pieces as a starting point to develop their own personal style. Being a clothing designer also requires me to predict trends before they happen, which means I'm always in the know about what's coming next,' she explains. Invest in staple wardrobe pieces—then mix and match with accessories for versatility and to showcase your personality. Artless Forever 'Personal style is the development of your own distinct approach to fashion. It's the ability to recognize what silhouettes, colors, pieces, and accessories suit you best, and then remain true to them, regardless of what is trending,' she says. Think of it as being an extension of your personality, 'it's a physical and visual expression of individuality and allows you to communicate who you are without having to say anything at all,' adds Orlando. Ultimately, it's about honoring your true self, 'cultivating personal style is essential because it fosters authenticity, and with it, the confidence that comes from truly celebrating yourself as an individual,' she says. Layering is key when it comes to navigating different social environments. This Eloise tank and maxi skirt can be worn for outings with friends and then at school when paired with a cardigan, as an example. Artless Forever Think of it like a sort of New Year's Resolution where one makes a mental checklist of accomplishments and goals to achieve, 'the first few weeks of a new semester set the tone for the rest of the year and are the perfect time to pause for a moment of self-reflection: who do you want to be and how do you want to show up this school year? Establishing your personal style early on is a great way to communicate this to others,' says Orlando. Additionally, when meeting all the unpredictability that school life throws at you, control can also be found through one's aesthetic, '...developing what I describe as a 'uniform' makes it so much easier to get dressed, streamlining those often busy mornings before class,' she says. Stunning classic A-Line Mini Dress that's flattering and form-fiitting is a piece you'll wear time and again. It can be dressed up on down with accessories and footwear. Artless Forever How to Identify Your Personal Style How you look and feel in your clothes is key to this kind of vetting and self-assessment: 'Everyone has certain styles, neck lines, hem lengths, shapes, and colors that they feel most confident and comfortable in. Spend an afternoon auditing your closet, trying on a range of different pieces and determining what you look and most importantly, feel, best in,' she says. There isn't a one-size fit formula, so to speak—but don't be afraid to mix and match, '...this (exercise) will be different for everyone! The key is to develop a go-to outfit formula that works for you, and stick to it whenever you get dressed or shop for new pieces in the future,' Orlando offers. Easy skirt and Tank is layered with white linen pants for a chic contrast and the look is completed with a belt to further play with silhouettes and texture. Artless Forever Tips for Experimenting with Your Style Tinker and play with embellishments, 'start with accessories. I love to keep my outfit simple but experiment with a trendy necklace or colorful shoe,' says Orlando. This not fun way to repurpose wardrobe pieces without automatically feeling compelled to shop for new items—it's also layering onto your core aesthetic, 'this way, I never stray too far from my classic look, but still get to play with pieces that are a little more fun and exciting,' she explains. Top Personal Style Trends for 2025 'Plaid, polos, the skinny flare pant, capes and ponchos, big buggy sunglasses, slouchy purses,' she says. Building a Personal Style That Works for School Layering is key to appeasing to different environments without losing yourself in the process, 'for example, adding a cardigan or jacket over a simple outfit is an easy way to elevate and individualize your outfit, while still sticking to school dress codes,' she offers. And don't be afraid to pull out those accessories again, 'you can also play around by adding a belt, pair of shoes, glasses, or jewelry that suit your personal style,' Orlando says.


New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Wardrobes Shaped by Music
'We're constantly just playing,' said Aundre Gray, a 34-year-old footwear designer, referring generally to the way that he and his partner, A-La Davis, a 34-year-old vocalist, approach getting dressed. 'Constantly evolving the things based on what we've been exposed to.' The couple, who met in Boston, crossed my path in downtown Los Angeles on a Thursday in late July. It was their last day living in the city before another cross-country move, they said. He had a slouchy sweater draped over his shoulders and was wearing camouflage shorts with equally generous proportions. 'I grew up around, like, seeing Wu-Tang and army fatigues and things like that, so I kind of just adopt that and put my own spin on it,' he said. 'I like functionality, but I also like simplicity. I'm into things that last a long time.' She matched his cool in baggy cargo pants and an Anita Baker concert tee. A self-described 'minimalist maximalist,' she also values practical attire — 'things that are made well,' as she put it — along with fantastical clothes. 'Anything that feels otherworldly,' she said. Tap to see more looks