These outfit posts document real-life personal style on a 5’3″ size 14/16 midlife body. Since 2005, Alison Gary has shared what she actually wears to work, on weekends, while traveling, and during everyday life, offering an honest archive of how style evolves over time.
Unlike curated influencer lookbooks, these outfits reflect real closets, real budgets, and real bodies. You’ll see how pieces are reworn across seasons, how trends are adapted for women over 40, and how fit, proportion, and comfort work together in everyday dressing.
These real-life outfits serve as a visual extension of Wardrobe Oxygen’s fashion advice, showing how capsule wardrobe concepts, denim reviews, footwear recommendations, and layering techniques translate into lived experience.
If you’re searching for outfit inspiration for women over 40, midsize style ideas, curvy petite fashion, or realistic examples of how to style trends in daily life, this archive provides two decades of documented looks to explore.
Use tags to browse by fashion brand, season, occasion, or wardrobe staple.
Hi all, healthy Allie reporting for duty! I am SO glad this cold didn’t last very long. I’d like to thank Emergen-C, plenty of sleep and Zicam for this feat. So I am wearing this dress for National Wear Red Day. I was planning on wearing my red Maggy London frock, but there was freezing…
Other than a stuffy nose and a bit of a headache, I am back to normal. Yay! Now jsut need my toe to heal so I can go back to my sassy shoes! Black tape yarn scoop necked empire waist short-sleeved sweater from Old Navy, wool blend trousers from Ann Taylor, black flats from Naturalizer,…
The Birthday Cold hit on Tuesday; it hurt to shower, and it hurt more when I slammed the hairdryer into my left temple. Not functioning too well… Black cami from Banana Republic, black cashmere puff-sleeved sweater also from Banana Republic, Old Navy “The Flirt” bootcut jeans, black flats from Naturalizer, studs from Diamond Nexus Labs….
Happy birthday to me! Of course I woke up to the lovely monthly occurrence and also the cold my husband had last week. No worries, it’s a sunny day and I had a relaxing weekend. However I am going to dress in the work-appropriate version of pajamas. Black merino shift from Banana Republic, black heavy…
Friday was a pretty basic day; was considering happy hour after work but just was exhausted and headed home for pizza and chianti with the hubby. Black stretch merino crew from Banana Republic, white ribbed tank from Old Navy, dark denim pencil skirt from Newport News, Tan “Bern” boots from Duo, purple pashmina from Burlington…
I don’t want to admit that I broke my toe earlier this month. I keep wearing shoes that have heels thinking I am fine and by time I am home, my foot is throbbing. I give up; I wear flats until it heals. 🙁 Navy stretch cotton v-neck sweater from Banana Republic, gray “Drew” trousers…
Cold but sunny, and had to take a long lunch for my uncle’s funeral at Arlington Cemetary (he passed a couple of months ago). So needed something nicer looking, work-appropriate, layers for warmth during an outside ceremony and shoes that could handle lots of walking. Purple merino dress from Goodwill, brown suede slouch boots from…
What does Allie look like without brushes, styling tools, styling products, her shoes, and 90% of her cosmetics collection? Now you know! Purple “Dream” sweater from J. Crew, denim trousers from Gap, black lowrise “Chucks” from Converse, silver cuff, white gold and diamond studs and necklace from the hubby. Hair washed and conditioned, a bit…
Sorry so late. So Friday… hard to remember after my weekend! I believe it was very very cold and slushy and gross. On top of that, I broke the heel on my Impo city boots and am still hobbling a bit from the broken toe. Didn’t make for a fashion plate sort of day! Teal…