Age has freed me up to dress to please myself and not care at all whether I blend in as long as I dress respectfully for the situation. That may end up being somewhat overdressed compared to others whom I may consider underdressed. . .
Especially since I mostly work from home, I am a fan of juxtaposition, BUT I have learned that there are a few things that will make me feel too business formal regardless of what else I wear with them: Dry clean only anything, especially blazers and pencil skirts and heels which my feet hate regardless. Umm, but those juxtaposed outfits are mostly in my head and not what I wear.
Somehow, it is stuck in my mind that colored and print jeans are dressier and more polished than blue jeans so I don't wear actual blue jeans that often. I also don't wear gear except for exercise. Except for my very obviously gear shoes, I haven't found or liked the look of sneakers that make my feet happy. I have a pair of wool Allbirds sneakers on the way to me (unable to get the Finds to work), because to my eye they look more fashionable than the norm.
Toppers/third pieces can elevate a look if they're not fleece. I run cold so am almost always wearing a pleather moto vest, scarf, or both. And I wear belts, mostly to hold up my pants which would otherwise slither down, but also for fashion. My waist has thickened so I mostly semi-tuck.
