Colorful Clothing for Grown-Ass Women

Why do designers think once we become women “of a certain age,” we wish to dress in the color of dried leaves and coal? I know I am not the only grown-ass woman who still craves color and joy from her closet.

In my 30s, I went through stages where I found black to be the most chic and sophisticated option. In my 40s, there was a point where I found soft neutrals to be the best for my hair and skin. But then I began having fewer fucks left to give and I realized life is short, I deserve and want to find comfort and joy with what I wear and for me personally, joy comes from color.

This is a reason why I was drawn to The Kit NYC, which seemed to be the perfect blend of color, style, sustainability, and size inclusivity. Unfortunately, I found The Kit to be a disappointment, but that didn't stop my search for places to shop for colorful fashion for us grown folk.

My review of The Kit NYC is what spurred me to write this list of retailers and fashion brands that offer colorful, cool, and chic clothing. A reader asked for alternatives, and I realized I had amassed such a collection I had to dedicate a post to this topic!

Where to Shop for Colorful Clothing for Grown-ass Women

While we all may be craving color, that doesn't mean we all like the same clothing aesthetic, have the same fashion needs, or wear the same clothing sizes. Below is a range of retailers and fashion brands at a range of pricepoints that are known to offer great color season after season. The list is in alphabetical order; I will share what sizes they offer and a summary of the retailer's aesthetic.

Alice + Olivia

Bright colors, bold prints, and unique silhouettes make Alice + Olivia a great destination for colorful statement pieces to elevate your closet. A favorite with celebrities, founder Stacey Bendet pulls inspiration from her love of vintage and all things feminine to design clothing that juxtaposes the whimsical and flirty with the sexy and sophisticated.

Unfortunately, Alice + Olivia has a pretty narrow size range, offering 0-14, and the fit running narrow. But if you fit in that size range, do check out this fashion label for pieces that will stand out and be favorites in your closet for years to come.

Argent

Sali Christeson spent a decade working in the Bay Area's finance and technology scene, where she struggled to find work clothes that were both bold and practical. Options were stagnant, constricting, and lacked key functional elements. She created Argent to provide modern-day women with inspiring, practical, go-to resources to instill confidence in what to wear for their busy (often hybrid) lives. 

Argent is a great destination for professional and polished suiting and workwear available in fantastic colors. You can also find basic black, navy, gray, and neutrals, but Argent really excels in colorful suiting with complementary blouses and other separates. Argent carries clothing in sizes 0/2 to 18/20.

Boden

Boden is a 30-year-old British company that strives to create clothing that will put a smile on your face. A personal favorite for colorful prints, Boden carries dresses, suiting, separates, accessories, and even swimwear in cheery colors and cool prints.

Available in U.S. sizes 0-20/22 with petites in sizes 0-12, Boden cares about quality and tests all its products for fit, comfort and quality. I have cotton shirtdresses from Boden that are several years old, washed many times, and they still look like new.

Briton Court

Briton Court focuses on dresses and offers many in mini sizes for a mother/daughter moment. Founded by three sisters from South Carolina who grew up on Briton Court, the southern sunshine and colorful style shines through this fashion label.

Briton Court carries women's dresses in XS (0/2) to XL (16). Most of the colorful printed dresses are made from viscose or cotton, so they have great drape and are more breathable than similar dresses made from synthetic materials.

Desigual

Started in 1984 in Barcelona by Thomas Meyer, Desigual is a brand known worldwide for creative, artistic clothing that goes against the grain. Best known for its unique prints, Desigual is like wearing a colorful museum gift shop.

Desigual comes in sizes XXS-XXL; converting UK clothing sizing, that equates to U.S. sizes 6-16. While the greatest selection is available on the Desigual site, the label can also be found at Nordstrom, Macy's, and Amazon.

Dressed in Joy

Dressed in Joy is a size-inclusive fashion brand by influencer Mikaela Pabon. Made from bamboo-based fabric, Dressed in Joy is named appropriately because the color, the flowy silhouettes, and the prints are so incredibly joyful.

Dressed in Joy is available in sizes XXS-4X with pants available in regular and tall lengths. A sustainable fashion label, Dressed in Joy pieces are made for each order to reduce waste. Each garment is printed digitally, using less material and less water and dyes than any other manufacturer in the world. See my Dressed in Joy athleisure review and wearing a Dressed in Joy shirtdress.

Essential Antwerp

Started in Antwerp in 1999, Essential Antwerp is known for graphic and floral prints and unexpected color pairings. Fun yet elevated, offbeat yet on trend, Essential Antwerp is luxury clothing with a sense of play and humor. I like the use of embellishment and texture and the unique pairing of colorful prints.

With more than a quarter of the fabrics recycled, a more transparent and responsible supply chain, and a goal to reduce its carbon footprint, Essential Antwerp is late to the sustainable game but is working to be a greener fashion label. Essential Antwerp is available in U.S. sizes 2-14, but many pieces are generously sized. You can find Essential Antwerp in boutiques across the globe, the label's website, and other retailers like Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, FarFetch, and Bloomingdale's.

FARM Rio

The catchphrase for FARM Rio is “Dress in happiness,” and I find that to be pretty fitting. Since 1997, this label from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been known for its bold nature-inspired prints, cheery colors, and detail work (cutouts, trim, embellishments) on flowy dresses and unique summery separates. A B Corp, FARM Rio strives to be a sustainable fashion brand.

FARM Rio is available in sizes XXS/00 to XL/16 on the label's website and at department stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. However, FARM Rio has a partnership with Anthropologie, where some exclusive Anthro pieces are available in petite. (FARM Rio used to carry plus sizes at Anthro, but that is no longer the case.)

Gorman

Gorman is an Australian women's fashion brand offering in-house textile design and artist collaborations. Gorman is known for unique, colorful, fun, and exclusive prints for dresses, knitwear, pants, skirts, outerwear, and shoes as well as homewares, kids apparel, and even scrubs. Shipping to the U.S. is free for orders over $268.

Offering U.S. sizes 0-16, Gorman takes measures to reduce waste and its carbon footprint while having more transparent and ethical sourcing and manufacturing. With 75% of its apparel GOTS, OEKO-TEC, and/or Buesign certified, Gorman has the goal to be 100% certufued by 2030 and tests for RSLs and refuses to use Uzbekistan cotton.

Gudrun Sjödén

Gudrun Sjödén is a Swedish fashion designer who opened her first shop in 1976. Known for comfort, color, and whimsy, Gudrun Sjödén apparel offers combinable multi-seasonal styles, functional and one-of-a-kind pieces that will never get outdated. The garments are mostly crafted from natural materials, with an emphasis on sustainable Nordic design.

Gudrun Sjödén is available in U.S. sizes XS/4 to XXL/22-24. Each garment states whether it is Figure-fit (max 2.5″ of room at the bust and 1.5″ at the hip), Standard fit, Generous fit, or Extra generous fit (12″ around the bust).

J. Crew

J. Crew is a well-known fashion brand for women, men, and children that carries wardrobe staples as well as special occasion pieces, workwear, swimwear, on-trend garments, and stylish accessories. J. Crew is also a great place to find such pieces in beautiful colors.

J. Crew offers sizes 000-24 with petites in 00-12 and talls in 0-16. Keep in mind these are straight, not plus sizes, so they may fit narrower than expected in larger sizes.

Joanie Clothing

Joanie Clothing is a Certified B Corp apparel brand offering British vintage-inspired style. While based in the UK, Joanie Clothing offers free shipping to the U.S. for orders over $150 and simple returns. You will find colorful and whimsically printed dresses, jumpsuits, separates, outerwear, shoes, and more in U.S. sizes 4-22.

While some of Joanie Clothing's looks may feel a bit twee/old school ModCloth, I think it's a great destination for day dresses, weekend coveralls and jumpsuits, and fun graphic tees and sweaters that look great on grown-ass women and folks of all ages.

Lilly Pulitzer

Lilly Pulitzer is colorful Palm Beach style. With a focus on prints, Lilly Pulitzer is best known for day dresses but is also a fantastic destination for colorful swimwear, activewear, separates, outerwear, and accessories. You can learn more about this brand in a piece I wrote about the value of clothing.

Lilly Pulitzer carries women's apparel in sizes 00-20. The best selection of Lilly Pulitzer is on the brand's retail site. Lilly Pulitzer also has dozens of boutiques across the U.S., is sold at department stores like Dillard's and Nordstrom, as well as smaller online and brick-and-mortar boutiques.

Lucy & Yak

Started with a style of dungarees, Lucy and her partner Chris created a style of dungarees they sold from their van (named Yak) and on Depop. With success, the label grew to have a proper website and storefront of clothing made from organic cotton and other natural fabrics, as well as deadstock fabric. With a mission to create pieces that inspire joy and creativity while being kinder to the planet, Lucy & Yak is a colorful and sustainable fashion brand.

Carrying U.S. sizes 2-30, British fashion label Lucy & Yak is also relatively size-inclusive. From coats to coveralls, scarves to sweaters, you will find eclectic styles, colorful prints, and plenty of comfortable fabrics to enjoy.

Marimekko

Marimekko is a Finnish design company started by Viljo and Armi Ratia in 1951 when Armi asked artist friends to apply their graphic designs to textiles. To show how the fabric could be used, the company then designed and sold a line of simple dresses using their fabric. Just as Jackie Kennedy put Lilly Pulitzer on the map by purchasing and wearing her dresses, Kennedy did the same with Marimekko.

While known for textiles and housewares, Marimekko also has an extensive apparel line in sizes U.S. 0/EU 32 to U.S. 14/EU 46. That being said, I find Marimekko apparel to be generously sized and as a 16 was able to comfortably fit in the apparel, even when it was non-stretch. You can find the most extensive Marimekko collection on the retail site; the label is also sold at Nordstrom and various independent boutiques like pirkko (where I have shopped this brand).

Marine Layer

Marine Layer is a B-Corp fashion brand that focuses on softness. Marine Layer creates a sunny, beachy, yet real-life vibe through apparel for men and women. Creating their own textiles, recycling knits, and providing transparent impact reports, Marine Layer is colorful sustainable style.

Marine Layer is known for rainbows, from stripes down the legs of lounging sweatpants to the intarsia print of a work-friendly sweater. While Marine Layer's women's collection has color, they look softened by the sun, cheerful and relaxed and come in sizes 0/XS to 14/XL.

Mochi

In 2013, Dutch designer Ayah Tabari launched Mochi, an artisanal fashion brand inspired by her love of colour, beautiful fabrics and traditional methods of embroidery. Mochi's mission is to offer accessible avant-garde, sustainably made clothes to the modern-day woman using deadstock, repurposed fabrics, handmade crochet, reversible styles, made-to-order pieces and small batches, and sustainable business practices.

All of this is pretty awesome, but sadly Mochi only makes clothing in U.S. sizes 2-10. But if you fit in this size range, the color, prints, and cool silhouettes are worth a look.

Nooworks

I've shopped Nooworks before for colorful and unique prints on cotton garments and know I'll shop this indie label again in the future. Nooworks is a woman owned, women run business that makes limited edition textiles with artists we love and turn them into wearable fashion. All Nooworks garments are produced in California and the company strives to source as many materials as possible from the U.S.A.

Known for bold and colorful prints, Nooworks offers these ever-changing prints in a range of garments: dresses, coveralls, tops, bottoms, and jackets in sizes XXS-5X.

Rachel Antonoff

Rachel Antonoff is a New York City-based fashion designer that started her eponymous label in 2008. If the name sounds familiar, she is big sister to Jack Antonoff. But he is clearly not the only artist in the family as Rachel Antonoff has a line of popular size-inclusive fashion that is colorful, durable, size-inclusive, ethical, and a lot of fun.

Offering fashion in sizes XS-3X (no size chart online, but I found one for the label at ban.do), Rachel Antonoff fashion is available on the label website, as well as online shops like Anthropologie, Lisa Says Gah, and Dia & Co. And for those who love shopping secondhand, check out Round Trip, Rachel Antonoff's online resale shop!

Rujuta Sheth

Rujuta Sheth is an NYC-based ethical textile and fashion designer with a passion for color and print. Handcrafted in India, Rujuta Sheth's small batch clothing is the architectural, trend-transcending art gallery style hard to find outside of metro cities (and especially hard to find over a size 10).

Rujuta Sheth uses only natural fibers free of AZO dyes, works with factories with the highest standards, and runs a business that reduces waste at every chance. Comfortable, colorful, mindful, and modern, Rujuta Sheth fashion is available in sizes XS-3X with a detailed size chart.

Trina Turk

Trina Turk is a California-based fashion designer with a line that marries the vibe of Palm Springs with Silver Lake. Bright and bold colors and prints, cool caftans, stylish swimwear, cocktail fashion, and more are offered and as someone who owns Trina Turk apparel, I find the quality stellar and the colors just as saturated in person.

Trina Turk apparel is available in sizes 0-16. As a busty size 14/16, I fit into an XL but sort of vary between 14 and 16 depending on the cut of the garment and the stretch of the fabric. Trina Turk has the most extensive collection of her fashion on her retail site. You can also find Trina Turk at department stores like Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Zappos. Trina Turk fabric is also available at places like MOOD.

Universal Standard

I almost didn't include Universal Standard because one of my issues with this otherwise awesome fashion brand is the use of muted, muddy colors. But occasionally, Universal Standard surprises with bold shades, especially in the summertime.

Universal Standard's aesthetic is elevated closet standards with an edge. Best known for its denim, Universal Standard is a personal favorite for suiting and workwear, stretch linen separates, casual and polished dresses, sweaters and knits, and even colorful outerwear and size-inclusive swimwear. Nothing is especially trendy but everything has a design feature to keep it from being a boring basic.

Universal Standard is one of the most size-inclusive brands out there, offering the entire collection and all colors in sizes 00-40. Generally, the quality of pieces exceeds the pricepoint; while a t-shirt may be $50, the finish, weight, fit, and construction may turn you into a convert. These pieces are designed to stay in your closet for many years and earn their keep.

Zuri

You've heard of farm to table restaurants, but what about farm to table fashion brands? The fashion brand Zuri knows the Kenyan smallholder farmers who grow the cotton used to make their iconic dresses, access and input over the process of spinning that cotton into yarn, weaving that yarn into fabric, and printing that fabric for their clothing. In complete control of their supply chain, Zuri can ensure each worker from farm to fashion is paid a fair and living wage.

Best known for trapeze-style shirtdresses with stand collars, Zuri also carries midi-length dresses, tops, bottoms, accessories, and home decor in the most gorgeous, colorful, 100% cotton kitenge. In sizes XXS (00/2) to 3X (22/24), Zuri has a very detailed size chart to help you find the right fit. I have rented Zuri dresses from Armoire Style and find the fit quite nice on my curvy frame (see me in one in this video)

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Please know this list is focused on retailers that ship to the United States, as the majority of Wardrobe Oxygen readers live in this country. I also excluded any brands that do not offer at least a prepaid mailing label for returns or have a return window of under two weeks.

If you feel I have missed a great place to shop for colorful clothing as a grown woman, do share in the comments, and I will update this list to keep it as a valuable resource!