There's a particular kind of freedom that comes with your 50s. You know your body, you know your style, and you're done wasting time on clothes that don't work. Whether you're planning a long-haul trip to Europe, a long weekend in Margaret River, or simply looking forward to a relaxed Saturday with friends, you deserve outfits that keep up with you — comfortable, chic, and completely no-fuss.

At O'Brien's Clothing Co, we've been dressing Australian women since 1955. Our customers in their 50s, 60s, and beyond are some of the most discerning shoppers we know — and they're looking for the same things: great fit, quality fabrics, pieces that travel without drama, and style that never feels like it's trying too hard.

Here's our edit of the best travel and weekend wear for women over 50 in Australia, right now.

What Makes Great Travel & Weekend Clothing?

Before we get into specific pieces and outfits, it's worth thinking about what actually makes clothing work when you're on the move or enjoying downtime. The best travel and weekend wear for women over 50 ticks these boxes:

• Wrinkle-resistance — because life is too short to iron on holiday
• Packability — lightweight pieces that don't bulk up your bag
• Versatility — items that mix and match across multiple outfits
• Comfort without compromise — clothes that feel as good as they look
• Easy-care fabrics — no dry-clean-only pieces when you're on the road

The good news? Several Australian and international labels stocked at O'Brien's are designed with exactly these qualities in mind.

The Travel PANT: Your Most Important Packing Decision

If there's one piece of clothing that can make or break a trip, it's your pants. Too stiff and you're uncomfortable on a long flight. Too casual and you can't wear them to dinner. Get it right and one pair of pants can carry you across a week of varied activities.

Verge Acrobat Pants have become something of a cult classic among our travelling customers — and for good reason. Made from Verge's signature Acrobat fabric, they're designed to be wrinkle-free, lightweight, and move beautifully with your body. Our customers regularly report wearing them on a 14-hour flight and stepping off the plane looking like they've just got dressed. That's the goal.

The Verge Premier Pant is another brilliant travel option — a pull-on silhouette with a polished look that works for everything from a vineyard lunch to an evening out. Available in Black, White, Chocolate, and Putty.

Joseph Ribkoff's Wonder Pant in Midnight Blue or Black is a long-haul flight hero — the elastic waist keeps you comfortable over hours of sitting, while the cut is refined enough for a restaurant the same evening.

For weekend wear with a bit more texture, UP! Pants — made right here in Australia — are beloved by our customers for their comfort and versatile styling. They're the pants you reach for on a relaxed Saturday morning and find yourself still wearing at dinner.

Tops That Travel: Easy Layers That Always Look Intentional

The best travel tops are the ones that do more than one job. A great top can be a base layer under a jacket on a cool morning, a standalone piece in the afternoon, and still look fresh enough for dinner.

Mela Purdie is the label our most-travelled customers swear by. Made in Australia, Mela Purdie tops are engineered for exactly this kind of versatility. The Relaxed Boat Neck in French Navy or Black is the definition of a hard-working travel top — it doesn't crease, it maintains its shape, and it looks just as good on day seven of a trip as it did on day one.

Verge tops and blouses offer a wide range of styles perfect for weekend and travel dressing — from softly draped blouses that dress up with ease, to colourful printed tops that bring personality to a neutral travel wardrobe.

ELK The Label tops like the Kyla Tee and Amalia Shirt bring an artisan quality to your weekend dressing — pieces that feel considered and interesting without requiring any effort to style.

For cooler evenings — whether that's a winter weekend in the Adelaide Hills or a brisk European summer night — a Toorallie Merino Tee is the quiet superstar of any travel bag. Australian merino regulates your temperature, resists odour, and packs down to almost nothing. It's one of those investments that pays for itself on the first trip.

The Layer You'll Reach For Every Day: Jackets & Cardigans

Whether you're exploring a new city, sitting at a pavement café, or enjoying a long weekend brunch, a great jacket or cardigan is the finishing touch that pulls a travel or weekend outfit together.

Lania jackets are the gold standard for travelling women. Designed to be trans-seasonal and transition effortlessly from casual to smart. Our customers describe them as the piece they pack first and unpack last.

Verge jackets offer a slightly more structured option for women who like a polished silhouette — perfect for a city break where you want to look put-together without feeling overdressed.

For weekend days when you want warmth without structure, a long-line cardigan is your best friend. Cable Melbourne offer beautiful knitwear options that feel luxurious without being fussy.

Weekend Dresses: Effortless from Morning to Evening

Sometimes the easiest weekend outfit is no outfit at all — just a great dress. A dress removes the need to think about what goes with what, and the right one can carry you from Saturday markets to a long lunch without a second thought.

Mela Purdie dresses are made with exactly this in mind — relaxed but refined, comfortable for a full day of movement, and beautiful enough to feel special.

Loobie's Story is one of our most popular labels for event and weekend dressing — their prints are stunning and their cuts are designed to flatter and feel effortless.

Madly Sweetly, Cienna Designs, and Yarra Trail all offer beautiful dresses that work just as well for a weekend at home as they do for a resort holiday — the kind of pieces that make getting dressed a pleasure rather than a chore.

The Accessories That Finish a Travel Wardrobe

The right accessories can transform a simple travel outfit into something that looks completely intentional. And when you're packing light, the right bag does a lot of heavy lifting.

Elms+King's Santa Monica Tote is one of our perennial bestsellers for very good reason — it's roomy enough to be a day bag, structured enough to look polished, and comes in colours that work with almost any outfit. Our customers take it everywhere.

Arlington Milne and Indi & Cold bags offer beautiful leather options for women who want something with a little more luxury for travel or weekend use.

For footwear, Rollie Nation is the answer to the eternal traveller's dilemma of comfortable versus stylish. Lightweight, packable, and genuinely attractive — they're the shoes our customers wear on a plane and then keep on for the rest of the trip.

A scarf is one of the most versatile travel accessories going — it can be a wrap on a cold flight, a top layer at dinner, or a splash of colour over a simple outfit. Our scarves collection has beautiful options across a range of weights and styles.

Why Our Customers Over 50 Love Shopping at O'Brien's

We've been in business for over 70 years, and the majority of our loyal customer base are women who've been with us for decades. What they tell us they value most:

• Curation they trust — we've already done the work of selecting labels that fit well, wear well, and last
• Real sizing — our brands cater to real women's bodies, not sample sizes
• Styling support — our in-store team and free styling sessions help you find what actually works for you
• Australian Made options — we proudly stock Mela Purdie and UP! Pants, both made in Australia
• Ethical fashion — many of our labels are chosen with sustainability and ethical production in mind. Explore our ethical fashion edit →

Visit Us In Store or Shop Online

We're located at 33 Welwyn Ave, Manning, Perth WA — open Monday to Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–3pm. Come in and let our team help you put together a travel or weekend capsule wardrobe you'll actually reach for.

Shopping online from anywhere in Australia? We offer free standard shipping on orders over $150 and free express shipping on orders over $500, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 11am (Mon–Fri).

Shop Travel Essentials → Shop Weekend Edit → Shop Resort Wear → Shop Verge Acrobat → Shop Mela Purdie → Book a Free Styling Session →