Kim Leake of Goochi Gang Butter shares the items all women over 40 should own, how to wear vintage at any age, layer without looking frumpy, and get dewy skin for $7!
When I came across Goochi Gang Butter on my Instagram feed, I immediately stopped scrolling. Sometimes the algorithm does work. L.A.-based content creator and stylist Kim Leake’s mix of vintage and contemporary clothes mirrors how I dress, but it’s the way she walks you through each outfit that really drew me in. Both her presence and her style choices feel joyful and easy. You may not want to copy everything she wears (she is bold!), but each look is full of inspiring details you can pull from and clever hacks that are both simple and a bit mind-blowing. Who knew hair ties could be so versatile? Not to mention, everything is set to the perfect Gen X soundtrack.
As a 56-year-old self-proclaimed “true blue Gen Xer,” aging comes up a lot in Kim’s content. Like many of us, she’s navigating all the changes that come with midlife, figuring out what she can still wear, how she can style it in a way that feels comfortable, and how to balance growing older with wearing clothes that are still youthful and fun. In fact, Goochi Gang Butter came to be when Kim decided to clean out her closet looking to get rid of things she no longer wore. Instead, she realized she had so many forgotten thrifted pieces that she could style in new ways. She decided to put together an outfit and film it. After she posted it, the views and comments kept coming, so she made another. Six months later, she has more than 120K followers. “I think something I’m doing is clearly resonating with women my age,” she says. And we couldn’t agree more.
While Kim doesn’t believe in fashion rules or limiting herself, she has plenty of insight into how our style can evolve as we do, and so many fun tips to take along for the ride. Ahead, Kim shares what every woman over 40 should have in her wardrobe, the key to not looking frumpy as we age, and more.
Megan Cahn: How would you describe your style?
Kim Leake: My style motto is: I dress for the female praise, not the male gaze. I love comfortable, slightly messy outfits with a masculine edge, mixing vintage and secondhand finds with modern, contemporary pieces. It’s all about creating looks that feel easy and approachable but unique by adding a thrifted or second-hand item to it.
MC: How old were you when you “found your style”?
KL: My style is still evolving but there is a core look that I always gravitate towards and that is boho/preppy. I think I discovered how much I love the preppy style in college when I would obsessively look through J. Crew catalogs. And as for boho, I was probably influenced by Mrs. Roper on Three’s Company when I was in elementary school. I loved all the muumuu dresses and chunky jewelry she wore.
MC: Do you have any advice for women who are trying to find their style as they age?
KL: Be super observant of people around you and if you see someone that you admire try mimicking their style. You don’t have to mimic their entire outfit but maybe it’s the way they cuffed their pants or wore a chunky earring with a dress. Start with little things like that. If you are observant and self aware, you will definitely find your style.
MC: You recently said, “the key to not dressing like our mother’s when we age is messiness.” As someone who is always a little bit messy, I appreciate this. Can you tell me more about your theory?
KL: My mother’s generation always matches their outfits with their accessories or has their shirts perfectly tucked in with their perfectly coiffed hair. I came to the realization that this way of dressing might be the key to looking matronly and frumpy as we get older.
Try to do the opposite: don’t be matchy-matchy. In fact, emphasize wearing contrasting colors and patterns. Mix proportion and clash things that shouldn’t necessarily go together. Keep things baggy and loose. I’m not against a polished outfit, but the little imperfections are where the personality comes in—and isn’t that the purpose of getting dressed?
MC: You are the queen of layering! How do you do it without looking heavier/frumpier?
KL: It comes down to playing with proportions and being intentional about what you leave undone. Layering doesn’t mean shapeless from head to toe. I like balancing volume with something more fitted, showing a little ankle or wrist, and paying attention to where things hit on the body. For example, I think an oversized blazer looks amazing with loose jeans or trousers. But keep the shirt inside fitted so not everything is baggy or carry a structured bag as a contrast to the baggy look.
MC: What is this rubber band hack you always use?
KL: When I wear long-sleeve shirts, blazers, or jackets I like to show my bare arms. Since I’m short, showing some skin can elongate you. The Olsen twins are known to do this too since they are on the petite side. I wrap the hair bands around the sleeves and push it up my arms. You can hide the band in the folds of the sleeves so no one can see it.
MC: What five pieces should everyone over 40 have in their wardrobe?
KL: An oversized blazer. Find a single button one; I think they fit better on us. Also the button should hit right on your belly button. If it hits below or above it’ll look like your torso is too long or short.
Button-up shirt. Preferably men’s, you can find them at thrift stores.
Dark wide-leg jeans. They are so versatile. You can dress them up or down; wear them with heels or sneakers.
Vintage trench coat. Once you find a trench coat, it’ll be the perfect third piece to wear over any outfit.
Heeled clogs. They give you height (if you need it) but also make outfits look a little more interesting and funky.
MC: Do you have some pieces you could not live without?
KL: Fall is here: I cannot live without my vintage Mexican Chiconcuac cardigan (pictured above on the right). It makes every outfit look so cool. Also, my men’s GAP jeans I bought at Goodwill. I realized men’s denim fit better on me. It’s probably because I have no waist and I’m built like a rectangle. And colorful pattern socks. I buy them on Amazon. I love wearing red socks with my loafers, my bright yellow socks look great with my heeled clogs, and the pattern socks look great with my Vans.
MC: How do you wear vintage without looking old or old-fashioned?
KL: I think young women can wear head-to-toe vintage and get away with it. But if older women like me do that, we’ll look like we’re stuck in a certain time period. So now I always wear a vintage piece with contemporary and modern items. That keeps it from looking less costume-y.
MC: I love that you always wear a red lip. What’s your go-to?
KL: Red lipstick makes me look more alive and brings color back to my face, which we all need as we age. I wear Merit Signature Lipstick in Vermillion. Along with skin tint foundation it’s the only makeup I wear. A lot of my followers told me they no longer wear matte lipstick because it makes them look dehydrated and ages them, but I have a trick: If you keep your face looking like glass skin (dewy and moist) you can get away with wearing matte lipstick. It’s the contrast the makes it work. I recommend Trader Joe’s Milky Hydrating Face Mist; it’s only $7.
MC: You always have the best music for your videos. How do you pick out the songs?
KL: I’m a true blue Gen Xer. I was a teen in the ’80s, so I grew up listening to bands like Depeche Mode, The Smiths, New Order, and watching John Hughes/Molly Ringwald films. When the ’90s rolled in, I really felt and saw the musical landscape change. Bands like the Pixies, Nirvana, and Pavement made such an impression on me. By then I was old enough to see them live and now they are forever in my DNA. After I finish a video, I hear a specific song that I know will match the vibe of the outfit. It’s strange how I can hear it. I get so many DMs regarding my Spotify playlist.
MC: Finally, where did the name Goochi Gang Butter come from?
KL: It came from an Atlanta food influencer who was cooking with gochujang, a Korean chili paste. His thick Southern accent turned it into “goochi gang,” and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. Since I’m Korean American, I figured it would make a fun, memorable name for my socials.
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Megan Cahn started her editorial career at Sassy’s less irreverent younger cousin, CosmoGIRL. She went on to work in the women’s lifestyle space at publications such as ELLE, Refinery29, Cup of Jo, and Best Life. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, cat, and five-year-old daughter, who has adopted her childhood Cabbage Patch Kids collection.
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