Fashion magazines may be full of adolescent models, but that doesn’t mean fashion and style are the dominion of them alone.

To the contrary, the best dressers can be found among older women who have enough experience to know who they are and what works for them, unlike many younger girls who are still fad-hopping as they try to find themselves.

It’s no wonder, though, that many women baulk at experimenting with their style for fear of looking like teeny-boppers.

The good news is that I have some tips that will help you stay stylish no matter what your age; whether you’re a mid-life gal in a style slump, an 80-year-old grandma who wants to show the kids that looking great doesn’t mean exposing oneself, or even a teenager looking for ways to transition your wardrobe with you into adulthood.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

First off, don’t be afraid of change. It may be easy to hold onto past styles, even while you and the world around you changes. However, those who don’t update their look will date their look. Embrace trends, but wisely.

How do you know which trends to buy into? Fashion may change, you may change, but the basic considerations of style remain the same.

For a style to work for you, it must:

1. Fit and flatter your body
2. Not be taken too far
3. Suit your lifestyle
4. Send the right message

These are things that everyone should consider, regardless of age. Girls and young women may get away with more style mistakes because they aren’t expected to know better, but that doesn’t mean they should be imitated. However, styles that look truly great on older women are usually just as flattering on younger women, and many of the styles seen on younger women can look great at any age, provided that you keep in mind the style considerations above and make the style work for you.

Dress for your body

This is a big one, especially since our bodies all change over time.

Make sure that everything fits

I will say it again and again: baggy clothes add pounds. So does stuff that’s too tight; find stuff that skims your body’s curves and you’ll look thinner at any age. If you’ve been holding on to clothes for years, they probably don’t fit like they used to. Even if you haven’t gained or lost weight, things have a way of migrating.

A bra that doesn’t fit is just as bad as a pants that are too short or a top that’s too tight. A proper-fitting bra is an instant lift and will make you look thinner and younger.

Unfortunately, most women are wearing the wrong size bra. Just because a bra goes around you, doesn’t mean that it fits. When buying new bras, women often just try changing band sizes or cup sizes, but not both at the same time. This often results in a band size that is too big, and a cup size that is too small. Get a proper fitting at a department store or lingerie shop. And please, throw out any bras whose elastic is worn out.

Flatter your figure

Wear styles that work for your body shape and pull attention to your best features, camouflage what you don’t want people to notice, and balance everything out. You can check out books like What Not to Wear for specific ‘rules’ for your body type.

The important thing is that you pay attention to what works and what doesn’t; few trends work for everyone. Plus, don’t forget to take a fresh look at your shape every now and then since our shapes do change over time.

Don’t over-expose yourself

Yes, you can dress sexy no matter how old you are, but that doesn’t mean exposing your breasts, belly, or butt for all the world to see. That rarely looks good at any age! While you might be proud of your assets, you can flaunt them without exposing them.

Again, clothes that skim your body’s curves will show everything off while still leaving something to the imagination (and imagination is more forgiving than reality). This is particularly important to remember as you age. Even if you have a great body, chances are your skin is no longer what it used to be.

Easy does it on the trends

Yes, it is possible to enjoy trends without looking too trendy.

Keep it timeless by keeping it simple

Patterns will help date your clothes. Frills and other fuss will help date your clothes. The simpler your clothes, the easier it is to achieve that timeless, sophisticated look. That doesn’t mean your wardrobe should be bland and boring; add interest to clothing with a few accessories. For example, instead of rhinestones on your butt, try a rhinestone headband or Swarovski crystal earrings.

Less is more

While I do believe in updating your look with trends that work for you, keep it simple. If in doubt about a trendy fabric or pattern like metallics, keep it to your shoes or bag. That’s generally all you need to update your look while not overdoing it.

Mix and match trends with good pieces from previous seasons to keep yourself from looking like a fashion victim.

Explore the middle ground

Don’t take trendy shapes to extremes either. Yes, ultra low-rise jeans look awful on most people of all ages. On the other hand, women over 50 don’t have to wear their waistbands around their ribs. There is a middle ground!

Dress for your life

Dressing for your lifestyle can be difficult since we women have to dress for a variety of roles which can quickly change. Buying a new wardrobe can be expensive, so it’s important to always have some basic styles on hand which can serve you under different roles.

If you’re a working woman, you should have plenty of great, work-appropriate clothes. Work clothes are an investment in your career. If you’re a young woman in high school or college, start buying work-appropriate pieces now. You don’t have to have a week’s worth of designer suits, just start with work appropriate pieces like:

• Simple, knee-length skirts in dark colors
• Closed-toe shoes
• Dress pants
• Button-up blouses
• A couple of blazers
• A versatile day dress
• At least one suit. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Save your money and have it tailored to fit you perfectly. You can also use the pieces in a variety of ways.

And even if you are retired or a stay-at-home mother, work-appropriate clothes are still good to have on hand.

Women of any age should also have a few nice outfits that are appropriate for special occasions such as weddings. Whether you’re a teenager or in your 80’s, showing up at a wedding in anything resembling pajamas or gym clothes is still a major faux pas.

Are your outfits sending the right messages?

Even if you’re not interested in looking fashionable or stylish, remember: what you wear sends strong messages to others about who you are and what your intentions are. There is no single message that’s right for everyone all the time. In fact, part of the power of clothes is that we can change them and the message we send through them. Nevertheless, if the message you’re sending isn’t the message that you intended, your outfits are sending the wrong message.

Dress for respect

If you’re not getting the respect you want, take a look at what you’re wearing. The following might be fun to wear, but don’t command respect at any age:

• Cutsey stuff. Feminine is fine, but if you want to be taken seriously, be careful about wearing anything that might be considered cutesy. Items like bunny rabbit-covered shirts or pink ribbons are hard to pull off at all past your 20s, and even then they can look juvenile.
• Message tees about how you’re so hot or anything that shows too much skin. Be careful that you don’t say “desperate” when you’re trying to say “sexy”.
• The gimmicky, crafty, and flashy. This time of year can be dangerous for the professional look. Take care to not over do it with too many appliqu©d Santas.

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