STEER CLEAR OF CLOTHES THAT SAY ‘VINTAGE’

AnnAbeL HODin, a former model now in her 50s, is a celebrity stylist. As YOu age, there should be a shift in how you dress: by the time you reach your 50s, you should know what doesn’t work for you. Accept the imperfect and focus on simplifying your look.

This means being laser-focused when you shop. Buy the best quality fabrics you can afford. Not every designer fabric is fabulous, so don’t get befuddled by the

label. Instead, really examine the quality — scrunch it in your hand. In the changing room mirror, think: Does this make me look as slim and elegant as I can look? Examine the lining; is it pulling? Only buy what is cut for your proportions. Be aware of fashion, but not at the cost of looking attractive. You can acknowledge the current oversize trend without wearing something that drowns you — only teens can get away with that — just choose looser tailoring and expose a collar bone or ankle to counter the volume. Forget lace — it's what grannies wear And leave the vintage clothes markets to younger women — vintage is dangerous when you’re almost vintage yourself!

The golden rule: if you were going on a date or meeting a group of girlfriends, would you put this on? On those occasions we always reach for our best looks.

Use shoes to bring your outfit up to date. A heeled court is classic but oldfashioned. Go for this season’s kitten heel slingback if you’re dainty, or a chunky square heel if you’re not.

An open flip-flop- style sandal is too casual and rarely looks nice, especially when the top of your foot is veiny or crepey. Opt for wide straps instead.