Regina Gershman Image Consultant

What does age-appropriate dress mean to us now? A glamorous 53-year-old personal trainer bristles when she sees her contemporaries baring their midriffs on the beach or dressing like their daughters.  "I don't care how fit these women are," she says.  "Their faces don't match their clothes."

Should we care what others think at this stage of our lives? The style-confident women I know say that the idea of age-appropriate dress has no meaning for them; it's more about body-appropriate dress.

Our generation is redefining the concept of aging, just as we've redefined everything else.  Style after 40 is not about competing with your daughters or dressing like the girl you were 20 years ago; it's about dressing like the girl you are now.  If you prefer a scoop neck or a short skirt, how much you show is your decision.  What really matters is that you feel as comfortable in your clothes as you do in your skin.

The real trick to age-appropriate dress is: Once you've looked at yourself honestly and figured out what works best for you, you'll feel more confident in what you choose to wear.

Are you classic, modern or edgy?

Animal Prints: Classic

Animal Prints: Modern

Animal Prints: Edgy

Metallics - Classic

Metallics - Modern

Metallics - Edgy

 "Age-Appropriate" Trends

Are you classic, modern or edgy?

 The Little Black Dress: Classic

 The Little Black Dress: Modern

The Little Black Dress: Edgy

 Bright  Color: Classic

Bright Color: Modern

Bright Color: Edgy