As a woman in midlife, I embrace my aging face and aging body.  It has served me well and will continue to do so.  I encourage you to be proud of every wrinkle and every stretch mark as I’m sure, like me, you have earned every single one.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t work hard to always look your best.  Face creams and anti-wrinkle serums, for example, can help your skin look its best. But what you wear has a huge impact on how youthful you appear. Wearing the wrong clothing can add years to your appearance, just as the right ones will keep you looking younger.

That doesn’t mean you have to adopt every new trend.  For most women it is a case of finding what flatters their shape the most. Here are a few tips to help you achieve a younger look.

Choose the Right Shoes

Shoes can have a huge impact on your overall look. Designs that make your legs appear longer are the way to go. Heels as high as you can comfortably manage to walk in, and straps with cut-outs rather than a full shoe give the illusion of extra height. Legs that look longer will have a youthful effect on your whole demeanor.

Embrace Menswear for a Casual Look

Men have some wonderful clothes to give us ladies a youthful casual appearance. Team an oversized shirt with a pair of slim fitting jeans and accessorize with a neck scarf to knock years off your age. John Henric, for example, sells perfect shirts and scarves to achieve this, both online and in their stores. You may even want to finish off with a man’s tweed flat cap. If you tuck your hair into it and wear it slightly slanted you may be surprised how youthful the whole outfit will make you look.

Wear Less Black

So many women wear black because it is slimming and although that may be the case, it can also age you and it isn’t exactly an exciting fashion statement. Have some fun with some brighter colors, just be careful which ones you mix together. Wearing something vibrant really can be a youthful pick-me-up, and if it makes you feel younger as well as look younger, it has to be worth a try.

Neutral colors can work well too. Unlike the way dark colors will make imperfections in your skin more obvious, neutral colors can complement your skin tone.

Don’t Avoid Sparkle

It is not only teenage girls that can wear sparkly outfits. A few sequins can work wonders to give a youthful and upbeat appearance, especially on a top or a jumpsuit. Team your sparkles with your high heels and you will really look the part.

Recycle For the Latest Trends

Trends in clothes come and go, as you can see at Elle.  You may well have clothes in your wardrobe that are similar to the latest fashions. Don’t be afraid to recycle them. They may need a few inches off the length, or a strap removed to show off your shoulders, but those few tweaks can make you look trendy without spending much money.

Older Women Looking Beautiful

Let’s face it. There was a time when most women felt that once they hit a certain age, they had to start “dressing their age”.  This meant dowdy, and boring. The days when women looked old at forty are well gone.  These days, women are active, vibrant and youthful for as long as they want to be.  Role models like Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda, and Maye Musk are proving that age is just a number.