By Angie Hoffman

Photos by Colleen Harrison

Can your clothing choices shave years off your image? Can your clothing choices add years to your image? The answer to both questions is yes, of course. Fashion is full of age traps — wearing unimaginative and ill-fitting clothing instantly ages you, certainly. But so does wearing trendy teenybopper styles that are too young — unless, of course, you still are a trendy teenybopper.

So what is the trick to dressing in a youthful yet age-appropriate manner? Stop concentrating on age and instead focus on looking timeless and fabulous. Start with a wardrobe of well-made, classic basics, add the occasional trendy piece that catches your eye and make sure everything fits your body, your lifestyle and your personal style. Treat your wardrobe as an art collection and curate it with modern looks that tastefully flatter your shape and allow your personality to shine through.

Our model, Linda Hoffman, uses items from her own closet to demonstrate both common aging fashion mistakes and to give examples of how to dress with a fun, fresh and ageless style. Similar youthful looks can be found at local stores.

“If you obey all the rules, you’ll miss all the fun” — Katherine Hepburn