Looking good at any age...

As I've been saying for a long time, age is just a number.  It's how you feel that matters, and how you convey how you feel.  When you walk in a room with confidence people will notice.  And there are so many women who look fabulous in their 60s and 70s that's it's hard to pick just one person to represent these decades.

The important thing is to know your style and be true to your instincts.  Fads come and go, but enduring standards will serve you well!  Here are my tips for these decades.

• Opt for classic cut dresses.  Shirt-dresses are mainstays.  They provide a flattering silhouette, and structure keeps them tailored.  They also offer endless options.  You can also easily transition these dresses from day to night.
• Try a top that's eye-catching.  Whether it has a dramatic detail like overblown frills or a subtle sheen from gold satin, it should spark up a suit or a simple skirt or trouser.  A little more coverage is key, but showing skin in strategic places like the decolletage adds femininity.
• Select a soft skirt.  A swingy A-line shape is womanly and flattering, and go with solid colors for a cleaner look.  Pair it with a more fitted shirt for just the right balance.
• Pick a top-notch topper.  Let a jacket or coat be your centerpiece.  Look for something opulent that will retain a certain timelessness.
• The right accessories can make an outfit.  At this stage in life you can get away with whatever you like ladies, but a great stand-out accessory can never be a mistake!

My pick for a stylish woman in her 60s is Diane Sawyer. She is smart, beautiful and always looks poised and elegant.  

My pick for someone looking great in her 70s is Dame Judi Dench.  She is a British treasure whom we all love, hugely talented in both film and theater, but she shows that you can grow older with grace and finesse.  Even though she is not your typical Hollywood glamorous, skinny beauty, she proves that those things don't matter if you have confidence and grace!

My other pick for a 70-something woman who looks fabulous is my dear friend Linda!  She is 71 years old and feistier than most women I know.  She is always perfectly put together and beautifully made up and a credit to any woman in this stage of her life!  More power to you mama Linda!  You still rock!

Celebrating your shape...

Celebrating your shape continues today with the boyish figure.  I know a lot of women who struggle with being curvy may think 'how on earth could having a boyish figure be a problem?', but trust me, it presents just as many problems for ladies with this shape as anyone else.  But - the key for ladies with this type of figure is to create womanly curves and definition.

Here are my tips for those of you with a boyish figure...

• Enhance your figure.  To transform your slender physique into a more curvy shape, accentuate your middle and create a fuller bust and hips.  That means always define the waist, whether it's with a dress that cinches, a top with a drop waist, or a gown with a distinct empire line.  V-necks emphasize cleavage.
• Turn up the volume.  Pieces with pleats, poufs, and peplums add ladylike definition.  The same goes for anything with a lot of personality or dimension by pairing it with something more streamlined.
• Play with prints.  Don't shy away from bold and intricate patterns.  Florals, stripes, and graphics will give depth and character to a silhouette, but remember to keep it in check.  Choose refined motifs in classic colors to keep from going overboard.
• Trick the eye with details.  Accents like wide belts, ruching, and plays on color will give a touch more roundness to your shape.  The same goes for a mix of textures: a combination of fabrics like lace, satin, velvet, cotton, and wool adds complexity to any silhouette.

Female celebs with boyish figures who have become experts in dressing for their shape include Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman & Renee Zellweger.  These ladies always look great, and see how they manage to look like they have curves and cleavage in some of these pics!  Amazing what the right clothes can do for you!

Celebrate your shape...

To wrap up my piece on celebrating your shape and accentuating your assets I want to concentrate on two things; shoulders and balancing the bust.  These are two areas that a lot of women don't pay as much attention as they perhaps should, so today I want to give you some tips on how to accentuate these areas in the right way.

Show a shoulder

• Reveal just one body part - the back, a shoulder or an arm - and keep the rest of yourself covered if you like to dress modestly without forsaking sex appeal. This is especially great for more mature women who still want to look sexy but not inappropriate.
• Choose your most flattering asset and dress to highlight it.  Shoulders usually look lean and toned, even if the rest of you is not, so a one shouldered dress or off the shoulder dress is usually flattering and subtly sexy.
• Halter dresses and asymmetrical styles are ideal for showing just a little.  Pick pieces in draping jersey that shield but simultaneously emphasize curves.
• The effect works best in solids.  Loud colors, prints, and embellishments detract from the dramatic impact.

Balance the bust

• Create a leaner look by wearing an outfit in a solid dark shade.
• Try tailored pieces like a classic button-up. The structure of the shirt keeps everything looking sleek.
• A moderate V-neck is a great shape of you have a larger bust.  It's a sultry way to show skin but keep the look modest.  Anything too low could look inappropriate.
• Strapless styles that lie flat can downplay a bigger bust.  One bold adornment, like a big bow or necklace, also helps - but loads of frills will just add bulk.