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DO you ever look at an outfit and wonder if you're too old to wear it?

If you do, then you need to revisit your thought process, and ask whether or not wearing it would make you feel great.

Fashion expert Leonie has said it's time to stop dressing your age - it's "outdated" as a concept
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Fashion expert Leonie has said it's time to stop dressing your age - it's "outdated" as a conceptCredit: youtube
The most important thing is to wear what you feel great in, Leonie said - and trust your instincts
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The most important thing is to wear what you feel great in, Leonie said - and trust your instinctsCredit: youtube

And if the answer is yes - then go for it!

That's the advice from fashion expert and former magazine editor Leonie, who shares style tips on her YouTube page The Style Insider.

"The idea of dressing your age is so outdated and in this video I’m going to tell you why, and what you should do instead," Leonie began.

"I regularly get asked whether a particular trend or an item of clothing is appropriate for a certain age and I’m going to give my absolute honest answer to that question, because the clothes that look and feel the best on you have more to do with your body, your style preferences, your lifestyle than the year you were born."

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Leonie's first rule of thumb is focusing on the idea of "less is more".

"I know my wardrobe used to be cluttered with lots of different styles but really I think the key to ageing and ageing well in a fashion sense is becoming a little bit more au fait with what your personal style is and lessen it," she explained.

"Maybe it’s about buying better quality because you’re not going to recycle at every season, but owning less is far easier than owning lots and lots of clothes and not knowing where to start."

It's also important to "focus on what you want your clothes to say about you".

"You need to be ruthless and get rid of the pieces that aren’t serving you now - the pieces that aren’t speaking to you or communicating the person that you are now - regardless of your age," she explained.

In addition, you need to figure out what your neutral, or your base colour, is.

"Back in the day I wore a lot of black and black was the foundation colour for my closet," she said.

"But I definitely find that the kind of earthy neutrals work better with my skintone now I’m in my 50s and I think it’s really key to identify your base colour palette, your base neutral.

"And these pieces form a really good anchor for your wardrobe."

Leonie explained that these neutrals can form the basis of every outfit, and have the added benefit of being able to be mix and matched.

Leonie's five style secrets to dressing as you age

  • Less really is more 
  • Change your focus
  • Choose a neutral that suits you
  • Add unexpected flourishes 
  • Keep evolving your style 
  • Wear what makes you feel great 

But alongside the neutrals, you can experiment with some "unexpected flourishes", like pops of colour or "accessory type pieces that aren’t going to cost you a fortune"

"Give your wardrobe a modern edge without having to buy into every single new trend that pops up," Leonie said.

Another of Leonie's suggestions is to keep evolving your style as you age - because we change and it's "important to be open minded".

"If you don’t feel comfortable - you can’t look good , it’s as simple as that," she smiled.

And with that in mind, Leonie's final tip is to "wear what makes you feel great".

"The only person you should want to dress up for and look your absolute best for is you," she said.

"So if you’re 60 and have fabulous legs that you want to show off, then go for it!

"Who cares what the rules say about skirt length and are?

"I’ve always been about breaking rules and I think now we can do that more than ever before.

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"But it is about trusting your instinct and doing and wearing what makes you feel great.

"And if you love colour and choose to be flamboyant, don’t quieten that down - go for it. Do you!"

Have some base neutrals you can use to mix and match outfits from
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Have some base neutrals you can use to mix and match outfits fromCredit: youtube
But also don't be afraid to have some "wildcard" options in your wardrobe
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But also don't be afraid to have some "wildcard" options in your wardrobeCredit: youtube
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