Yes, You Can Age Gracefully -- and Fashionably

Stores like J. Jill, Chico's and Coldwater Creek may appeal to baby boomers, but women Walsh's age shouldn't be lumped into the same group.

"What is appropriate for a boomer at 44 is different from a woman over 70," Mathieson says.

She recommends stores like J. Crew, Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, which carry a mix of youthful and classic pieces that work for any age.

Mathieson says as women age, they should assess the clothes in their closet every year.

"You age more quickly as you get older," she says. "You change every year. Colors are different against your complexion from year to year."

Black isn't a good color for older women, she says. As women age, their skin becomes more sallow, and black can be too harsh. Go for charcoal grays and brown instead. Colors like red, mauve, teal and burgundy can also age you.

Orange is beautiful against mature skin; so are colors like beige, camel and chocolate brown, which look stylish teamed with white.

Mature fashionistas should look to Audrey Hepburn for style inspiration.

"Everything she did should be mimicked by women of any age," says Mathieson, who also believes actresses Tippi Hedren and Dame Judi Dench get it right most of the time. Hepburn "was totally ageless. She was classic and eternally modern."

Mathieson loves the Gap's Audrey pant on mature women. (The slim leg pant that tapers in at the ankle is named for the style icon.)

"That's a piece you can keep in your closet and you will always look well," she says. "Pair it with a kitten heel or ballerina flat, and it's a timeless look."

If you wear a plain white blouse or polo shirt, kick up the collar. It frames the neck and diverts attention away from an area many older women see as a trouble spot -- the neck.

Collect great accessories, too. Large pearls, tiered necklaces and scarves can "give life to the face."

"The important thing to remember is you need to know what you're doing," Mathieson says. "You can buy bad clothes anywhere. You need to hone your eye to understand what you're looking for and what you're buying; it's a skill. And the more skillful you are, the less you are going to have error in your buying."

Happily, it's never too late to learn.

For more style tips from Mathieson, visit www.sherriemathieson.com.