The other day I was having a hard time convincing a client against a certain style of outfit because it was just too young a look for her. After she left, I started wondering what really the rules of dressing up are, especially those centred around ones growing age?

Does middle age mean bidding farewell to all that is fancy? As women cross one biological milestone after another, does fitting back into the original style become as difficult as it appears?

I imagine it does. Most women think that “thinking young” means staying young in terms of clothing. Unfortunately, I may sound harsh but I feel there is no correlation between the two. Thinking young is a great idea, but dressing young when the love handles and sagging skin say another story is not such a pleasant idea.

Ageing gracefully and blending in with style is the best way to stand out. For some women, it is indeed very difficult to make that transition — from their teenage dressing style to their middle age — and find what really works for them.

I realised how hard it is for a woman to accept that she doesn’t look as young as she once did. But does life really end at 40 or, for that matter, even at 50? I think it’s a whole new chapter in fashion. There is so much one can do with fashion even after the rambunctious phase has burnt out. The debate is about what is fine and what isn’t when the wheel is a bit worn out.

For starters, all the tight-fitted tiny bits and pieces of clothing must go into the bonfire. Preferably, the fitted jeans must also be thrown in, though I must admit, there are some women who really work on a keeping a toned body. I feel if you can carry it off, you could attempt keeping these jeans. But let’s team them with more conservative tops. Sleeveless or spaghetti tops showing old skin is not a pleasant sight.

Loud florals and chunky chains and belts are a complete ‘no’, though most international brands believe in the ideology of throwing in flashy buckles and fasteners on bags and belts to add value and we have most of our hoity-toities sporting these. But, I sincerely suggest a review of fashion accessories based on a judgment on all that has been discussed.

Who doesn’t want to flaunt some skin? But we can do it gracefully. There is a fine line between looking graceful and garish. While on the one side, controlled display of skin can make a lady look beautiful and elegant, too much of it can make one look desperate for attention. The easiest way to look graceful is to don a saree with the right kind of blouse. The choice of saree is of great importance. Some years ago, you could carry off a slinky chiffon saree, today you might not be able to. So be it. Team the saree with blouses that do your age good and wollah, you have won half the battle. Add simple accessories and go easy on make-up, and we are sorted.

It is so amusing to find women dolled up under cakes of make-up while already burdened under the debris of a serious amount of flashy attire and chunky jewellery. At weddings, you will see how some of these specimens walk under the weight of all the riches that they possess, almost as if over-decked Christmas trees with bent backs were trying to wade through similar looking trees.

The list can go on. As I shake myself out of my reverie, I tell myself that we must wake up to the need to dress our age sooner that not.

The writer is a fashion designer and an artist