One of my clients has experienced “ageism”, a form of discrimination that involves stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, and has decided to  confront this situation by coloring her gray hair and upleveling her style.

This problem is prevalent in our society and workplace and especially impacts women.  Today, society has us conditioned to strive for an impossible standard of beauty!  Seldom do you see models that represent the average American woman who stands 5’4”, weighs 170 lbs., and wears a size 16, and designers don’t create fashions for the majority. You can help change this preconception by not conforming to societal expectations of how you should dress at a certain age and embrace your individuality.

Wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident, and consider adapting current fashion trends to your own style. You can be a trendsetter – it’s not exclusive to the young!

By consciously challenging ageism through fashion, you can help create a more inclusive and accepting society that celebrates people of all ages and fosters a more positive attitude towards aging.  Remember, style knows no age limit.

Yet there are some fashions that immediately look time-worn rather than timeless and add years to your persona.  Here are my top 10 things to avoid looking older, and an alternative to maintain a youthful appearance:

Pass on Pastels: Your skin tone fades as you get older, so wearing softer shades can be more flattering, yet wearing too many pastels in the same outfit can age you. If you want to wear light colors from head to toe, opt for pale neutrals like nude, ivory, light gray, or beige. Baby blue with soft pink is a classic combo, but hard to pull off over a certain age. If you love pastels near your face, anchor it with a stronger color on the bottom. Baby blue looks great with navy and black or brown and charcoal —-ditto for soft pink, butter yellow, and pale peach.

Too Much Black: Head to toe black is always chic and stylish, e.g. the ubiquitous LBD!  Packing is a breeze with easy to coordinate outfits. However, black can also leach life out of your complexion making you look older by drawing attention to wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes.

Oversized Clothing: This is a popular look that is very comfy but tricky to get right. Choose pieces that are loose but not overwhelming. Try wearing oversized clothes on just one half of your body at a time. Voluminous tunics paired with oversized pants can make you look like you’re trying to hide something. Instead, select a shorter, slim-fitting top with wide legged pants. Remember to show some part of your body silhouette, or you risk looking larger and older than you are.

Outdated Glasses: Frame shapes change slowly, but if you haven’t updated yours in several years, they may be aging you.  Most frameless glasses will age you immediately. Frames help cover under eye wrinkles and camouflage dark circles.  A modern frame is a great accessory that makes a fun statement. Some celebrities are known for their unique glasses like Iris Apfel.

Wrong Foundations: Panty lines aren’t flattering on anyone, so ensure your underwear lays smooth against your skin. I gave up on thongs years ago because life is too short to be uncomfortable!  No-show panties with either laser-cut edges or very thin lace that are invisible under your pants work well. Remember to wear nude undies under white garments! The wrong bra can leave your clothes looking lumpy and your breasts sagging. Bras that dig in will leave bulges. Loose ones give no support, and visible bra straps scream poor fit. Get a professional bra fitting and ensure it is perking things up so your clothes hang properly.

Passé Trends: The problem is they change rapidly, so if you’re wearing outdated trends, you look older. Outdated jeans make you look out of touch, so be aware of current shapes and denim washes.  Skinny legged pants and jeans paired with long tops are now on the way out!  Invest in classic pieces and use touches of current styles to give your look a modern twist.

Long Skirts:  Skirts that are too long can age you by making you look frumpy and weighed down. I know maxi skirts are popular, however if you’re trying to look younger, avoid longer skirts. The most flattering is at the thinnest part of your thigh or calf, probably just below your knee cap. Depending upon how shapely and attractive your knees are, your skirt length could hit an inch or two above or below your knee.

Clunky Shoes:  Combat boots are out; it doesn’t matter how comfy they feel! This doesn’t mean you have to abandon comfy-looking shoes forever but avoid wearing them on special occasions when it really matters that you look your best. Sometimes, it’s better to rock shoes that are a little less snug for the sake of your overall appearance.  This leaves room for additional insoles.  After all, you wouldn’t want to be in a situation where everything about your outfit looks amazing aside from what you’ve got on your feet.

Floral Prints: Large floral prints have always been hit or miss in the fashion world and are now mostly outdated if you’re trying to maintain a youthful appearance. However, a small, delicate floral print gives any outfit the pop of feminine energy. The size of the flowers all over you impacts the way others perceive you. You don’t want to look like a little old grandmother headed to a church service or bake sale. The safest bet is avoiding floral prints altogether by selecting animal, checkered or marble prints for a modern, feminine vibe.

Wide Horizontals: There are too many ways to go wrong with wide horizontal stripes so eliminate them from your closet as soon as possible. As cute as a dress with horizontal stripes might look before you’ve tried it on, this design instantly widens the appearance of your body and makes you look older than you are. Although being wider doesn’t automatically equate to being older, plenty of people associate these two things subconsciously without even trying. If stripes are your thing, go for vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones. The best thing about vertical stripes is that they elongate your body by lengthening the appearance of your torso, midsection, and legs. Lines that are vertical will visually stretch you out in the eyes of anyone looking your way. You’ll instantly look taller, thinner, and more elegant!

The clothes you choose to wear make a huge difference in the way the world perceives you.  It would be a huge mistake to be caught wearing outdated clothing that silently convinces others that you are decades older than you actually are. Curating the perfect closet filled with pieces you can be proud of isn’t always something that happens overnight. Take the first step in curating a closet filled with pieces you’re proud of by removing all the outdated clothes that no longer serve you. Ditch these pieces immediately because they’re aging you.

What changes are you going to make to stay up to date?