Turning 40 does not mean you shouldn't feel confident, desirable and sexy. Follow these fashion tips to make the most of your assets and play down your flaws.

One of the best things about being forty-something is that we have a confidence and sophistication that did not exist in our twenties. Combine this with life experience and a better understanding of our bodies and we have a recipe that, with the right ingredients, will enable us to feel more attractive and desirable than ever before.

Forty-somethings Demi Moore and Sharon Stone may have had a bit of help with the scalpel but they ooze poise and sex appeal. Fifty-something British actresses like Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson look more gorgeous now than in the whole of their careers.

By the time we turn forty we have a much better idea of what suits us and what works for our figure. True, we make fashion mistakes in our quest for looking youthful, but the secret is in appearing sexy and chic rather than ‘mutton dressed as lamb’.

With careful thought and clothing selection it is possible to be sexy, stylish and fashionable by picking and choosing only the best of the season’s fashion trends which make the most of our assets.

1. Clear Out your Closet

Anything that hasn’t been worn in the last year – get rid off. If it wasn’t worn in the last 12 months then what are the chances of it seeing the light of day again? Keep one or two pieces for sentimental reasons, outfits that hold special memories of a happy event.

Discard any item of clothing that doesn’t make you feel good or is too ‘snug’. If it is just hanging there for ‘when you lose weight’, let it go. No matter how fond of an outfit you may be, if it doesn’t inspire confidence and boost your self-esteem, then make space for clothing that will. It is, however, okay to keep a few comfort pieces for when you are in couch potato mode.

Seek advice and moral support from a good friend. Enlist the help of someone close, who will give you an honest opinion and help decide which items to cull. The candid comments you’ll receive may hurt a little but will speed you along your path to a new improved you.

2. Choose this Season’s Colors Carefully

However, as we get older we have a better idea of which tones work best for us, avoiding those which are too bright or harsh for our skin, and shades which make us look tarty or cheap. A good guide is to base clothing selection around individual eye color and decide which group of color categories suit us best; warm or cool, seasonal or monochrome.

Black is a best friend when it comes to playing down unsightly bulges, proving ultra sophisticated with the right accessories, but it can also be draining and somber. Teaming black with neutral colors and some funky accessories gives an outfit that ‘wow’ factor. Every woman also needs at least one versatile ‘little black dress’ which fits any occasion. Dress it up or down – accessorizing is the key to completely changing the look of an outfit.

3. Choose a Flattering Fit

No matter how fashionable it may be and no matter how fabulous it appears on the rail, if it doesn’t look the same when it’s worn, give it a miss. Avoid clothing which is too tight and too loose. Choose cuts that accentuate assets rather than draw attention to flaws. A drop-waisted dress will flatter a broad waist or a large stomach, so will a skirt cut on the bias. Wrap-over dresses are a bit hit this season as they flatter any figure.

V-neck or halter-style necklines work well for ample-busted women, rather than a round or high neck. Avoid horizontal stripes which will accentuate a large stomach, hips or large breasts even more. By contrast vertical stripes can be slimming and will give the appearance of extra height for those who are short.

A common fashion mistake is to think loose, baggy clothing will hide unwanted lumps and bumps. In truth, unless it is a well cut piece it can have the opposite effect, making us look like a sack of potatoes and even larger than we actually are.

The secret of being attractive at forty and fifty is by keeping outfits in proportion. For a chic look, shorter hemlines (above the knee) should be balanced out by covering up on top. If showing off cleavage or sexy shoulders then balance them with a longer-length, flattering dress or skirt – sexy and sophisticated rather than slutty.

4. Fashion Accessories – Shoes, Jewelry and Purses

Heels don’t have to be uncomfortably high to be sexy and flats may do nothing for an outfit or our figure, especially if we are short. Strappy or peep toed shoes can look great or tarty, so choose wisely. A flattering shoe for the older woman is a mid height heel with a covered toe but open back; a semi court shoe style. Be a rebel and team a pair with a tasteful silver or gold anklet for added effect.

Funky earrings and necklaces can give a youthful appearance, lift an outfit and distract attention from the areas we want to hide.

Handbags or purses should be a fashion statement. Stick with two or three simple outfits and then change their look just by alternating accessories, with an oversized handbag or a small clutch purse. If well-endowed then go for a longer strap and a big bag to draw eyes down. If pear-shaped, go for a bag with a shorter strap to shift focus away from the waist and hips.

Fabulous at Forty and Fifty

Being stylish and sexy in our forties does not have to be expensive. Instead, have several keynote pieces which can be mixed and matched, and a few flattering, well cut pants, skirts and dresses that look chic and expensive. The secret is in the cut and not necessarily the price. With carefully chosen accessories, quality and not quantity is the key to inner confidence. It will keep us looking fabulous and feeling good at forty, fifty and beyond!