Christie Brinkley

It's almost unfair to hold up Christie Brinkley as an example of what 50 looks like. After all, at every age she's been preternaturally gorgeous. Even in her mid 50s, she's still the ideal of what a true American beauty looks like.

Of course, one of the reasons Christie always looks so fabulous is that she definitely knows how to work fashion and the media to her favor. For example, during the very public divorce trial from her fourth husband, Peter Cook, Christie even drew raves from fashion types who praised her courtroom wardrobe.

In public appearances, Christie does know how to pose. Whether she's pulling back her cardigan to expose shoulders (a great way to expose a little skin without being overtly sexy) or tossing that famous hair around, Christie takes a playful approach to picture-taking that really adds to the impression that she's younger than she is.

As perhaps the world's most famous ex-supermodel, fashion is so much a part of Christie's life that it makes sense she would also use style elements to keep her youthful look. Here's how she does it:

• Dresses. Christie keeps her feminine appeal by frequently wearing dresses. From prints to bright solids, these dresses add to her girly charm.
• Great hair. Christie is the eternal Prell girl. Her hair is her calling card and it always looks perfect: long, wavy and shiny.
• Even ex-supermodels don't wear miniskirts. Christie still has the body to wear anything she wants, but her skirts only creep to an inch or two above the knee.
• Strong, clear colors. You won't see Christie Brinkley hiding behind her beauty behind layers of beige. Instead she wears strong, clear colors well, especially red and white. That doesn't mean she doesn't dabble in black, purple or prints: she goes for lots of variety.
• Perfect smile. Christie has a bright, white smile. Here's one area that many of us can copy by using store-bought whiteners. Even a few shades brighter can shave years off your age.
• Forget fussy. You're not likely to see Christie's clothes wearing her. She chooses low-key accessories and clothing to make her beauty center stage. Smart move.