Look Younger, Tip #6: Try Florals

Sharon Osbourne, 59, chose a stunning black and white floral gown for the 2012 Golden Globes red carpet. While it wasn't a traditional choice (solids are the usual choice of over-50 celebrity women), it was a refreshing change.

Sharon (or perhaps her stylist) realizes that wearing floral prints is one of the easiest ways to look younger. In Sharon Osbourne's case, she opted for a dramatic black and white floral print by designer Naeem Khan.

There's a very good reason floral prints appear every spring season: the blooms represent femininity at its best.

You don't need to wait until spring to break out the floral prints. Darker ground florals (that have black or navy in the background) are a pretty way to add some print to serious winter wardrobes.

A few tips for wearing florals over 40:

Scale the size of the blooms to your frame. Petite women will look overwhelmed with enormous hothouse florals; larger women look even bigger in ditsy prints.
Florals can be flattering. The blank/background space between the blooms is what will dictate how flattering the print will be on you. The more closely spaced the blooms, the smaller you'll look and vice versa.
It doesn't take a full floral ballgown to get the youthful look. A small touch — a floral clutch, bag or cardigan — can do the trick.
Go minimal on accessories with a big floral print; let the print take center stage.

More tips to look younger: