Simon Doonan, Creative Ambassador At Large, Barneys New York

You want women to age fabulously, so how can they use fashion to do that?
“The most important thing as you get older is to maintain a physicality — it doesn’t matter if it’s through Zumba, tap dancing, hula hooping, or playing darts. I think you would be miserable if you just became inert and think that buying clothes is going to make you feel good.”

At what points in life do you think a woman needs to amp up her style?
“I think you should amp up your style from the get-go. There is a big conformity dynamic, particularly among teenagers and people in their early 20s that is very peer driven. By the time you are careening toward 30, you should be extricating yourself from this and finding out who you really are. And, by the time you reach 40, 50, or 60, you should be at the ‘don’t give a shit’ age. You should be feeling more empowered, less inhibited, and that you don’t need to please other people.”

What is your advice for a woman who wants to stay current at 40?
“I think every time she finds herself worrying about what other people think, just discard that thought. Develop a very independent way of thinking. This is very hard for women because they are constantly cross- referencing other women’s opinions.”

Photographed by Kava Gorna