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Why can't I wear miniskirts in my 40s?

Fashion Forward Dubai has just ended and one of the highlights for me was watching the docufilm Iris by Albert Maysles. It's the third time I have seen this fashion film on Iris Apfel, a retired interior designer, who describes herself as "the oldest teenager living in the world". She is known for her love of maximalist style. In her 90s, the spectacled petite New Yorker is an international fashion icon. She has inspired me to really understand that fashion is about fun, and age is just a number.
On the eve of me turning 40, a very good friend said: "So my birthday gift to you is a piece of advice, some fashion advice." I was a bit taken aback. I mean, was I not in the business of giving fashion advice! "Now that you are 40, never leave home without a necklace; bling is now a must. It takes the attention away from your lines, gives your face a glow," she said.
She should have rather given me a necklace than these pearls of wisdom, I quipped. A few months later, this friend was picking me up for a wedding function. I was wearing a simple Benarasi sari with a beautiful pale pink jacket by Indian designer Rahul Mishra. Perfect for a day wedding. I put on my bangles, some earrings and was almost ready to leave when I took a quick look in the mirror. Something was amiss; it felt dull. So I added a brooch to my look. Till that day, I had never worn a brooch. I got into the car and my friend commented on the brooch. "Oh, it's my mom's. She gave it to me years ago but I have never worn it before. I don't know why I felt like I needed a lift today." My friend laughed and said, "Remember my necklace theory". Well, I guess there was some wisdom in her words. The fact is as your turn older it is about dressing up more than down.
I do not believe in rules like no mini-skirts after 40. Fashion for me is very personal and I feel as long as you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, you are good go to. But as you become older, just like you need to give more thought to what you do, you need to give more thought to how you dress.
Experience teaches you that what you learn when you are young needs to be put into practice. Have you noticed that on the red carpet mostly the young actors make the fashion blunders, and those who are 40 and over are "on point".  That's because they have understood the art of balance - which is what style is really about.
This is a principle even maximalist Iris knows. She may love her flamboyant jewels and prints, but if she wears lots of neckpieces she avoids earrings. She loves her bold red lipstick and thick glasses but keeps the rest of face clean and hair cropped, always. Yes it is opulent, yet there is a sense of elegance. Plus she sticks to her own style - and the great thing about being older is that you know your style. As Iris said in a recent interview, "Coco Chanel once said that what makes a woman look old is trying desperately to look young. Why should one be ashamed to be 84? Why do you have to say that you're 52? Nobody's going to believe you anyway, so why be such a fool? It's nice that you got to be so old. It's a blessing."
So embrace your age and the fact that the older you are the less likely you are to make a fashion faux pas. Oh and by the way, I am 44 - and have never been more of a fashion girl!
Sujata Assomull is the Consulting Fashion Editor at Khaleej Times