I’m a fashion editor – the 9 wardrobe staples that are secretly ageing you & simple swaps that instantly take years off

SORRY, but some of the most reliable pieces in your wardrobe could be making you look years older. As the high street fills up with autumn trends, it’s tempting to simply dig out the same trusty favourites we rely on year after year. Even your choice of bag can make a huge difference to how old you look. This leopard-print shopper is a steal at £27.99 from Zara Credit: Supplied But while they might still fit, that doesn’t mean they’re doing you any favours. I discovered this during a recent wardrobe dig when I slipped on a black blazer I’ve relied on for years. Suddenly, its gigantic padded shoulders, bum-grazing length and nipped-in waist had me looking ready for a Rivals fancy dress party rather than autumn 2026. The problem is that silhouettes, lengths and shapes move on – and wearing the wrong ones can instantly date you and, worse, make you look older. So if, like me, you’d rather your clothes didn’t add a decade to your age, these are the nine wardrobe mistakes to ditch for the new season – and the modern alternatives to wear instead. Ditch tent dresses… and buy column dresses Shapeless tent dresses can swamp your shape and leave you looking frumpy Credit: Supplied This dress, £50, Marks & Spencer, delivers a luxury look with its clean, elongated silhouette Credit: Supplied SOPHISTICATION is back for the new season, and that means swapping shapeless tent dresses for a sleeker silhouette. Those loose, don’t-look-at-me styles might be comfortable, but all that excess fabric can swamp your shape and leave you looking frumpy, whatever your size. Instead, try a column dress – tailored enough to give you shape, but without feeling tight or clingy. Sleek and simple, they make an impact without trying too hard, as proven on the catwalks at Prada and Jil Sander. And column doesn’t have to mean boring. Add interest through colour, print or texture while keeping that clean, elongated silhouette. It’s the sort of shape that creates an expensive-looking outfit with minimal effort – and this £50 floral dress from M&S delivers the luxury look without the price tag. Ditch longline jackets… and buy hip-length Longline, fitted jackets can now look extremely dated Credit: Supplied This £59 River Island jacket takes its cues straight from the catwalk and looks very modern Credit: Supplied WHEN it comes to jackets, it’s understandable to want something that covers your hips, while a nipped-in waist might feel like an easy way to create shape. But those longline, fitted styles can now look extremely dated. This season, designers including Dior and Celine have embraced shorter jackets that finish at the hip. Rather than hiding your shape, they highlight the waist while making your legs appear longer – an easy way to give your whole silhouette a more modern feel. If you’re desperate for a little more coverage, try a frog-fastening jacket – the military-inspired styles with braided fastenings – that falls just below the hip, but stops short of covering your bum. Whether it’s a leather jacket, blazer or cropped trench, the key is keeping the length modern. This £59 River Island jacket takes its cues straight from the catwalk and is a dead ringer for Dior’s designer version. Ditch dad trainers and buy slim trainers The clunky dad trainers’ time is up Credit: Supplied Sleek trainers, like this pair, £16, George at Asda, makes your silhouette look lighter and more modern Credit: Supplied CHUNKY, clunky and attention-grabbing trainers have ruled the roost in recent years – the sort of styles that could have belonged to your dad in the Eighties or be your younger, cooler relative’s most prized possession. But their time is up. Forget weighty, oversized trainers and replace them with something slim and streamlined, following in the fashionable footsteps of everyone from designer label Celine to sportswear giant Nike. A sleeker trainer makes your whole silhouette look lighter and more modern, without anything feeling heavy or clompy. And simple doesn’t have to mean boring. You can still introduce colour, just in a more muted way, from versatile neutrals to rich autumnal shades – like this £16 pair from George. Ditch cropped trousers and buy full length Ladies, it’s time to ditch those ankle-swinging, leg-shortening culotte styles Credit: Supplied Coleen Rooney’s Primark collection includes tailored floor-skimming trousers for just £18 Credit: Supplied IF I had a quid for every time I’ve seen a woman over 50 in cropped, wide-leg trousers – most likely teamed with a denim jacket – I’d be a rich woman. Ladies, it’s time to ditch those ankle-swinging, leg-shortening culotte styles for a far more flattering full-length trouser. Whether you’re wearing jeans or tailored trousers, this season we shouldn’t be seeing the top of your foot. That doesn’t mean your hems should be soaking up puddle water, but they should sit, at most, a centimetre above the floor or just skim it. The longer length instantly elongates your legs and gives an outfit a sleeker, more current silhouette. Don’t believe me? Michael Kors and Max Mara are among the many designers backing floor-skimming trousers for the new season. Coleen Rooney agrees, too. Her latest Primark collection includes a tailored pair for just £18 that look far more designer than their price tag suggests. Ditch small bags… and buy large It’s time to let go of your small bag which you can barely get your phone and purse in Credit: Supplied IT’S time to let go of those piddly crossbody bags and clutches that barely fit your phone and make way for the return of the big bag. Designers including Bottega Veneta and Stella McCartney have declared that bigger is better, with roomy totes large enough for your laptop, lunch and, well, the rest of your life. Even clutches have grown up, with oversized, slouchy styles that could practically double as a make-up bag for a night out. But practical doesn’t have to mean boring. This season’s supersized arm candy comes in bold colours, prints and textures, making the bag itself a statement rather than an afterthought. When it comes to high-street bags, you can usually rely on Zara – although not always on its prices. Their leopard-print shopper pictured above is a steal at £27.99, with contrasting red handles giving it a premium-looking edge. Ditch stretchy jeans and buy structured Skinny jeans and jeggings can add years to your look Credit: Supplied H&M is brilliant for jeans that soften slightly with wear, like this £20 pair Credit: Supplied LISTEN up: jeggings and stretchy jeans that have gone loose under the bum and baggy at the knees need to go. Not only can they be unflattering, they’re one of those wardrobe staples that can quietly add years to your look. Instead, treat yourself to a structured pair of jeans that will soften and loosen with wear for comfort, without stretching out of shape – or highlighting the fact your denim tastes are stuck in the past. Designers and trend-leading denim brands including Acne Studios and Patou are on board, swapping overly stretchy or shapeless jeans for more polished, grown-up denim. Think good quality, structured styles with an almost tailored shape: straight-leg, wide-leg or a subtle flare. They feel sophisticated without being frumpy and instantly make the rest of your outfit look more elevated. These silhouettes are flattering on all shapes and sizes, too – and, as we’ve established, they should be full length. Expensive-looking denim doesn’t have to cost hundreds, either. H&M is brilliant for jeans that soften slightly with wear, so they feel lived-in and comfortable without losing their shape – and you can pick up a pair for under £20. Ditch mid chunky heels… and buy a low slim heel The problem with a mid-height chunky heel is that it can instantly date an outfit Credit: Supplied ASOS’ timeless leopard-print pair have a low slim heel Credit: Supplied IF you thought ditching those trusty thick-heeled shoes you’ve had for years meant sacrificing comfort for style, think again. You can have both. The problem with a mid-height chunky heel is that it can instantly date an outfit – and add years to you in the process. Heels have gone slim again, but if you’re not in the market for stilettos, the kitten heel is your new best friend. I know, it might feel like we’re going backwards, but Prada and Proenza Schouler have set the precedent: low, delicate heels are stylish once more. And there’s no need to suffer for fashion. They’re low enough to take you through a busy day or a session on the dancefloor without having you reaching for the blister plasters. These are shoes for women on the go – and who isn’t? – while looking equally chic with jeans, trousers or a skirt. Designers are having fun with them, too, using bright colours, embellishments and animal prints. ASOS has followed suit with this timeless leopard-print pair, proving a comfortable shoe can still be part of your look rather than simply something practical. Win-win. Ditch baggy knitwear and buy neat knitwear Oversized knitwear has somehow slipped into the realms of shapeless and baggy Credit: Supplied This pale-pink polo knit from F&F at Tesco ticks all the boxes – and comes in at under £20 Credit: Supplied WHO doesn’t love getting cosy in a big chunky knit? But you can still get that warm-hug feeling from a slimmer style that doesn’t look like it was knitted in the Eighties. Oversized clothing has somehow slipped into the realms of shapeless and baggy – and knitwear is particularly guilty, becoming even looser with wear and washing. This season, it’s time to shape up. Think relaxed and comfortable rather than tight, but with just enough structure to give your outfit a more polished, modern look. The Autumn/Winter runways at Gabriela Hearst and Joseph proved the point, with rollnecks, jumpers and cardigans all cut in sleeker shapes that looked cosy and elegant at the same time. For autumn, stick to warm, wearable shades that will see you through the transitional months. This pale-pink polo knit from F&F ticks all the boxes – and comes in at under £20.