Manolo says, here is the Manolo’s latest column for the Express of the Washington Post.

Dear Manolo,

In a few weeks I’ll be turning fifty, and I’ve decided that I’m desperately in need of a makeover. I see all these women my age and older who look really great in youthful outfits, so I’d like to try something new, but I’m afraid of looking like I’m trying too hard. What would you recommend?

Marilynn

Manolo says, Danger, Wilhelmina Robinson! Danger! One minute, you are the perfectly lovely 49-year-old woman who needs the new hairstyle, the good makeup, and the slight updating of her wardrobe, and the next you are the cougar hoochie-mama in the micro-mini skirt, cropped-top, and lucite platform heels standing in the tattoo parlor pointing at the picture of the dragon.

Better, thinks the Manolo, to do the candid self-assessment. What is your body type and who are the prominent women of the certain age you admire? It would be hard to pull off the Carine Roitfeld, aging-French-rocker look if you are zaftig, or have the retiring personality.

The Manolo’s best advice is to start slowly, with the new hair do and the new shoes. That may be all that is needed.

Here is the Irene from the Diane von Furstenberg (the potential role model!) which would be perfect for the vintage woman with the decent ankles.