Quote of the decade, if not the century, was Candace Bushnell’s comment this month on celebrating her 50th birthday. “I’m very excited about it,” she said. “I don’t know why. But I am. It’s very cool.” For any fifty-somethings out there who don’t share her optimism, let’s consider the benefits.

Where fashion and beauty are concerned, the older you are, the clearer image you have of yourself, so you don’t tend to make expensive mistakes. You’ve gotten wise to the fact that this season’s ‘in-colour’ is simply a euphemism for the colour the designers want us to spend our hard earned cash on - this season.

Shop with confidence

You’ve learned that the best way to shop is alone. Fashion designer and retailer Joseph Ettedgui once described two women friends going shopping together as a recipe for disaster. “You put something terrific on one of them and it seems to set off the competitive instinct in the other,” he told me. “It’s hard to be competitive and objective at the same time. The wisest plan is to establish a relationship with someone in the shop and trust her advice.” It makes sense - if she gets it wrong, you won’t be back.

With recession in mind, although no one cares to admit it, the best way to economise in the fashion stakes is to lose weight. Designers don’t construct their toiles to fit stick insects out of perversity - the less meat on the bone, the better the clothes hang, the more streamlined the silhouette, and the less you need in your wardrobe to look good.

Pay attention to detail

Once you hit half a century you can put tyrannical fashion behind you and concentrate on its much more illustrious sister - style. The be all and end all of style is attention to detail. This was demonstrated in the most influential fashion magazine illustration I ever recall seeing. It appeared in an issue of American Vogue when I was around twelve and it seared itself into my being. There was a whole page photograph of a devastatingly elegant woman dressed from head to toe in powder blue silk - hat, suit, shoes, gloves and bag. The caption read ‘Can you imagine this woman having chipped nail polish?’ Quite.

Detail starts at the top with a great haircut. Want to take years off? Get with the scissors; nothing is more ageing than long hair. Think back to the ‘eighties, remember how much better Joan Collins looked in her short wigs than with flowing tresses? Detail ends at your feet with perfectly manicured toenails and heels that are never scuffed, and always the perfect height for whatever trousers you’re wearing - an eighth of an inch spells the difference between ‘how chic!’ and ‘shame, didn’t she get it wrong!’.

Be outrageous

On those grey days when you’re in need of a fillip I’m a great believer in thinking out of the box. Do something new and possibly outrageous. Buy Vivienne Westwood shoes. Wear the biggest safety pin you can find in your lapel instead of a brooch. Have your toenails painted scarlet. Whatever your age, there is no greater turn-on. If you don’t believe me, ask any man aged from 18 to 80.

Are you making the most of your ears? Have them pierced. The first time I had mine done was so long ago the tools used were a sterilised needle and a cork. It hurt like hell and my ears dribbled and festered. Because it was a botched job I found myself allergic to anything but 18-carat-gold and eventually I let the holes close up. Then, two Christmas’s ago my two best friends bought me a pair of divine diamond studs - for pierced ears. Manners required that I wear them so I bit the bullet.

It cost me €6 in my local jewellers and the modern method, with a gun, was instant, painless, and trouble free. Quite apart from giving me a hugely enjoyable new hobby, it has solved my partner’s perennial problem of what to give me for birthdays, Christmas and special occasions.

In the end, ageing is all a question of perception. Think of it this way, over 50’s don’t have wrinkles, we have laughter lines - concentrate on all the fun we can have making them.