We’ve all had those moments when looking at photos from our younger days and cringing at our style mistakes —looking at you, stirrup pants. Bad fashion in your teens and twenties can be excused by the follies of youth. However, as we get older and wiser, hopefully we have fewer cringe-inducing fashion fails. Of course, “mistakes” are subjective, as in “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but there are some universal style foibles we should all try to avoid, no matter our age. Here are some basic style mistakes (with tips) best avoided as we age.

First, with the season shifting to warmer weather, one mistake to avoid is wearing sandals without a proper pedicure. Of course, a mature busy woman may not have time to get a pedicure. Getting your feet ready for sandal season can be quite an undertaking after a winter’s worth of boots and wool socks. However, you can still sport cute springtime footwear, by either pairing your sandals with funky nylon socks, or going with a closed-toed shoe. For the latter, consider slip-on sneakers with mesh sides, or d’orsay style woven flats. If you’re feeling adventurous enough to try sandals and socks, go with a pair that ends a few inches above your ankle, knee-highs will look either frumpy or juvenile. I love the idea of matching the color of a sock to your shoe, or contrasting a springtime strappy sandal with a darker polka-dot sheer sock.

Haphazard hems can be quite an eyesore for the 40 and over set. Again, younger women can kind of “get away” with a sloppy skirt line or rolling up a too-long pant leg, but properly tailored pieces should be de rigueur [required] for women of a certain age. By the time you reach your thirties, a woman should have a go-to tailor or seamstress. Some stores will have in-house tailoring you can utilize. If you’re handy with a needle and thread you can do your own alterations. Don’t forget to keep double-sided tape on hand for quick fixes if you don’t have time to get a garment tailored before you need to wear it.

Another style hazard for women in their 40s are visible straps, tags, and lines from your undergarments. Every woman should know the right kind of underwear and foundation garments she needs to present a confident and comfortable image to the world. And supportive underthings should also stay in place, not peek out or create lines. If you’re having trouble with your current lingerie, consider getting fitted for a new bra and/or exploring new silhouettes that provide more coverage.

Lastly, as we approach summer, the stylish women of 40+ should trade in her DIY cutoff shorts for a more sophisticated denim option. Instead of jean shorts, try a skirt. An A-line denim skirt can give just as much freedom as shorts, but with more versatility. The right jean skirt can be worn with sneakers and a tee for a casual day, or dressed up with a blouse and wedges. Look for skirts in a medium weight denim with pockets and a higher waist. I love the styles that have buttons running down the front. Avoid mid-length chambray skirts with a gathered waist, as they tend to look too casual and frumpy.

Again, style is totally subjective, but I think we can all agree that sophisticated trumps sloppy no matter the outfit and no matter the age of the woman wearing it.