You can blame it on my childish ignorance, but in the town where I grew up it seemed that every woman who turned 50 marked the occasion by cutting off her hair, perming it and dying it a shoe-polish shade of red that can best be described as oxblood.

At 60, the polyester pantsuits came out in full force.

Things have changed quite a bit since then. And not just in my hometown.

On the surface, this would appear to be a good thing. Women in their 50s are dressing better than ever. They’re confident in their sense of style. Elegant in its execution (for the most part). And impeccably accessorized.

But – and this is a big but – there are downsides, as anyone who has seen a grandmother in ultra-low-rise jeans can attest. The “uniform” had its benefits. It was a no-brainer. In the past, women knew how they “should” dress, even if it wasn’t entirely flattering.

Today’s 50-plus woman likes to shake things up a bit. She’s sassy. She likes to dress up and she has the money to do it. But all the options out there can be a little daunting. And there’s the whole cutesy dilemma (I’ll say it once, ladies. Kittens and sweaters don’t belong together.)

It’s not easy. Just ask Donna Gilbert of Winterport, a viewer of my weekly ShopGirl spot on WLBZ-2 (you can catch it at 5 p.m. Fridays). She writes, “Hi, ShopGirl. I am at a crossroads in fashion. I am a woman of 57, love to look jazzy, but don’t want to look foolish. How does someone my age keep up with the times without looking like she’s trying to be younger than she is?”

Visions of Britney Spears at 60 flashed in my head.

Once I recovered, I thought of my mom, who looks more fabulous each year and recently developed a shoe-shopping habit that rivals my own. She never looks foolish. Neither does my mother-in-law, a banker who manages to look polished but never stuffy. What do they have in common, aside from me?

They know what works (even though they’re both barely 50).

My mother loves blue – navy, periwinkle and everything in between. It’s a great shade on her, and she knows it. She never wears black or purple. And while she jazzes up her wardrobe every so often with a jacket or sweater from Chico’s, her basic formula remains the same: simple slacks or a long skirt, a button-down shirt, and a hip-grazing cardigan or blazer on top.

My mother-in-law loves bold color on the weekends, but during the workweek, she adds a bit of whimsy to her dark blazers with interesting jewelry – whenever I see a cool pin, I think of her. It’s her signature look.

This isn’t just a family affair, though. One of the most striking women I know is Molly Woodsum, a woman of a certain age who owns Molly’s in Winterport. She always wears black, always wears her long hair in an elegant updo and always looks just right. Her advice: less is more.

“I like simple,” Woodsum said. “You can do so much with accessories and change the look.”

For older women, Woodsum suggests high necks, “to hide the wrinkles,” she said, laughing. You can never go wrong with a monochromatic outfit, which looks elegant and slimming.

“Try and stay away from those fads at 57,” Woodsum said. “As long as you’ve got the right color around your face, you’re all set.”

Forgoing fads doesn’t mean sacrificing style, however. At Terra Cotta in Ellsworth, Cambio jeans (with both higher and lower waists) are a top seller among women over 50, and the trendy Three Dots T-shirts are equally hip on a 20-year-old as a 60-year-old. Every woman wants flat-front pants, too. The key is fit.

“Everyone has different tastes,” Terra Cotta’s Pat Holmes said. “If you can see a person, you see how they’re built and what they’re like.”

For women like Gilbert, who are trying to redefine their style, a small boutique setting may be the most helpful place to start. There, the sales associates know what looks good on a certain body type, and they can help a woman work with her existing wardrobe.

Several boutique brands lend themselves to women over 50. Sigrid Olsen and Eileen Fisher both offer well-made clothing that coordinates without being too matchy-match. Cambio jeans fit like a dream. Dakini sportswear is very cozy and stylish. Three Dots Ts are great (and the “gray dot” version is very forgiving). And Maralyce Ferree coats are funky and elegant at the same time.

I’d recommend Terra Cotta in Ellsworth (huge clearance right now!), Best Bib & Tucker in Bangor, The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor, The Pretty Woman in Orono, Coyote Moon in Belfast, Rosen’s in Bucksport, Earth Bound in Camden and Waterville, The Clothing Gallery in Waterville, House of Logan in Camden, The Kimball Shops in Northeast Harbor and Tavecchia in Portland.

Women who prefer shopping at the mall will have luck with the Valerie Stevens and Amanda Smith lines at Filene’s, anything at Chico’s and Talbots (depending on your style), and Christopher & Banks.

No matter where you shop, Terra Cotta owner Annie Shaw has a word of advice.

“A great thing to do is look at things you don’t normally wear, and try it on,” Shaw said.

So fill up a cart, head to the dressing room and be fearless – if you trust your shopping instincts, you’ll look glorious at any age.

ShopNotes

. Coach alert! I already got the bag of my dreams, but if you’re still longing for Coach, head to T.J. Maxx ‘n More in Bangor, where several tan leather hobo bags were on sale for under $100.

. Speaking of bags, the SAK is launching “Give,” a line of red and white crochet accessories as a tribute to the Indonesian flag in memory of the Indonesians who died in the tsunami disaster. All of the proceeds from the sale of these accessories will benefit relief efforts in Indonesia through Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit humanitarian relief agency. The purses and cosmetic bags range from $20 to $30 and are available at www.thesak.com.

. Marden’s has a shrinking collection of high-end cosmetics from Clinique, Chanel, Clarins and Estee Lauder, to name a few. If you hurry, you may still be able to line your lips and moisturize at a substantial savings.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.