Jane Fonda and her granddaughter on the TIME red carpet, New York City - Getty

If you’ve felt increasingly lost, fashion-wise, as the years have gone by, I have four words that will shake you out of your rut: Be More Jane Fonda.

The actress, 86, attended the TIME Earth Awards Gala in New York on Wednesday night with her 21-year-old granddaughter, Viva Vadim, and looked sensational in a Cadbury purple Max Mara suit with silver sandals.

At a time of life when many women feel like they should (or would prefer to) fade into the background, she’s a shining example of the opposite. She’s striking a careful balance between having fun with her style and taking some risks, but without losing sight of what flatters and suits her.

Personal stylist Annabel Hodin is particularly skilled in helping clients find their style in midlife and beyond. For her, creating a sharp silhouette is key. “Belted jackets, peplum jackets and 50s-style trapeze jackets are all great for defining your body shape,” she says. “A sheath dress with side panels is another way to achieve a good shape.”

Prints, Hodin adds, should be classic and bold. She’s particularly fond of stripes.

Of course, everyone is different: perhaps purple isn’t your shade; maybe you find suiting too stiff, but there are still plenty of lessons from which we could all borrow – octogenarian or not.