There were photos of US actor Jeff Goldblum circulating last week that created much chatter about his style, and whether he was getting a bit too old for skinny jeans and tight leather jackets (he’s 63).

However, the general opinion seems to be that he has in fact gotten hotter as he’s aged. The whip-thin grey suits, heavy-framed hipster glasses, high tops, and t-shirts he’s taken to wearing suit him well.

There are a couple of physiological reasons for that. He has a thick head of silver hair, and a really good haircut, and he’s tall and in great shape; there’s no paunch, no jowls, no comb-over.

He doesn’t look like he’s trying to be one of the cool kids, he conversely looks like someone the cool kids are probably taking notes from.

Jeff Goldblum’s young is stylish, fresh and fun, but more importantly – everything fits and flatters him. Photo: Getty

It made me think more about the idea of “dressing for your age” and whether that concept has gone out the window in this era of gender fluid fashion and athleisure options that allow both men and women to wear trainers, leggings, a hoodie and a parka pretty much anywhere, anytime.

I was in Zara last week and came across a gorgeous black satin bomber covered in Chinese embroidery, a nod to the current Gucci collections to be sure, but really, that style of jacket has existed for a long time.

At $139 it was certainly a more realistic price tag to take a chance on. I was umming and ahhing over it, finally turning to my twenty something companion and asking, “Is this too young for me?”.

She thought for a minute. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think anything is too ‘young’ unless you’re trying desperately to look sexy, like wearing skin-tight clothes with everything spilling out, or a crop top or short shorts or something.”

Jeff Goldblum before (left) and after discovering the anti-ageing benefits of good tailoring and glasses. Photo: Getty

She is absolutely right. It isn’t about age, it’s about style. The same rules apply to men – by all means rock the skinny suits and the sparrow sharp leather jackets if you can.

Jeff Goldblum (right) looking suave next to a friend who is yet to take his style advice. Photo: Getty

I dined with the most handsome 75-year-old at lunch recently who was wearing linen pants, a collarless shirt, a gorgeous navy blazer that he had probably had for 20 years, an Indian scarf draped over his shoulders, Moscot amber-framed glasses with green lenses and handmade leather sandals. I was mesmerized by his style.

It’s the shirts that are straining over the stomach and unbuttoned to the waist, the amulets on black leather cords around the chicken neck, the over-sized Dockers, the ponytail that says party at the back, bald at the front, and the lashing of fake tan like Donald Trump that give the game away.

It’s not really clothes that are going to give you the problem, it’s whether they fit properly that is the game changer and moves into mutton-dressed-as-lamb territory.

I recently mentioned to a very attractive friend in her early fifties that a black bra under a sheer white shirt is sexy.

“At my age? Really?” she asked, astonished. Absolutely. That’s the thing. It’s fashionable, subtle and stylish. Flesh on display and spilling everywhere, not so much. Just ask Jeff.