30 Days to 10 years younger--10 minute tips. Tip 19: Be true to yourself

You know what's the problem with most fashion designers? They're men. Which means that they never have to wear their own clothes.

And that means they get to design anything they want.

Male designers know full well that a 14-year old giraffe-like supermodel will climb into whatever they design--say, a lucite rain barrel full of goldfish--stalk down the runway in eight-inch platforms, stare sulkily at the cameras, pivot, and stalk back. The rain barrel will never see the light of day again. At the end of the show, the designer will come out to take his bow wearing whatever he wants. T-shirt, jeans, khakis, Converse high-tops, bare feet--whatever. His fragrances, sunglasses, and purses will continue to sell.

This is not the case with female fashion designers. They have a sort of contractual obligation to wear their own clothes. That means their fashions have to be at least somewhat wearable.

So how do they dress?

I now present a sorbet, as a palette-cleanser between courses. Check out what these female designers wear. These are the most fashion-forward women on the planet. Right now they're occupied with coming up with the clothes that will be in stores in 2011. And they're not all young. Some of them aren't even thin. (Can you believe it???)

Ann Demeulemeester

Carolina Herrera
Betsey Johnson
Donna Karan
Nanette Lepore
Stella McCartney
Josie Natori

Miuccia Prada

Sonia Rykiel
Agnes Troublé (agnes b.)
Diane Von Furstenberg
Vera Wang

Vivienne Westwood

Do you notice something about these photographs? Each of these women exemplifies the spirit of her line. Vivienne Westwood and Betsey Johnson are eccentric; Josie Natori and Carolina Herrera are elegant; Donna Karan is sensual; Nanette Lepore is foo-foo feminine.

They've figured out their personal style. They know what they want to project, and they don't let age and figure flaws stop them. We shouldn't either.