Martha Stewart says she looks 'pretty much the same' as she did at 17 and doesn't think about dressing for her age

• Martha Stewart attended the FGI Night of Stars in New York City on October 17.
• On the red carpet, she told Page Six that she doesn't think about dressing for her age.

Martha Stewart doesn't believe in dressing any certain way because of her age.

While attending the FGI Night of Stars gala in New York City last week, the 82-year-old lifestyle icon was asked by Page Six how she factors age into her fashion.

"Dressing for whose age?" she quipped back. "I don't think about age. I think people are more and more and more fabulous than they've ever been in their senior years, and I applaud every one of them."

Stewart, who attended the event to present designer Dennis Basso with an award, told the publication that she's dressed the same way she has since she was 17 years old.

"If you look at my pictures on my Instagram, I look pretty much the same," she said.

A few days later, Stewart spoke with Insider and said she thinks it's important to "wear what looks good on you."

"If you have any doubt, take a picture," Stewart said. "If it looks bad, get rid of it. If it looks good, wear it. I loved my little silver coatdress the other day, and I have nice legs so I can show those off. I wear clothes appropriate for the occasion, hopefully, and clothes that I look good in."

Stewart's attitude toward fashion is the right one, according to 48-year-old fashion blogger Alison Gary.

By design, she said, the idea of "dressing your age" is not meant to help "the ones wearing the clothes." Instead, it focuses on appealing to others.

"It's about covering up the parts of us that may not look young, firm, and new," she told Insider. "It's saying we should feel ashamed that our bodies do not look the same as they did several decades ago. That maybe seeing our age reminds others that they too aren't as young and firm as they once were."

Previously a stylist and personal shopper, Gary now shares "real-life style advice for grown women" on her website Wardrobe Oxygen.

"When surrounded by media that favors the young, the thin, the firm, and the able, it can make you feel as though you and your body are a problem," she said. "It's why I share myself and what I wear on Wardrobe Oxygen and social media. I want to show a person over 40 who is the average height and clothing size of women in the US still having fun with fashion."

Of course, Gary noted that Stewart is a celebrity and former model, which comes with massive privilege.

"She has had the money and the opportunities over the decades for the best in healthcare, fitness, well-being, fashion, and image aesthetics," she said. "But her message still rings true. We shouldn't have to aspire to 'age with grace' like Stewart. We all have the right to wear what we want, when we want, at any point in our adulthood."