I am not sure older women can do 'artfully dishevelled'

[PittTheYounger]

without just looking knackered.

Oh god, that's my look and I'm going to be 36 in a couple of months. Don't tell me I need to start reinventing myself? I haven't the energy (which explains the "dishevelled" part).

Clothes wise, I need structure. Hair and make up wise, I can get away with minimal. I am not "older" but is agree that it's more about the individual than the 'look'. I can't do the boho or the less tailored stuff. Looks wrong.

I think Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood look a state most of the time.

Goldie Hawn occasionally looks like she's nicked her equally boho styled daughters clothes but usually looks fine. She often appears pissed in interviews though.

Kate Moss either looks absolutely fantastic or a bit shit. But she's always been like that.

I kind of see what you mean op, I find it odd when a persons style just stops evolving. I like to think my taste is improving as I get older rather than stagnating at what I liked to wear when I was 20 because some of those clothes were awful

BookofRuth- fear not, it's my look and I'm 48.

Now a crisp white shirt and jeans just makes me look like a) I have no waist (I don't, my hips are only 2 inches wider, am basically a man with breasts)

But leggings and a floaty top (needs to be floaty to cover said non-waist and bottom) and I am still gawjuss.

I used to look good with 'panda eyes' - when you go to bed in your make up and get up on a Sunday with it all smudged around. With messy long blond hair i looked 'brooding' or even 'waif like' ... I could go out like that with out changing anything and do the look.

... I caught myself in the bathroom mirror a couple of days ago, crack of dawn bathroom visit, with said panda eyes.

Good.god.

I looked about 90 ... and just in need of a bloody wash

I've never been able to do boho though, not really. Has never suited me.

The older I get the less I care what others think. (I look fabulous in my opinion)

I'm not a fan of "artfully dishevelled".

I think only a handful of people can carry it off, at any age.

I always want to grab them and brush their hair until it's all smooth and tidy up their clothes - e.g. tuck things in and straighten things up.

I hate the fashion for frayed edges too

Ruth only 36, you can whatever look you like, come on kid, confidence!

I think Goldie Hawn carries it off

So do Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox and Kate Bush

Wild hair, black eyeliner and a scarf suit older rock chicks.

You brush my hair and you'll obscure the view of several counties as it inflates into a gigantic white 'fro, Salmotrutta.

Yeah, I never could pull that look off. I just looked like I rolled out of bed, and not in the cute sexy way.

Ines de la Fresselange is a good example of how to do it right, I think. She is French, obviously, so UNFAIR ADVANTAGE, but seem to remember looking through some book she did about looking chic at any age and she had it nailed. Yes to jeans, but not too comedy boyfriend, and with a shirt (not t-shirt), every woman needs a good trench coat, just don't belt it (instead artfully knot the belt thingy) etc.

But slightly bollocks to it all; I will wear what I darn well want!

At 37 I've recently reached this point, very depressing as I've always been artfully dishevelled made no effort whatsoever and now don't know what to do!

Jemima khan?

When I grow up I'm going to be Chrissie Hynde.

I'm 53 and could pull off the 'distressed' look till I was mid-40's as very young looking. However, now my jawline is starting to go, my hair is thinning so if I try make it look intentionally dishevelled, I look either ill or as I've lost the plot.

I'm now mainly wearing a sort of GAP style uniform of skinny dark denim jeans, long sleeved tee-shirts/cotton shirts and sandals, trainers or boots in winter. I need 'cleverer' make-up if I'm not to look frazzled and exhausted and have laid off the 'fun' jewellery/handbags, and wear simple but casual bracelets, earrings, bags etc.

I get pangs of when I see all the latest stuff in the shops and think "Nope, you can't do that without looking tragic". In my head I'm still in my early 20's! If I had the hair I'd def be channeling Chrissie Hynde but if you think of her with thinning old, lady hair then the whole look just gots boooomph :(

as i get older, increasingly I want to hijack people and do one or all of the following

1. paint their toenails

2, cut off about 2 inches of hair

1. make 'blonde' women over 40 accept they are not blondey green any more
2. HOIK up their bra straps.

I KNOW ITS ME I AM JUDGY BITCH

and when i read on here about women too busy to shave their legs i think TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF FFS

I KNOW I KNOW

No need for men to judge women when their are so many women doing it already.

And those older women should feck right off and stay in their boxes.

Depressing shite.

Ther not their

Bugger, there!

i know Echt. I cant stop it. unpainted toenails look like cocktail sausages

What's wrong with being blonde at 46 whrn it's delivered via a bottle?

because its often green
and often it doesnt match the persons complexion

but hey, if you like it fine!

I think it also depends on your figure.

I am 40 but petite and very slim so look good in unstructured clothes. But I do pay more attention to my grooming.

Also, I used to love retro stuff but now stay away, to avoid the batty old lady look!