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

[PittTheYounger]

without just looking knackered.

and [blushes] at Logar and ElPol

even...

You should wear what you like and what suits you, and if you're lucky enough to combine the two, then hurray!

HOWEVER the ironic gran look that was very in about 12 years ago - all tea dresses and mary jane heels, or boho peasant stuff, which was GORGEOUS on us at 20, starts to look alarmingly unironic as 40 looms. If you're okay with that then great, but it is ageing.

That said, don't wish your life away - most of the badly dressed women around where I live (and there are many) dress much older than they are, for some unknown reason, and look like old women. The same applies for elegance - Claire Underwood in House of Cards is 48 and while I would love to look as amazing and elegantly turned out at 48, I am still only 35, I'm not going to start trying to dress like her yet!

I don't go for the "she should wear this or not wear that". However I am self aware enough to know that when I just threw something on when I was 20 I looked gorgeous and when I just throw something on now that I am 40 I look dishevelled and hungover. But now I know when I look good and have scrubbed up well and feel confident and when I was 20 (and as it turns out leggy and beautiful if photos are anything to go by) I thought I was ugly as sin and hated myself and had no self confidence or self esteem.
Overall, I think things are significantly improved.

this is not my style but, my god, if I look this cool in my 60's, I'll be bloody delighted...

Oh dear - I think I'm guilty of most of these crimes .
Between illness, work, toddler care and not really enjoying any 'pampering' stuff such as haircuts, manicures etc I think I probably look a state. I tell myself that people have better things to worry about than what I look like, but this thread has made me realise that is not the case...

Actually here is another 60-something rock chick who does artfully dishevelled and looks great (and who I lurve) Lucinda Williams

Don't agree most of my friends have this look aged 40 - 54 ish i think. Depends on how stylish you are skin etc. I have this look (I think) an don't think I look knackered and have the sort of mates who would tell me otherwise!

v.img.com.ua/b/orig/6/5a/6a9db56853df1996cbf7c7896d3d25a6.jpg63

The thing is I bet Chrissie Hynde could have put that look together by grabbing some clothes off the floor and running her fingers through her hair having had no sleep for 48 hours in her 20's.

She still looks good now, but considerably more maintenance and grooming (and possibly some more cosmetic work and good lighting) has gone into the creation of that picture.

You can still grab clothes off the floor in your 60's and run your fingers through your hair and look fabulous but looking like Chrissie Hynde in that picture will require more effort. What was a low maintenance look becomes a high maintenance look.

I agree merrymouse. I'm all in favour of rock stars looking like rock stars. I'd be bloody gutted to see la Hynde in beige.

But that look is not dishevelled, it is carefully constructed. And will not look great on many of her contemporaries.

Yes but thread wasn't so much about being dishevelled, we're talking about "doing" "artfully dishevelled" i.e carefully putting together that look. Can you do it in your 50s, 60s etc? - yes. It takes effort and possibly may not work on everyone, but it's possible. I do think your body shape, attitude and personality have an effect on how well it works so for example it works for Chrissy Hynde, I can't see it working for Theresa May even though she too is a clothes lover.

(and this isn't about what anyone "should" wear, but about what suits people. If Theresa May wants to go for it, she should!)

Oops Chrissie

I don't think I've ever seen green blonde hair (except on young things who have spent too long in the chlorinated pool and in the sun). I agree this is depressing. Do men's toes look crap without varnish? No? Thought not. It's all judgemental bollocks wear what you like.

I think there is a point where the effort required to look artfully dishevelled rather than just dishevelled is just too much of a faff.

Bet the queen just puts on some lippy, grabs a handbag and struts her stuff.

Sorry Chrissie.

I could never do the alternative of blow dried etc I would look terrible. I am 49 maybe deluding myself but happily so

I think a reasonably pedicured toe is acceptable with or without polish, but men's ears look rubbish when they are full of hair.

Actually I know several men with terrible toes and toenails which they have on display in summer. Their choice but I would love it if everyone did nicely primped feet and coloured toenails. I love a man in nail varnish.

cardi

Men's feet look vile, always and should be kept under wraps!

But if they must get them out then neatly trimmed nails and toe hair would be nice.

Men's feet now god my dp's are nice he wears flip flops and is 54

I don't like feet noddy. The bigger they are the less I like them

Must agree with whoever it was upthread making the point that so many young people are obese these days. Doesn't seem to stop them going out in astonishingly skimpy - and unflattering - garb. I think many 40+ women look a WHOLE lot better than many of the 'young'.

I've been aiming for the mid-40s elegant chic, classic navy and white look since I was about 15 - I've never been able to pull of boho, grungy, artistic etc without looking a complete mess.

I think it's because my hair tend towards frizz and so I look like a loon half the time if I try to be less than smart. Smart dark jeans and a crisp white shirt is probably the most casual I can get. The closer I get to 40, the more I feel like I'm growing into my look!