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

[PittTheYounger]

without just looking knackered.

I think it's a personality thing. My hair tends towards frizzy, too, and I til ghds were invented I looked terrible. But as I got older, I started to embrace my messy, wavy hair, and my general intolerance of high maintenance looks.

A carefully-pressed white shirt and straightened hair will stay looking good on me for half and hour or so until I move too much, or go outside and encounter weather.

Wavy hair, natural, slightly dewy make- up, a fabulous hat, a nice textured cardigan, or leather or velvet jacket, a silk shirt or comfy jersey top, wide legged tweed trousers, comfy shoes and lots of pearls works far better on me, and are mostly vintage.

I'm not waifish enough to carry off the boots and floaty dresses of my teens, but I wear a slightly more structured version of the same basic style. Basically, I can't get away with polyester as much as used to.

I cannot bear that yummy blonde , streaked home counties look- that Elle McPherson/Claudia Schiffer/Carole Bamford/Olivia Palermo over groomed thing.

Olivia Palermo has been working it since she was three years old and is the most dead behind the eyes person I have ever seen in the flesh. She looks like she rolled through the collections covered in velcro. No editing at all, no sense of continuity, just an endless parade of gifted freebies. Nobody needs artless tousling more than she does.

Give me a raggle taggle cat lady with individuality any day over the honey blonde streaks, the skinnies, the statement bag and converse. Boooring.

Yes, yes, yes to mignonette.

I never looked artfully dishevelled at any age-more what my dm called "dragged through a hedge backwards". Any white shirt immediately attracts whatever foodstuff in a fifty mile radius and looks like I've slept in it. Do I give a shit?

I'm 42 and have long hair. I'm considering buying two smaller donuts and rocking the Princess Leia look for work. Because at 42 I no longer give a shit and it amuses me. I draw the line at a leopard print bikini and chain round my neck though

I think those of us who don't give a shit have the right idea. I don't care about age in any way apart from I pray for ok health That aside I wear what I like have my hair long and please myself. Even if someone on here said I looked like I got dressed in the dark

Only my hair looks 'artfully dishevelled'... it's highlighted and I comb it regularly so you'd think it would be smart but no, it's curly & fine so nothing works not even GHDs and it looks like bed hair most of the time - more 'dishevelled', less 'artful'!

PS I am 37 and no way do I feel like an 'older woman'!!!

'Older women' are generally over 55 ish.

I am 49 and I feel no different seriously you don't suddenly wake up and think blow dry and waterfall cardi

I'm older than that and I've lived far to long to be bothered by the squeaking and eye-rolling of others. But then, in the 70s when I was a teenager, you were either focused on being clever or a bimbo, there was very little middle ground, so my path has been set for a long time.
My DD manages to combine brains and a personality with grooming and nail polish, so I wonder what she'll be like when she's in her 50s.

I think if you have always had that slightly hippyish look you can't suddenly just start being a different person.

Yanbu, there's a tipping point in your early -mid 30s when you stop looking a bit boho and artistic, and start looking like you live alone with several cats.

Not sure why but that struck me as one of the funniest things I had read in days.

I am 52 and don't really know how to do groomed and high-maintenance. I think have been off the day that was covered.

I try hard not to be mutton dressed as lamb but I fear I often unintentionally do dishevelled.

Normal day time/work wear is the ubiquitous black trousers with an inoffensive top and at weekend it is mostly jeans. I suppose "outdoors-y" suits me best. Make up? I think I had some once but if I still have it I wouldn't like to answer for what state it is in.

DD (18) keeps an eye on me and will give a frank opinion if she thinks I am less presentable than usual. Will have to learn how to cope when she goes to Uni in a few weeks....

(And how did she turn out to be so good at all this with a Mum like me?)

'(And how did she turn out to be so good at all this with a Mum like me?)'

Because you allowed her to become her own person without judging or belittling her choices, or laughing at her? You supported her, like I did with my DD when she wanted to try out make-up and things to prettify herself with. So she had the confidence to be herself?

Sheesh Riverside that's nice. I hope so!

I am 51. I have always looked dishevelled. I am buggered if someone is going to try and force me into some sort of taupe good taste and nude court shoes. It just isn't going to happen.

Today I am wearing a black maxi-skirt, an orange T-shirt and silver jewellery.

This thread has made me resolve to buy the silver DM boots I was considering.

Watch out, MI- before you know it, you'll be spitting in the street, gorging on sausages and stealing flowers like some demented Aunt Jobiska. Because that is the only choice available to "old women" (aka the over 50s) apart from beige conformity.

Have you finshed jumping up and down on all the red hats you can see?
You know about this group?
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Society]]

Bother, sticky keys
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Society

I'd back my choice of leisure footwear against a nude taupe kitten heel.
picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/x3nujy-l-c335x335-boots-shoes-galaxy-dr-martens-doc-martens-laces-drmartens-cool-combat-boots-blue-lace-up-purple-cute-girly-star-tumblr-swag-starts-military-space-yellow-tag-black-tag-blue-boots-pu.jpg

Those are fab. My silver ones are in the kids' department

I'm a size 4, so sometimes I spot things I like in the children's section.
Not these though, got them from a folk festival along with some fab silver jewellery daahhling.

i don't think wearing a Dm boot is particularly Outré these days, though is it? You wouldn't stop and point, in a way it is its own uniform - DEF when paired with the obligatory tutu.

I wouldnt count that as dishevelled, you see I think the Claudia thingy look is more of what I mean,t he i just ' threw it on' that you try to make looks o floppy and cool, and just looks cack.

Claudia who?

You are perhaps missing my point. I wear them because they are comfortable, support my elderly ankles and I like shiny purple.
I don't own a tutu and I really am indifferent to what others think of my hair and clothes, or if they feel the need to classify or deconstruct my outfit.
It's often been said that the reason women judge other women so harshly in these areas is the influence of the patriarchy on their tender neurons. I just think that some people like teeth-sucking and making a cat's bum face over things that are of little singificance or impact on their lives.
My grandmother was one such, and I loved her in spite of her narrow views on what was and wasn't acceptable or proper. And to give her credit, she reciprocated.

I just googled Claudia.
Many magnificent and perky norks, many almost-bare bums, many, many polished and exfoliated and bronzed curves.
Nope, that's not a look I covert either.