To wonder what will mark us out as old people?

[BrightonCalling]

You know how you see old people out and about with stuff that is firmly of their era?
Examples:
Headscarves
Suits
Hankies
Stockings
Face powder
Etc

What do you think will mark us out when we're old? Or are the "rules" so relaxed now we'll just look like the young people but wrinkly?

Im thinking smartphones will have wildly changed but we'll still be doddering around with our galaxies
Straightened hair
Those of us who are smokers will truly stick out and young people will be like "omg! Look! An old woman with an actual cigarette!" a bit like how we feel when we see an old man smoking a pipe.

I’ve thought about this before. I do worry that in a future nursing home there will be a room full of frail elderly people, all sat on chairs in a circle, misty eyed and swaying gently to ‘Blurred Lines’

One of my grannies always wore make up and took great pride in her soft shiny white curls. She did care about looking beautiful and being well kept and her “best self”. But you’re absolutely right in that she wasn’t trying to look a day younger than she was.

Their hair went grey then white, it was inevitable, so I suppose there wasn’t anything to fight as such. Also a difference between taking care of your skin so it’s comfortable and looks it’s best, and actively fighting lines and wrinkles.

The biggest thing now is how different men and women of the same age look. While Jen lose their hair and most hair dye on men looks so obvious, they’re just going with it. Though that may change. DH is embracing his silvery bonce and cares about feeling fit and healthy in his 40s rather than looking younger than he is. I’m flip flopping between liking the lines around my eyes which show how much I laugh, and hating the signs of aging and losing my social capital in years to come!

Band T shirts. I’m totally going to wear my Rush T shirts and listen to Marillion when I’m in a residential home.

You’re so right school. I’m in my 30s with no grey hair and still aware of it.

News anchors are a prime example. Lines and grey hair on the men signify wisdom and experience. You rarely see a grey haired woman on tv so there’s little comparison.

Ah your not in the right part of the country. Lots of beige clad, be-permed older women round here and men also in beige from head to toe and some sort of hat.

I’m pushing 60 and still wear skinny jeans, trainers, shirts and jumpers. The concessions I’ve made to age are no writing or logos on t shirts/sweatshirts, no holes in jeans, no fashion jewellery or accessories. I agree that tattoos might well mark older people out. That’s if the current craze for tattooing dies out. It doesn’t seem to be doing.

I agree there is a definite pressure on women to not look their age whereas that wasn’t so much of an issue a generation or two back. I have a genetic condition that means my skin stays very soft and pretty much unwrinkled, but the whole Botox, filler/cosmetic surgery trend for those who have more normal skin, seems to be going from strength to strength.

I think traditional highlights or yellowish dyed blonde hair looks dated so I think that will be the blue rinse if the future.
Handbags (especially larger ones) may die out among younger people as there will be less or smaller stuff to carry about.
I think extremely tanned wrinkly skin and 1990s overplucked eyebrows will mark out a particular generation.
It feels like a long time since older people wore solely beige and clumpy lace up shoes but sometimes people in their 60s who are proud of shopping in Topshop etc look almost particularly old as if they are trying to stay in fashion. Still looks good though, but I can usually tell people’s ages (often polite though and feign surprise, insisting that they are at least 10 years younger). Waffling a bit here, but in summary I think older people look better now than say 20 years ago but still look old (that’s just not necessarily a bad thing).

I was interested to see that in old comedy shows like Monty Python old ladies are always shown with long black dresses like the edwardians the once were. When I think old lady I think plaid/tweed skirt silk blouse and headscarf but that too is changing only the really old dress like that now.

The little old ladies of the future will be pale and wrinkly with fiercely tattooed bluish brows which will sadly be a bit wonky as their face has dropped.

They will sit in chairs set round the edge of the room while the carers play House and Garage music at full volume.
Instead of a little sherry efore Sunday Lunch, they will be offered a wee gin from a hipster boutique distillery

Music and fashion

Apparently one's ears continue to grow as you age, so I'm imagining little old men with huge tunnel piercing plugs in their generously sized lobes

My 75 yr old mother sniffs st the idea of M&S classics and hotter shoes. She doesn't feel old enough for them yet, and goes traveling around china and Mexico with friends. Her hair is going grey, but not there yet, natural colour in a pixie crop.

Whereas at the same age my gran was in beige slacks and a blouse with a full perm and rarely went outside the village any more.

I suspect at 75 I will still be in jeans and DMs - the uniform of my student days that I am maintaining into my 40s

When I was young all women seemed to have the same hairstyle as the Queen. My mum included, she had shampoo and set every couple of weeks and a tight perm every three months. Now it seems only the over 80s still have this. I wonder if perms will die out. Also Headscarves are rarely seen now.

Back in the 60s, I was a model for Dorothy Perkins, I still like their clothes. I think clothes these days are much less age related.

My grand daughter bought me DMs for my 70th birthday. I love them.

The names!

Ew that's an old lady name will be :

Kelly, Sarah, Emma and anything that was wildly popular in the 80s

When young peoples choirs go into nursing homes they'll be singing Wonderwall and Yellow whether we like it or not !

OMG, I have visions...

Black leggings with white trainers.

T shirt with the Stranglers on.

Denim jacket. Both men* and women.

*I often see older men in jeans and denim jackets, in their sixties, looking like something out of Status Quo...

Fabulous dentistry. It’s amazing what they can do these days..😂.

As for bobs, well..I have one, (but not a Wendyline special out of Wallace and Grommet, which IS old fashioned), but a choppy layered one. But it’s 50/50 silver now. It’ll be white when I reach 80.

As for smartphones, I’ll have one with big numbers on so I can see them...

Metro tiles will be the avocado bathroom suite in time.

And 3 pendant lights in a row above the dining table or breakfast bar will be those little wall lights in pairs with a silk lampshade+fringe.

Weird faces from old Botox and fillers.

Beauticians coming into care homes to do shellac.

Over plucked eyebrows in one generation and tattooed slug eyebrows in another.

Dancing to Nirvana at the Care home Xmas do...

Those born in the late 50s will have the Bay City Rollers played at them on a loop in 2035...

**

I'm another one in my early 60s wearing size 10 jeans and with no plans for a nursing home yet either :)

The first gigs I went to were Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Jethro Tull, my first mascara was one you spat in too to activate (sounds gross and looking back it was...... but everyone did it :) )

Back to this post though, Yes to slug eyebrows, false eye lashes, nails, hair extensions, man buns and hipster beards....

My grandma liked to look what she called 'respectable', which meant neat and tidy, with no ladders in her stockings, gloves and well polished shoes.

I think tattoos are already getting a bit passé. I’m one of very few of my age bracket who doesn’t have at least one.

Fake tan will replace face powder as an age marker.

Good post op. Probably fluffy perms and lip gloss.

When I visit my hometown I can spot several of the women I was at school with because they appear to be in a time warp with their hair and makeup. As I said it's a shaggy perm, blue mascara and a cloud of dewberry body spray.

Visible thongs in jeans

My mum is 91, shops in cos and french connection and wears saltwater sandals. God knows what's left for us.