Do people tell you that you're pretty when you're 49?

[wishiwasinbarbados]

Just that really.

@NotaWagon

littlehappyhippo, it's so true. It's men our OWN age who are the most repulsed by us. I've wondered if that is because they think we will assume any small amount of interest shown by them to us will give us the wrong idea! ie, that holding a door open for us would lead us to think we had a chance!

Funny you should say that!!! I have occasionally thought that too. That men aged around my age (mid 40s to mid 50s) probably do ignore me, in case I get the idea that they fancy me!

I have found myself thinking 'don't flatter yourself you rude twat! I am 100% not interested in you anyway.'

@IsadoraQuagmire

Of course, you can be pretty at any age. I know someone who's 90 and extremely pretty (she's very glamorous and looks no older than early 70s)

The vast majority of people (IMO) look their age within 2 or 3 years, and very rarely look more than 6 or 7 years younger than their age. People just almost always look their age. I mean, why wouldn't they?

Yet, I have seen 3 or 4 women aged 84 to 92 this past week (at Armistice Day type things,) and I swear down they don't look more than 70. It's bizarre. One lady was 92, and I was gobsmacked. She has a 73 y.o daughter!!! I said, 'you look less than 73 yourself!'

She blushed and said I was very kind. I said 'no you honestly don't look more than 70!' (And she didn't!) (And she was pretty too.)

I think (IMO) that many women look a bit younger than their age til maybe mid 40s. I looked 5 to 6 years younger than my age right up to my mid 40s. People thought I was 38-39 when I was 44.

Then suddenly at around 46, people started guessing my age at 49-50. I was gutted. I suddenly went from looking 38-39 to looking 50! (Almost overnight!) I also noticed that many other women appeared to age a decade or so in 2 or 3 years at around the same age.

THEN, they don't seem to age again til late 60s. I know several women who are in their early 60s, who look eight to ten years younger! Then they suddenly age again by their mid to late 60s, and totally look their age by 70.

Then they don't age much after.

Weird.

I am (at nearly 50,) looking forward to hopefully not looking any older for a decade at least.

No more or less than when I was 29. Not that "pretty" has ever been an ambition. I'd like to think there's more to me than being decorative.

I ve been told i m "actually really pretty" when i ve made an effort to dress up for going out. Normally I m in jeans converse etc with hair tied up so i dont know if its a proper compliment . I m 51 but have been told i look late 30s (payback for having to carry ID till i was nearly 30!)

I have been told I look good and don't look my age and I am late 50s . I don't agree.
There are days I look better than others .
But am happy to both give and receive compliments .

I'm nearly 60 and dh often says I look pretty. Perhaps his eyes are going. Men our age still flirt with me but evidently I was a shocking flirt when youngeŕ and don't know how to iyswim. Someone at work even told me I was pretty a couple of months ago and men often take me by the arm in a chatty way for a gossip about colleagues. Probably because I'm v married and they feel safe and we eyeroll together about the smt and lightweights.

The people who give me compliments are usually drunk men. I am 48. I was taking my 88 year old father out for lunch at a Beefeater this summer and a group of blokes having a drink (or several) there before going to the races said to him, “that’s a fantastic looking woman you’ve got there, pal”. I was pleased....I think!

I get told I'm good looking and even beautiful. 50 in a few months but look younger. Although perimenopausal insomnia is catching up with me, and it's not wrinkles I'm worried about (just a few crows feet) but the bags under my eyes are definitely starting to age me!

Nope

Pretty is a word for girls, not women. Or maybe it's just been that long since I've heard it 😂

I’m a little older than 49s and have been told I’m pretty through my life. I still look quite a bit younger than I am and have been told this recently. Frankly even if so good god I look my age increasingly !

Yes! I've been told I'm pretty/have a pretty face and I'm older than that.
I'm really fat though so my cheeks are round and my skin smooth.
I often think I'd look like a deflated balloon if I lost weight.

Sorry posting is playing up here - been through loss of both parents recently and don’t think I’ve looked rested or very happy for a bit. Roll on next year is what I say.

My Mum always looks at me then says "you look well." I never quite know what she means.

I don’t know why we’re so grateful to be considered younger than our age... it’s devaluing for older women when we perpetuate the idea that only younger people are attractive. In any case I don’t think I’ve ever been described as pretty.. attractive sometimes, striking occasionally but not pretty. I have had bits of me complimented - mainly lips, eyes, skin, boobs and my walk which I guess is something. That being said I get more Male attention than I ever did when I was younger. Not sure why since I’m heavier than I’ve ever been (size 16/18) but It doesn’t depress me in the way it might have done when I’m younger. Overall although I’d like to be slimmer I’m aiming for stylish, attractive and interesting.

My mum is beautiful and she gets told a lot. Mainly by me, my sister and my dad but it doesn’t make it any less true!

Actually I think I look better now than in my twenties and early thirties. I was never called pretty or attractive then and did not like how I Looked I'm 53 now and get lots of compliments, I think I also care much less what people think too though.

Yes, I've been told this since I was young, and I'm now fifty, I still get it a lot . And It's by random strangers. And usually women. And unprovoked. The "god, your face, you're really pretty" thing.

Men (other than hubby) really don't tend to say it as much as when a physical compliment is payed, then it's often a come on, and it's seldom the word pretty used. More you're attractive that kind of shit.

Yes

Whereas men younger than us aren't seeing their own mortality through us

Very insightful and yes I think true.

Thanks everyone. I think "attractive" is probably more appropriate than pretty at this age I agree.

I often get called pretty, especially by my lovely twins. Sadly, I haven't heard my DH call pretty in donkeys!! However, I'm not quite 49 yet lol ;) hope this helps ladies!!

I hate 'you look well' with a passion.

WTF is it meant to mean?

Did I look fucking ILL last time you saw me???

That was aimed at @dayswithaY ^

@Divebar

I don’t know why we’re so grateful to be considered younger than our age... it’s devaluing for older women when we perpetuate the idea that only younger people are attractive.

I know. It's very odd.

People often say on here (and on other message forums too) that they get loads of people thinking they are much younger than they are, they look very youthful, and they are often asked for I.D. to buy booze when they are 40. And they often claim that they are often mistaken for someone 12 to 15 years (or more) younger.

Yet in real life, I very rarely see anyone who looks more than 4 or 5 years younger than they are.

Why would they? Why should they? And why do they want to so badly? Is it (as you say,) because youth is associated with beauty and attractiveness?

I rarely see anyone on here (or in real life) saying people think they're 10 years older than their age, (and that no-one ever says they're pretty or attractive!) Yet LOADS of people claim they are often mistaken for way younger than their age, and loads of people say they're pretty!

Lots of people say that many people mistake them for a decade or more younger. It's probably a good idea to remember that most people (when guessing someone's age,) will knock 5 to 8 years off to be kind/polite.