to want to look older

[54321nought]

I am about to retire, and still getting mistaken for 30s/early 40s, and occasionally 20s.

This is not a good situation to be in, as people constantly misjudge me in all sorts of ways. I am nowhere near as strong as people expect me to be, and have far more professional experience.

I don't have any grey hair, and have never died my hair, but I am considering dying it grey before the new term

Why are people getting so worked up about being in their 30s and being told they could pass for in their 20s? That’s totally normal for most people who look after themselves.

The statement the OP made was she is 65/66 and has been told she looks like she is in her 20s/30s. A massive 30-40 year difference. It’s such bullshit that it is laughable

I hate to break it to the "I look so young for my age" crowd, but most people think they do. Doesn't necessarily marry up to the reality, most people need a bit of self-delusion to get them through the day.

I'm 38 but look 8, soz 🤷🏽‍♀️

@CampAshpit

I'm 38 but look 8, soz 🤷🏽‍♀️

You sound it, too.

There are so many people on here who look like teenagers in their thirties, some in their forties (aye, right) that maybe we need to consider whether they look young or every other fecker just looks old. Or maybe they're deluded.

You sound it, too.

Lolz

@MaxNormal

I hate to break it to the "I look so young for my age" crowd, but most people think they do. Doesn't necessarily marry up to the reality, most people need a bit of self-delusion to get them through the day.

Whenever anyone asks me to guess their age I knock several years off my estimate. I'm sure most people do.

What a hilarious post! You're trapped in youthful clothes?? What does this mean?

So weird as I saw a similar post upthread but I also thought my neighbour was 19 and she is 34. She works in a nursery too and had the uniform on but even when I saw her in normal clothes I assumed the same. She is petite and has a really young face. She gets it all the time apparently.

I just can’t believe that someone 60 odd could still have the taut jawline and non droopy eyelids that they had in their 20s, unless they’ve had “work” done. It’s just not possible.

This is a thread crying out for unfiltered close-up photos of the people claiming to look 20 - 30 years younger,so we can judge for ourselves.

It's hard to be accurate when guessing the age of an elderly person (over 85) though - my neighbour is 98 but could be a decade or so younger, same with her husband, both upright with good posture, well dressed, well nourished.

But a woman in her 60's claiming to look 20? Nah.

@EmmalineC

This is a thread crying out for unfiltered close-up photos of the people claiming to look 20 - 30 years younger,so we can judge for ourselves.

It's hard to be accurate when guessing the age of an elderly person (over 85) though - my neighbour is 98 but could be a decade or so younger, same with her husband, both upright with good posture, well dressed, well nourished.

But a woman in her 60's claiming to look 20? Nah.

I disagree clearly the Op has a self portrait in the attic 🤣

@MaxNormal

I hate to break it to the "I look so young for my age" crowd, but most people think they do. Doesn't necessarily marry up to the reality, most people need a bit of self-delusion to get them through the day.

Not sure it's delusion as such. We see ourselves every day of our lives and mostly know our reflection very well, so the ageing process will seem more gradual in our own faces than in other people's.

Also, 40 to a 16 year old looks very different to 40 to a 40 year old. We may have ideas about just how old a certain age looks or seems that are stuck in our own pasts.

Some people can certainly look up to 15/20 years younger ime.

A friend of mine is 18 years older than me. When we used to go 'out out' a lot (me early 20's, her late 30's) people regularly assumed we were the same age, or that I was slightly older. I remember her getting ID'd a lot more often than me at the time.

She's 53 now and I'd say the age difference 'look' has endured so far, she looks about the same age as me, maybe a tad younger still - and I think I look pretty much spot on my 35 years tbh.

However she's mixed race which helps a lot and she has similarly youthful looking sisters so probably good genes too.

I've never seen a white woman without work who genuinely looks 20 years younger...and as for someone in their 50's plus saying they're mistaken for 20's...pffft, come on now. No one believes you.

@FunnyWonder

I sometimes get offered a high chair in cafes even though I'm in my fifties ...

Started a new job at 29 was spoken down to like I was a fucking moron by everyone.

When my next birthday was rolling around they asked what age I would be. When I said 30 they looked shocked and a bit uncomfortable lots of 'wow I had no idea I thought you were 19/20 ' ..and literally since that day they spoke to me like I was actual grown up human

People are weird.

AmazinglyGraceless my friend is 11 years older, on our 29th and 40th birthdays everyone though we were the same age.

She's since not been well and looks slightly more like her age now because of the stress I imagine and people have asked several times if shes my mum.😣 Its horrible. I think she avoids going out with me now for fear of being asked.

I was ID'd buying wine when I was 40.

Ive been id'd buying wine and I was in my 50s. On a really great day I could possibly pass for late 40s but generally I pretty much look my age. I called the supervisor over and told her their staff needed more training!

@nokidshere

I was ID'd buying wine when I was 40.

Ive been id'd buying wine and I was in my 50s. On a really great day I could possibly pass for late 40s but generally I pretty much look my age. I called the supervisor over and told her their staff needed more training!

Did you really need to do that? Why not just show ID?

I know I will definitely look younger after Sunday as getting my fillers done! Aged 57 here and a bit vain ....

Sorry slightly off topic!

Oh the self delusion on this thread is sublime.

Everyone (those of us who don't flatter ourselves into thinking we look oh-so-youthful) ALWAYS knock 10 or 15 years off someone's age when asked on the spot 'how old do you think I am?'

If I asked my colleagues how old they thought I was (they know I'm 61, but assuming they were unaware), their kindly nature would kick in and I'd get 35/40/early50's.

But I'm not an idiot.

I am heading for older lady territory and I have no wish to pose as a much younger woman. I have loved every decade of my life and I think it's a bit sad that there is this pressure to look young.There's nowt wrong with getting old! It's a privilege.

I get ID’d sometimes in my early 40s. I assume they are taking the piss, trying to flatter me or ask everyone as to not offend the younger crowd.
People seem shocked I have an adult dd tell me and dd we look like sisters. People regularly tell me I don’t look my age- these are things say to be nice and give you a boost. I definitely look my age and very much doubt many middle aged women actually look like teenagers

Some of the earlier comments have been hilarious.

However, haven't any of you heard of the expression 'black don't crack'?

Generally, we are not as wrinkled as our white counterparts, so judging our age in later life is harder. Even I will think someone is late 30s when they are around 50.

But someone in their 60s appearing to be in their 20s? Mmmmm.

I know people are genuinely surprised when they ask how old my kids are. But that's because they're my age and have young kids still. It's not that I don't look my age iyswim