50 years old and fed up of trying to look nice :(

[RoyCroppersOldBag]

Why is it all so hard now ?? 50 years old and post menopause and I'm so fed up of looking crap all the time - it just seems so much hard work to even just look reasonable :(

When I was younger any old skincare, makeup and shampoo seemed to work, slapped it on and I looked good(ish) NOW I buy good stuff and spend twice as long getting reading to just look vaguely passable!! I'm totally fed up and feel and look awful. Should I just accept it or carry on fighting a battle I don't seem to be winning?

Thanks for reading this far - rant over :)

I like that noddy
Am eyeing up a few Hush things at the moment, including slouchy v neck sweater in kingfisher colour.
The mention of The White Company has me heading that way too....
have discount code somewhere I think.

media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7b/b0/41/7bb04136c3b82d65c96932a3ed37cb05.jpg also like this

I am late 40s. I have just read this thread thru. What I'm finding surprising from it is the fact that anyone would think having a serious life, and having an interest in clothes fashion and appearance are mutually exclusive. I hope I never lose my interest.

But as I get older I am finding it takes a bit more time and effort. I agree with others, eyebrows and hair make a big difference. I don't think I've changed my style, modified/upgraded it a bit, yes.

If you want those floppy trousers GW TWC has some like that but they call them lounging trousers.

I find my biggest issue is that, now I am 49, I cant just buy clothes off the net. I NEED to try things on.
That makes life difficult as I am so time poor :(

Back to the grey hair debate . Up thread I said I had let mine go grey which seems to be really frumpy in most peoples eyes. I have people watched A LOT this week and most older women with dyed hair is dull , dry and course whereas mine is shiny and healthy looking. Just saying it`s not all doom and gloom.

Grey hair looks great on some people!

Mine is still blonde - I think its the sort that will just gradually fade eventually. I've started getting one white eyebrow hair this year though!

I'm late 40s and my tips are:

dodge wheat wherever possible - def piles on weight around the middle

switch to spirits - again wine will sit around your middle if you have too much of it, or around your neck.

go up a dress size even if you haven't gained weight your body will have thickened and looser clothes are more slimming

consider semi permanent make up for eyebrows

Botox - it works

buy a set of hand weights and use in front of the telly

ditch the hardcore exercise esp running as it is very facially ageing

Nancy I have just keeled over at the thought of a thick neck

ha...apparently that's where booze likes to 'sit' on women over a certain age.

Oh god (scrutinises pics as I do like wine)

I also like Mint Velvet and had a few nice tops from Great Plains.

Saying that, last week I got a couple of lovely tops from TKMaxx for work, great weight and length with just the right cut to skim my middle.
here

I have just popped into Monsoon in Clapham en route between appointments and seem to have spent £110 on 4 black tops.
In fairness, I was planning to buy a couple.

One is a very nice fitted 3/4 sleeve jacket which will be useful.
All tops fitted not floaty or waterfally, to go with Banana Republic dogtooth check 7/8 trousers.

Ooh no - carry on running!

People who look active and fit always look so much more full of life. Sod the wrinkles.

www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/marathons-days-OAPs-ambition/story-21717461-d[etail/story.html

style icon.

Laughing at thick vino neck

Love my glass of dry white in front of TV or mumsnet at 9.
Pm that is!
My trade off is exercise . probably not quite the right idea but if iv done a class or run or shredded I can justify that glass!
I agree with pp re dyed hair looking flat .
that's why I have mix of high and low lights but it's still a struggle particularly as my hair quite coarse.
Versions of Moroccan oil help plus BBH and various shine sprays.
god that sounds exhausting.

I have red hair and it seems to be holding up so far re grey Am resisting my desire for a fringe as I know I will hate it!

There is no scientific evidence that wheat or anything else in isolation causes weight gain - it comes down to your total calorie intake over the day. Some people can feel or look bloated with foods containing gluten if they are intolerant to them.

In mid life metabolism slows down so unless you eat less and exercise more then you will gain weight- because what you could eat and stay slim with at 30 won't work now!

Wine has been shown to give people- men and women- bloated and puffy faces, but that it the after effects of too much alcohol, and alcohol is very high in calories.

I'm 43 and thick all over, from cake rather than vino. I'm one of those meaty type of women, Caroline Quentin-esque, no fine features.

I love clothes like Cos, Whistles and Great Plains but at my current size (16) I can end up looking butch, particularly as I have short hair.

I've had my colours done and I love my hair style on a good day, it's from the neck down I have a problem!

I saw a fantastically stylish woman in her 50s today, wearing skinny jeans, converse and a great jumper, she looked fab. Definitely something to aspire to!

That would be me awombwithoutafoof
What a great name BTW.

So you mean you are the aspirational lady I described? Or that you relate to my 'ham in trousers' physique.

Thanks, BTW.

Wheatbelly!

www.wheatbelly.com/

That wheatbelly link is so silly- it's really the paleo diet in another guise.

I've been wheat/ gluten free for over 20 years.
Eating fewer carbs which is what 'wheatbelly' is all about will result in weight loss.
And the dr who devised it is a 'preventative cadiologist' - ( there is actually no such title in medicine) -in other words he dispenses advice to help people look after their hearts by eating well.
And charges $29.99 for the privilege of telling you how to avoid wheat.

Sorry but websites like that annoy me as they prey on people's ignorance ( not you PP!)

Aspirational

I wish

I subscribe to the eat less move more mantra f or weight loss.

Have been asked 'what diet did you do'
and that was my reply
I cannot do low carb,no carbon,5:2 or any of that.