How do I look older?

[sundown45]

I'm 28 but people always think I'm 22-23. This isn't a stealth boast; I feel like I'm thought of as a 'girl' not a woman and I think it holds me back at work as colleagues and clients think I'm much younger. I also think it stops men approaching me.

I think I dress well but my office is casual-cool (creative industry) so I probably wear jeans and trainers too much.

I'm not very big, about 5"7 and a size 6-8 although I do have boobs and a bum so I don't think I have a young figure.

Make up I usually wear foundation (if I think I need it), bronzer, I fill in my eyebrows and use eyeliner and mascara. I have my hair cut and styled to shoulder length.

How can I appear more my age?

You may not get much sympathy here OP (who doesn't want to be a size 6-8, 5'7", 22-23 year old looking woman ) but I understand the issue of not being taken seriously at work when you look younger than you are. This is aimed at shorter petites but you might find it helpful - I think the principles still stand even at your height www.extrapetite.com/2010/05/reader-request-how-to-look-older-in.html.

Do you have children? If so, could you have some more? Nothing like children to age you.... Seriously though, maybe look at what people who are slightly older than you are wearing at work? Are you wearing a lot of make up? That tends to be a young person's thing too!

No children no... and I don't wear much make up at all, I was wondering whether putting on more would age me?

I'm mid 20s and people think I'm 10 years younger. I don't care. Embrace it! If you're confident people get over it. I manage a relatively large team of people and once people get to know you and know you know your stuff they don't care what you look like

Nice tops or shirt and casual blazer with jeans, no t shirts or hoodies, swap trainers for flat shoes. Fine delicate jewellery and neat hair (I tend to fail on this one!), classic makeup. None of this needs to be boring or frumpy but avoiding jeans trainers and very basic tops (I mean that in the plain T, plain vest sense, not the offensive sense!) will elevate your style. H+M have loads of cheap casual blazers, uniqlo for shirts

I second everything Sciurus says

Make the most of it, it catches up.

I had this issue still do sort of in my mid-twenties, also working in the creative industry where the only time anyone ever wears a blazer is if they're meeting with a client. I was owner/designer so it was a bit different as I had more client facing time than most at that age and large sums of money involved meant I needed to inspire some sort of confidence and style in return.

Basically, keep the fundamentals simple but well cut (H&M, COS, Weekday, odd bit of Zara and Mango, etc.) in slightly distinctive materials with a bit of weight to them, so a linen t-shirt rather than plain cotton, a textured wool rather than a fine knit, raw denim rather than high stretch content denim, etc. It means that even if you're wearing a basic outfit the textural element makes it different enough not to be too junior. Colours will depend on what suit you but I'd generally avoid B&W combos. Look for things with good minimal details that can catch the eye, leather always good, buttons with a contrasting thread or colour, etc. Wearing all one colour is also always effective (black a bit trickier as it's very predictable). Spend money on distinctive pieces that you will get a lot of wear out of like coats, shoes, bags, (genuine) leather/suede leggings, etc. Don't be afraid to go a bit quirky in an abstract/sculptural way. End of sales are the best time to nose around for these, they're usually the kind of things most don't really dare to wear but on an otherwise muted outfit often work quite well.

End of the day, though, does it matter? For me it had a specific purpose, appear not to be inexperienced or risk losing out jobs, otherwise, I wouldn't have purposefully aged myself. Age is a very strange thing these days anyhow as it all sort amalgamates together with all the makeup, hair dye, procedures, etc. available. I'd struggle to describe what a 28 yo is 'supposed' to look like. If you're not being taken seriously at work I can understand the problem but IME this can often be related to attitude/confidence rather than appearance though, of course, one can always influence the other, negatively or positively.

To look a little older, I would probably choose a slightly more formal or dressy option. Free free to ignore my advice though, as I am ancient.

Try wearing high heels. Adding an inch or two to your height can give a more mature appearance. Wear more sophisticated clothes.Stick with classic patterns such as florals, stripes, plaids and paisleys. Try some lipstick in a dark hue, contouring, lashes, or a shorter cut and see if your permanent young face gets a grown up boost!