What clothing, make up, or hair style makes you look older?

[Mackerz]

I’m 40 and my mum has just told me that I’m at the age where I should have a cropped hair cut. I personally think this will add about 20 years on to me. I have dark brown hair, wavy, below shoulders and I have some lighter highlights around my face and parting. I wear it down and wavy, straightened with a bit of a kick at the ends or tied back in a loose bun at the nape of my neck with some of the front falling out. I’m lucky that it’s still thick and I keep it well conditioned.

I like to follow trends but adapt them to my age, so for example I will wear mini skirts but I’ll wear them with tights and boots.

Are there any things that people think are a dead giveaway for age - clothes, makeup or hair?

I mention the designers as I try to study their looks then copy them more cheaply.

Trespass/Regatta style coats
Over the shoulder brown/tan bags with the flap and stud opening.
Chiffon esque scarfs
Indigo denim jacket
Pearl finish lipsticks
Shiney pink nail varnish

Spied I cannot stop laughing - agree with all those, and LOVE how specific you are :))))

Thanks LHR I have a few t-shirts that are similar-ish shape from Jigsaw, so gives me a bit of confidence that I do still have a smidge of fashion sense left! Will have a google of the other things.

OP, please ignore your mum. Your hair sounds lovely, and matchy matchy accessories is a big no. Does your mum look how you would like to look at her age? If not, ignore any advice she offers. As for those Facebook mums, surely you dont want to look like that??

I think short hair is the most ageing thing, along with fringes, small to medium sized hoop earrings, waterfall cardigans and scarves!

I need some knee-high black boots. I can't bear high heels any more, so what's a good choice that won't look frumpy?

I must admit I'm guilty of hoop earrings and scarves...

Brooches
Costume jewellery
Cardies
All ageing
Didn’t know the one about chiffon scarves but it makes sense.

@NigellasGuest

I will! I was just canvassing for opinion.

@NigellasGuest

I think she thinks I have ideas above my station, as I left grim northern town. I don’t want to look old and frumpy, or as if I just don’t care about my appearance.

Mackerz am a bit scared of microblading, I have seen good and not so good results!

I have a couple of friends in their 40s/50s with short hair. One is petite and very glam. The other is tall with a Lagenlook sense of style. Their short hair is a part of their look and I can’t see how they would look any better with long hair.

Getting hair chopped off for no other reason than getting to a particular age is outdated.

One thing I have found (for me anyway) is that the older you are, the more frumpy prints can look if you are not very careful. I much prefer plain clothes now.

@ghost

I agree with that and I stick to neutral colours with the odd splash of red.

Mackerz my mum (and sister for that matter) is the same. Ignore, ignore, ignore. You sound like you look fantastic!

Having short hair now on me would be so so bad. It has to be the right mid length

Anything too structured makes me feel air hostessy and older

I think hoop earrings are fine, classic even.
I'd agree that never changing your make up or clothes style does date a person since our faces and bodies change with age. But in all honesty someone in their 40s is never going to look 20! My advice is to wear what suits your body shape and also to ignore your mum!

@ghostofharrenhal

A friend at work had her brows microbladed. The result is good. She had to work from home for a few days due to the scales forming over them though😀.

My problem is that I’m booby and I struggle to get well cut jackets to fit nicely. I think it’s a classic look, as LH mentioned above.

Sensible hair is so depressing. I've just seen an older lady in my local supermarket with waist length white curly hair. God, she looked fantastic!

OP I'm like you- 40 and work in young sector.

Please don't worry about your mums dreadful advice- and don't chop your hair off! 😂

A few things I've learned:

• yes it's trivial and in an ideal world none of us would care about looking older, but unless you literally live in a cave and wear zero makeup or ever look in a mirror, these things do impact on us.

• microblading was the best investment I've made towards my appearance. I can wake up and (brows at least) ready to go!

• lighter hair suits ageing face

• bb cream is your friend (and matt make up is the enemy)

I too compare Facebook friends from school days and without meaning to be unkind, it can shock me how much older some people appear based on grooming and clothing choices. I have two friends who regularly wear walking boots with jeans, just for practicality.

On the other hand I have another school friend who looks stunning and about 27!I'm sure she's had Botox but that's only because i know her- she looks v natural. She is also still very slim whereas my walking boots friends have gradually moved up a few sizes. Completely natural of course, but I do think that staying slim can help look younger.

I was at the self checkout in Sainsbury's recently buying booze and the machine asked for approval. The shop assistant behind me saw my long hair and said 'excuse me, can I see your id', but when I turned around and they saw my face they said 'oh nevermind'

Reading back one thing that can look great, in a Celine way, is culottes. Would love to have some but only on thin days.

Heavy make up and overstyled hair can make you look older.

I remember once years ago, when I was in southern France and saw a gorgeous elderly lady, I had think she was in her 80s. Said lady wore nice, colourful clothing and a very pretty pink blush on her cheeks and raspberry coloured lipstick. It didn’t make her look younger I think but it gave her a fresh and cheerful look. Now that I am getting older myself I noticed wearing nice coloured clothing and a bit of blush really make you look fresher and younger.

@WarwickLife

I had exactly the same thing at the supermarket checkout! I had called in on the way back from the hairdresser, so my hair was looking its best. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

What’s bb cream?