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 looked very old in my DC pics yesterday

Baggy brown coat did not help

Scraped back hair very unforgiving on me! But I can’t go around for my wet dog walks or runs with my hair swishing all about either

A nice short sensible cut is needed maybe? 😱

I’m now getting adverts for waterfall cardigans at the top of the thread!

It’s been really useful for me too, thanks all for your contribution. I’m going to sit down and do some googling later.

I in my 50s and don't make a conscious effort to look younger. I dress in what suits me and feels good. I do have an interest in fashion though, and keep my waves hair long, short just doesn't go,with my style.
And as for younger men being mistaken, yes it happens. I'm not responsible for that
I do find that other women my age, or even younger seen intent on "advising" me.
My body, my hair, my face. I'm not interested in want ones opinions

And oddly coloured excercise clothes, technical jackets, thin eyebrows, walking shoes, body con dresses, anything that is a fun print, most clothes and shoes from M and S, also Clark's shoes.

Mackerz I think you'll feel better if you didn't look at pics of anyone from your hometown. I feel like seeing people you went to school with has bothered you more than your DMs comments. You don't have to compare yourself to them anymore no matter what your Mum says.

I think what a lot of posters seem to be getting at is that they don't want to look "frumpy" or like they have no awareness of current moods or trends - well you can't equate that with "looking old", that's pretty insulting!

Fwiw, I'm in my late 30s and I quite often see women twice my age in totally stylish, enviable outfits. I love people-watching and getting inspiration from people of all ages.

Also a lot of the trends cited by PPs are actually fashionable again: bootcut trousers, wide leg trousers, even brooches are having a moment again.

When I travelled to a fair few European cities Milan really stood out as very stylish. The older people looked equally fantastic.

Those huge chunky bold bead necklaces.

Unless you’re a receptionist called Brenda or librarian called Jean. They rocked it.

@Atalune

I am indeed out of touch with fashion and don't give a hoot about fashion.

I was merely commenting on what, IMO, is ageing. Especially on me.

So thanks for the insult

Don’t agree about elasticated boots - the black suede Caddy Belles from Clarks are comfortable and sexy. I wear them with mini skirts/ short dresses and opaques and think they’re pretty funky.

@EnidButton

😂😂😂

It’s a thread for those of us that are still interested in looking good at 40 plus but don’t want to go for the trying to look like a 20 year old look. I’m not sure what some posters have such an issue with. If it doesn’t interest you then there is no obligation to read or comment.

Time to stop listening to your mum about fashion @op

Radley bag.
Like a PP has said, sensible shoes.
Leather jacket.

The issue that people are taking is to the comments about letting themselves go, not caring any more, being overweight, never leaving home town etc etc...all of which as a negative to be avoided. Which is just rude tbh. As is giving these imaginary ladies sample names etc, it snacks of the 'can I speak to the manager' hair cut memes, it's snide and superior.

@barren

The thread is in style and beauty. That’s what we’re talking about. If it doesn’t interest you then you don’t have to read or comment.

@AntCrawley

I listen to my mum, I just don’t take her advice. The thread was to canvass for opinion - what clothes, makeup and hair will make me look unnecessarily old?

Ok.

It is the snidey-ness I object to. It's perfectly possible to discuss style and beauty on here without it.

MontanaSkies you are 100% right about bootcut jeans and brooches having another fashion moment. I think it's fair to say though that the way these items are worn really counts, and the way they are negatively referred to in this thread not extremely high end big city fashion. They are referred to here as ageing as they generally are when worn in a non fashion context.

I don't agree that short hair ages a person. Some people look ace with short hair just as some look ace with long. Some people however look shit with short hair, others look shit with long. It's not just the hair it's the whole package.

Musmerian the Caddy Belles look great! The stretch boots I hate are the ones that come under the knee, are stretchy all the way around, and usually have some mid-height 'ok for daytime' heel. See photo - YUCK.

It looks to me that Caddy Belles are over the knee, and leather fronted - which is a totally different thing. On the right pair legs I bet they look fab.

Reminds me of this Onion article: local.theonion.com/suburban-mom-wows-family-with-most-androgynous-look-yet-1819575789

Mackerz while I look for some high street equivalents of the Golden Goose cowboy boots, are you familiar with Vestiaire Collective?

It is a fantastic global second hand designer fashion auction site. I have sold many items on here that I never used or no longer wanted, but (more importantly!), I have bought many items that I didn't want to buy at full designer price but wanted nonetheless.

You can search to a great level of detail eg something that is 'Very Good Condition' is brand new. Their quality checking is impeccable and the process so very simple and slick.

And many things are available for auction - so you can make lower offers and the seller may well take less than offered price; while others you can just buy outright.

It is really good fun and you can snap up some incredible deals on the real thing. slightly addictive and dangerous as you can imagine!

For example:
www.vestiairecollective.com/women-shoes/boots/golden-goose/

For me, it's putting up my hair. Any kind of updo adds a good 10 years now I think it's the chins

Also patterned tunics. Seasalt, Fatface, Whitestuff, I'm looking at you. As a porky apple shape I'm always horribly tempted by the tunics and leggings, but MUST RESIST. Currently trying to convince myself that jeggings with a long plain sweater is a totally different look and not aging at all