What instantly ages?

[MadameNaice]

Whether that be clothing or cosmetics, I'm interested to hear your opinions. I have a few of my own thoughts on this, though I could be way off the mark.

Am in need of a boost and think I might be unwittingly ageing myself before my time.

Thanks.

[quote Frequentflier]@herethereandeverywhere Not " professionally offended" at all.. Just amused. Would be difficult to be offended by the advice that wearing a rainproof coat is aging, in a rainy country when currently the only thing to do is sit in a wet bench [/quote]
I would wear one of my wool coats of which I have a collection. I prefer to use an umbrella instead of a horrible hood!

@noirchatsdeux

I've had my hair in a bob, with a fringe, since I was 5 (apart from the 80s where like everyone else I had the terrible perm) so I've always been aged!

Same, had a short Bob with a fringe, since I was around 15/16. Mid 40’s now. No other style would suit me.

Definitely too much make up, women in their twenties can look twenty years older if you can’t see the natural youthful bloom of their skin. Skin is really key. I’d also say overly styled hair.

I agree with PPs that this thread has veered into what isn’t fashionable, which isn’t inherently ageing as it depends who you are, age, body type etc and it the concept of fashionable evolves constantly.

I think one of the objectives/benefits of getting older is finding a style you like and suits you, regardless of how fashionable it is. Most people will more or less look their age. Just because you are wearing baggier jeans and Veja trainers doesn’t ultimately detract from that.

"Stooped while walking"

This was going to be no.1 on my list. It's how I tell people's age when I'm walking behind them.

THINGS I HAVE GOT RID OF AS NOW OVER 50 (basically anything I wore first time round)

1. Leggings (apart from gym ones)
2. Bootcuts
3. Waterfall cardigans
4. 'Proper' handbags - have kept crossbodys for daily wear and large shopper types for going to er... the shops (will be selling all my shoulder bags as they're not right for my life now)

I've never had a fleece, prefer jumpers.

THINGS I NEED TO IMPROVE

My hair was great but too high maintenance during lock downs (highlights every six weeks) so I had it dyed dark brown

Unfortunately I now have that 'bronje /brassy' hair that looks shit because of the underlying grey

Cant have everything 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Still like big jewellery

"Wearing black shoes or carrying a black bag when they clearly don’t go with the outfit/season."

Are we expected to have a matching bag for every outfit? I wear the same tan handbag all year. I have a lot of black shoes because they're practical and go with everything. (I do have lighter stuff for very hot summer days).

@Jetatyeovilaerodrome

Grey hair. Sorry but it does. It can look fabulous if you are fully made up and it is immaculately styled, but otherwise it is so ageing. A friend of mine has recently grown hers out and I'm glad she has liberated herself of the dye, but there is no question that she looks quite a bit older. I guess it depends on how much you think that matters?

I agree. I respect people who want to leave their natural grey hair colour and there is nothing wrong with looking older than you would with dyed hair IF that's what you want.

@Ginfordinner

A waterproof coat worn anywhere except on outdoor sports/activities.

I live in a rainy part of the country. I always wear a waterproof coat when it rains regardless of where I am. I hate umbrellas.

All my coats are waterproof to some extent. What's the point otherwise? Maybe Gin means something like a North Face coat that's obviously more for hiking or something?

Won't go down well with the under 30s but too much makeup.

Coarse hair, flat arse, dropped knockers and a sour expression.

Grey hair 👩‍🦳- that totally cool look is not ageing up to about 40

By that I mean you can still look young and hip

Once you're over 40 you'll look hip but you're not going to look young

Society is obsessed with looking 'younger' - without the grey hair you could be 45 and be possibly taken for a decade younger/indeterminate age if you throw money at make up/shiny hair/Botox

With the grey it ain't going to happen - you are much less likely to be taken for younger as grey is a signifier

(DISCLAIMER- I don't think looking 'younger' is important but the world is obsessed with it - you can easily look amazing without looking younger at ALL)

Radley or similar bags.
Court shoes or mum boots.
Tan tights.
Dated hair cuts, extra people points for highlights. Thin, wispy hair.
Anything purple or lilac.
Being over weight (it's definitely aged me)
Water proof jacket worn as an everyday thing.
Waterfall hem lines on anything.

Disagree about fringes and long hair, I have a blunt fringe and long hair and always get compliments.

course hair, flat arse, dropped knockers and a sour expression

HAVE WE MET ?!?

Too much make up ( disclaimer: except for Joan Collins)
Those young girls in Towie , love island etc look 10-15 years older than they are .
I'm 45 and look like " whatever happened to baby Jane " if I wear anything more than base and mascara now !

Disagree about grey hair. A friend of mine had to shave her head for an operation, hair grew back its natural silvery grey and looked amazing - much more flattering and youthful than the expensive blonde job she'd had before.

Anything purple or lilac.

DD's favourite colour is purple so it features heavily in her wardrobe. At her 9 yo height, hopefully no one will mistake her for a little old lady.

what are "mum boots"?

I think this thread is ageing me...🙄

I'd say.

Wearing colours
Wearing neutrals
Wearing black or white
Shoes
Boots
Trainers
Grey/ brown/blonde/ red/ black hair
Jeans! Also trousers or skirts
Underwear
No underwear
Hats are bad
Going without a hat looks bad
Any kind of bag
Pockets

I think that's it but probably missed a lot

Getting older is ageing

Poor posture, lack of muscle tone and dull skin are the most "ageing" things

Thereafter, wearing beige, wearing what doesn't suit you and too much slap applied with failing eyesight.

Grey hair doesn't make you look older per se it is just such an ingrained signifier of age that people say so. And a little tiny touch of internalised misogyny.

@NiceGerbil

I'd say.

Wearing colours
Wearing neutrals
Wearing black or white
Shoes
Boots
Trainers
Grey/ brown/blonde/ red/ black hair
Jeans! Also trousers or skirts
Underwear
No underwear
Hats are bad
Going without a hat looks bad
Any kind of bag
Pockets

I think that's it but probably missed a lot

I think we finally have it!

Kids in their late teens or twenties and your in your 30s/ 40s

I don’t get this? I know lots of people in their 40s with late teenage kids (given average age to have a baby is 30 it’s very much the norm to have teenagers in your 40s) I also know some that age with no children and a few with young kids, doesn’t seem to have any direct link to ‘looking older’

Honestly I have read the full thread and in my humble opinion, the only thing that ages people is trying to look younger than they are.
Dressing to young
Wearing what the young 20 somethings wear .
Everything else is just personal preference and genetics

I agree that following "rules" is aging.

Before 2020 my mother was adamant that it wasnt appropriate for me to have long brightly coloured hair, wear short skirts, skinny jeans, docs....basically anything that wasnt neutral and from Marks and Spencer paired with a "nice bob".

Since lockdown she has realised how little this all matters, positively loves my pink hair and has said how she wishes she had had the confidence to fuck off the all the "rules" when she was my age (47).

Wearing what you like when you like and to hell with what anyone thinks is my "style"! Also, I found the No7 foundation matcher to be really good, although presumably they are not currently doing it due to CV.

"I dye my hair bright natural copper and it suits so much better than my natural mid-brown"

Me too. Some people think it's my natural colour even though a quick glance at my eyebrows proves it's not.

@quarentini

Honestly I have read the full thread and in my humble opinion, the only thing that ages people is trying to look younger than they are. Dressing to young Wearing what the young 20 somethings wear . Everything else is just personal preference and genetics

Bollocks.

I will cheerfully wear something that the "young" wear, who the hell cares if I am a Kronenberg?! If I am happy to hell with everyone else.