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.

Barbara Cartland's image worked perfectly for her! A quick google tells me she wrote over 700 books and sold over 750 million copies, so she was fabulously rich. Her older age 'look' of the pink, the Crazy Jane lashes, the whole thing was a brand, her brand, which told everyone what she did: write romance novels. Clever her. Toning herself down wouldn't have worked in any way in her favour, even if some on mumsnet would have preferred her to use brown, not black mascara, and only put it on the top lashes...

I agree Barbara Cartland was a marketing genius in the days when 'branding' meant a stamp from a hot metal bar. She was also Princess Diana's step grandmother I believe - imagine those 2 on Instagram

You know your old when, walking down street (pre covid) I heard a voice shout excuse me excuse me, a young man came running up to me I turned, he recoiled in horror and said oh sorry sorry. From the back I look 16 from the front 60 haha 🤣

Smokers skin.

Thin lips ( roll your top lip once a day to stop it shrinking) two fingers either side of top lip and gently roll it towards your nose.

@Ddot is that a thing or a wind up?

I am actually trying to do it now so it had better be true!

Not wearing make up. Just a little bit, properly colour matched and subtle.

Very few women over 40 look good with nothing on their face at all.

You don't know that they're over 40 or not wearing make up at a glance, though?

I’m fifty. I have longish hair. Wear leather trousers and Chelsea boots. Dye my hair with henna and ultimately wear what the hell I want. Do what makes you feel good!

Oh and by the way I wear very little make up. I look fine.

Sentedgeranium
I've been doing for years, can't remember who said but it was some film starlet on tv, may have been joan Collins or Rachel Welch. I'm mid fifties ish and still have a good top lip. I'm sticking with it 🥰

sentedgeranium
Do it a few times each day

sentedgeranium
Only stops age shrinkage wont help if naturally have thin lips

What's a housecoat?

Is it a dressing gown? I have several dressing gowns - warm winter ones and lighter summer ones. I only wear them when I'm getting ready after a bath or shower, so never wear them outside the house. Struggling to see what's so ageing about them.

@lissie123

Oh and by the way I wear very little make up. I look fine.

I think it’s what others think of you that is being discussed.

A housecoat is what my auntie (who wasn't really an auntie but all old lady acquaintances were aunties in the 70s) Ena used to wear. Like an all day and more substantial apron/coat, usually floral and always polyester

Flounces or frills on anything
Flappy sleeves
Jolly prints
Big loud jewellery
Visible lip liner
Too much blusher
Open toed shoes
Tight curls
Hairspray hair
Long brightly painted nails

So no sandals or do you mean peep toes?

Yes housecoats and Aunties

Pink gingham polyester or a tabard

Mum had a blue one with stripes in 60s with hoop zip pull on it

No tight curls, wtf am I supposed to do with this thing on my head then haha.
Love my curls so there.
Like sandals and open toed shoes.
As for loud jewellery, like that too.
Plain clothes big beads.
Somethings are a bit much but think people get carried away with age. It's not what you wear its how you wear it.

I read those lists of things ‘women over 40/50/recently embalmed should/shouldn’t wear’ then I have a good laugh and ensure to wear everything I’m not supposed to. If I followed the advice for my age group, I’d be hanging around in ‘crisp white shirts’, ‘classic blazers’ and ‘trench coats’ far too often. And that would interfere with my enjoyment of flouncy dresses, fake fur and chunky trainers. It would also clash with my piercings and tattoo.

@Craftycorvid - I like your attitude, and style!
Imagine thinking you couldn't wear bright, cheerful clothing, sandals, rings, or have curly hair just because you're past 40!

I broke a women-of-50 style rule today

It made me laugh, I guess this thread made me feel rebellious

Put my hair in two plaits

I got comments from people I met (live in a village, everyone knows everyone), one lady even claimed she did not recognise me with my new hair, another (stylish rule following friend) looked perplexed at my hair

I said I was going for the Pippi Longstocking look

I fear that the older I get the less fucks I give

Bad, short haircuts - women who get to a certain age and cut their hair, haven’t looked after their skin so it looks dry and dull, start to look quite masculine 40+ because of their haircut and skin.

To avoid looking like a little old dear before your time I suggest that you:

Avoid beige & light grey clothing & footwear.. (This is relevant for men too!).

Don't use a pull along trolley... or wear a headscarf unless it's a hijab...

Don't go for a short curly perm especially if your hair is grey or white.
If you're male avoid having a greasy comb over. Not a nice look.

@XmasSkies2020 not sure how old you are but I think the looking quite masculine thing is a red herring. In fact if you look at old men's faces they can look quite feminine. I think it's more that with the loss of sex hormones your intrinsic Male and female characteristics are less apparent. I stand to be corrected but this is what I've always assumed. And it's therefore something g one cannot help.
FWIW I think voices are a giveaway too. Older female voices are different. It's easy to sound gruff and angry. I'm 54 so menopause is upon me and i am watchful but try not to judge what can't be helped.