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.

Bright blue eyeshadow
Bootcut jeans
Overweight
Court shoes
Polyester trousers
Grey or white hair

For the record, no cat ever looks cheap (though it may be small). All cats, no matter their age or status, have an aura of superiority.

I get the odd ‘dig’ about my retro style but care not a jot.

And it’s ok not to wear ‘flattering’ things anyway!!!

I do agree with this. I personally wouldn't wear Fly boots but bought these this yr & many would hate them.

https://www.stories.com/engbp/shoes/boots/chelseaboots/product.chunky-sole-leather-chelsea-boots-black.0801982001.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwunL7L33_7QIVD7rtCh0NXAplEAQYBCABEgKJIfD_BwE

Matt foundation. Dull, too dark hair. Very pearly lipstick.
Anti-aging - dewy foundation, defined brows (not too dark), hair that moves in a style and colour that suits you - length and colour are immaterial - I know a gorgeous over 50 year old with beautiful, long naturally grey hair and she looks stunning. Grece Ghanem looks amazing - what a stylish woman! TBH confidence, health, energy and good posture are the things I strive for.

I think Frankie in Grace and Frankie looks amazing and far better than grace. I love her style and she wears mom shoes. Yes I know she is 70+ lol

www.marksandspencer.com/wide-fit-leather-buckle-ruched-ankle-boots/p/clp60461687?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-60463486

Mum boots (disclaimer: I know this is a problematic term). Apologetic, tiny wedge heel. Unnecessary ruching. Buckles that whisper ‘I’d like to wear biker boots’.

And bootcut jeans can look really cool, if worn well, with good boots.

What is a non mum boot then?

Guilty of the mum boot

@finkking

And it’s ok not to wear ‘flattering’ things anyway!!!

I do agree with this. I personally wouldn't wear Fly boots but bought these this yr & many would hate them.

https://www.stories.com/engbp/shoes/boots/chelseaboots/product.chunky-sole-leather-chelsea-boots-black.0801982001.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwunL7L33_7QIVD7rtCh0NXAplEAQYBCABEgKJIfD_BwE

That's a bit of a stealth boast though, because these boots are clearly very on trend and expensive. Not in any way the 'mum boots' that are being described.

Black Mascara - on the bottom eyelashes!
I follow a stylist on Instagram who looks beautiful and wears gorgeous clothes, her hair is lovely, make up is lovely, except for the lashings of black mascara she insists on coating all over every eyelash, I think it’s a really out of date trend and makes her look much older.

The comments about hair colour, foundation, hair cuts and eyebrows all are essentially the same issue, its that some woman do buy different clothes /shoes / bags to suit their changing shape, lifestyle and fashion, they keep their hair and beauty routine/styles the same without stopping to question what's fashionable and what suits them now.

If you are going grey, its likely your skin tone has slightly changed to suit grey, so you won't suit dying your hair the colour it was 20 years ago, better dying it a colour that matches the skin you have now. (Eg Nigella- she naturally had very dark hair. If you look at photos now, its still dark, but not as dark as it was, I presume she's having it dyed, but rather than do it exactly the same colour she had 30 years ago, they've got a shade lighter so it still suits her.)

Same foundation - the shade and consistency of foundation that will suit a 20 year old won't automatically be the right one for the same woman 20 years later. (A lighter look does look better on 40+ skin)

I'm guilty of wearing khol eyeliner but it genuinely looks good on me and I look like death without it

Age isn't a number. It's an attitude.
Wear what you want to, style is individual.

@icanboogieboogiewoogie I'm not sure how it's a stealth boast, it's not like Fly boots are super cheap is it? I was just making the point that unflattering clothes can often be on trend & nice. S&B boards do tend to prioritise flattering over everything else.

I really don’t understand the comments about fleeces @JofraArchersFastestBall all the high street stores have them in at the moment. Especially the really fluffy ones with a zip neck.

I think kohl eyeliner all the way around the eye is quite ageing.

The style at the moment is 90s. There’s a big element of social class and geography to it too but the young uni students are wearing looser fitting 80s/90s clothes and rebelling against the 2000’s style.

But generally I think drinking water, exercising and skin and hair care are the most important factors.

I'm not sure what a mum boot is, is it one particularly style or just a safe interpretation of whatever is in fashion at the time.

@Ariesthelamb - I think the problem with khol is the same "wearing it because I always have worn it" mindset - if you suit it, wear it, but for a lot of white woman, their skin tone changes with the lighter (grey) hair and the dark colours round the eye no longer suit them - same as the black mascara comment below - its wearing the colour you've always worn even if your skin has lightened so it doesn't suit.

What a dreadful thread. God forbid a woman should actually look her age

So far this thread has claimed it's ageing
to have hair too long or too short, a Bob, a pixie cut, shoulder length, grey, dyed too dark or with blonde highlights. It's ridiculous!

You can't win with your weight over 40. I recently lost a stone and a half, which I'm thrilled with and which takes years off my figure. Matronly boobs now just normal looking.

But unfortunately my face has aged quite a bit. I always wanted 'cheekbones' instead of a round face and now I have them. Sadly it's too late, I have hollows that make me look like Ian Brown's granny.

I'm having invisalign now to straighten my teeth, it's to head off the 'meth mouth' effect of weight loss at fifty.

@doctorhamster - indeed! Or that age may mean that you're liberated from the tyranny of restrictive and uncomfortable clothes!
I've decided to embrace my inner crone, with my fleeces, waterproof coats and mum boots!

unflattering clothes can often be on trend & nice. S&B boards do tend to prioritise flattering over everything else.

True. There is often an emphasis on ‘showing your figure’ on here, especially for more formal occasions. It’s perfectly possible to look stylish (even youthful!) in styles that aren’t traditionally flattering.

Bad looking yellow teeth, especially if one or two are missing at the back as they can give a sucked in corpse look.
Clothes wise - anything frumpy where comfort was the only priority rather than a consideration.
Over plucked eyebrows
Makeup probably needs updating over time.
Under or overweight.

I love most grey hair especially the whiter shades. Prefer long hair but some women I know look amazing with a pixie. Bobs and triangle hair are much trickier to not be ageing.

Honestly? I’ve seen illness and trauma age people beyond belief.

What stays with me about a person is not how or how not their clothes might or might not age them, but their eyes, spirit, temperament and talk.

Clothes/cosmetics are important as they function to keep us warm/cool and can hugely affect how we feel about ourselves.

Like many of the posters, I am ‘guilty’ of a number of things that people have suggested are on the ‘ageing list’.

I find this labelling of things with the prefix of ‘mum’ so problematic, when it is used in a derogatory way. I am a Mum and couldn’t be prouder or feel more lucky to identify as such.

If the last year has, collectively, taught us anything - it must be about the importance of kindness.

Have a good day, y’all. 😊

Maybe us older women should all huddle in the corner with paper bags over our heads so as not to offend anyone with our unstylish mortality