Do you think you're still 'attractive'?

I hate photos of myself. I used to have lovely auburn hair but I only really appreciated it when it was gone. Now grey! My husband still thinks I am pretty so that is good. I only have sons and I have no idea what they think about my looks- nor would I ask them! I might not like their replies!. Actually I sometimes look at people in supermarket queues and there are only a few really attractive people out there. Most of us are pretty average! It is inner beauty that matters anyway and time does not erode that so much!

Yes.

Oh, rosequartz, I've just read your post. So you came from a family of good-looking men too!

grannyqueenie, remarkably I've always been a very (possibly over) confident person despite my parents' best efforts! What with my mother saying I'd pass in a crowd, and my dad (I kid you not) saying on many occasions that the women in his family got all the brains and the men got the looks... I think he thought it was a compliment .

I think they just came from a generation (and an area) that made sure nobody got bigheaded!

Fortunately the younger generations of the family (male and female) have got both brains and beauty in spades, and I make sure they know it.

My DMIL remembered my DH gazing at her lovingly and saying "Oh mum, you are ugly". Fortunately he was only 3 at the time. Mind you, seeing as he once gazed at me lovingly and told me that the candlelight at our romantic restaurant made my spots stand out, he hasn't become more tactful over the years.

I definitely thought I improved with age, but it was probably that I became more confident. I look back at old photos and realise I was lovely! Youth is definitely wasted on the young.
Now, I am old, wrinkly, white haired but (I hope) still stylish! My little grandchildren seem to be more pleased to see me than anyone ever has been!!

Good grief NO! I have too many laughter lines and droopy skin. My hooded eyes are now big puffballs. I laugh and smile more to detract from my looks.

My bathroom mirror is quite flattering and deceiving.
It's when you go to a large store and see a tired old woman walking towards you and realise it's yourself .....

Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder who on earth is that old woman! Another time I'll look and think, oh well you're not looking too bad. Yesterday I looked and saw my mother staring back at me!
I guess the answer is, it depends on your mood and how you feel as to whether you are still attractive.

I wish I took after my granny, she was beautiful!

SIL once asked me why all the men and boys in our family were so goodlooking and all the girls so plain. [wotacheek]
However, I do have very goodlooking DC and DGC!

GD- looking at my wedding photos- Oh Grandma , you were quite pretty- once!

I think I'm better looking now than I was in my thirties. .fortunately nature has been kind to me.

So much rings true of what people have said on this thread. I am so sorry young women were not told how lovely they looked. But be proud of yourself now - I would never have posed like this 50 years ago!

When I look back I see that I was attractive but had little confidence. Now I try to do my best to keep myself looking as good as I can. Thankfully my DBH of 47 years still thinks I am beautiful and my family loves me.

I never thought I was so much happier in myself now. Very happy on a 'good' day. Bad day I've got the excuse that I'm a busy Nannie and haven't got time to think about it. Kids love to laugh at poor old Nannie.

Who cares?!
So long as I'm fit in the healthy sense looks are not relevant. Gave up makeup apart from weddings. Grandchildren and dogs don't notice.

never was

I was always described as 'plain' and a 'tomboy' so never made much effort. In my 20's I had a lot of men friends and I remember once buying a dress for a special occasion and some of those friends saying 'My God you're a woman!'

In general I was never short of 'admirers' though I never really knew why.

I always loved the poem 'When I am old I shall wear purple' and realise that I now wear a pink cap with a 'Monster High' logo, a Bambi T shirt and a 'Mickey Mouse' fleece which might be the equivalent of purple.

However I don't like the wrinkles, weight gain and hair loss so maybe I care more than I admit!

I was the 'sensible' one and my older sister was the 'pretty' one as far as our mother was concerned. I once pressed my mum (when I was about 12 I think) to say something positive about my looks and she conceded that I had 'nice eyebrows'.
My sister is still extremely attractive - and lives alone after several failed relationships - and I am very happily married to the man of my dreams, who is also fit, handsome and ten years younger than me!

Actually, I think I'm rather gorgeous and stuff anyone who doesn't agree

Mother said to my aunt, in my presence......she never looks like anything.
I was about 14.
Mother was wrong.

Ooooer missus! I don't have that much self confidence!

Sorry already for this wilma, but Just a big smile ??

Before I got married I always thought of myself as the one with the attractive friend, but like others looking back at photos I did look pretty in many photos. All my boyfriends and my husband were my friends first and don't regret this one bit.

But I think self confidence (which I had in spades thanks to my family) can be daunting to young guys. It takes maturity to realise self confidence matters more than looks. Plus I was brought up to be a kind and compassionate person. Yes, I still try to look my best, but more often than not I'm fine just wearing a big smile.

I certainly think a lot of Mothers have a lot to answer for, 'pass in a crowd'?
What a thing to say! I know in the past adults used to go all out to stop girls from being conceited, but that takes the biscuit.