Does anyone look back at old photos and think "Actually ......." ?

OH said the other day that one of the reasons he married me was because I have such a pretty face! In photos taken when I was in my 30s and having children, I do look slim with nice hair. Size 10! On my wedding day (I was 23) I was under eight stone and very skinny. Now I’m 68 and the remnants of that prettiness are still just about there but hidden within a much larger person!

I still live in the same town where I was at grammar school, over 50 years ago, and occasionally see people I went to school with.

I was average looking, not one who the boys fought over.

It’s quite gratifying to see certain girls, now women of course, who were considered ‘hot’ back then,

Stones heavier, lined faces, really looking their age.

While I, of course, am easily recognisable as that 16 year old schoolgirl…..

My dear best friend said once "if only you could choose your mother-in-law separately from your husband".

I have quite a few nearly mum in laws.
They are lovely; it's their sons who were the problem.

I don't think I was ever gorgeous although I was slim with not bad hair.

I bumped into one of my nearly mother in laws a while back

MissAdventure
That made me laugh!!???

Yes, I had more than one of those but haven't seen any since I moved away
?

They'd probably be about 110 by now anyway!

was sent a photo of an old friend's birthday party, among young children i recognised a red tartan dress and i stared at by far the best looking child there, whose face reminded me of my dear papa somewhat.
wondered why she'd sent it to me, then gradually realised that tartan dress enrobed me.
still somewhat puzzled by this.
had it not been for the dress, would have assumed they were her friends, unknown to me.

I was eight stone four, auburn wavy hair. I don't think I was conventially pretty, but was repeatedly told I was 'very attractive'
However... I had zero self confidence
In hindsight, I prefer myself now

Do you think young men feel the same about themselves?

Everybody seems to have been ‘gorgeous’ when younger.?
I was alright and still am alright ( I think!)
As somebody said, youth is wasted on the young and most young women ( even these days) seem to suffer from low self esteem, which is such a shame.

I could have written all that myself Tanith ?

GagaJo you are back!

rockgran

Yes - I was quite slim and pretty but didn't appreciate it. As they say, youth is wasted on the young. On the other hand I may look pretty good now at 71 to my future 90 year old self! Just saying - don't make the same mistake again now!

Definitely

Not only photographs. I found old ballgown type dresses from my pre marriage years. TINY waists.

I was gorgeous.

I was pretty happy with myself before I was married. It was after I had the children that the rot set in. I spent years thinking I was getting really fat. Now I look back at the photos and think "What was I worrying about? A few extra pounds wasn't FAT!" I should love to shrink back to that slightly "fuller figure" now.

I remember coming in from school in school uniform. Aged about 14/15. My aunt was present. Mother said to aunt, in my presence…… no matter you put her in she still looks like nothing. It hurt so much.
I’m 72 and have never forgotten this.

Ironically this was from the woman who never bought me clothes/shoes unless my shoes literally had holes in them. I’d acquire a bit of fabric and put together a dress using my granny’s old Singer sewing machine.
How I wish I had spoken up about it.
On the other hand looking back, I was pretty. I had really good thick red hair and a scattering of freckles.

I make a point of telling all my lovely nieces and nephews how beautiful they are. Obviously, they are all wonderful and multitalented! I do think though that youth has a certain beauty all of it’s own, I guess it’s “the bloom of youth”. It’s wonderful to watch them grow and develop.

Yep. I didn’t appreciate what I had in looks then. I feel like the earlier poster who is thinking I’m good now and don’t want to look back in 20 years time and regret not being confident in who I am. I’m making the most of my confidence and going for it now!!!! ?

rockgran

Yes - I was quite slim and pretty but didn't appreciate it. As they say, youth is wasted on the young. On the other hand I may look pretty good now at 71 to my future 90 year old self! Just saying - don't make the same mistake again now!

Good point, rockgran - what we look like today is probably as good as it's going to get. I'm going to view myself in a whole new light from now on - I'll either switch off the one over the bathroom mirror or take my contact lenses out before I get anywhere near it.

My Mum brought me up the way she was brought up , she had plenty of older brothers and sisters to ‘keep her in her place’ so I had second hand clothes and was told to be grateful even if they didn’t fit properly as ‘no one will stop their horses to look at you’.
Old pictures of me as a teenager showed that I was ok and my lovely DH still thinks I am!( Mind you he needs to go to Specsavers next week.) I wish I was still 7 and a half stone though…

Kate and Dragonfly

When my daughter was single and lots of girl friends at around the age of 23 they all went in for botox.
They never had a line or crease between them. But if one had it done the others thought they were ugly.
Sigh. No amount of persuasion worked.
We do need kindness towards each other.

Oh yes MissA

Kate1949

Oh yes. I was tall, slim, the shape for mini skirts and hot pants in the 60s and 70s. I rarely went anywhere without being chatted up. As a friend said to me recently 'You used to be stunning didn't you?' I wasn't sure how to take that!

Time for another "backhanded compliment" thread.

My mum used to say that dragonfly.