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Things you think can make you look older than your years!

(415 Posts)
Audi10 Mon 23-May-22 13:17:30

While having a discussion with two friends this subject came up! They were saying the way some people dress can look a bit matronly! I was saying but it’s not all about dress sense I think having a positive attitude and a smile makes you appear happier so therefore younger, it’s not always about how a person dresses! What do you gransnetters think!

Grammaretto Mon 23-May-22 18:06:57

I'm late to the party but very amused by these descriptions.
I am generally shocked that I can no longer distinguish myself in group photos of us on our walks.
Who cares really! I'm just having fun.

Callistemon21 Mon 23-May-22 18:07:22

Callistemon21

SO!!

What should we be wearing when we venture outside to face our critical public?

?

(Bearing in mind I'm getting on a bit, need new knees, need to lose a couple of pounds etc)

Years ago my friend and I saw a large older woman in a bright flowery dress and white trainers with white socks.
We were in the USA at the time, were much younger and my friend and I had to suppress our giggles.

So - what should we wear?

Callistemon21 Mon 23-May-22 18:09:38

Who cares really!

Precisely

GagaJo Mon 23-May-22 18:11:16

I think the thing is, a pretty young thing like Kate can wear something, but it doesn't mean old ladies can wear it too. She has an awful lot of dress rules/conventions to follow and actually wears some (not all by any means) very old fashioned outfits. She dresses according to her task/audience.

If we wore them at our age, we'd look like our own grandmothers.

Strong colours are good. White is good. Never admit to beige (the title of a book, but the sentiment is spot on).

I don't want to be that old woman dressed head to toe in various shapes of taupe.

Casdon Mon 23-May-22 18:15:56

There’s a good blog called chicatanyage Callistemon21, you can access her via Google. Not everything she shows is to my taste, but she has lots of ideas, and has photos taken of herself in the clothes she recommends, and always looks good - I guess she is early seventies. I also follow midlifechic, who always looks lovely in what she wears, but she’s in her fifties, and still shows her arms, which is no longer for me, although generally her clothes are what I would choose myself. Does anybody follow any other good sites?

GreyKnitter Mon 23-May-22 18:16:07

I wear Skechers shoes almost all the time! Trainers, sandals and slippers as they help with my plantar fasciitis. Trainers are trainers really, and my sandals are carefully chosen to show a hint of fashion. However, I’d rather have comfortable feet and be able to walk rather than trendy shoes and not able to walk as my feet are so uncomfortable. Rachel to their own!

Gin Mon 23-May-22 18:19:50

I have always since a child called corset pink ‘Elastoplast pink’.

We used to have a shop near us that was a very old fashioned drapers that displayed enormous corsets and bloomers in the curved front windows in that delightful colour.

I agree dark dies hair is too harsh for old faces as is any lipstick in too bright or dark tones.

Kate54 Mon 23-May-22 18:23:22

Thanks everyone! This has been the most enjoyable thread I’ve read for a long time. I have been giggling away giving n’er a thought for my own appearance which today includes a pair of slightly stretchy navy cropped trousers, an MandS plain blue shortish-sleeved linen top and….. a pair of dark blue Crocs. But I am indoors and they’re worn as slippers.

GagaJo Mon 23-May-22 18:30:05

There used to be a member on here, who thought she was the height of fashion, and once told us about her silver trainers. I've always secretly had a yen for a pair of silver shoes, but have always thought they looked slapperish on others, so never indulged. Despite this yen, however, the thought of silver trainers on an old woman was very Marina in Last of the Summer Wine.

M0nica Mon 23-May-22 18:32:26

Last week I saw a rather shapeless lady with straggly grey hair looking fabulous in a turquoise green kaftaan with green cardigan in a similar but different bright green. She walked tall and was herself.

In France, I saw a very large lady in a version of this year's floral dress. It had no waist but was three different fabrics, alighter cloured one for the sleeves, to just below bust, a darker flower pattern for under bust to hips and a different light one below that. She looked really stylish.

I think larger ladies should be more willing to say 'What the heck' and just go for gorgeous colourful clothes.

Kathy72 Mon 23-May-22 18:47:29

GagaJo

There used to be a member on here, who thought she was the height of fashion, and once told us about her silver trainers. I've always secretly had a yen for a pair of silver shoes, but have always thought they looked slapperish on others, so never indulged. Despite this yen, however, the thought of silver trainers on an old woman was very Marina in Last of the Summer Wine.

I think silver trainers are quite mainstream now for all ages - they have them in M and S!

Germanshepherdsmum Mon 23-May-22 18:51:39

Today my local paper featured Ladies' Day at the local racecourse. I won't comment on what the younger women were wearing. Two of the older ones wore sleeveless dresses which showed their very crepey upper arms to perfection. One of them was wearing a dress without sleeves but sporting a bra with 'transparent' straps. Another wore a sleeveless and strapless dress and there were some big bulges around the bra area. Yuk

Hiraeth Mon 23-May-22 19:04:43

Our ageing faces and bodies don’t need to be fixed . I’m proud to reach the age I am .

Marydoll Mon 23-May-22 19:04:59

Callistemon21

^And they look like a bunch I would not like to meet on a dark night upset readily^ ?

Did you mean the House of B models or the Glesca Grannies, ixion? wink

I think Ixion has dug herself into a very deep hole. wink

Wha duar meddle wi the Glesca Grannies?

Now that's what I call stylish.

FannyCornforth Mon 23-May-22 19:07:44

This is a really negative thread sad

M0nica Mon 23-May-22 19:09:27

I have canvas shoes in an elegant taupe with a gold band round the sole and a gold chain around the back of the ankle. My 15 year old DGD, who is a style goddess, approves of them and my companion grandmother asked where I got them.

FarNorth Mon 23-May-22 19:10:47

Germanshepherdsmum

My hair is below my shoulders and it’s now grey - but in good condition and definitely not in plaits or a bun.

I have a friend who has grey hair in plaits and it suits her. She looks like a Native American or Russian matriarch.

If I had plaits, tho, it would be very aging - different face shape.

ixion Mon 23-May-22 19:16:50

Yup.
?There was I, diggin' this 'ole?
?

FarNorth Mon 23-May-22 19:18:30

Old lady blue & pink??

I used to know a lovely older lady and her DH, both of whom were almost always in shades of beige.
The lady always looked much nicer if she wore a light blue or a pink. Darker colours wouldn't have suited her, tho.

Maggiemaybe Mon 23-May-22 19:46:31

I don’t think anyone’s said stripes yet. Please don’t. Half my wardrobe has them. So much so that my littlest grandson identified a Lego Burglar Bill character as Nanna the other day.

paddyann54 Mon 23-May-22 19:49:30

My hair almost reached my waist until March this year.It hadn't been cut since February 2020 and it grows very fast.My OH loved it .
I used a curling tong on it most days for loose waves and heated rollers for tighter curls.
Once we started going out again I was concerned about looking a bit mutton so I got it cut shoulder length .Since then my family have been nagging me to let it grow,seems grannies with long hair are a thing and I didn't know it.
Dont think I'll be going grey anytime soon though

Chewbacca Mon 23-May-22 19:54:02

How depressing it is to read, that in the 21st century, we still have women, describing other women, as an ageing slapper.

giulia Mon 23-May-22 20:16:42

MissAdventure

I love pink.
It'll never be out for me, even though I'm wearing "pile of porridge" grey today.

I too love pink (but not sugar pink!). Find it kind to my greyish blue skin shade.

MissAdventure Mon 23-May-22 20:34:51

A nice vibrant, rich pink.
smile
Lovely!

Callistemon21 Mon 23-May-22 20:44:18

Casdon

There’s a good blog called chicatanyage Callistemon21, you can access her via Google. Not everything she shows is to my taste, but she has lots of ideas, and has photos taken of herself in the clothes she recommends, and always looks good - I guess she is early seventies. I also follow midlifechic, who always looks lovely in what she wears, but she’s in her fifties, and still shows her arms, which is no longer for me, although generally her clothes are what I would choose myself. Does anybody follow any other good sites?

Thank Casdon

No, I don't follow any bloggers etc.
I really am a hopeless case grin

Taking a look now