I just want to be pretty!

Have a look at the website of the online makeup company Look Fabulous Forever - lookfabulousforever.com. This was set up three years ago by a woman in her late sixties who wanted to be able to buy make up suitable for older skin. The website has lots of tutorial videos showing how to apply the makeup, together with clothes style advice. The make up isn't cheap but it is good quality and there's a good returns policy if you're not happy with anything you've bought.

Get your hair done, wear something you feel good in then go for a makeup makeover. Explain why you are doing it, say a good look for every day? Then you can add extras for "a do." I've found Clinique & Estée Lauder good. Book a free clothes stylist session in John Lewis. Take it slowly change a couple of things. Try somewhere cheap & cheerful e.g. Primark to try different looks too. But don't take too much notice of me,I'm still lounging around in my dog walking clothes!

I've got stuff from seasalt, mostly dresses which I can dress up or down with layers either under or over,or both if it's cold.it doesn't have to match just complement it,red looks lovely with green for example. A necklace to pick up your layer colour does a good job....

Go to a department store and get one of the ladies to do your makeup. Also, if you have a daughter or a younger friend take them with you and get them to choose some clothes for you to try on,you only buy them if you think they look good.that friend will take you out of you comfy comfort zone with clothes.

Dear Hold the tonic,

It's a brilliant question and I highly recommend going to see a colour analyst like colour me beautiful or similar where they find out all the colours of clothes which suit you perfectly and they can assess make up colours and recommend hair colours if you wish. It may be best to choose some high and low lights with a friends recommended hair dresser first,have them put in, wait a couple of weeks for new hair colours to settle and then book a colour me beautiful appointment or similar with a consultant.Hair extensions, just a few may work better for you if you wish to have instant length and body . You can get clip on ones also.

The colour analysis are great fun and I promise you that you will be amazed and by just wearing the right colours near to your face will take 10 years off and make you very attractive and pretty and fill you with confidence. Once you found your colours you can even match jewellery and scarfs to them!!

Here is a book that I bought for my mum and I have used it also. Prob you can order on line 2nite??

It cost me £14.99 its by Hamlyn and is called Colour me Beautiful, expert guide to help you feel confident and look great.ISBN 978-0-600-62080-8

This book even helps you find your style, it is simple, accurate and very enjoyable, I have used it for my small property finding company to find an appropriate style for my business self and also for dating as i feel a little unsure what to wear in that situation esp because I am over 50.

Would love to hear how you get on please.

Maybe you can post some before and after photos to inspire any others???? mich777

you can always wear a nice pretty sheer blouse or shirt with a vest top underneath, primark to m and s do a great range. If all else fails a nice modern light perfume

When you get older wear tinted moisturiser or very light foundation, this enhances your skin without covering it up which is ageing. A little blusher as though you have rosy cheeks works wonders, so does lipstick with not too much pigment. Short hair can look great if you wear a little make-up and stylish glasses and earrings. Clothes wise - if you like jeans wear lovely tops and sweaters with some statement jewellery and some nice ankle boots. A dress over slim trousers looks good too or a tweed (very now)skirt or kilt with opaque tights in one of the colours.
If you have grey hair have highlights put in rather than an overall colour - it lasts longer and easier to maintain. A much younger friend said to me admiringly that she thought I look much younger because I dress in a youthful way not to confuse with mutton dressed up as lamb. A smile works wonder too!

Grow your hair , short hair is not a good look on older ladies depends on face shape etc though

I am older than the OP, have tried to grow my hair into a bob several times but I feel as if it drags me down and it is very thick and not easy to manage - when it is short people have commented that I look years younger.
It depends on the style, last year I had something similar to the one Shanma describes, but in fact I have let it grow a bit more since.

Please avoid embroidered cardigans! I bought those for my mum in her 80's but never wear them myself (68) and you musn't at 53! Slippery slope to elasticated waists!!
A few years ago I got rid of my specs - made a huge difference. Would you consider contacts or even laser surgery?
My short tidy layered hair is now in a more stylish jaw-length job.
My DD's and DGD's have promised that if i tip over into mutton dressed as lamb, they'll tell me! Meantime i love wearing skinny jeans with tunics or short dresses.
Don't go out without makeup and follow up some of the advice on nails and makeup.
Have fun!!

pretty cardigans can be good ....ones with a bit of embroidery on or a pretty print like butterflies or flowers. quite a few around

Nelliemoser I disagree about gardening & nails, I love gardening & always have nail polish on & fairly long nails, wearing gloves helps to protect the nails & I find nail varnish keeps my nails strong. Rarely break a nail gardening - housework on the other hand

I feel I look lots more feminine since I retired. I still live in trousers - I do have a couple of dresses but long and only for a posh occasion. I agree about long skirts but the main thing for me is jewellery - I now always wear a necklace of some sort even if only a silver chain and a ring on my right hand, I choose my jewellery to match whatever colour I'm wearing and instantly feel more special. If you don't own much jewellery, join a local craft group and learn to make your own, it's great fun and you get the company. The other thing for me is heels. I can't wear really high ones any longer but they must make a sharp sound as I walk. None of this rubber sole creeping about stuff. I sound confident when I walk so I feel confident and that makes me feel more feminine for some reason.

I also agree about growing your hair. I always wore mine short for work, very business-like, no complicated sets and quick to do, wash and wear. My son got married shortly after I retired so I grew my hair to mid length for the wedding and had it trimmed into a softer style - not quite instant but a cheap and easy way to do it. I seldom wear make up and then it's only on my eyes. But a dab of moisturiser at night works wonders to make your skin glow. If you see an offer of a free makeover (preferably with photographs - you don't have to buy them), go for it. I won one and couldn't believe how glamourous they made me look. I can't achieve the same look but I have the memory. Otherwise go to Boots or Debenhams and have a trial makeup, most of the brands do them and it's fun to see what they do and how, again you don't need to buy much. Tell them what yoiu want to achieve and they'll show you how to do it.

The other thing you could try, maybe ask for it for Christmas, is a colour makeover. I went with Colour Me Beautiful but there are others. As your hair colour changes so does your skin and you may need to change the colours you wear to look your best. Again, tell them what you want to achieve and they'll show you how.

Whatever you decide to do, go for it, enjoy yourself and IT WILL WORK.

Thank you again for all the great heartwarming comments. Really inspiring. I do tend to favour the jeans and jumpers look for convenience and as I'm always going off to the allotment. BUT I'll definitely look up House of Colour and Youlookfab websites as recommended.

Following on from your advice I've read a few websites about make up for the 50 year old and today I've used some of the tips and I think I look much better for it. (Mascara on top eyelashes only, blusher and lippy). Yes I will get my nails done - I;m going to NY next week and have promised myself to have them done there as a treat.

Obviously I don't look too bad as yesterday - a friend complimented me on my hair and another acquaintance asked if I'd ever be interested in working in her clothes shop !!!!

Someone mentioned Seasalt - by coincidence I received their catalogue this week and I LOVE IT. So much stuff that I want to buy.

Here's another question- I have a lot of navy / blue and some pink in my wardrobe. BUT the Seasalt catalogue had some lovely clothes in green/ emerald which I know would suit me - but how can I justify branching out into a different range of colours which won't go with what I've already got. (Does that make sense ???)

holdthetonic I have my hair short with a wedge-shape to the back. Grew it longer at the beginning of the year but it is too fine now and didn't look good so went back to having it short. However I have changed the side I have a parting and just doing that made such a difference. Lots of comments on how nice it looked, which made me feel good all over!

I am not quite sure why you want to look "pretty" - simply wear what you feel comfortable in. Why do you want to look more feminine? Jeans etc on women are not unfeminine. Has someone been criticising how you look? A plague on them, I say!

bikergran I have recently noticed a lot of women on supermarket checkouts wearing thin black gloves. I assumed it was because of the chill from frozen items but may well be to protect their nails from the scanner-thingy.

After a particularly bad bout of excema on my hands a couple of years ago, my nails were in very poor condition caused by the creams prescribed. I decided to have shellac nail polish on them and have been going regularly ever since. It certainly strengthened them and over a period of time got rid of the damage caused. I pay £25, am there for an hour and come out feeling a million dollars after having my hands pampered with manicure, creams and massage

The polish usually lasts at least 3 weeks and once I went 5 weeks between appointments! Yes my nails had grown and there was a small polish-free gap at the base but no chipping or flaking and still looked shiny as though freshly done

At 53 you are still in your prime as far as many of us are concerned and being size 10 is a terrific bonus, whatever you wear you will wear it well. If you have a friend who has a good eye then go shopping around with her, try things on you wouldnt normally wear, just to see. Or use the free style advice in the big stores (i used Debenhams once).
Grow your hair a little perhaps, slightly longer than be more flattering sometimes . Check your glasses shape, they can make a big difference to a look. Put on a little makeup, even if only eye shadow, mascara and lipstick. Most of all be confident, make small changes, do them for yourself. and remember, you will never be as young as you are now. I am l5 years your senior, short, overweight, despite every effort not to be, and am still interested in being a little stylish. You are never too old, and you are still young. Go girl.

Your post and the great replies have made me think Hold, thanks. I have got in a rut well and truly, and although I have certainly never been pretty, I would like to improve my look a bit. I have a couple of nice lunches coming up, and would like to seem as though I've made a bit of an effort, not the same old me.

Unlike you I am really over weight which is a big disadvantage. I always wear trousers, as have thick big legs. I can't wear mascara as have dry eye, but do wear shadow and blusher.

I would love a longer length chenille jacket or soft jacket in maybe a jewel colour, which suits me, nothing like that in M & S! Probably just not around now.

I also like the coatigans which can be casual but a bit smart.I do like scarves, but never wear costume jewellery. Must people watch too, especially bigger ladies.

Re nails,for easy life I used to buff mine with nail cream to a soft shine,looked good if I also apply handcream regularly.

Hope you manage to take up some of the suggestions and make yourself feel good.

Short well manicured nails still look good. Having worked in a day center, I am very worried about what may be hidden by long painted nails -- yuk. I know she will be scrupulously scrubbed, but Mary Berry's nails bring back horrid memories.

lol...ruby ohh you have made my day and I am smilng as I type this ty

Yes will have a look around and thanks for all ideas...will also have a google n youtube.

I sometimes "peoplewatch" if I am in town and sometimes I look and think hmm! I could get away with that.

It sounds like there are a lot of "glammy gnetters" around" you go girls

You are very lucky to be a size 10 so make the most of it wearing more fitted type clothes . Jeans or leggings with little fitted jumpers and a lacy scarf and pixie boots . Grow your hair , short hair is not a good look on older ladies . Someone suggested a wig while it grows . Always wear a bit of jewellery , loads of very cheap stuff in the charity shops ! Some make up is essential , even if it is just mascara and lipstick . I also think being feminine has a lot to do with the way you behave , so many gobby, swearing, aggressive women out there these days who don`t know the meaning of feminine .

biker If you go to Superdrug, the girls there will advise you on which nails to get, they are really nice people, and with being generally younger, they are on trend with what is in. Give it a go, you can always take them off if they don't look or feel right. Although I am sure with your natural look, you are lovely as you are.

Gardening and smart finger nails do not go together and I am NOT giving up the gardening.

How can you have a large rear and be size 10? unless you are very short? Regarding the hair. Mine is fine but naturally curly, and is and has always been the bane of my life.

I normally have it about a Bob length, but it goes flat on the top and mad at the sides . A few weeks ago i took the plunge and went to a sassoon trained hairdresser. He has won quite a few prizes for his cutting. On arriving at the place I sat down to wait. He came over and shook hands, sat next to me and stared(hmm], then said
hmmmm. I said " Shall I just leave now then?. Anyway I had it washed and he fiddled about a bit, and we talked. He then told me he was a precision cutter and gets tetchy if I move. I said " I wont move!". I then said, let's be daring and go A symmetric...so we did. He cut it realy pretty short, and boy it WAS precision cutting to be sure. He didn't go overboard with the A symettric thing, I guess he wants to know me a bit first. He took great pains to show me HOW to bow dry it, and I LOVE it to bits. Sometimes I do it as he did, all blown straight, and sometimes I muss it up a bit. As I walked accross our close after my cut I bumped into my neighbour. She said " Ohhhh your hair!!! it looks fabulous, Audrey Hepburn springs to mind" That put a smile on my face, if only, lol.
I guess what i am saying is, you don't need to grow yours, unless you want a change, just be a little bit daring and experimental.
At size ten you should be able to wear almost anything, depending of course on your height. I am a size 12, 5 feet 8, and to be honest i seem to live in jeans, they suit my lifestyle. If I ever do go out to dinner or such, which is rarely these days then it has to be the little black dress and a nice pair of elegant heels.
Go for it, and good luck. Oh I am 63 by the way.

Holdthetonic. If you do not like wearing foundation and the likes, what about bobbi brown bronzer, its fantastic. Follow instructions and go! I use it all the time and I think I look great(but then again it do have to wear glasses) Enjoy