What would make me look younger?

I saw an amazing woman in John Lewis in Newcastle today.
She must have been well into her 80s and was wearing a red beret, red fitted quilted jacket, black skirt just below the knee, and red tights.
I think thought of asking her if I could take her photo but she strode off at high speed before I could catch up with her
I don’t think we should slavishly follow rules to look ‘young’ - just find our own style that we’re comfortable with, and clothes we enjoy wearing.
If you don’t enjoy nice clothes, don’t stress about it.

I agree with anno about avoiding the sun getting in your face and eyes, more to prevent eye damage than anything else.

all I will add about dangling bust is that the words of that playground song “do your boobs hang low” have come back to haunt me

pray god may I never be able to tie them in a bow

I do know steve

Leaning on supermarket trolleys. oh what I'd give to not have to lean on them,would'nt get round the shop without them.Try standing or walking upright when you just feel as though you want to cry with the pain of a bad back. you don't know what you're missing.

For your face: fringe, sunspecs (all weather), little smile - not a grin please!

I know it's too late for many - but not all - of us, but the best way not to look older than you are is to respect the sun. A shady hat and a good sunscreen will help to avoid age spots and wrinkles in later life. And sunglasses will keep you from screwing up your eyes and getting crow's feet.
However, what's the point of looking younger? Just be happy in your own skin - it's the only one we have!

Theresa May has type 1 diabetes. This can cause stiff joints. Perhaps her stoop is connected to this as well?

I hate to bring this up again - but I really thought that Theresa May looked much older than her 61 years when she was doing 'that dance'! Am I alone in thinking this? She was so stiff and quite stooped! :/

Take the trouble to paint your toe nails in the summer. It improves the look of your feet so much. I had my colours done recently by a colour therapist. Apparently I am a "summer". She gave me a little palate to take shopping the next time I buy clothes. Black is a big no no according to her. Having read all your comments I am about to go to Tesco. I will put on my nice trousers and a summery top, and of course a slick of lipstick. Thanks for reminding me to keep on trying!

My eyebrows have not thinned and lightened! If anything they are thicker and verging on bushy. I do get them threaded from time to time to keep a nice shape -pluck them with tweezers in between. Ive never ever coloured them as they have always been dark brown. In spite of grey (nearly white) hair I still have dark eyebrows!

Forget smiling - try laughing loudly with mates in all situations

I'm really not that bothered what I look like, and have been likened to a bag lady a few times.
I think I should start taking a bit more care of myself and my appearance.

melons. ( need to get out more)

Starbird, "What do you wear with a dress?".

My legs are better covered up, and as I cannot now put tights on I like thin cotton quite loose trousers under the dress. The silhouette of a woman in trousers can vary according to the cut and drape of the trousers. Plump old ladies don't look well in tight jeans or leggings.

imagine oldbatty frying eggs in a nudist camp!

dangling bust....not nice. I wonder if the nudists on the other thread suffer from this?

Oh god should not have posted The List

First things first: the golden rule is Wear What You Feel Confident In.

Also, I would never diss anyone for choosing to be comfortable/practical over being “in the fashion” so you do you!

Re the list: I have had a number of jobs here and there doing an odd range of stuff, and some of these jobs amounted to selling “feminine stuff”. Clothes, cosmetics, all that.

I worked mostly in brands that tacked to the 40 plus market. As a result we got visited All. The. Time. by ladies who were 50 plus how they could “look younger” and a lot of them were pretty upset about it.

These were NOT old ladies by any stretch of the imagination but most of them were now complaining they looked like their mums.

The List is basically a compilation of things we would (very sensitively I want to add!) suggest to those ladies to give their look a wee lift.

It wasn’t about looking older. It was about not looking modern. There is a difference between not being bang up to date in “the fashion” and looking outmoded or old fashioned. Most of these ladies just hadn’t made the wee tweaks to their look (and I mean wee; stuff like colour palette, trouser length) that would keep their look modern and in style without drastically changing their tastes/appearance.

Old is a state of presentation, not an age. The reason the screwed up face is first on the list is that everyone looks miserable and old with their face screwed up! Luckily this fix is also free

I would also really really suggest a bra fitting. A lot of ladies think they are really piling on the weight as they older, but in reality because their bust is dangling, their waist looks thicker and their clothes sit all wrong. A good well supporting bra (and no, I don’t mean you have to haul them up to your nose!) will improve the way you carry yourself and the fit of all your clothes. So worth it.

I also forgot something. Brows. Brows thin and lighten as you get older. Many many ladies continue to get great stuff done with their hair but don’t go anywhere near a brow place. A proper shaping and a tint to help them look thicker makes an INCREDIBLE difference from about 25 onwards. Should be less than twenty quid about once every four to six weeks. Will lift your whole face and help your makeup sit and look better.

Eyebrows!! ....Meticulously shaped and colored, but not too dark or penciled in as if someone took a marker and replaced them.

Lots of good pencils and brushes on the market that can restore eyebrows to a youthful, natural look. Complementing your skin and current hair color is all important.

One of the hallmark signs of aging is a pair of shapeless, thinning eyebrows!

I find the line between ageing and frumpy and mutton dressed as lamb/tarty a very narrow one. I find it very hard to find clothes which are smart, flattering and appropriate. And I too have 4 of the things on Muffin's list. so presumably I look very elderly!

Watching 24 hours in A&E this week, lady in beautiful fashionable white, blue and red floral skirt, white top and smart blue cardigan, lovely hair in a bob, announced as being 70 years old. I was thrilled. She looked really nice without being mutton dressed as... Immediately decided to wear more skirts and dresses! (but not to end up in A&E hopefully).

Oops 'beige shoes and bags' not baited!!

Just back from shopping trip with my Daughter, 95%of females over 60 (I am guesstimating) wore beige!! Beige trousers, beige jackets, baited shoes and bags, not all together but a combination off.

I own 2 pairs of Wallis beige trousers, one just above ankle and one pair cropped, they are now in the recycling!!

Tried on a jumper, daughter said I looked like a pair of curtains, obviously didn't purchase!!! Instead I bought some under eye cream and a pair of grey jeans.

It’s down to how you wear them
Maw; Thanks for that. She looks fabulous! So does the scarf.
I must learn how to put pictures up into threads; I'd put my driving licence photo up, but it would frighten the life out of you and I wouldn't want to be that irresponsible.

oh God, epic fail. I have 4 of the above list.

Ha Ha, muffin. I've just gone through your list but I'm not saying which boxes I ticked.