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Style & beauty

What would make me look younger?

(134 Posts)
loopyloo Wed 05-Sept-18 12:48:46

Any ideas on what ages us and what makes us look younger?
All I can think of: a flattering haircut, a straight back, a bright lipstick, walking easily.
And what makes us look older?
Any ideas?

Rufus2 Fri 07-Sept-18 12:28:39

older men usually have much better conversation
looyloo; and "much" older men have even better conversation because all they can manage is to talk about it. grin
I'd thought about saying you would risk being mistaken for the young man's Granny, but being an Englishman and a gentleman and also very diplomatic, I thought I'd best err on the side of caution. wink A nice smile never does any harm though.

Lilyflower Fri 07-Sept-18 12:45:24

What is wrong with scarves? They, as well as high necks and collars, throw focus on the increasingly wrinkly face. They are definitely ageing. Slightly lower, plain necklines are safer.

MawBroon Fri 07-Sept-18 12:46:17

Beg to differ Lilyflower.

Jo1960 Fri 07-Sept-18 12:48:48

Yeah gods, I do little of the above apart from mix with open minded people of all ages! I’m overweight, wear whatever I want to, don’t use expensive skincare (I’m a student), I’m disabled, often lean on the trolley when dancing round the supermarket with the grandkids doing the shopping, volunteer at festivals and performed with a choir at a festival for the first time this year. Having been a misfit all my life I’m now described, along with two of my older friends, as “cool”. Embrace your wisdom, be yourself and get all you can from life and don’t worry about clinging to youth.

MawBroon Fri 07-Sept-18 12:53:33

Scarves are so ageing - right?
Wrong!
It’s down to how you wear them.

Nonnatimesfour Fri 07-Sept-18 13:20:52

I find dresses very ageing.

oldbatty Fri 07-Sept-18 13:35:14

I suppose most people look their age? If somebody else guessed they would be right give or take a couple of years.
The odd person looks much younger or older that the truth.

The rest of us are in the middle.

muffinthemoo Fri 07-Sept-18 14:10:13

Stuff that makes people look like old ladies when they’re not:

- that compressed-lips wrinked-nose expression, especially in public
- too short/unflattering a haircut especially if too functional looking
- too dark/bright a lipstick
- outdated style of eye makeup
- too heavy/dark a foundation or base product
- a comfort/t shirt/non uplifting bra especially if it doesnt fit properly
- beige anything but especially trousers, they just scream “I no longer menstruate”
- velour (not velvet but velour) anything
- round/scoop necks
- that scuttling too-fast walk that says I AM VERY BUSY especially combined with the expression previously discussed
- casual clothing always being a jeans and t shirt combo
- wearing a massive ‘practical’ jacket everywhere
- leopard print
- shiny spandex
- excessive cleavage
- skirts above the knee
- trousers cut through the ankle
- obvious paper hankie in the sleeve

merlotgran Fri 07-Sept-18 14:16:11

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

oldbatty Fri 07-Sept-18 14:18:24

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

Rufus2 Fri 07-Sept-18 14:18:48

It’s down to how you wear them
Maw; Thanks for that. She looks fabulous! So does the scarf.wink
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. grin

GrannyGravy13 Fri 07-Sept-18 14:48:58

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.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 07-Sept-18 14:49:36

Oops 'beige shoes and bags' not baited!!

SunnySusie Fri 07-Sept-18 15:12:10

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).

pollyperkins Fri 07-Sept-18 15:38:02

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. shock so presumably I look very elderly!

willa45 Fri 07-Sept-18 15:52:57

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!

muffinthemoo Fri 07-Sept-18 15:57:07

Oh god should not have posted The List blush

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 smile

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.

oldbatty Fri 07-Sept-18 16:24:52

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

labazs Fri 07-Sept-18 16:39:43

imagine oldbatty frying eggs in a nudist camp!

Alexa Fri 07-Sept-18 16:40:21

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.

oldbatty Fri 07-Sept-18 17:05:23

melons. ( need to get out more)

MissAdventure Fri 07-Sept-18 17:13:42

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. blush

BRedhead59 Fri 07-Sept-18 17:19:04

Forget smiling - try laughing loudly with mates in all situations

pollyperkins Fri 07-Sept-18 17:21:26

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!

inishowen Fri 07-Sept-18 17:26:34

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!