Feeling frumpy and old

A shorter hair cut stops the face being ‘dragged down’.

I think the outside responds to the inside - never say die and keep the beauty, health and fitness regime going.

I am battling the physical and mental effects of ageing as hard as I can!

annodomini I took my eyebrows to the beautician for a shape and tint. It is amazing the difference this made.

Adelejay, forget what they pay just look at their look, it can usually be recreated at a fraction of the price and much of their look is not the clothes, it is their air of assurance and that costs nothing except a bit of mind polishing and practice.

Thanks for finding that poem Urmstongran. Hope it will bring a smile or two.

My eyebrows are starting to overhang the tops of my glasses! Am I turning into my father? Talking about glasses - do choose the frames carefully. You might want to take a friend with you to the optician. Appropriate frames can make all the difference. I don't like heavy dark frames, but they do suit some people. If you find yourself frowning, it could be that you need your eyes tested - a frown creates wrinkles!
Uncomfortable footwear will also make you frown!

here here! Imm6

I love all your ideas and advice. It’s all positive and food for thought. Makes me determined to make more of an effort. Going out for lunch tomorrow with DD and am realising I hardly have anything to wear. So must spend some money on new clothes and maybe will start to feel better. Have got some nice jewellery though so will wear some of that.

seacliff
Haha...slim? Moi? Never. I'm not trying to lose weight, just get fit for the marathon I've committed to run this Autumn.
I do have a running buddy. He was my Christmas present from my ex. Every morning for 2 hours except Sundays and my 2 week summer hols...until end of August.
Probably the best Christmas present ever...eventually.

I shook my head the other day only to find my chin went the other way and then I found wrinkled skin on my thighs that wasn't there the day before, bloody hell what's changed overnight? However I love wearing skinny jeans an d little ankle boots and floaty tops that cover many things, I'll keep that look for as long as I can

I think we all get stale from time to time & feel frumpy as a result. My biggest problem is finding tops to wear with jeans (that I can afford) in cotton rather than in synthetic fabrics which I find very uncomfortable. I land up buying similar styles over & over again & am sick of it. And as I wear old clothes to play with the grandchildren/do housework/gardening, it would be nice to wear something to feel good in at other times. I find Pin interest depressing as the women over 70 clearly spend the earth in their outfits!

I am with grandma70, what is wrong with looking your age? Yes, I can understand women wanting to look the best they can, for their age, but I think women trying to look younger, inevitably end up looking like they are trying too hard or as the old saying goes ‘mutton dressed as lamb’. Wear your age with pride.

I have a sister who I always envied as she always looked smart but casual. Then as my two daughters entered their twenties she started buying the same clothes they were wearing in order to be seen as ‘trendy’. I went
From admiring her to almost pitying her, that she had lost her way, was almost ashamed of being herself.

I stopped dying my hair because it was getting so expensive and was a drag having to keep on top of it. I do envy all these women who end up with lovely white hair rather than the grey that I have. Another of my sisters has been blessed with white hair and was always moaning until we all told her how lucky she was.

So come on ladies, stop trying to chase eternal youth and be proud of how good you probably do look for your age.

Well done Gabriella, I'm sure it will pay off and you'll be slim and gorgeous when spring finally appears. Who drags you out running? Do you have a personal trainer.

That's what I need to take me in hand.

I'm a jeans & trainers "lady", I do own some flat loafers as well in varying colours. In winter if I have to dress up it's black trousers or black long skirt with boots paired with colourful tops & scarves. Love long tops with jeans.

Can't wait until next week when my DD is taking me to have my hair cut, no need for colour as when I stopped colouring my hair it's now grey/blonde, my problem is very fine hair so I like a longish bob that I can pin back when I'm gardening.

I don't wear much make up due to very sensitive skin, No7 Factor 30 to protect my skin, mascara & lipstick

* k ow know

Ladies
It's time to man up.
It will soon be Spring and yes, I k ow the cold weather is still with many of us.
I know, too, that some days we look in the mirror and can't be bothered to make a purposeful effort, when the idea of another coffee and one or two biscuits is so appealing.
Think of me. Dragged out of bed to go running at 7am and, having given up coffee ?? sugar and all sweet stuff, I'm living in the sad world of tap water porridge and spinach omelette with the odd portion of roasted veg and a Danone rhubarb yogurt to cheer me up.
It's sheer murder. What I wouldn't, give for a hot choc or cappuccino.
So, dear ladies, have another coffee and 3 choccy biccies on me then look in the mirror and say to yourself that at least you aren't pounding the pavements with a starving belly, like that mad woman GG54.
I you.

My Mum was gorgeous right up until she died, and, at 84, had men chatting her up at the Evergreen club! She pretended to be annoyed by it, but was secretly rather chuffed, I think. I wouldn’t dream of wearing beige! I always go for bright colours and have recently bought a lovely reversible down jacket which was reduced in Laura Ashley. It is bright mustard yellow with flowers on one side and plain navy on the other. I have had so many compliments on it from complete strangers. I see no reason to give up on yourself just because you are getting on a bit (I’m 76). I think it’s very important to have a flattering haircut and well worth spending a bit of money on going to the hairdressers. Colour your hair if you like. I have mine coloured because I haven’t got all over white and I can’t stand the salt and pepper look. Do it yourself at home if you can’t afford the hairdresser and get a friend to help. Don’t get fat -I still wear a bikini on holiday and look OK ( not a teeny weeny one though). I go to an Age Concern exercise class which only costs £2.50 a time and helps with strength and balance and tones you up. I do facial exercises and they keep the wrinkles at bay! Always moisturise and wear sun block and get plenty of sleep. Having a younger husband helps and, above all don’t give up on yourself! You don’t have to look like mutton dressed up as lamb, but you can look smart and reasonably fashionable without spending a fortune and NEVER WEAR BEIGE!!!!

1mm6
Small steps and you'll get there.

This time last year felt just like a bag of rags tied in the middle, so took DDandGD shopping with them in charge . Trousers from next suiting relaxed , couple jumpers from Roman and black patent flats from Clark's felt a lot better. Played around in summer ended up with crop trousers lots of tops funnily from mountain warehouse made from factor 50material plus long sleeve plain tee shirts . Had various shades of blue in hair put in as highlights back to my favourite crop cut late last year Only thing its electric blue bad nan that I am. I run round house in leggings and tops
Discovered sketchers at a outlet center so comfy
I like me again
PS I am dyslexic and if this post has mistakes opps

Hoping the injection helps and you recover your joie de vivre MawBroon
I can't ever see you being anything other than perfectly dressed for any and every occasion. You and your late DH look as if you've walked straight out of a Country Living magazine.

I have just bought a zingy yellow jumper and a black and white striped one from M&S which I will wear with black cord jeans, black suede heels and a matching/toning scarf and look, I hope, anything but frumpy.
Seriously I wonder if one problem is hanging onto old clothes for whatever reason
1- thrift - lots of life left in this
2- sentiment - my “favourite” comfort blanket jumper
3- economy -I can’t really justify/afford a new one while I have this
5- practicality- it will “do” for gardening/ decorating/ hoovering
6-confidence- oh I have never worn this colour, don’t want to look like mutton dressed up as lamb
7- timidity - you “can’t go wrong “ with a camel coat/ grey skirt / navy jumper

Recognise these?
Ditch them!

I agree with so many of the comments here! I wore high heeled court shoes and pencil skirts for work with jumpers. When I retired I gradually swopped to jeans (straight legged or skinny) and boots. My hair is now dry, Aussie 3 min conditioner helps a little, and my eye lashes seem to have "gone", so instead of full make up nowadays it's moisturiser and BB cream, with eye make up very rarely.

You could try Witt for trousers. I find them excellent.

It is not what you wear, it is the way that your wear it.

If you feel frumpy and old, you will look it no matter how you are dressed, have your haircut etc etc. We all know people who are ageless not because of what they wear but who they are and expensively dressed lumps, who are that because their minds are lumpy and down.

So start be loving yourself, book yourself a pampering day somewhere, at a spa or wherever. While you are there leaf through all the magazines looking at hair styles, fashion styles etc, forget that the fashion ads are posed on stick thin models in bizarre positions in ridiculous combinations of clothes. Just look at the clothes and what you are looking at that you like and would suit you and next time you are clothes shopping, whether at a supermarket or Bond Street look for those shapes and colours.

As for heels - they are so yesterday, everyone wears flat shoes these days. I am the same height as you and I am currently wearing black patent leather loafers. My shoe wardrobe includes flat ankle boots, more loafers in other colours and boots with 2in very chunky heels.

The world is your oyster, you can soon look really good for your age, it is all in your mind.

lemongrove ohh myy gosh! have crossed the boundries LOL.

I understood it to be the bit of flesh etc that hung over the top of your jeans etc we in the olden days(well I would) call it a "spare tyre"

A chopper? ?

Noreen I can sympathise with you there! My dh was 20 yrs older than me so I always felt young and I suppose looked young next to him.

Now hes not here any longer I feel old and decrepid, and yes the unhappiness shows in our faces.

I feel better when I have my work unform on lol

Oh and I have just bought a lovely pale pink chenille jumper from t**cos trouble is its quite short so presume I have to walk round showing my "muffin" top (didnt know what one of them was till I googled it! lol

I was going for a lovely mustard chenille one (prob cos it was down from £14 to £7) it did look pretty good with my brown jeggins and brown boots on but it was a real! change of colour for me.m so I left it.

Sometimes I think we just have to move out of our " Comfort/safety* Zone and be brave embrace some colour