i have never worn any makeup at all, and don’t color my hair (but only because it seems like another appointment or thing to do)
I think at some point I realized if I try to wear something current I am pathetically trying too hard, and if I wear something else, I am pathetically clueless and sad, and if I wear something comfortable I am pathetically old and gross.
So I wear jeans and t shirts mostly and the occasional bracelet some small person has made me. I do admire stylish 40 somethings, though!
I know one person who was too revealing, but she was probably late 20s/early 30s at the grocery store. you know those gauze undies hospitals give you after you have a kid? I swear this looked like that, but they were bright sky blue. And a small what sort of looked like a fashionable sports bra type things.
But she was also well, well over 300 pounds. One couldn’t help but stare and think “what are you thinking?” But at the same time I admire that she must be very secure with herself.
My most treasured pieces of jewelry that I still wear are those my children made me when they were younger. They look great with an all back (or monochrome) look. Very “Marimekko”.
I’m 60. I don’t dye my hair and yes it most probably ages me. I was very dark. My hair now has a very white streak at the front but I am still darkish at the back. I wear it very short. Everyone says it looks good but I have not allusions that they are ‘just being nice’. The decision not to dye my hair is that my mother dyed hers for years and then in her late 60 she decided to stop and she then suddenly ‘aged’. I decided I wanted to ‘age’ gracefully rather than suddenly.
I go for comfortable shoes. Try to pick ‘stylish’ but can’t manage heels any more and I know that it most probably ages me.
My dress style is matching. I know that ages me but at work everyone comments on how coordinated I am and while I know it ‘ages’ me as that is what older people do - look at the Queen - it is now my style so I really quite like been known for a style even if it is ‘not on trend’.
I have not gone for the elasticated waists - I am not overweight - but the young ones at work all wear elasticated waists and I am flabbergasted. In my 20s you wouldn’t have seen me dead in elasticated waists. And you still won’t see me in them.
I am happy to be seen the age I am as it comes with lots of perks. When I do something out of ‘age’ people are surprised. I can use my age to my advantage. I also have a wealth of work experience and I like to show that off. Looking 10 years younger would make me a ‘fraud’.
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Everyone is different; but I like being 60 and looking it, as then I do not have to ‘pretend’.
I dye my hair to keep up with my husband, even though he’s 8 years older. This is a picture of him in the back 2 years ago when he was 69, I had to take a bunch of pictures of him and his surfboard before he got rid of it. I cut his hair during the pandemic, you can see he’s still looking like a young boy from the back, lol.
Hmmmm…so maybe it IS more about how you feel age wise matching how you look.
I’m not trying to look like something I’m not. Actually the opposite - I feel my fashion reflects how I FEEL. I feel maybe even better than I felt at 45 or whatever - and I’m finally dressing to reflect me - color when I want it, sporty when I want it, upbeat with a tad of quirky, etc.
To me a fashion MISTAKE would be to wear thin leggings that are tighter than tight, athletic shoes that are scuffed and dirty, a faded tshirt that is either two sizes too small or two sizes too big and hair that has no planned agenda.
Instead I wear leggings that are form fitting but smooth and don’t show underwear lines or are see through, Tevas that are clean and sporty, a Patagonia tshirt or fleece from this decade and fits a little loose, a little boxy and my hair with it’s best short curl and a print headband. That would be my weekend wear or run to the store outfit or take a leisure walk. It’s an outfit that reflects how I feel and therefore reflects a look I’m confident in, at age 62.
I do think hair color and style makes a difference in how people perceive you. I am 62 but am lucky enough to have no gray yet. My hair used to be very red and has now turned into strawberry blonde, but it is still vibrant, not dull. It’s wavy and I wear it loose to my shoulders. Everyone thinks I’m younger than I am and I attribute this 100% to my hair. Every time age comes up, either in casual conversation (recently discussing retirement with work friends) or when asked for ID (happened a lot recently on vacation), people always express shock when learning my age. I don’t think it’s just being polite, I think they are genuinely surprised. And I think it’s totally due to the hair.
Exacty. For most people, gray hair suggests that someone is “old”. Lots of younger folks assume if you are old you can’t do anything for yourself. Often people assume you’re forgetful or that you’re “not thinking” correctly. There’s an assumption that seniors can’t learn anything new or that they are grumpy and bitter. And it’s not just seniors–people in their 50s who lose a job often have a difficult time getting new jobs.
I don’t want to be treated like a helpless old lady–I may be old, but I’m not helpless and that’s the primary reason I color my hair. My natural color is dark–it’s also very thick and frizzy. Coloring it keeps it the gray as well as the frizz under control. I have a stylist who has been doing my hair for years; my color is probably a shade or two lighter than my natural color. My stylist says that dying one’s hair too dark is a common problem for women as they age and it often looks unnatural and makes women look older, even if they were naturally dark.
W and I went out with a couple we met recently and afterwards we were saying how we both initially thought the wife was 10 years younger than the husband, but it turned out they met in college.
They’re probably in their mid-70’s. The wife had an Annie Potts look going on - great posture, well dressed, great hair and makeup.
I think the most important thing is to be comfortable in your skin, though, and happy with where you are in life. That level of inner beauty is always more important than outward appearances, imho, and they both had that in spades.
I don’t get manicures, probably because I keep my nails super short and have a tiny nailbed, but I still like seeing a pretty French manicure. Maybe it is dating oneself, but to me, seeing people wear these other nail styles (pointy, coffin-shaped)is so unattractive.
My surefire way to make sure not to wear something “old” is to ask my kids for their opinions. I will even take pictures/send links of stuff I am thinking of buying. My kids are very honest and S is always the best dressed person in the room (unless my sister is there, then it’s a tie).
I have always highlighted (foils) my hair because it was a dirty blond that was not flattering, not light enough and not dark enough. Now the foils hide the growing gray in my hair nicely. I feel much more confident with my hair like this vs gray up front and brown in the back.
WHile I have been working from home a lot, I still do have meetings or times I need to present to groups. So I do maintain a work wardrobe - nothing fancy, just pieces from Loft or JCrewOutlet, etc. My desire for comfortable shoes is often at odds with my desire to wear my cuter work shoes. Depending on the occasion, I switch between nice flats and something with a small heel.
I do wear makeup, although a lot less. I agree a lot of makeup can often unintentionally age you. I hope I’m allowed to stay in this thread LOL.
My mother had brown hair with very little gray until she was almost 80. She was often mistaken for my brother’s wife. People would meet her, hear her last name, and ask “Are you married to Rob?” (everyone knows my brother). She is 27 years older than him.
I am also 62 and feel that my style is even better now than in my 30’s and 40’s when raising my kids. I have two daughters who are very into fashion and they have helped me build a wardrobe that I feel good in. I’m not trying to be younger than I am, but I do like to feel good whether I’m at home or going out somewhere.
I think women can be very judgemental of one another. I don’t judge anyone. You do you and I’ll do me and we can all be happy.
They may show but I don’t care, unless I’m traveling where I should be in photos. I see mostly senior people every week and they have more grey than me. I’m the youngun there, lol. My husband does a 3 month cut for me in between because my hair can grow fast and I get too hot otherwise. It doesn’t cost much for me to do my hair, less than $50, but I still won’t go that often.
I had mentioned the revealing clothes. Yes I think it’s ok to be more revealing when you’re younger. My 22 year old daughter can wear a short, spaghetti strapped sundress bra less and look like a runway model. If I wore that, it would look sad. We will both wear bikinis at the beach, but mine is cut very differently than hers. Grown ass women need bums in their bathing suits, imho. I keep my hemlines longer and it looks classy and not like I’m trying to to be something I’m not. Here in L.A. the quest for youth is real and can be sad to watch. I like that I look younger than I am, but healthy and natural.
I’m not too worried about looking younger, nowadays I’m worrying about living longer. I just don’t want to make it worse.
Today I have to go some place and finally got to use some make up. I can’t remember which is which, this is why every time there’s a wedding, I go out and buying everything new again. I really forgot what they are used for. Does anybody has this problem?
