21 Style Errors That Make You Look
Older
You may have the thought that I want to look age appropriate
but realize looking age appropriate doesn’t mean looking OLD. I don't know any
woman who will purposely wear something that makes her look fatter. But you'd
be surprised by how many women wear styles that make them look older. It's not
just vanity that keeps me wanting to look younger. It's the fact that I don't
feel old on the inside, so why would I want to portray an aged image to the
world? Here is a list of the Top 10 things that will make you look older:
As you get older, wardrobe and style choices that worked
when you were younger may no longer be serving you well. This goes for both men
and women. Without knowing it, you may be looking older than you are. This
could cause others to treat you as older and potentially hold you back from
employment opportunities and advancements. This also can make you feel like you
are not up to your game or comfortable in your skin. When you are not style
confident, you are less body confident, which makes you feel less life
confident.
Helpful: Seek out style mentors—people who look elegant and
modern without chasing youth-oriented trends. Observe them carefully, and adapt
elements of their style to your own. TV newscasters make good style mentors
because they are required to look contemporary while also projecting dignity
and authority.
****Give yourself a good, hard look, and ask yourself
whether you are looking older than your actual age with any of these common
signals…
1.
Tweed. While some fabrics have a youthful vibe
(like denim), tweed seems to do the opposite because it's associated with
matronly suits. If it's a menswear look you are after, opt for pinstripes or
oversized houndstooth instead of tweed.
2.
Reading glasses. Sure, you may need them, but no
woman ever looked younger with little reading glasses perched on the end of her
nose. And the chain attached to them so you always have them at hand? That
makes you look older, too. If you must wear reading glasses (and I need them,
too) make sure they are cute (I have a purple pair) or fun (and I also have one
pair with crystals.)Boring glasses and jewelry. Men and women should have some
fun with glasses. It’s a great way to update your look and make it more modern.
Tell your optician what you’re looking for, or bring a stylish friend with you. As for jewelry for women, wearing a large
piece of fab faux jewelry (earrings, necklace, ring) or multiple bracelets adds
great style and youth to your look.
 |
| This is a great pair of glasses that makes her look more youthful |
3.
Gray hair. I'm probably going to get in big
trouble here from all the women who opt for gray hair, but the truth is it
makes you look older. And that's one thing I don't want at this point in my
life. I'm not saying gray hair can't be chic (I know many women who look beautiful
with it), I'm just saying it never made anyone look younger. So If one looks
good in grey they probably would look amazing not grey. Better options than going gray are colors that
are flattering to your skin tones.
4.
Cardigans. I like a cardigan occasionally tied
around the neck and that's about it for more mature woman. Although it seems
like an ideal layering piece, it is really unflattering for heavier women
because it lacks shape and structure so lumps and bumps show. A better choice
is a jacket or blazer with some construction (set-in sleeves, seaming, a collar)
because it offsets middle-age spread. And whatever you do, don't tie the
cardigan around your waist because it never hides hips, only makes them look
bigger.
5.
Sensible shoes/comfort shoes. Want to ruin a
perfectly good look? Wear comfort sandals with it. There are too many cute
shoes in the market that are comfortable without the clunky soles and features
of so-called comfort sandals. Socks and sneakers with anything other than
workout clothes. Sneakers, socks and Capri pants? Yikes. White sneakers (except
for working out) are a one-way ticket to old lady land. I try to avoid this
outdated look by always having updated sports shoe options on hand (slip-on
black sports mules are a good option, so are Converse style sneakers.) Sneakers for everyday wear. Your feet should
be comfortable, but sneakers outside the gym just look sloppy and careless.
Young people get away with it—but there are more stylish options when you’re
older. These include loafers or driving moccasins for men and low-heeled pumps
with cushioned soles for women. Wedge-soled shoes are a comfortable alternative
to high heels.
6.
Mom jeans. Peg-leg jeans with a high waist –
a.k.a. mom jeans – are unflattering and outdated. It's such a simple thing to
change because every conceivable label has a version of jeans that work for
women our age, from affordable Lee jeans to upscale Not Your Daughter's Jeans.
7.
Any color that washes you out. One thing that
will instantly make you look older is to wear a color that drains you of color.
For me, that means I avoid mauves and yellows; your colors may be different.
The right colors (almost everyone looks pretty in the right shade of red or
blue) can brighten your skin and make you look younger. Boring colors. Skin tone gets duller with
age, so the colors you wear should bring light to your face. If you are a woman
who has worn black for years, it may be too harsh for you now. Brown makes men
fade into the woodwork. **Better:
Stand in front of a mirror, and experiment with colors that you never thought
you could wear—you may be surprised at what flatters you. Avoid neon brights,
which make older skin look sallow, but be open to the rest of the color
spectrum. Try contemporary patterns and prints. For neutrals, gray and navy are
softer alternatives to black for women, and any shade of blue is a good bet for
men.
8.
Old lady handbag. Are you still carrying that
logo bag from 15 years ago? Handbags have been a driving force of fashion for
the past decade and still carrying an organizer bag (or worse) can add years to
your age. An updated option would be a cute crossbody bag or a fun leather bag.
9.
Too much or too little makeup. Garish blush and
lipstick can be just as aging as no makeup at all. If you're not sure what
still works for you, ask our Esthetician
Kristin about what colors and makeup look would be best for you. New
eyeshadows are sheer and luminescent, as are lipsticks and glosses. Learn how
to apply pretty colors with a light hand and you'll be on the right track to
wearing the perfect makeup for middle ages to the mature woman
10.
Baggy pants. Although young men may look trendy
in high-waisted, loose-fitting jeans, this style screams old on anyone else.
For women, the rear end tends to flatten with age, causing pants to fit loosely
in the rear. And front-pleated pants for women generally are unflattering and
unstylish. *Better: Spend the time to
find pants that fit well—or figure a tailor into your wardrobe budget. Baggy is
dowdy, but overly tight makes you look heavier. Well-fitting clothes make you
look slimmer and younger.
11.
As for jewelry for women, wearing a large piece
of fab faux jewelry (earrings, necklace, ring) or multiple bracelets adds great
style and youth to your look.
12.
Turtlenecks. You may think Better: A cowl
neckline for women, or a loosely draped scarf. A scarf is the single best item
to help a woman look thinner, taller, prettier and more chic. For a video on
how to tie a scarf, go to NYCityWoman.com and type “Six Ways to Wear a Scarf”
in the search box. For a man, an oblong scarf, looped, is a stylish European
look that adds a welcome shot of color. a turtleneck hides a sagging neck and
chin, but it is more likely to draw attention to jowls.
13.
Stiff or
one-tone hair. An overly styled helmet of hair looks old-fashioned. Hair
that’s a solid block of color looks unnatural and harsh. **Better: Whether hair
is short or shoulder-length, women need layers around the face for softness.
As for color, opt for subtle highlights in front and a slightly darker tone
toward the back.
14.
Men who dye their hair should allow a bit of
gray at the temples—it looks more natural than monochrome hair. But avoid a comb-over.
A man who attempts to hide a receding
hairline isn’t fooling anyone—he just looks insecure.
15.
. Missing (or bushy) eyebrows. Women’s eyebrows
tend to disappear with age. Men’s are more likely to grow wild. . Missing (or
bushy) eyebrows. Women’s eyebrows tend to disappear with age. Men’s are more
likely to grow wild. ** Better: Women
should use eyebrow pencil, powder or both to fill in fading brows. Visit a
high-end cosmetics counter, and ask the stylist to show you how. You may need
to try several products to find out what works best. Men, make sure that your
barber or hair stylist trims your eyebrows regularly. Also: Women tend not to notice increased
facial hair (especially stray hairs) on the chin and upper lip—a result of
hormonal change. Wax them.
16.
Deeply
tanned skin. Baby boomers grew up actively developing suntans using baby oil
and sun reflectors. Now pale is the norm. A dark tan not only dates you, it
increases your risk for skin cancer and worsens wrinkling.*** Better: Wear a
hat and sunscreen to shield your skin from sun damage
17.
Less-than-white teeth. Yellowing teeth add
decades to your appearance. Everyone’s teeth get yellower with age, but with so
many teeth-whitening products available, there is no excuse to live with
off-color teeth. * Better: Ask your
dentist which whitening technique he/she recommends based on the condition of
your teeth—over-the-counter whitening strips, bleaching in the dentist’s office
or a custom bleaching kit you can use at home.
18.
Women: Nude or beige hose. Nude stockings on
women look hopelessly out-of-date. Bare legs are the norm now for young women,
but they are not a good option for older women who have dark veins. **Better: In winter, wear dark stockings or
opaque tights. In summer, use spray-on tanner for a light tan…or wear nude
fishnet stockings or slacks or capris.
19.
Poor-fitting bra. Get a bra that fits. Most
women don’t know that bra size changes as your body does. Giving your breasts a
lift will make you look younger and trimmer.
20.
Excess makeup. Thick foundation, heavy eyeliner,
bright blusher and red lipstick all add years to your face. ** Better: Use a
moisturizing (not matte) foundation, and dab it only where needed to even out
skin tone. To add color to cheeks, use a small amount of tinted moisturizer,
bronzer or cream blush. Use liquid eyeliner in soft shades such as deep blue or
brown, and blend it well. For lips, choose soft pinks and mauves, depending on
your skin tone.
21.
Thin or thinning hair can make you look
older as much as 10 years older. We have solutions for thinning hair so see our stylist experts,
Bottom line: The idea is to have fun putting yourself
together. That inner spark and personal style will show that you are getting
better with age. See the blogg..the documentary and also the book “Advanced
Style.
