The fashion industry and natural aging are often seen as incompatible. While many believe in avoiding gray hair by dyeing it, embracing your natural grays can be empowering. In today’s world, gray hair is not just accepted but celebrated as a fashion statement, and it can indeed look attractive!
As a general guideline, lighter hair tones tend to impart a youthful appearance – so why not embrace them? Additionally, dyeing gray hair eventually results in a subtle blending of your chosen color over the natural gray base. By giving gray hair the respect it deserves, you exude both elegance and confidence.
Harsh lipliner
Just like brooches and tweed, there are trends that have come and gone, only to resurface and improve. Surely, you know what we mean – like stretch jeans and bold floral prints… even animal prints. However, one of the worst offenders is a dark lip liner that doesn’t blend well (or at all) with the lipstick.
Almost always, the goal is fuller lips that look beautiful, plump, and sexy. Overdoing it with lip liner can make your lips appear smaller, defeating the purpose altogether. When choosing a lip liner, opt for a shade that matches or closely complements your lipstick color rather than a dark one.
Skirts worn over trousers
We regret to inform you that this trend from the mid-1980s has inexplicably made a comeback. But don’t be fooled by this maximalist trend; it essentially harkens back to power dressing that doesn’t empower you! And even if you see this kind of atrocity on the streets, it’s your prerogative not to wear it.
It only restricts movement, so there’s no reason to wear a skirt when you could wear trousers. This prime example, seen on Ashley Tisdale, demonstrates what not to wear, captured at the 2005 premiere of “Ice Princess.” Since then, Tisdale has sobered up and even roasted this questionable fashion choice in a TikTok video.
Wearing too much black
The flip side of today’s beauty standards is how visibly many people dress. While black may be a slimming color, an all-black outfit can make you look dull and wash out your complexion. We’re not saying black is all bad, but as you age, head-to-toe black may not do you any favors.
If you enjoy wearing black, try complementing your outfit with colorful accessories or scarves. For instance, pair a black skirt with a vibrant blouse and colorful jewelry. Alternatively, if you’re wearing a black top, combine it with blue jeans or boldly patterned pants and beige shoes.
Do not adopt your natural hair color
The fashion industry and natural aging are famously at odds. While many believe in avoiding graying hair by dyeing it, embracing gray can be liberating. Nowadays, gray is a fashion statement, and yes, gray hair can look attractive!
As a general rule, lighter hair tends to make you appear younger – so why not embrace it? Additionally, coloring gray hair eventually results in a faint tint of your chosen color over a gray undertone. By giving gray hair the respect it deserves, you carry both class and confidence.
Clumped foundation
Some people apply a lot of makeup to conceal or distract from their dark spots, fine lines, and unwanted wrinkles. However, if the product isn’t of good quality, it typically has the opposite effect, making their skin appear more textured, grainy, and unnatural.
As a rule of thumb: if you have to apply the product heavily to see a result, you shouldn’t buy it. Poor-quality foundation can irritate the skin, clog pores, and adversely affect the skin’s aging process – all things we want to avoid in pursuit of that coveted perfect complexion.
Fuzzy hair
You see the hairstyle from the 80s before you see the woman herself. It’s styled so big that it obscures everything behind her. In the 70s and 80s, her hairstyle might have been considered fabulous, but now it looks like she just stepped out of a time machine.
Teasing, hairspray, and excessive styling damage the hair, leaving it dull and lifeless. What you really should do is keep your hair healthy and hydrated. Sure, Dolly Parton has built much of her style around it, but A – she uses wigs and extensions, and B – we can’t all be Dolly.
Baggy clothing
This fashion tip isn’t about wearing tight clothing to appear “youthful” and “relaxed.” Instead, we suggest wearing pieces that are tailored to your body. Sometimes, it’s fun to wear loose clothing. A loose summer tunic can feel romantic, and a flowing dress or wide-leg pants can give you an artistic flair.
The real issue arises when you regularly wear clothing that is several sizes too large. There’s a significant difference between wearing something meant to fit loosely and wearing something that clearly is oversized!
Poor posture
Similar to ill-fitting clothing and poor posture, which can instantly make you look older and more lethargic, it’s evident that our muscles tend to loosen and weaken with age, no longer supporting us as well as before. When your back is straight and your shoulders are back, you appear healthy, energetic, and elegant.
Fortunately, today there are clothes available that correct posture for those struggling to maintain straight shoulders and spine. Exercise and physiotherapy to strengthen back muscles are also beneficial. Secure your Pilates membership now! We promise you won’t regret it!
Carrying outdated trends
Fashion trends come and go, and then they come back again. Think boxy blazers with shoulder pads and high-waisted jeans. So, there’s nothing wrong with drawing from the past. However, you start to age yourself when you wear your old clothes just because you haven’t updated your wardrobe in a few decades, and that can look dated.
If you enjoy wearing trends from past decades but feel they look outdated on you, recycle them and look for more modern versions. Still have those bell-bottoms? Pair them with a tucked-in button-down shirt. Maybe you have a cardigan that’s back in style; wear it with sleek jeans.
Sunbathing
The days of lying in the sun for hours, causing irreparable damage to our skin just to achieve a tan, are behind us. While we’re not advising you to completely avoid the sun, tanning simply isn’t as popular as it once was.
Nowadays, it’s all about skin care – using sunscreen when outdoors and maintaining a skincare routine. Not to mention, excessive exposure of the skin to unfiltered UV rays can dry it out and accelerate aging, causing wrinkles much sooner than intended. You wouldn’t want that, would you?
Strong eye make-up
You might occasionally go for a cat-eye look, but in the 90s, heavy eye makeup was all the rage. You might think your look is beautiful, but the combination of heavy eyeliner and eyeshadow can make you appear older and may even make your eyes look smaller.
Sure, makeup artists on Instagram might see it differently, but that’s their job. Besides, most of them are in their early twenties, so looking youthful might not be as crucial to them. For those aiming for a younger appearance, it’s best to stick to one: eyeliner or eyeshadow. Never both. And a natural, radiant look may be even better.
Too many flowers
Hold on, what’s the issue with wearing florals? Well, we’re not saying you should purge all floral prints from your wardrobe. Just take a look at your floral patterns and consider: Do they evoke a cheerful spring outfit or do they remind you more of your grandmother’s curtains?
Wearing floral patterns head-to-toe can blend you into the surroundings and may even age you. If you love your floral clothing, opt instead for tailored pieces that you can easily pair with casual items like jeans or a plain white t-shirt. If you’re wondering what other patterns to try besides florals, experiment with a summer dress featuring a bold tropical print or a geometric pattern that updates your look to a more modern style.
Outdated handbags
It’s a well-known fact that as women age, they tend to gravitate towards larger handbags. But most of the time, they don’t really need to, and neither do you! When it comes to handbags and wallets, there’s a wide range of styles, colors, and designs to choose from.
So, why opt for the huge handbag that not only weighs you down but also makes you look like Mary Poppins? While Ms. Poppins is a fabulous diva, she was also created in the 1930s – you were not. Smaller clutch bags and wallets are trending now, and if you need something more practical, tote bags and stylish backpacks are also in vogue.
Never smiling
People, especially women, have a complex relationship with smiling. When a stranger on the street asks you to smile, it’s probably the last thing you want to do. Additionally, we often see women trying to get rid of their smile lines as they age. However, the truth is that smiling makes you appear younger!
In a study, young, middle-aged, and older individuals viewed thousands of photos and were asked to estimate the age of models with different facial expressions. It turned out that happy faces were perceived as younger than they actually were, while unhappy faces were judged as older! That alone is reason enough to smile!
The brooch
Firstly, there’s a fine line between classic and antiquated. A brooch tends to lean towards antiquated rather than classic. Yes, they were considered stylish in the past, but nowadays it’s better to keep brooches for sentimental reasons rather than wear them.
They can even increase in value if kept in good condition! Nevertheless, using a strategic brooch instead of a safety pin can really elevate a look. What we’re saying is, pay attention to the design and placement of your brooch. Instead of wearing it on the lapel like your great-aunt used to, consider using it on your bag or in place of a coat button.
Too much plucking of the eyebrows
The world is full of perceived beauty flaws that come with a bad reputation, and your eyebrows are no exception. They frame your face and draw attention to your eyes. Therefore, keep them well-groomed, but avoid over-plucking them into thin lines that look like they were drawn on with a marker.
Sure, we’ve all over-plucked our eyebrows at some point. Besides making you look older, excessive plucking can damage and even ruin the hair follicles responsible for hair growth, preventing eyebrows from regrowing. So, don’t overdo it!
Sunglasses
Don’t get us wrong. We’re not saying you shouldn’t wear sunglasses. These accessories can be both functional and fashionable. However, it’s crucial to know exactly what type of sunglasses you should wear. Unless you’re a shape-shifter, you only have one face – which is very helpful when it comes to finding the perfect sunglasses for your face shape.
No matter which style you choose, make sure not to go too heavy, like thick, black frames with sharp edges. Online guides are incredibly helpful for figuring out which frame shape complements your bone structure.
Wear sheer tights
Nowadays, only black or nude-colored pantyhose that match your skin tone are considered acceptable. If you’re seen wearing stockings that don’t match your skin color, everything else you wear becomes irrelevant. You and your oddly-colored legs will appear several years older than you actually are.
Pantyhose, in general, are becoming less common attire, especially among those under 50. Younger people might wear them humorously in early fall with a mini skirt and boots, but that’s about it. Pantyhose are no longer a staple in every outfit, as they once were decades ago. Therefore, pantyhose should not attract attention!
Not wearing a belt
Interestingly, this post isn’t about the conventional use of a belt (through the loops of pants), but rather about a more creative placement of the belt. When you wear tailored clothing that fits well, you appear slimmer and younger. This means loose or poorly fitting clothing might look unflattering on you. So, why not wear a belt over that boxy dress?
Not all clothing needs to be form-fitting, but if you feel you look frumpier than you’d like, throw on a belt, and voilà! It doesn’t matter how old you are; you can always apply this tip to accentuate a curve or even create the illusion of one.
Turtleneck sweater
Believe it or not, turtleneck sweaters can be a tricky affair. On one hand, many women choose them as they age to conceal sagging skin around the neck. On the other hand, they can easily backfire, making you look somewhat outdated and drawing attention to your chin area, which isn’t always helpful.
This isn’t to say you should get rid of all your turtleneck sweaters, but simply be mindful of the specific cut and fit. If you desire a classic look that’s more timeless than old-fashioned, pair a turtleneck sweater with jeans or a trendy blazer.
Eye-catching jewelry
Even though many people instinctively want to wear as much jewelry as possible, an excess of jewelry can be self-destructive and weigh you down. Decades ago, affluent women would wear almost every piece of jewelry they owned for various reasons when leaving the house.
Perhaps it was a status symbol or a way to keep an eye on their expensive pieces. However, things are different today, and wearing too much jewelry can make you look like a “gypsy on the run”. It’s better not to overdo it and stick to a modest number of accessories.
Too much of one
We all want to look like we didn’t just roll out of bed when we leave the house in the morning, but wearing too many coordinated pieces might not be the right way to achieve that. Yes, you may have put a lot of thought into the matching look, but if you’re not careful, you might end up looking like a candy wrapper.
This doesn’t mean you should never coordinate items, but unless you’re wearing a suit or a matching set designed to go together, you might want to try some alternatives. We suggest experimenting with pants that don’t match your shoes and seeing what fun combinations you can come up with.
Chunky highlights
The 90s were marked by bizarre hair moments, and chunky highlights were one of them! We can all surely remember those bold blonde streaks paired with butterfly clips and glittery makeup. But now, we should all know that this look is well past its prime (thankfully).
A head full of stark blonde highlights is enough to turn heads and get people talking these days. Fortunately, hairstyles have evolved; now you can try subtler variations like balayage, a technique that allows you to lighten your hair with a gradual, more natural effect.
Longer skirts
We should all strive to wear age-appropriate clothing, but a skirt that reaches down to the ankles can potentially do more harm than good by making you look outdated. However, note that we said “potentially”. Like almost everything on this list (and in life), it’s a matter of individual styling and knowing what suits your body shape.
If you enjoy wearing loose-fitting skirts, it’s best to pair them with a fitted blazer or top. Just be mindful of your proportions, because when you wear a long skirt, you need to balance it out with a shorter top.
Capri pants
Never in the history of fashion has a pair of Capri pants flattered anyone. Whether man or woman, old or young, tall or short. This cut, ending a bit below the knee but not quite reaching the ankle, is a monstrosity that somehow still exists, despite our hope that people have better judgment.
These dreaded Capri pants somehow make one look shorter and simultaneously older. Capris shorten your legs because they end around the calves, making your legs appear wider, and that’s simply not flattering. Replace these unflattering pants with something more modern, such as wide-leg trousers.
Too much pastel
Depending on your natural complexion, wearing too much pastel-colored clothing can make you look somewhat dull and washed out. People with fair skin tones may appear washed out when wearing pastels, whereas darker skin tones can create a beautiful contrast. However, don’t worry, even if you have fair skin and love wearing pastels, you can still do so. Just mix them with other tones and shades.
Experiment with your wardrobe and be open to which hues enhance your features and which ones wash you out. If you want to wear an item in a relatively muted color, pair it with a piece in a warmer shade, and you’ll look much younger and more vibrant.
Being too conservative
When it comes to the world of women’s fashion, it often feels like you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. However, if you find that your style is a bit too conservative and boring, you should definitely try to spice things up if you want to appear younger.
A bad example of a too-conservative style would be combining tweed with pearls or wearing boxy pantsuits over ruffled blouses. Worn together, they can be too much, but if you wear them individually with more modern pieces, they can look great! You can pair your ruffled blouse with blue jeans or those pretty pearl earrings with a little black dress.
Knitted
Once the weather starts feeling a bit wintry, we all reach for our favorite knits, and why not? They’re comfortable, warm, and, let’s be honest, stylish! However, if your outfit ends up making you look like a teddy bear, it can be quite challenging to appear younger. Although challenging doesn’t mean impossible.
The easier way to wear that precious sweater your aunt knitted for you is to create a more defined overall silhouette. Pair your oversized knit pieces with other garments that fit better, such as a good pair of jeans, or something more elegant like a pencil skirt and boots.
Tweed
Tweed is a coarse woolen cloth typically woven with mixed colors, originally produced in Scotland. While it’s a beautiful fabric, wearing too much tweed can make you look stuffy and even a bit self-important. Just because it worked for Sherlock Holmes doesn’t mean it works for everyone.
A full tweed suit might be too much. To avoid unwanted impressions, we recommend pairing a tweed blazer with slim black trousers and pointed heels. Alternatively, if you have a cool pair of tweed pants, pair them with a shirt or blouse made of a lighter fabric to create contrast with the heavy wool.
Unicolored
Don’t get us wrong, we appreciate the look of a good monochromatic outfit, but there’s something about it that can make you look older when it appears too clean and plain. Even if you’re wearing a monochrome outfit, there’s no reason you should look forgettable or not let your lively personality shine through. And achieving this is quite simple!
If you feel chic and sophisticated in a monochrome outfit, go for it! Just remember to complement the entire look with a piece in a different color, like a scarf or a handbag. A fun pattern can also provide a balance to your outfit.
Hair that does not frame your face
Long, open hair can look fantastic when it’s healthy and well-maintained, but as you age, the downward direction of your hair can also contribute to a drooping appearance of your face. For an instant and effortless facelift, pull your hair up into a high ponytail.
It looks elegant when you tie your hair into a French braid. Alternatively, treat yourself to a hair clip for easy styling. Remember that tying your hair up for extended periods can lead to a sore scalp. So, if you’re looking for a way to counteract the sagging look, consider getting an elegant bob that frames your face properly.
Too much of a good thing
Es’s important to remember that nothing ages you more than trying too hard to look young. It’s a frustration of the beauty industry: You’re encouraged to hide your true age, but if you try too hard, you risk looking ridiculous. That’s why navigating this topic requires subtlety.
Think about Madonna and Andie MacDowell. Madonna clings to her youth by desperately trying to keep up with much younger colleagues. Andie MacDowell, on the other hand, is the same age as Madonna but embraces her age and appearance, and she looks great doing it!
Blazers that are too big
Trendy blazers can be a fashionable way to showcase style, but an oversized blazer can make you look older. While oversized suits are currently popular and trending like crazy, a blazer that is too loosely cut can unfairly add years to your age.
At the same time, it can make you look like a child who has wandered into their father’s suit jacket. Neither of these effects is typically desired. Even though it’s not quite as trendy, we recommend wearing a fitted blazer. If you feel the need to follow trends, accessorize with tailored jewelry.
Everything that is medium length
Remember when women protested against the midi skirt when it resurfaced in the 1960s? They considered it unflattering, and they were 100% right! It makes women of all ages look old and outdated. To salvage your look, pay particular attention to where the midi hem hits your leg.
Midi skirts come in various lengths, and you should choose one that hits your leg in a way that doesn’t make you look frumpy. Typically, this means avoiding hems that end at the widest part of your calves. Otherwise, your only chance to salvage the look is to wear knee-high, high-heeled boots, and this look isn’t for everyone.
Out of date shoes
For babies and toddlers, round-toe shoes are great, but as you grow older, they’re not as flattering. According to Who What Wear, they can look frumpy and dated, making you appear older. The era of peep-toe heels is long gone, and you should definitely avoid them if you want to look contemporary.
To avoid an outdated look, opt instead for a pair of Oxford shoes. This style is timeless, and the variety ensures you’ll find something to suit your taste, whether flat or heeled. Shoes can do a lot for your overall appearance, so it’s always worth investing your hard-earned money in a reliable pair of quality shoes.
Stretch jeans
Fashion trends, much like food trends, are inherently ridiculous, and jeggings are their own special category of ugly jeans. Is there anything worse than stretch jeans, and do they even look good on anyone? Stretch jeans are often considered a fashion faux pas, and it’s been noted that their tight fit can restrict blood circulation.
The public obsession with jeggings is bizarre in itself, but by now, we should all know better when it comes to our fashion choices. Yet somehow, these dreadful things still manage to find their way into our closets. Next time you need a new pair of pants, try to find a pair that at least looks like it fits better.
Matt make-up
The purpose of matte makeup is to add color without shine. While this trend may have been fashionable a few years ago, it has since gone out of style, which means using it runs the risk of appearing outdated. Ouch! Newer makeup products and trends are focusing more on giving you a fresh, radiant complexion rather than a matte finish.
However, this choice really depends on your skin type: Oily skin typically has a natural shine and doesn’t need help to look fresh. Attempting to achieve a matte finish on oily skin can make it look unnatural.
Velvet tracksuits
We should all be aware by now of the worst fashion trend of the 21st century, where women combine velour tracksuits and strut around as if they were Jennifer Lopez. We understand the appeal—they’re comfortable, they feel nice against the skin, and they come in various colors and sizes.
However, it’s best to leave them in the realm of loungewear. If you ever consider wearing these matching pieces to leave the house, just don’t. Are you gearing up for a workout at home? Planning to cook something fun? Feel like lounging with your new Netflix binge? As long as it’s an indoor activity, go ahead and indulge.
Overdone nails
We’re not here to dictate how you should express yourself through your nails. However, we can inform you about the risks associated with certain choices. Sure, you can wear intricately decorated nails that sparkle almost as brightly as your diamond rings. That’s your prerogative.
But if you’re aiming to appear younger, flashy nails might not be your best bet. They draw attention to your hands, which might not always be advantageous with age. Short nails with nude or clear polish are typically the better solution.
Blunt bangs
If you ask hairstylists, you’ll find that they either strongly advocate for or discourage bangs. We want to emphasize that it really depends on your hair type and face shape. There are various types of bangs, from blunt to layered, from curved to side-swept.
While some styles of bangs might age you, if you’re tempted to get bangs, consider a few factors. Choose bangs that suit your lifestyle and complement your face shape and hair texture. Some bang styles require trimming every two to three weeks, so they should align with your maintenance preferences as well.
