Looking Good At Any Age
We live in a world obsessed with youth. As women, we have it drummed into us that we must do our utmost to fight every sign of the aging process. Nowadays, you can get botox at the local dentist! Or pop into your local shopping centre for a few fillers!
Perhaps the fact that I am heading for the big 60 this year has made me reflect on this more than I might otherwise. But, honestly, why is looking young regarded as the holy grail? Chasing youth is doomed to failure because time is always against us. Looking good and looking young are of course not mutually exclusive but I think aiming to look good rather than to look young is definitely the way forward. Why? Because a woman who is comfortable in her own skin is always attractive whereas one desperately trying to look younger can look a little bit ridiculous.
So, how do we age with style and grace?
I think we must acknowledge, accept and adapt to the inevitable physical changes.
To ensure you look your best, try to be objective, but not overly critical, about the changes to your face and body and make some adjustments. For example, don’t automatically buy the size of clothing you’ve always bought. Take a couple of sizes into the changing room and be honest with yourself about which looks better.
Rest assured though that no one else is as aware of (or bothered by) your perceived shortcomings as you are
Get the basics right
It’s important to get the foundations right – more so, the older we get. If you haven’t been professionally fitted for a bra, make it a priority. Not only will it lift your bosom, it will also change the way you carry yourself. VPL is unflattering at any age so wear smooth pants and make sure they’re roomy enough so that they don’t cut into your flesh. A simple nude coloured slip will give your clothes a sleeker line but personally I’d steer clear of very restrictive shapewear unless it’s for a special occasion – Afterall, who wants to feel like an overstuffed sausage?!
Move with the times
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut so try to keep abreast of the latest trends. You can find loads of inspiration online and in magazines but you can’t beat browsing the shops and actually trying new styles on. Not necessarily to buy, but to get your eye in.
If in doubt, keep your clothing fairly simple and unfussy and add personality and interest with stylish accessories. Don’t stray too far from your natural preferences but do try to move with the times. For me, this has meant shifting from tailored block colour pencil dresses which now feel too formal to more relaxed print shirt dresses like the one I’m wearing in this photo. This dress provides the structure (collar, belt) that I like but with a softer silhouette.
A pretty failsafe way to establish whether something in your wardrobe is irredeemably dated is to see if you can find anything broadly similar on the high street. If you can’t, it’s safe to assume it is. On the flip side, it’s best to avoid extremes of fashion unless you love them and are confident that they suit you. After all, no one wants to look like an aging fashion victim!
Lots of my clients love their skinny jeans and wonder whether they should still be wearing them now that fashionistas have deemed them to be “out” and wide-legs to be “in”. Rest assured, the fact that you can still buy skinny jeans in most shops means that, whilst they may not be as fashion-forward as wider leg styles, they are still perfectly fine to wear. Do at least try on a wide-leg style though because they can be quite flattering and you might find you like them.
People Watch
Take inspiration from other women but don’t slavishly copy what they’re wearing. If I spot someone who looks stylish, I try to analyse what it is about their look that I like and whether I could adapt it in some way to work for my colouring, shape, scale and proportions.
Makeup
Of course the face you have at sixty will be significantly different to the one you had at twenty. You can try to eradicate wrinkles with fillers and surgery but, to my mind, a face with character and laughter lines is infinitely more attractive than a blank one that barely moves! Judicious use of makeup can help you look fresher and more vibrant whatever your age. Just make sure your makeup isn’t dating you though. If you’re still doing yours exactly the same way you always have, you’re probably not doing yourself any favours and it’s time for an update.
Your makeup routine doesn’t have to be overly complicated or time consuming. I’ve got mine down to just 5 minutes – 10 for a special occasion! Aim for a relatively natural look. The full-on glam favoured by some younger women risks looking a bit “drag queen” on a more mature woman!
How do you know if you’re getting your look right?
There are really only two questions you need to ask yourself:
- Does this make me look good?
- Does this make me feel good?
If you don’t look or feel good in anything , you are not a lost cause; you’re simply not making the right choices and you need my help!