Style choices that age women in their 40s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing blush on the apples of your cheeks is ageing, which shocked me because I had done this for years and years. I remember teen magazines in the late 90s advising how to apply blush on your apples, and had no idea there was another way.

Here is a video showing the better method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjOb4KsnOA&t=29s

Try it!

This is not someone I'd take makeup advice from. My goodness. So much of it. Greasy and clown-like.

She loves being 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wearing blush on the apples of your cheeks is ageing, which shocked me because I had done this for years and years. I remember teen magazines in the late 90s advising how to apply blush on your apples, and had no idea there was another way.

Here is a video showing the better method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjOb4KsnOA&t=29s

Try it!

This is not someone I'd take makeup advice from. My goodness. So much of it. Greasy and clown-like.

Greasy skin is the current trend. It's called the "glass skin" or "dewy" look. I don't get it either-- it takes me straight back to my hs acne days. But the kids love it--even male influencers do it.

[Anonymous]

Someone here pointed out that after your 20s, larger breasts age you. It's hard to explain how, but when I tried on a shirt with a padded pushup bra and a regular light bra, the extra boob size definitely made me look older. It's subtle but there was a difference. So throw out the miracle bras or, if you're bustier, go for a smoothing sports bra style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the points in this blog post: https://40plusstyle.com/how-to-dress-after-40-and-still-look-hip/

But I also think the overarching message of that post is that the goal is not to look young, it's to look good/stylish. And if you are over 40, trying to look younger is often aging. So wearing tight clothes, chasing trends, trying too look too polished/perfect, buying cheap/ill-fitting items because they are trendy, or conversely buying all very high end items, can all make you look bad. And if you are over 40, looking bad will make you look old because, well, you're getting old.

My favorite looks from that post are on women who look their age, but also look great -- stylish, happy, comfortable in their own skin.

I agree with the points in that post, but at the risk of sounding like a B, I think for a lot of women that would be more How to Dress at 50+. I wasn't chasing trends or wearing super short skirts in my 40's but I dressed a lot more youthfully than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone here pointed out that after your 20s, larger breasts age you. It's hard to explain how, but when I tried on a shirt with a padded pushup bra and a regular light bra, the extra boob size definitely made me look older. It's subtle but there was a difference. So throw out the miracle bras or, if you're bustier, go for a smoothing sports bra style.

Large breasts aren't a style choice. Unless you are talking about implants. It's like saying, being under 5'6" ages you. Or blue eyes age you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some common style choices that you think age women in their 40s?

Those hideous cold shoulder tops that look ugly on all ages. Letting your roots show. Ugly sandals.
Clothes that don’t fit. Being chunky. Wrong bra and back fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone here pointed out that after your 20s, larger breasts age you. It's hard to explain how, but when I tried on a shirt with a padded pushup bra and a regular light bra, the extra boob size definitely made me look older. It's subtle but there was a difference. So throw out the miracle bras or, if you're bustier, go for a smoothing sports bra style.

I’m pretty happy with my middle aged large boobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone here pointed out that after your 20s, larger breasts age you. It's hard to explain how, but when I tried on a shirt with a padded pushup bra and a regular light bra, the extra boob size definitely made me look older. It's subtle but there was a difference. So throw out the miracle bras or, if you're bustier, go for a smoothing sports bra style.

I’ve been wearing sports bras and old bras for ages. I just got a whole bunch of supportive new bras and that do the whole lift and separate, and came to the exact opposite conclusion as you. It made my figure look instantly nicer. As you age, you must get truly supportive underwear.

[Anonymous]

Tunics at any age
Ponchos
Summer scarves that hide your neck scream menopause to me
But honestly the hardest thing to dress for is if/when you lose your waist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
By order of importance:
1. White hair.
2. Other visible signs of age, such as wrinkles, sun spots, etc.
3. Too much weight.
2. Short hair instead of long.
3. Lack of attention paid to changing bodies and how best to find clothes that fit.

The pattern, color or style of clothes matters less than the above. Make-up or absence of make-up matters less than presence of frown lines, crow's feet, white hairs, etc.

I include signs of age as stylistic choices, even though many women chose not to do anything about it, and I respect that choice.

Nothing worse than limp long hair that’s kept long just for the sake of being long.

[Anonymous]

Cold shoulder tops, animal prints, extremely high heels. Generally looking like you are trying too hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone here pointed out that after your 20s, larger breasts age you. It's hard to explain how, but when I tried on a shirt with a padded pushup bra and a regular light bra, the extra boob size definitely made me look older. It's subtle but there was a difference. So throw out the miracle bras or, if you're bustier, go for a smoothing sports bra style.

As a member of the IBTC I have to say this is just nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Tunic tops

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG yes capris. Not like...cropped gauchos that are back in. The kind that are just longer than the knee and tight. Horrors.

No, those are awful too.

I have a mom friend who wears these all the time: https://www.zara.com/us/en/high-waisted-zw-sailor-straight-jeans-p08246274.html and they look fabulous on her. Of course, she is 5'7 and probably weighs 120 lbs. I asked her where she got them so I could try 'em for myself...quite the different look when I put them on my 5'3", 150lb frame Frump city!

As with most things, tall thin people can make everything look good. But those same things usually look bad on shorter and/or heavier people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my 40’s I just don’t care if I’m “aged” 98% of the time, so a lot of it is just people prioritizing practicality and comfort.

+1 just don't care and too busy