Style choices that age women in their 40s

[Anonymous]

Hair dyed in fad colors like pink or blue. It seems like there are countless women over 40 out there who thought it would make them look young and hip and edgy. Now I just think of it as old lady-ish when I see it. It doesn't look edgy at all, it looks like someone is trying way too hard and didn't have any real knowledge or understanding of what would look good. Also regarding the comments about short/long hair -- both can age you depending on the style; but not much is worse than limp, un-styled, long hair.

Definitely agree with everyone mentioning skinny jeans and tunics. I think people want to hide their waistline, which I can understand. But it screams unfashionable late middle age to me.

Also bright-colored cheap t-shirts; like in fuchsia, turquoise, etc. Especially paired with white capris.

I'm 5'7" and look fine in capris, but I wouldn't wear white ones. My sister is 5'4" and she does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with tunics?

I'm trying to picture these tunics that keep getting mentioned. Can someone post a link or image? I don't think I have any but god help me if I do.

Google the Soft Surroundings catalog, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lilly Pulitzer. No matter your age, it is a terrible style choice but older women wearing hot pink and yellow smock dresses look absolutely ridiculous.

The Lily Pulitizer dresses are making a major comeback, thanks to #bamarush on tiktok, lol. But yes, I agree that the loud colorful patterns are aging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP and I’m taking this personally! I’m 52, 5’5” 130 lbs. and a bra size of 33E. I’ve always had large breasts on a small frame, but post menopause I think my 10 pound weight gain is because my breasts went up 2 bands and 2 cup sizes.

Get professionally fitted bras. I have for years. No tunic tops - makes me look like I’m wearing a choir robe. My bra fitting store convinced me to give up on
a minimizer and opt for well fitting, supportive bras instead.

Correctly fitting bras and great posture help!

When people say get professionally fitted I don’t know what they mean. Do you mean going in to any department store and getting fitted? Where do you go for a professional fitting PP?

[Anonymous]

[/b]


+1 All of you women who swear by box dye should know that your hair looks flat and matte- and well, like a home dye job. Don’t fool yourself, it is very noticeable.

Yep. The woman who looks good with a drugstore box dye job is a rare thing indeed. At least 90% of the folks doing it look like they have a helmet on their head. Not good at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP and I’m taking this personally! I’m 52, 5’5” 130 lbs. and a bra size of 33E. I’ve always had large breasts on a small frame, but post menopause I think my 10 pound weight gain is because my breasts went up 2 bands and 2 cup sizes.

Get professionally fitted bras. I have for years. No tunic tops - makes me look like I’m wearing a choir robe. My bra fitting store convinced me to give up on
a minimizer and opt for well fitting, supportive bras instead.

Correctly fitting bras and great posture help!

When people say get professionally fitted I don’t know what they mean. Do you mean going in to any department store and getting fitted? Where do you go for a professional fitting PP?

Yep. I've had great bra fittings at Nordstrom. Also great for a professional fitting, although their stuff is pricey, is Trousseau in Vienna, VA.

[Anonymous]

I know people are upset about this one, but it's true. I think people are upset because they know it's true. Very large breasts look matronly after a certain age. The word "bosom" comes to mind.

It's a trade off. Women who get a lot of attention for their boobs in their youth wind up looking grandmotherly faster because of those boobs. Women who with small boobs get to look youthful a little longer. I feel like it kind of balances out in the end.

Meh. I mean, my boobs are big. It may well be aging, but I have zero plans to have surgery to change that - too busy living my life (which involves playing a fair amount of tennis) to take a break for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I know people are upset about this one, but it's true. I think people are upset because they know it's true. Very large breasts look matronly after a certain age. The word "bosom" comes to mind.

It's a trade off. Women who get a lot of attention for their boobs in their youth wind up looking grandmotherly faster because of those boobs. Women who with small boobs get to look youthful a little longer. I feel like it kind of balances out in the end.

Meh. I mean, my boobs are big. It may well be aging, but I have zero plans to have surgery to change that - too busy living my life (which involves playing a fair amount of tennis) to take a break for that.

I have yet to hear a man complain about my so-called bosom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with tunics?

I'm trying to picture these tunics that keep getting mentioned. Can someone post a link or image? I don't think I have any but god help me if I do.

Think Hilary Clinton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Indian so tunics (we say kurta) have been a big part of my life since my early 20’s and I don’t think I’ll ever give them up!

That's different. Indian clothes are usually gorgeous.

[Anonymous]

Plastic surgery, fillers, boob jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

[/b]


+1 All of you women who swear by box dye should know that your hair looks flat and matte- and well, like a home dye job. Don’t fool yourself, it is very noticeable.

Yep. The woman who looks good with a drugstore box dye job is a rare thing indeed. At least 90% of the folks doing it look like they have a helmet on their head. Not good at all.

I mean, you just don't realize that some of the people who are dying their hair at home are doing so. You think their hair is either natural or that they get it done in a salon. I think some people have hair that lends itself better to home dying, because they are just looking to adjust the tone or brighten their hair a bit, and not to take it several shades lighter or darker or add highlights. My hair has natural highlights and I color it with Demi-permanent dye that just warms it up a bit and helps blend the grays.

I think one of the biggest mistakes women make with home hair dye as they age is not understanding that their hair and skin are changing and they need to change the color they are using. So many women keep using dark brown or red dye even though their skin is getting washed out and their hair is turning gray, and it creates this harsh contrast and is very aging. Same with blondes who don't realize their hair is responding differently to bleach/dye as it grays, and don't make adjustments. One of the advantages of a salon is that a good colorist will make these adjustments for you. But there are also bad colorists who don't do this well. You have to have a good eye for assessing your own appearance and not just get into ruts and think you can set your routines and never revisit them. Hair color and style, makeup, wardrobe -- everything needs to be adjusted not just as fashions change but as your body and appearance change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 know people are upset about this one, but it's true. I think people are upset because they know it's true. Very large breasts look matronly after a certain age. The word "bosom" comes to mind.

It's a trade off. Women who get a lot of attention for their boobs in their youth wind up looking grandmotherly faster because of those boobs. Women who with small boobs get to look youthful a little longer. I feel like it kind of balances out in the end.

I agree. It's a hot take, but I agree.

+100

Thought this even as a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 know people are upset about this one, but it's true. I think people are upset because they know it's true. Very large breasts look matronly after a certain age. The word "bosom" comes to mind.

It's a trade off. Women who get a lot of attention for their boobs in their youth wind up looking grandmotherly faster because of those boobs. Women who with small boobs get to look youthful a little longer. I feel like it kind of balances out in the end.

Switch to a bra with side support. I don't think it's size so much as lack of definition, and increased size elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

It’s not really the big boobs per se, it’s the combo with an increasingly apple shape. That’s why we get sucked into the “capris and a flowy top” situation.

It also makes buying clothes so much harder. I’m 2 sizes bigger on top than on bottom.