How to look older

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its totally a thing for people under 35. But almost 50 looks 30s not so much.

Right, and OP says she’s middle aged, so I’m not buying it.

NP. When I was 44, a member of the board of directors at my organization apologized to me. She told them I was too inexperienced for my job. She made this statement based on my appearance. She told me she thought I was at the max, 30. I told her I was 44 to her face. Yes, this happens.

I also had a direct report make a snarky comment the first day we met that “oh, we look about the same age.” She was 29. I was 46. She had wanted the job. I told her about my experience and that I was about 17 years older than her.

You don’t carry or dress yourself well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its totally a thing for people under 35. But almost 50 looks 30s not so much.

Right, and OP says she’s middle aged, so I’m not buying it.

NP. When I was 44, a member of the board of directors at my organization apologized to me. She told them I was too inexperienced for my job. She made this statement based on my appearance. She told me she thought I was at the max, 30. I told her I was 44 to her face. Yes, this happens.

I also had a direct report make a snarky comment the first day we met that “oh, we look about the same age.” She was 29. I was 46. She had wanted the job. I told her about my experience and that I was about 17 years older than her.

You don’t carry or dress yourself well.

But…you think you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its totally a thing for people under 35. But almost 50 looks 30s not so much.

Right, and OP says she’s middle aged, so I’m not buying it.

NP. When I was 44, a member of the board of directors at my organization apologized to me. She told them I was too inexperienced for my job. She made this statement based on my appearance. She told me she thought I was at the max, 30. I told her I was 44 to her face. Yes, this happens.

I also had a direct report make a snarky comment the first day we met that “oh, we look about the same age.” She was 29. I was 46. She had wanted the job. I told her about my experience and that I was about 17 years older than her.

You don’t carry or dress yourself well.

But…you think you do?

No one has ever suggested that I am not up for the responsibilities of my job, even when I was actually young and inexperienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its totally a thing for people under 35. But almost 50 looks 30s not so much.

Right, and OP says she’s middle aged, so I’m not buying it.

NP. When I was 44, a member of the board of directors at my organization apologized to me. She told them I was too inexperienced for my job. She made this statement based on my appearance. She told me she thought I was at the max, 30. I told her I was 44 to her face. Yes, this happens.

I also had a direct report make a snarky comment the first day we met that “oh, we look about the same age.” She was 29. I was 46. She had wanted the job. I told her about my experience and that I was about 17 years older than her.

You don’t carry or dress yourself well.

But…you think you do?

No one has ever suggested that I am not up for the responsibilities of my job, even when I was actually young and inexperienced.

same.

yep, I'm almost 50 and patients think I'm in my 30s. Some gray hairs helps the most.

Also helps - talking with authority and confidence.

Genuinely thanking them when they guess my age a lot younger than it actually is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its totally a thing for people under 35. But almost 50 looks 30s not so much.

Right, and OP says she’s middle aged, so I’m not buying it.

NP. When I was 44, a member of the board of directors at my organization apologized to me. She told them I was too inexperienced for my job. She made this statement based on my appearance. She told me she thought I was at the max, 30. I told her I was 44 to her face. Yes, this happens.

I also had a direct report make a snarky comment the first day we met that “oh, we look about the same age.” She was 29. I was 46. She had wanted the job. I told her about my experience and that I was about 17 years older than her.

You don’t carry or dress yourself well.

I kind of have to agree. We have an executive who is in her 50s, looks to be much younger but people have taken her seriously since her 20s since she dressed like a power player. Some other women her age who also look young are thought to be in more junior positions even though they are really experienced managers and I think a lot of is they dress differently. They aren't bad dressers. I actually like the style one of them dresses in but the style speaks fun and kind of sophisticated gal/pal rather than "boss lady" to me."

[Anonymous]

I have this problem. It's annoying, but at the end of the day, I am grateful. Yesterday, I was talking to someone about when they worked on Capital Hill. He kept saying it was so long ago I wouldn't know anything about it. I asked when he worked there. He said 1999. I said dude, I left the Hill in 1993. He was stunned. Yes, I am 57 and yes, I am blessed to look younger. I am going to embrace it! I don't know how long this will last.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What advice do you have for someone who is middle aged but yourhful looking who constantly gets mistaken for way younger than they are, which is a negative in the professional world?

Wow this is a first.

Ok, here goes

Eat whatever you want.
Drink a lot of alcohol, preferably with a high sugar context.
Lots of frozen process foods and eat out, too.
Forget the excercise
No sunblock!
Minimal moisturizer.
Let those grays grow in.
Shop at Kohls, polyester collection.
Elastic jeans
Yell at kids making noise outside.

I mean, this all works for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What advice do you have for someone who is middle aged but yourhful looking who constantly gets mistaken for way younger than they are, which is a negative in the professional world?

Wow this is a first.

Ok, here goes

Eat whatever you want.
Drink a lot of alcohol, preferably with a high sugar context.
Lots of frozen process foods and eat out, too.
Forget the excercise
No sunblock!
Minimal moisturizer.
Let those grays grow in.
Shop at Kohls, polyester collection.
Elastic jeans
Yell at kids making noise outside.

I mean, this all works for most people.

Oh, use only FB to argue with people. Watch TV for your news. Yup, that should do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have this problem. It's annoying, but at the end of the day, I am grateful. Yesterday, I was talking to someone about when they worked on Capital Hill. He kept saying it was so long ago I wouldn't know anything about it. I asked when he worked there. He said 1999. I said dude, I left the Hill in 1993. He was stunned. Yes, I am 57 and yes, I am blessed to look younger. I am going to embrace it! I don't know how long this will last.

Having issues with the math. So he's maybe early 50s or late 40s and he thought you were younger?