Do petite women look younger?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by "petite"? Do you mean very short or average height but very thin?

Generally, "petite" refers to height, not weight, but many of the replies here seem to be mentioning weight, so I'm wondering now what OP was actually referring to.

When describing a person not clothes, petite means height and weight. I can't imagine using the word petite for a 5' 200 pound woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least you don’t need to show your ID card to get a “student member rate” !

Op here. Yes that's very true. I got the young adult membership without even asking recently at the YMCA. Later on I went to add my child and childcare. I was shocked to find out that there was not an extra charge for childcare. My YMCA membership with childcare is $29. The person who signed me up was definitely in highschool.

Wow, never realized defrauding nonprofits was a perk of looking young!

[Anonymous]

5ft tall and 37 years old and yes, my experience has been exactly that people often think smaller = younger. I've never had a problem with it though, I enjoy it.

This is obviously cancelled out if you have heavily sun or smoke-aged skin, but if you look relatively around your age and are also smaller, that combination reads as younger to lots of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least you don’t need to show your ID card to get a “student member rate” !

Op here. Yes that's very true. I got the young adult membership without even asking recently at the YMCA. Later on I went to add my child and childcare. I was shocked to find out that there was not an extra charge for childcare. My YMCA membership with childcare is $29. The person who signed me up was definitely in highschool.

Wow, never realized defrauding nonprofits was a perk of looking young!

I worked for a non-profit association. The money to pay employees and operate the business came from membership fees and other fees the associated charged for services. The association also had a large continuance fund available to cover off anything that happened in an emergency. All members had a vote to decide to run things this way.

I’d like to add that a non-profit or charity is still a business, they are just in a line of business that qualifies for being a NPO.

A family membership is $150 where I live. It's not any cheaper than joining any other gym.

[Anonymous]

I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

Also, to add, a warm climate is no excuse for not wearing things like blazers. Linen 3/4 length blazers are super comfy in warm weather. Hair up in a professional bun (with a donut!) looks professional and older. Ballet flats and slim pants, not jeans. Shorts made of nicer material, not jeans. Belts. All of those things can be worn in warm weather and read as "older".

[Anonymous]

45 years old, five feet tall - I always get mistaken as being younger, too. I recently got carded (which seemed ridiculous to me) - more often, people seem to think I am in my late 20s or early 30s. Someone recently said they thought I'd married a much older man (my husband is in fact six months younger than me - and to me he looks young for his age, too; he's not petite in any sense, he is a really big guy, but I think he has a baby face).

When I worked at a place where most people were much younger, I def felt like it was an advantage not standing out as obviously much older than everyone else. And generally I really appreciate being mistaken for younger. I think it's in many ways made the transition to middle age much easier! (KNOCK WOOD!)

I definitely have experienced this weird feeling of people not knowing where to place me - how much experience I have, or whether I am their peer or not, things like that. I am willing to trade those things for the perks of looking young, though, a million times over!

I would recommend just learning to take this in stride. If people mistake you for a kid once, they will soon figure out that you are your real age and then it will stop being an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

Also, to add, a warm climate is no excuse for not wearing things like blazers. Linen 3/4 length blazers are super comfy in warm weather. Hair up in a professional bun (with a donut!) looks professional and older. Ballet flats and slim pants, not jeans. Shorts made of nicer material, not jeans. Belts. All of those things can be worn in warm weather and read as "older".

Ehhh - as another petite person who works from home, I can't really imagine putting on a blazer. Blazers are for offices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

Also, to add, a warm climate is no excuse for not wearing things like blazers. Linen 3/4 length blazers are super comfy in warm weather. Hair up in a professional bun (with a donut!) looks professional and older. Ballet flats and slim pants, not jeans. Shorts made of nicer material, not jeans. Belts. All of those things can be worn in warm weather and read as "older".

Op here. I live in Miami Florida and I work from home. I just don't see myself showing up to story time or the playground in a blazer when it's 100 degrees outside. This will be a good look in the winter though! Most of the moms wear shorts or dresses in the summer here. I need help with casual clothes since I WFM and I have a toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

Op here. Thanks. I am going to work on make-up. I don't wear makeup now because it always gives me acne. I will focus on my eyes. Whenever I put it on I feel like a clown too.

[Anonymous]

Listen, I am 40 and over the past few years I have had numerous people shocked that I have kids. It's ridiculous. I absolutely look my age. I think it's just a product of our ageist society and somehow looking your age is a horrible thing. I usually just say, "well, I'm 40" and when they say "no!!!" I just say "yep, well I look it too, but how about them 'skins?" and move on. I'm 5'8".

[Anonymous]

Yes, just as tall girls look older. My friends' DD, 13, is 5'8". She gets mistaken for a college girl all the time. Got hit on by a college guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP. I also look about 10 years younger than I am (I'm 36). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

BUT I learned a couple years ago that even though I've always "dressed my age," it is possible to dress in a certain way and do my hair and makeup that makes it seem more like I'm in my late 30s. So, that's how I dress most of the time, and if I want to look "young" (on a date with my DH!) I can do that, too.

Op here. Thanks. I am going to work on make-up. I don't wear makeup now because it always gives me acne. I will focus on my eyes. Whenever I put it on I feel like a clown too.

If you are so inclined, you could get an "older" haircut, too. Long hair will make you look younger. You don't need full face makeup. I never work full face makeup till I was in my 30s.

I'm 5', and I used to get pegged as younger all the time, too.

[Anonymous]

34 and get told I look 16-17. Doesn't matter what I wear they still say the same. Also single and no kids which doesn't help.

[Anonymous]

I rarely do more than foundation and lipstick. that has been my routine since I was a teen. The foundation has changed over time (I currently use a cover girl one that includes olay), but I'm boring. I don't like eye makeup and don't really need blush (fair with a pinkish undertone).

I have to wear lipstick, though. I think I look weird without it.