These Fashion Mistakes Are Actually Making You Look Older Than You Are

When you’re young, all you want is to be older and more independent. However, when you get older, all you want is to look and feel younger. It’s a paradox that shows that humans are fickle and are difficult to please. However, there are some steps that you can take when it comes to fashion choices that can help avoid making you look older than you are, and there are even choices you can make that will help you look even younger. Here are some fashion no-no’s to avoid.

Big and Poufy Hairstyles

Back in the 70’s and 80’s, teasing and back-combing hair was all the rage. However, we now know that this is actually not so good for your hair. Besides, it really is no longer in style, so if you do fix your hair this way, it’s an immediate indication of how old you are.

Color Coordinating

Mixing and matching patterns in prints is always a great idea, but over the top color coordination is never a good idea. It is a quick way to age you, and not just that, it’s a boring fashion choice. Looking way too coordinated and overly put together should be avoided.

High-Waisted

High-waisted pants are a good choice since they are pretty flattering on many body types. One thing to make sure of is that because they tend to be shorter in length, you need to make sure that while you’re seated, the pants still cover your ankles and don’t bunch up because of the shorter length.

Over-Plucking

Overly plucked thin eyebrows were once the height of style, but that could not be father than the current style.

No Skincare Routine

Using an eye and night cream is an important step in maintaining your skin’s youthful appearance and tautness. Your skin is your first indicator of signs of aging, so taking good care of it is critical in maintaining its healthy appearance. You can also use anti-aging creams to keep your skin in good condition.

Long Sleeves Only

Unfortunately, as we age, the skin on our bodies changes and gives away our true age. While this is true, you shouldn’t feel so self-conscious about your arms to the point where you’re only wearing long sleeves, especially during summer. It will actually draw more attention to your arms than if you wore weather appropriate clothes.

Matching Your Dress and Lipstick

A lot of people think that matching your lipstick shade with the color of your outfit helps you look younger, but the fact is that it’s actually the opposite. It’s also a big waste of time to search for a shade of lipstick that perfectly matches your dress. Instead, choose a shade of lipstick that matches your skin tone and complements your outfit, not directly matches it.

‘Old Woman’ Bags

We’ve all heard of “old lady bags,” and from the name, you can immediately tell that they’ll immediately age you. Instead, you can opt for timeless and classic bags that won’t go out of style and will help keep you looking sophisticated while keeping all of your essentials close to you on the go.

Undergarment Lines

Your outfit cab be absolutely perfect and then be ruined in a second if you undergarments show from underneath. The whole look can be undone if your underwear lines are sticking out or your bra can be seen through your shirt. The solution is simple: opt for seamless undergarments instead.

Jersey Fabric

While we can’t argue that jersey fabric is quite comfortable, it usually is not the most flattering and tends to accentuate areas of the body that you prefer not to highlight. Other fabrics that are more flattering include cotton, silk, and wool, as these will help smooth everything out.

Pantyhose or Tan Stockings

There was an old adage that went “four shades darker than your skin tone” that was the approach for pantyhose. That’s really not the case anymore. Light shades and black tights are okay, but you should really aim to go for ones that match your skin tone.

Overdoing the Powder

Overdoing it with the powdered makeup can clog up your pores and keep your skin dry. Dry means looking more aged, and powder makeup highlights your skin’s imperfections, even if you don’t have many. You can opt for liquid or cream makeup instead, which will look much better.

Hiding Your Figure

As many people age, they tend to start to wear baggy clothes that hide their figures. This can actually make you look older. You don’t have to wear skin-tight clothes, but instead you can choose clothes that fit you properly that accentuate your curves and will help make you look younger.

Keeping the Same Hairstyle

Keeping the same haircut for forever is quite boring. Try to change things up by exploring a new color or just a new style of cut. If you really want to go all out, you can even do both. If you want to update your look, you can head to your local hairdresser to help out.

Minis

As you get older, it’s probably better to retire clothes that are “mini.” Older women can go for above the knee and longer. At the same time, for those who still want to rock the mini look, you can do whatever you want. Nothing is more attractive than confidence.

Sentimental Value

Clothes with sentimental value don’t necessarily have to be worn, especially if they are not flattering. You can make them fit you, like taking in clothes that are too baggy or long, or you can repurpose the fabric into something you’ll actually use. Don’t wear something that doesn’t make you look good just because it holds some sentimental value.

Trendy Glasses

When buying sunglasses, you should always try to avoid the trend du jour, even if it does look good on you. Styles for sunglasses come and go, and you don’t want to end up being stuck with sunglasses

Dark Lipstick

While dark lipstick can give you a dramatic look, it is also known for highlighting any lines. Lighter shades are better for accentuating your lips without drawing attention to any lines. If you can’t part with your dark lipsticks, you can exfoliate your lips before applying lipstick to avoid cracks.

Poor Color Choices

The colors you should choose to wear depend a lot on your skin tone. If you have cooler undertones, go for cool colors like shades of grey and blue. For warmer undertones, colors like shades of red and yellow are better choices.

Hiding Your Neck

A lot of people think that wearing a turtleneck will help with hiding any neck wrinkles, but sometimes it can actually have the opposite effect. You can wear a scoop or V-neck to help you looking stylish and avoid feeling overheated. You can also wear a collard shirt, which offers more coverage without being restrictive.

All-Black

Black has always been considered to be a slimming color, but wearing all black can sometimes wash out your complexion, so you need to be careful. As we age, our skin tends to get lighter, and wearing all black might accentuate that

Tweed

Wearing tweed can make even the youngest look a decade older. If you still love wearing menswear styles, you can opt for hound’s tooth and pinstripes, which will give the same feel without aging you.

Resisting Denim

Denim can actually make you look younger, especially by helping you hide certain areas you prefer not to highlight. A darker wash can be especially helpful with that. You can also dress up denim, especially if you wear it with some heels or a blazer.

Chunky Jewelry

About a decade ago, costume jewelry was all the rage. Now, it just simply has fallen out of favor. You should avoid bubble necklaces or chunky jewelry if you don’t want to age yourself. Dainty and delicate pieces are preferable, like tiny stud earrings or bar necklaces.

Stretchy Jeans

While stretchy jeans are very comfy, most of us don’t have supermodel bodies, and so these can end up looking unflattering very quickly. If you want to have your jeans keeping you looking slim, opt for a pair with 2% elastic fiber.

Avoiding Tight Clothing

While wearing clothes that are too baggy is a good idea, you should also avoid wearing clothes that are skin tight. The best thing to do is to wear clothes that are true to size in order to avoid overwhelming your body or drawing too much attention to certain areas.

Chunky Sneakers

Even though chunky shoes like sneakers and heels are the hottest trend right now, they should be avoided because they can actually make you look older. Shoes that are sleeker like strappy flats and kitten heels are always a better choice.

Trendy Fads

While trends are popular and always have been, it’s always a good idea to avoid being too on trend because you might find yourself having to keep buying more and more clothes. Wearing a trend from last year can quickly make you look dated as well.

Jackets

Bringing a jacket along with you especially during times when the weather is transition is always a good idea. However, tying it around your waist can make you hips look larger. You can drape your jacket across your shoulders instead to look more elegant.

Tanning

Roasting in the sun is truly harmful to your skin, regardless of your age. However, it is especially damaging to older skin. Tanning can make your skin look aged, accelerate wrinkles, and create sunsports.

Flowery Prints

Flowery prints are a lovely choice, but should be worn with care. Floral everything makes you look immediately older, so try to do it subtly. If you choose to wear a floral dress, make sure that it fits you properly and isn’t too baggy.

Split Ends

Long hair can make you look older, especially if your hair is not properly maintained. Getting haircuts on a regular basis is critical, and you can keep your hair looking healthy and full by trimming the split ends.

Wearing Too Much Blush

It is extremely important to make sure your blush is applied perfectly, because wearing too much of it will immediately age you. The same can be said if it is applied in the wrong place on your face. Blush should subtly accentuate your face delicately, so make sure to blend it in to your makeup seamlessly.

Only Wearing Flats

While heels are not the most comfortable shoes to wear, wearing flats all the time can make you look older. A small heel every once in a while can keep you looking youthful without straining your feel.

Obnoxious Logos

Loud and obnoxious logos always say “I’m trying too hard” because they can project you as attention-seeking, which can also make you look older. It’s not great for 18 year olds, and it’s still not great for 50 year olds.

Long Skirts

While long skirts can be a great addition to any closet, as you age, it’s important to make sure that you don’t end up looking frumpy with an overly baggy skirt. Keep it tailored to your body and make sure the proportions are correct and you’ll stay looking perfectly stylish.

Sloppy or Frumpy

A crucial rule when trying to dress age appropriate is to avoid looking sloppy. This can happen when a top is too loose, bottoms are too tight, and the other way around. If you don’t keep with this rule, you’ll quickly end up looking frumpy.

Hiding Your Waist

A lot of times, loose clothes can end up making you look bigger. If you do want to wear a looser outfit or dress, you can accentuate your body’s shape by wearing a belt to keep your waist defined and help show off your figure.

Heavy Black Eye Makeup

Thick and heavy black makeup should be avoided because it can unfortunately accentuate the wrinkles around your eyes. Try using lighter shades like olive green, brown, or grey.

Untailored Clothing

The fact remains that untailored clothes don’t look good on anybody. Alterations can be pricey, but it is better to tailor your clothes to fit you perfectly rather than keep buying more and more new clothes, especially if they don’t fit you properly. You can consult with a tailor to find the styles that suit you best.

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