Hi Imogen,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice, as my problem is the opposite of one you have dealt with several times regarding “mutton dressed as lamb”.
I’m 38 but look a lot younger (people generally guess my age at 25-28). Should I dress my age or the age I look?
To complicate matters, I recently left a corporate career (think designer suits, fancy heels…) to go back to university full-time with students young enough to be my kids. So I’m finding it hard to adjust to a less formal style than I’m used to. I don’t want people who know my age to think I’m MDAL, but I don’t want to appear frumpy to people who assume I’m in my mid-20s!
When I had my first child at 26, people regularly mistook me for a teenage mum and I resented not looking my age! Now I’m happy to look young, but it certainly makes dressing difficult!
I’m a pretty standard long-wasted X shape (5’8″/173cm and 65kg – a (UK) size 10/12) and live in France where appearance (grooming) and style are very important!
Thanks for any advice you can offer 
Judith
Judith, many would love to have your problem. But I’m getting that you want to be taken seriously. Back in a casual environment it’s easy to end up looking way younger if you wear the same kinds of clothes that the 18 year olds are wearing. So how to look more mature, but not old?
The most important factor I can think of when dressing your age is to avoid the obviously ‘young’ clothing styles. So any sort of tiered frill at the bottom of a dress or skirt will further ‘youngify’ you. Also, be wary of showing too much skin as it tends to be associated with younger women.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t dress for who you are – whatever your age. If it bothers you that people think you’re younger then be more mature, but otherwise take it as a compliment! I know I do, I’ve been taken in the past few months from anywhere from 27 to 38 (though I’m almost 43) and I’m pretty happy about that these days!
You will find that clothes that are more simple and structured in their construction look more mature. Also think about quality. When we’re young we usually have little money as we’re at the bottom of the corporate ladder, and our clothes are usually cheaper. As we gain experience we earn more money and we need to improve the quality of our clothing, plus we expect to keep our clothes for longer (rather than just going from one latest fashion to another that we may have done in our late teens and early 20s). So we might opt for slightly more classic styles.
Jennifer Aniston casual
Now, what I’ve got pictured in the polyvore above may say more ‘office’ rather than ‘university’. How do you translate this simplicity and structure to a casual environment? In many ways, I think ”Jennifer Aniston casual”.
If you dress stylishly nobody will think you’re frumpy! There are many clothes styles that are fairly ageless too.
For example, take a pair of dark denim jeans without distressing and team with a soft structured jacket (not a classic suit style jacket, but more like a soft motorcycle style or leather jacket.
Alternatively a great trench over a beautiful quality knit top, or a waistcoat over a knit can add some structure without saying office or too formal.
In the summer months think about a tailored pair of shorts or a skirt or dress instead of jeans.
-
Jennifer Aniston summer casual
Don’t forget, the key to casual without looking frumpy is grooming! Without grooming we can look sloppy and unkempt, no matter what our age.
A very interesting post and topic! What Judith wrote could be right from my pen. I’m also 38 and look a lot younger than my age (some people think I’m 20-22, but mostly the guess is around 25). I work as a teacher (university), so I don’t have to dress according to a strict dressing code. I still want to look polished and stylish, in my own, a little Gothic but grown-up way. A couple of years ago my style was still more dark and Gothic, but nowadays I don’t use any of those more “extreme” pieces of clothing that I had (sold them all on a flea market!). I just didn’t feel myself comfortable in them any longer. Still I don’t want to look too old either, so I try to find a balance in between. I’ve also gone back to my real, brown hair color, having been black for many, many years.
To parties I still enjoy dressing up and then my “old” style is more evident.
Yes, thank you Imogen! Tho’ I’m much older than Judith (63) I’ve always looked younger as well and prefer a more classic style. Your post will work for me too as I’ve struggled of late deciding how to dress my figure (short-waisted X, 5ft. 5in. and slim) without falling into styles that are too young. The pictures you post are so helpful.
Thanks for this Imogen! I like the dressed up jeans look. Do you think it would also work with a denim skirt?
I own a lot of dresses which I’ve been “dressing down” with a denim jacket, but I still can’t bring myself to wear casual shoes! I’m looking forward to winter and being able to wear boots with everything
I guess I’m not worried about being taken seriously, so much as appearing ridiculous if I dress too young for my real age, or too old for the age I appear! It would seem that somewhere in between is a happy medium…
Thanks to the other commenters too – it’s nice to know I’m not all that strange
Judith – you can absolutely replace the jeans with a denim skirt.
I think these are great guidelines. I’m one of those who looks about a decade younger (47 look 37) or so I’ve been told.
I follow the rules no obvious teen or young 20-something party clothes, never a lot of skin, the most you’ll see on me is shoulders, calves and cleavage, but not the trashy kind. In fact, I’ve never been a member of the too short, too tight, too bright club or the super frilly girly clothes.
When it comes to dressing youthfully, having a sense of uniqueness, an open neckline, wearing color and not dressing too stiff or fussy are key.
Thanks Elle – love your comments – all so true!
So glad to hear this. People get upset with me for complaining that I look so young. I’m 24, 5’0″, 110 pounds, and between an H and an I, I suppose in shape. I recently went out to dinner with my husband and parents, and the hostess offered my husband (who also looks young for 24) and me kids’ menus. It’s due to situations like this that I want to make sure I dress like a young professional, which I am, rather than the tween that people tend to think I am.
With my body type, I’ve found that most of the “clothes that make you look more mature” from your first graphic make me look like I’m playing dress-up, even when I do find them in my size, which is rare. I love the “Casual grown up style” outfits you point out, and I think I’m wearing something similar in my avatar, not that you can tell – a light scarf, 3/4-length shirt, classic vest, jeans… but that was nearly 4 years ago and I don’t own that outfit anymore.
I’m so glad I found this site, though. Hopefully it will make future shopping trips much more productive and I can stop feeling out of place among other young professionals.
I suffer the same problem, I’m almost 27 and people often think I’m only 18-20 if not younger. I also suffer from being very slim and struggle to get clothes to fit, which often ends up with me being stuck in kids clothes. This post was just what I was looking for though, and I hope it gives me some inspiration to update my wardrobe accordingly.