40 Fashion Mistakes That Make People Seem Older Than They Are

You want a flattering hairdo that has plenty of volume to round out your look. But, just like with everything in life, too much of a good thing — like volume — can be a bad thing. There is a line and once you cross it, you don’t just get height, but you’re also making people think you’re older than you are.

If you tease your hair too much, you will probably have to use hairspray, and then all you will wind up with is a look that makes you seem like you should be in one of those ’80s metal bands.

So, let’s talk lipstick. You want your lipstick to coordinate with your outfit and color scheme. That’s just a rule when it comes to creating a cohesive look. But, that does not mean it needs to match the colors exactly.

For instance, this shade of lipstick is too close to the top’s color, which turns a chic and fun look into something that could only be defined as a “mom-look.” That trend is long gone and should stay gone. Instead, try a few shades lighter or even a neutral that will go with the outfit.

Remember back in the day (like the ’60s) when super long hair was all the rage. Some women still hold on to that using hair to hide anything they deem as a flaw. But unfortunately, there is such a thing as too long, and the longer your hair gets, the older you may begin to look.

Most stylists suggest a more mature woman not go any longer than the waist. As the longer the hair, the less volume you have due to the weight.

Jeggings! We all love them, right? They are comfortable and look good with a wide range of things. After all, they are leggings that look like jeans, right! All of that is true but what many people fail to realize is that they are not jeans.

Jeggings are in no way a substitute for a well-fitting pair of jeans. They are often thin and therefore show way more lumps and cellulite than most of us would like. This means that they naturally make one look and sometimes feel older.

So, there’s a difference between a statement piece, costume jewelry, and what we would call gaudy jewelry. Sometimes people mistake statement pieces for the last option, which can help make the outfit look ill-put together, and the wearer looks a little older.

You can still have a statement piece or even wear costume jewelry just to make them a little more subtle. Simple is better and will take away less attention from that killer outfit!

So, we all want that sun-kissed glow that comes with a good tan. Some of us, for personal reasons or because of where we live, have trouble getting one. That’s why fake tans were invented, right? Well, yes and no!

They could potentially permanently dye your skin after excessive use. Along with that, the color isn’t exactly natural so maybe use the tanner a little less if you want a nice skin tone.

In the early part of the 2000s, it was all the rage to have thin well-sculpted eyebrows. The overplucked eyebrows went the way of the dodo, and we should all be thankful because they really do nothing for anyone’s look.

So, those that still insist on holding onto the trend are showing their age — and aging themselves prematurely. Instead, rock a fuller brow or even a thick brow. Find the style that fits your face and go with that.

During the heat of the summer, everyone wants to be comfortable and cool. What better way than to have a dress that’s light and breathable like a t-shirt? Makes sense, but the idea of a jersey dress is a little dated.

The fabric tends to be pretty clingy, and because of its lightweight nature, it tends to look a little cheap. The fact the fabric clings means it wrinkles and bunches around every imperfection you may have.

Pastels are on-trend, and so many people are rocking the monochromatic look. However, this look may not be suitable for older women because, as you age, your skin begins to lose tone. That means lighter colors can often wash you out and show your age more.

This means that a monochromatic look is out for you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear pastels. You just have to pair it with a darker pair of jeans or some piece of clothing that contrasts the lightness.

Maxi skirts are also a piece of clothing women who are maturing need to be careful wearing. These skirts tend to be loose fitting and where that might be nice to hide your legs, they don’t always flatter the waistline.

If you want to sport a maxi skirt, make sure you pair it with the right top. This means if it is one that’s more tailored, try a looser top or vice versa.

Our skin is beaten up a lot through our years. The sun damages it, and then there are the environmental impacts added to that. These all create wrinkles and imperfections that may cause some ladies to want to cover them up. This often means caking on the makeup, which only makes matters worse.

The more layers of makeup you slap on, the older you will look. Instead, try to use lighter formulas that are designed to do multiple jobs like tinted moisturizers. Then light powder, and you will have a fresher faced look.

Women are very self-conscious about what they deem is imperfect. That may mean they feel the urge to pile on the makeup or even raise the hemline of clothing they choose. One of the areas a lot of women get self-conscious about as they age is the neck.

The loss of elasticity in the skin may have you looking at that rack of turtlenecks. Don’t do it! Sometimes trying to hide something will draw more attention to that area.

Another thing that could cause you to look older than you are is getting stuck in a rut. We all have done this and found a hairstyle that flatters our face and makes us feel good, but that could be a problem.

Like everything else, a hairstyle comes and goes into fashion, so you may be dating yourself by sticking to your do. One way to determine if you are doing this is to look at a picture from more than five years ago. If you still have the same cut, you should switch it up.

As fall and winter come around, there will definitely be more dark lips being worn out and about. That’s perfectly on-trend, but it may not be advisable for certain older women. Age effects not only or skin but also our lips. They tend to get paler like the skin and become thinner.

The dark shades that come with autumn and winter will accentuate these aspects more. Dark colors also tend to dry the lips out — and even may highlight the lips’ wrinkles and crevices.

Just because it comes in a set doesn’t mean you have to wear it as one. This is true in everything having to do with fashion, especially jewelry. The best rule of thumb and one many fashionistas live by is if you wear the necklace, then don’t wear the earrings and vice versa.

Too much matching jewelry can create a heavy look and add years to your appearance. Plus, by breaking up the band — so to speak — you get more options, and it won’t look like you are trying too hard.

Floral prints have their place. In the spring season, they are a nice light way to show that spring has sprung. Not for an everyday errand kind of day, as an all-over floral print can send the message to people that you are older than you want them to think you are.

If you do want to wear a floral print anything, you will have to be very selective. Try to stay away from large floral prints. Instead, go for smaller prints.

Wearing your underwear so people can see it or even poorly fitted underwear should never be a thing. Nowadays, there are plenty of brands and styles that can help you make sure neither of those two things occurs.

Of the two, the ill-fitting underwear may be the biggest culprit of premature fashion aging. If your underwear doesn’t fit right, they can cause unwanted lines to show through. This can ruin your ensemble so quickly.

Just like the neck, a woman’s arm becomes a place of self-consciousness as they age. Your skin loses elasticity and begins to sag, and that may make you reach for that long sleeve to hide them.

This is natural, but like covering your neck, opting for a long sleeve may draw more attention to the area than you actually wanted. Plus, this often leads to sweating, and that can attract even more attention.

We know that to have some of those classic nylon stockings on, it was the right thing to do when you left the house with a skirt on. But those days are gone, and it’s perfectly acceptable to leave the house with your legs uncovered.

Since the style is now super outdated, you may be aging yourself if you still do this. So — make sure you shave, lotion the legs, and try to go out without those stockings.

We can’t all rock eyeliner like Johnny Depp, nor should we try. Plastering on the dark makeup can make one look older. Why? The biggest reason is that it’s heavy and can weigh your look down. This, in turn, adds years onto your face.

Plus, this makeup has a tendency to smudge as you go through your day (even if it says it doesn’t). This smudging could add more to any bags or dark circles under your eyes, and also years.

Okay, so there’s a difference between classic and antiquated. For example, a brooch — this is antiquated and not classic. Pearls are classic (with the right outfit). Yes, it used to be all the rage to draw attention with a stylish and attention-grabbing brooch but not anymore.

This fad is long gone, although at one point, it was actually hip to add a brooch to your ensemble. Today, though, it’ll easily show your age and even add some years onto it. So, save those brooches. Who knows, maybe they will make a comeback…

It seems that as we age, we get less comfortable letting our legs be out and about. That means shorts become something we like to stay away from. But, we still want shorter pants that are lightweight especially during the summer months — enter capri pants.

The problem with capris is where the hem lands. They often stop mid-calf and that can be very unflattering no matter what age you are. This can make the legs look thicker. So, if you are looking for shorter pants, try ankle pants or even culottes.

Sometimes we get crazy ideas in our head as we begin to mature. One of these is that jeans are a young person’s game. A good fitting pair of jeans is maybe one of the greatest pleasures in the world, and it’s not just for the youngsters.

In fact, there should be at least one pair of perfectly fitting jeans in everyone’s wardrobe. So — find your silhouette, get out there, and buy a pair of those jeans you’ve been dying for. A wardrobe without them will make you seem old.

There are more color options every year. With that, there are some really beautiful colors that catch our eye. However, just because we like them doesn’t mean that they will play nice with our skin tone or coloring.

Wearing the wrong tone can actually give you a sickly pallor or wash you out. If you have a warm skin tone, you will have an easier time pulling off warmer tones. For people with cooler complexions, cooler tones are the way to go!

Tweed goes through its phases of being in trend. Even when it is, it’s not a fabric that people who are seeking to look younger should wear. This is simply because it is a fabric that’s known for being worn by older individuals.

If you are trying to adopt the menswear look, you should instead look at more flattering options. A nice windowpane or pinstripe suit is a good option to play with. It’ll look better and probably feel better, too.

When you are finishing out your makeup look, you might want to go for a little touch of rosy hue on your cheeks. This is perfectly fine, but it results in a poorly put-together look and may add some years to your look when you overdo it.

When applying blush, be sure to make it look subtle. You should just be able to see a little color, and that’s it. Too much blush can not only make you look older but it can also make it look like you have some sort of skin condition.

One accessory that many people overlook that can add some years to an individual is their eyewear. Not so much sunglasses, although they can be a telltale sign of when you grew up if you’re not careful — but definitely your everyday eyewear.

When we find a pair of glasses that look good on our faces, we tend to hold on for dear life. However, wearing a set that’s out of date can be detrimental to our look. So, update your eyewear as often as you can.

So, this one may seem a little controversial and it could depend on how you put the outfit together, but cardigans do seem to be associated with older individuals. There are a lot of reasons that this is true.

The fabrics and silhouettes used in the design of most cardigans are not so flattering. They tend to be boxy, and that makes them a no-no for a tailored look. Instead of using these, try a jacket or even a blazer.

When the colder months come around, it’s inevitable that some people will reach for the decorative scarf to tie an outfit together. Though this is not necessarily untrendy, it may be a wrong choice for some.

This is because some of us are trying to hide our necks, but doing so can draw attention straight to that area — not to mention that when you look more conservative in your dress, you tend to look a little older, too.

For the most part, wearing more tailored or body-appropriate clothes will make you look slimmer and younger. But, there are some styles that offer a more boxy fit, which can be bad.

When it comes to sheath dresses or even boxy tunics, they don’t do anything for the figure. This is why you often see women belting them. This defines the waist and may just be the perfect accessory to make you look — and feel — a little younger.

Remember when you were first told that black is so flattering. This is true, and there is nothing wrong with the occasional homage to the darker side of your personality. A black outfit can look classy and put together.

However, wearing all black every day from head to toe can make you look older. If you want to do an all-black outfit, try playing with textures or adding some jewelry for a pop of color.

The ’80s were known for a few things — big hair, neon colors, and shoulder pads. None of these are quite as out of fashion as the shoulder pads. So, unless you are having an ’80s day at work, stay away from these.

These give your silhouette a box shape and give you a dated look, making you look older. There are more structured and tailored shoulder pad options if you have to have them, so invest in these if this is the case.

Remember when chunky highlights were in? Of course you do, and because you do, you have to know that the look is way past its prime. This means sporting this kind of hairstyle is like wearing the same haircut for decades — bad.

You can still use highlights but try styles like balayage or others that are individualized and styled for your look. These types of highlights will look more natural without adding years to your overall appearance.

One distraction from ensuring that you look your age is carrying on wearing those items of clothing or accessories that have sentimental value. It might be a gift from someone your love or maybe it once belonged to a lost loved one.

Ultimately though, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Your best bet is to resize the item, store it away somewhere or maybe even donate it. Who knows, maybe that item you’re hanging onto will come back into style at some point.

We have already established in this article that the older we get, the more we feel a need to wear looser clothes. But many of us adhere to this rule anyway when we are still young. Oversized, bulky outfits are a one-way trip to looking older than you are.

Blouses, sweaters, long skirts and trousers simply aren’t the way to go, unless you are cold. On the flip side, older individuals shouldn’t feel like they always have to hide their figures.

Sure, boots and chunky heels come into fashion every once in a while, but generally, it’s impossible to deny that many versions do look kind of weird. They just make your feet look bigger than the rest of your body.

Your best bet is to go for something a bit more understated, like strap flats or kitten heels. The smaller the footwear, the more petite you will appear to be. Moreover, it’s been about 30 years since chunky sneakers were the way to go.

Sure, the Queen rocks this classic handbag look in virtually every public appearance she makes. But let’s face it, not everyone is the Queen now, are they? Louis Vuitton purses were once all the rage, not anymore though.

With so many different styles and colors to choose from, we would recommend going with small clutches or purses at this moment in time – that’s what is in right now. Another couple of options worth checking include studded backpacks or leather totes.

Sure, this is a trend that seems to be in right now. Wearing your flannel or jacket around your waist is a good practical idea. You never know if you are going to need it or not. However, it doesn’t look particularly flattering on whoever’s wearing it.

Let’s face it – this is only going to make our hips look bigger than they are. Instead, one should consider draping it over one’s shoulders. Or why not try fitting it in your purse?

There is no denying that floral design dresses are a nice thing to put on every once in a while. However, if you are spotted too often in this kind of dress, people might start to mistake you for being older than you actually are.

Sure, the odd floral design can go down a treat during those scenic summer walks and picnics. But you don’t want to feel like that’s all you have in the closet.

So many of us despise wearing heels – primarily because they can be incredibly uncomfortable to wear. However, the social norm is to wear them more often than not. And if you want to look your age, you might have to make that sacrifice every once in a while.

Kitten heels are OK to try here and there and booties will provide you with heels while maximizing comfort. So there are ways to deal with this issue.

You would assume that the more big brand logos that can be seen on your clothes, the more fashionable you come across as. However, you couldn’t be further from the truth. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are – it just looks tacky at the end of the day.

Sure, you might be able to get away with it when you are a teenager. But once you hit 21, you should be expected to tone things down in the logo department.

The following rule is ignored by more people than you would expect. Basically, when you decide to pair tops and bottoms, you need to make sure you do the following: if your bottoms are loose, the top should be tighter and vice versa.

If you don’t end up following this rule, then you could potentially come across as lazy or sloppy. If you do follow the rule, you will be looked at as an organized, stylish individual.

We can be tempted to slip into smaller clothes in order to accentuate our figure and look the part during a night out on the town. But the older you get, the question of “how short is too short” becomes more and more pressing. “Mini” anything needs to be carefully considered before actually worn.

Female empowerment means different things for different people, but when it concerns how old you want to look, it might be best to go a bit too conservative as opposed to the opposite.

Having a nice suit is an essential addition to any wardrobe. It can be a chic choice for interviews or business functions or even important family events. But, that’s only if it’s the right color and silhouette for your body.

A poorly-tailored suit can make you look sloppy and even hide some of your figure — all of which may make you seem a little older than your license says you are.

It’s tempting to go for fun colors at the nail salon when getting your nails done. But, if you are an older woman, you may want to stay away from the exceptionally bright colors or ones that have sparkle.

This will draw attention to your hands — one of the places that reveal your age more than other parts of your body. By donning the bright color, you may just be saying, look at my hands. Now ask me how old I am?

So, let us preface this by saying if you wear this style of heel because you can’t walk in anything taller than this, then, by all means, go with it. Just dress it up with some more stylish outfits.

That being said, the kitten heel is way past its expiration date. If you have a problem walking in heels as we mentioned above, you could always go with a more wedgy heel instead of kitten heels. This may help move your outfit into the trendy column.

Not all blue eyeshadow is terrible, but some shades could help in aging your face a little. The worst is the lighter blues. The hue of the shadow you choose can affect your overall look more than you know.

In fact, many makeup experts suggest that if you want to do a colored eye shadow, go for a darker, less pigmented color. This will keep it from making you look older.

You may have put together a killer outfit that makes you look and feel young. However, if you don’t put that face together, all your hard work might go down the drain. One of the big mistakes is choosing the wrong foundation.

The wrong shade can either make you look weirdly tan or like you’ve just seen a ghost. So, choosing the right shade is crucial. The best way to do this is to use the back of your hand and see if you get a close enough match.