Are You Overcompensating?

A fun sweater and sneakers can be anchored with a pair of black pants.

Does the fear of looking too young make you overcompensate?  Are you selecting clothing that makes you look too old?  The best cure for this is shopping with a friend and asking the simple question – “Do I look like my mom?”  If the answer is yes, put the piece back on the rack.   Put some thought into where you shop and what sections of the store you are shopping in. While you may not want to shop solely in the junior’s section, you may want to think twice about purchasing from manufacturers that design solely for a more mature woman. 

Women should shop where they trust the salespeople to tell them the truth.  A fashionable customer is a calling card.  If the customer does not look good, neither will the shop. A great sales associate would only want to make their customer look and feel her best.  Honesty is the best policy if a friend or salesperson delivers it with diplomacy and courtesy.

On the other hand, are you trying too hard to look young?  Remember one of the reasons that we want to dress fashionably is so that we will look and feel good about ourselves.  While it is nice to look good for someone else, it is even better to look good for yourself.  We all have a difficult time as we age or as our lifestyle changes. Sometimes it is hard to say “I’m a senior” or “I am a retiree” but embracing who you are makes you the most attractive.  Unfortunately, complaining about not being twenty, but still trying to dress that age, will not turn back the clock.  Wearing that pair of sweatpants with “Juicy” across the butt will not take years off your age but will take some off your fashion sense.