The right accessory can add that extra pop of color or texture you need to pull an outfit
together, and the wrong one can make even the most perfect clothing combination look
haphazard. Here's what accessory might be aging your style.
You can probably expect a few body parts to start sagging once you hit a certain age,
but you may not expect it to happen to your ears. We're sorry to be the bearer of bad
news, but it's probably going to happen, as noted by CNN. Loss of collagen and elasticity
can cause skin all over your body to start sagging as you age, and those pretty lobes
of yours are unfortunately not immune. That's something you may want to take into consideration
when you choose your next pair of earrings. Big, heavy ones will only make that problem
of sagging earlobes more obvious by pulling them down further.
Turns out, it is possible to be too matched when it comes to your personal style. It definitely
used to be a thing, but those days of perfectly matching accessories are over, at least for
those of us that are no longer in our college days. Stylist Diana Melencio, co-founder of
QUINN Style, explained:
"Avoid jewelry sets where the necklace matches exactly with the earrings (or other jewelry
item). Under 40, this can appear as a 'throw back' reference to the '80s and '90s when
this was at its peak. After 40, it looks incredibly dated. Instead, mix metals! It's modern, on-trend,
and shows that you're current."
Apparently, not all that glitters is fashion gold. According to Dina Scherer, an image
and wardrobe stylist and personal shopper in New York City, choosing the wrong metal
tones in an accessory can be a major offense. She explained:
"Gold versus silver, while a personal choice, feeds into whether you have a warm or cool
undertone. If you choose the opposite of what you have, the jewelry can add years, and sometimes
even dark circles and skin unevenness."
Not sure which kind of complexion you have? Ladies with cool tones should opt for silver,
while those with warmer complexions look better in gold.
There's no need to pack up that heirloom strand of pearls just yet, but it is probably time
to switch it up a bit and make your look more modern. Naima Fleming, style expert and founder
and editor in chief of Style Pooh-Bahs, said:
"Pearls, which have been a timeless accessory throughout the years, have now become the
'It' jewelry trend of the season, as spotted on the fall runways of Chanel, Rag & Bone,
and Gucci. For women who are contemplating wearing a strand or two, they should consider
adding edge and a whole lot of style to avoid looking as if they are an elderly woman headed
out for high tea."
Fleming recommended giving your pearls a funky contrast by mixing in a sparkly or metal necklace
that is the same length to add a cool and unexpected pop to your look.
We know those Crocs and orthopedic shoes are super comfy, but they're not doing you any
favors when it comes to your outfits. There's something to be said for smart, sensible footwear,
but you don't have to sacrifice your style and give away your age just to save yourself
a few blisters.
"Geez, I think I love these, shoes."
You do have other options for this kind of accessory, even if you have to be on your
feet for long periods of time. Stylist Shaunya Hartley recommends brands like Aerosoles and
Waldlaufer for finding shoes that still look chic while keeping your feet from aching.
You can't exactly tuck your glasses into your purse and forget about them. You do need to
see, right? But you can be a little more choosy when picking out your specs and can stay away
from anything that makes you look older.
"Do you wear contact lenses?"
"Well I have them but I don't really like to wear them that much-"
"Now you do."
Stylist Shaunya Hartley said nothing will make you look older than a "geeky" pair of
drugstore reading glasses, saying:
"It screams, 'My vision is going, I'm cheap, and I am being practical with no fashion sense.'
With so many inexpensive brands, from Hard Candy to Warby Parker, you can get a great-looking
pair of frames at little to no cost."
There's a time and a place for everything, but, unless you're wearing a costume, sequins
should probably be kept at a minimum when it comes to your wardrobe. Celebrity stylist
and vintage curator Tohni Jean Bellis stated:
"A sequined item is magical with the right execution."
Despite her love of sequined bling, though, even she recommends wearing items and accessories
with sequins in small amounts, adding:
"Do a single sequins piece per outfit to avoid looking older and dated."
So, if you were considering wearing a dress that was largely embellished with sequins,
maybe think again.
There's a difference between vintage-inspired clothing and clothing that is actually vintage.
While it's fabulous that the looks from our past are suddenly back in style, you would
be safer purchasing an updated version of your favorite vintage style or accessory than
actually pulling an old piece out of your closet. Tohni Jean Bellis warned:
"Even though you may love the clothing in your closet from 20 years ago, as time changes
so do the cuts [of your clothing]. Stay away from boxy clothes, polyester, pastel florals,
and bell bottoms."
It will be obvious that those vintage clothes are decades old, and you will be aging yourself
by putting these old duds back on display in your outfits.
"Uh, as if."
Women of any age should be able to go out and enjoy a relaxing manicure, but you may
want to tone it down a bit when asking for your final look.
Celebrity stylist Tohni Jean Bellis said overly-designed nails should be left to the girls in their
teens and early 20s. She explained that these super-detailed and extravagant nails call
too much attention to your hands, one place where ladies often show their age. She explained:
"These are fun to look at and admire on a younger woman. But too much bling, bright
colors, and the claw-shape nails will leave your hands looking older and unattractive."
You probably owned several pairs of big gold hoops in the '90s and early 2000s, and, according
to Dina Scherer, image and wardrobe stylist and personal shopper in New York City, that's
the number one reason you should back away from those accessories right now.
"And then for Hanukkah my parents got me this pair of really expensive white gold hoops,
and I had to pretend like I didn't even like them."
Scherer explained:
"Big gold hoop earrings can bring back the '90s neon windbreaker days, and while they
can be fun, they don't really fit in with the modern looks we see today and will call
attention to themselves in a slightly dated way."
Despite the advice from fashion-savvy experts, what you wear is ultimately up to you and
how that clothing makes you feel. Stylist and fashion consultant Tracy Clifford summed
it up best when she said,
"Personally, I do not focus on dressing for age. I never want to look any age. I just
want to look good."
Words to live by!
It's not just drugstore glasses that you want to avoid when it comes to accessories. Rather,
you also want to make sure that both your sunglasses and eyeglasses are working with
the natural shape of your face, according to Elena Doukas, Head of Design at Garrett
Leight California Optical. She told The List:
"Instead of trying to cover up your face, think about the features you want to play
up. For women of any age, the shapes that are most flattering usually angle upwards
at the corners of the frame, such as a slight cat eye. This small detail can actually provide
a 'lifting' effect and help draw the eye up."
Doukas also cautioned not to wear frames that are too big for your face, as they can be
a distracting and overly aging accessory. She continued:
"Eyebrows and cheekbones are also key parts of expression, so look for frames that don't
cover these areas but work with them. Color goes hand in hand with shape and should complement
your skin tone, hair color, or the wardrobe you wear."
If you have a small waist, you're likely the envy of many who would like to have the same
size figure. But be careful when it comes to where you wear your belt, as, according
to style expert Diane Pollack, it can have an aging effect. She explained:
"Wearing a belt on your waist when you have a large chest and a small torso can make you
look like an older lady."
In addition to selecting the best place to wear a belt, Pollack also has some advice
when it comes to dresses.
"Also, watch out for dresses with waist seams. Even if your waist is the smallest part of
your body, it is not always flattering to have a belt or waistband sit there. Try it
lower."
"Chain belt. V bold."
"Enchante."
While some folks may debate whether or not makeup is in and of itself an accessory, it's
certainly something that should match your outfit and complete your overall look, so
it serves a similar purpose either way. To that end, there are a few things that designer
Elena Doukas advises you be mindful of when you're at your makeup table. She said:
"Don't over contour. Contour has been all the rage, but I think if it's overdone it
can make your face look skeletal and age you beyond your years."
That's certainly not the effect you want!
As for how to use makeup to look a little bit younger, there's an easy way to bring
a little brightness and color into your cheeks, according to Doukas. She continued:
"On the other hand, I think a light color of blush can help brighten and create a youthful
effect. Especially if you're wearing a pair of glasses, sometimes blush helps your skin
tone not get too overwhelmed or washed out."
Wearing a hat is a great way to accessorize your outfit, especially if the weather is
ripe for it, which also renders it a practical style decision. But according to fashion stylist
Catherine Bachelier, you need to make sure you're up to date on recent hat trends in
order to wear them well. She told The List:
"Hats should be fresh and current. They're best to be paired with jeans and a t-shirt
versus a suit or structured dress."
If you select a hat that doesn't go with your outfit or has long been out of style, you
run the risk of looking older than you are when you step out with the accessory. Bachelier
continued:
"Hats can age you if you wear a floppy bonnet versus a well-structured wide brim fedora.
Choose a basic black or brown. Or, my favorite is dark blue or a fresh light pink (blush)
with your casual, stylish jeans."
"I like the hat."
Are you carrying around a handbag that can fit your wallet, all your makeup, a couple
of snacks, your phone, and countless other items you might need? If so, you're certainly
not alone, but that kind of accessory might make you look much older than you are, according
to Elena Doukas. She explained:
"Women have it in their head that they have to be prepared for everyone else in their
lives. I find that the older we get the larger our handbags become. We throw everything in
there 'just in case.'"
"Happy?"
"Not if that's a used q-tip."
"Oo!"
"Whoa!"
"Gross."
"Yes! Gross."
If that sounds familiar, Doukas has a suggestion as to how you can reduce the bulk and shave
off a few years while you're at it.
"Try traveling with a smaller bag inside your larger bag, and leave your large bag behind
as much as possible. There's something very young and liberating about a small handbag,
and they can still be just as functional. They won't weigh you down, visually or physically."
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