Say Goodbye to These Outdated Fashion Trends That Make Us Look Older

As we age, our fashion preferences evolve, and trends that once felt fresh may now seem outdated. While aging is a beautiful journey, many women often try to conceal its signs, unintentionally highlighting their insecurities in the process. In our quest to appear younger, some of the styles we've clung to for years might actually be adding years to our look rather than taking them away. Have you been committing any of these fashion faux pas? Keep reading to see if you’ve fallen victim to these fashion mistakes that can make you look older. Overly-Plucked Eyebrows We all have photos from college graduations or weddings and the only thing we seem to notice are how thin our eyebrows were. Image by Shutterstock (522005gs) Thin eyebrows come and go and they had a major comeback in the ‘90s and early ‘00s before returning to a fuller, more natural look over the past few decades. Pencil thin, overly-plucked eyebrows are so 20 years ago and wearing them now, makes a person look older and outdated. We’re all for thick, face-framing eyebrows. “Art Teacher” Proportions While wearing long, maxi dresses with duster vests and flowy scarves can look super artsy and boho, as mentioned long, baggy pieces can overwhelm your frame and look frumpy. But we’re not saying you can’t weary baggy pieces—you just have to play with your proportions. Image via @krisjenner/IG When wearing a baggy piece of clothing, balance it out with a tighter one. Like if you’re wearing a loose tunic, pair it with skinny or straight-leg jeans and if you’re wearing wide-leg trousers, wear a tighter top to balance the overall look. Too Much Makeup Do you remember the first time you wore makeup? Chances are it wasn’t your best look. As teenagers we tended to pile on the foundation and concealer to hide acne and scars, which only drew more attention to our blemishes. As women get older and get dark spots and wrinkles, they go back to this practice, piling on cakey powder to cover up their signs of aging. Newsflash: aging is beautiful and it’s a sign that we’ve lived a wonderful life, there’s no need to hide it; start embracing it! Image by Mohamed Nohassi/Unsplash When it comes to makeup, both teenagers and adults are better off sticking with cream foundations and tinted moisturizers for a more natural look. Never Wearing Short Sleeves As women get older, many of them feel super self-conscious about different parts of their bodies, especially their arms. And to hide them, they often cover them up by wearing sleeves, even in the summer. But covering up can actually have the opposite effect and it can draw more attention to your arms. Image via @reesewitherspoon/IG If you don’t love your arms, 3/4 sleeves, cap sleeves, kimono sleeves, and bell sleeves are flattering options instead of long-sleeve tops and blouses. White Pants Wearing white pants is tricky and not only is white a difficult color to pull off, but it’s also just so easy to stain! Within just a few minutes of throwing anything white on, stains start appearing out of nowhere and before you know it, your clothes are no longer crisp white. Image via @lenadunham/IG And we really hate to say it, but white isn’t the most slimming color—it shows every single lump and bump you have and it’s often see-through. Wearing white pants can make you feel self-conscious about your legs, which can happen at any age. [adinserter block="1"] Cutout Tops Cutout tops had their moment, adding a daring touch to our wardrobes with strategically placed slits and holes. However, like many bold fashion statements, this trend now feels a bit passé. Remember how shoulder pads were all the rage in the 1980s? Cutout tops are today’s equivalent, making them dated and less sophisticated. Image by Lauren Alkan/MJ Instead, contemporary fashion favors clean lines and classic silhouettes that exude timeless elegance. Just as we've moved on from overly dramatic styles in favor of more balanced, wearable pieces, it’s time to retire the cutout tops and embrace a more understated chic. Neck Scarves There’s many ways you could take a scarf and use it to embellish your outfit. However, certain styles are better than others. Image by Gabrielle Sousa/MJ In order to keep your neck looking elongated, we’d stay away from tying scarves around it. In addition, instead of adding a chic touch, neck scarves can make an outfit look cluttered and less polished. Instead, add a scarf around your shoulders or use it as a stylish and unique belt. The Importance of Hand Care Getting wrinkles is inevitable. As much as we might dread the wrinkling of our skin, it’s best to come to terms with it happening eventually. However, there are some ways to prevent it from getting too bad. Image by Gabrielle Sousa/MJ Your hands are often forgotten when it comes to sunscreen, but throw on some extra sun balm on the backs of your hands anytime you go outside. When you’re in for the night, some good quality moisturizer will keep your hands smooth and wrinkle free for longer. On the Fringe These days, folks are all about their curtain bangs, and we’re totally here for it. If bangs compliment your face shape well, consider yourself pretty lucky. Image by Lauren Alkan/MJ Just make sure if you’re getting bangs, you’re able to maintain them. Get a cut that gently fades the front pieces with the hair on the side, and then eventually into your true length. That way, they look nice, natural, and blend in perfectly. A High Waisted Look Not only is it trendy now to wear high waisted pants, but it’s also an entirely flattering look for people of all ages. Ladies, it might be time to invest in some new pants and really show off your style. For women with shorter torsos, rounded bellies, or just about any body type, high waited pants can elongate the legs and bring the right attention to the look as a whole. Pair them with your favorite blouse and see how much your style shines through! Statement Hats Statement hats—who doesn’t love them? Between the feathers, lace, tulle, ribbons, and sequin, they pack a punch! And while they’re a staple for the Kentucky Derby and the Met Gala, for almost all other occasions, they’re just too much! Image via @helenmirren/IG The only other time we really see statement hats is at church on Sundays or the holidays, and they’re often worn by older women. Even still, we’re not saying they don’t look glamorous, but they can age you. Tweed Fabric It doesn’t get more classic than tweed suits, but the heavy material can age a person because it’s a bit outdated. There’s no reason to spend tons of money on a Chanel-inspired tweed suit because they’re no longer stylish! Image via @salmahayek/IG But you should still have a tailored, well-fitted suit in your wardrobe because it will instantly make you look professional and sophisticated. Instead of tweed, look for suits in solid colors or pinstripes. Unflattering Colors Alright, let’s face it—there are some colors that don’t look great on anyone. While neons look better on some skin tones than others, most people can’t pull them off. The rule of thumb is that cooler skin tones look better in blues, purples, and pinks and colors to avoid are oranges, reds, and yellows. Warmer skin tones look better in reds, corals, golds, oranges, and yellows and should avoid jewel and icy tones. Image by Duy Hoang/Unsplash While we don’t have to be limited to these colors, sticking within them will flatter our skin tone, making us look more youthful. Revealing Clothes During our teenage and college years, we tried to dress in ways that show off our figure and so we wore as little clothes as possible. Oh, how we miss our bodies from back then! We could wear anything! Image by s_bukley/Depositphotos But as you get older, wearing revealing clothes to show off your body can make you look like you’re trying too hard to be young. It’s time to celebrate your age and instead of wearing cropped tops, miniskirts, plunging V-neck tops, and skin-tight bodycon dresses, wear clothes that complement your figure without showing too much skin! 1978—Farrah Waves We bet you were expecting this one! You can’t mention iconic hairstyles of the 70s without of course mentioning Farrah Fawcett, who burst onto the showbiz scene with her role in the legendary TV show Charlie’s Angels, alongside Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson. Fawcett’s hair became in many ways a bigger star than the actress herself, with hair salons across the country becoming inundated with requests for “The Farrah”. Image by Spelling-Goldberg/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885677as) Even today, when we think of 70s fashion and style, this is the instant look that springs to mind. 1979—Rock Chick In 1979 the hairstyles became a bit wilder and messier, showing us the first glimpse of the wild, rocky times that were to come in the decade ahead—both in music and fashion. And here we can see Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry rocking the rock chick look—undeniably the signature hairstyle of 1979. Image by (66461t) The year also saw Harry and her band catapulted to worldwide fame with the release of their stellar hit “Heart of Glass”, as well as their iconic cover shoot for Rolling Stone magazine. 1980—Experimental Color Oh dear. That shock of wild hair dye and frankly chaotic, messy style can only mean one thing—the 80s have begun. Now, don’t get us wrong—we love a bit of 80s’ fashion, but there’s no denying it was a pretty bonkers aesthetic, playing around with every single style rule in existence, and then dying it neon orange. And here we have Cyndi Lauper showing us exactly how it’s done, throwing out the rulebook with the signature style of the year 1980—experimental colors. Image by Shutterstock (113954a) It was just a different time. 1981—Side Ponytail Often regarded as the ever-changing style chameleon and master of disguise, Queen of Pop Madonna began her reign in the early 80s, with smash hits such as Lucky Star and Like a Virgin. And it was her fashion and style efforts that made just as much of a splash as her records and singing talents—and for good reason. Image by Fotos International/Shutterstock (113954h) 1981 saw popularity surge for the side ponytail, a look very much inspired by the Material Girl herself—and one that would continue for many years to come. 1996—Wild Streak The latter half of the 1990s was when things started to get really spicy. Because in 1996, the music industry changed forever when legendary British girl band the Spice Girls burst onto the scene. Posh, Baby, Scary, Sporty, and Ginger became the global icons for every young girl around the world, and their unique fashion and style was only just one part of their incredible influence. But it was Ginger Spice, aka Geri Halliwell, that made the biggest hair splash with her wild streak—the shock of blonde hair inserted into her ginger locks. This quickly became the most popular hairdo of the year, with stars like Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera following suit. Image by Dennis Stone/Shutterstock (265793b) Girl Power! 1997—Long and Layered We all know that Jennifer Lopez changed the course of history forever when she arrived to the Grammy Awards in a dress that fashion experts are still talking about even to this day. Often credited with being the inspiration behind Google Images, this stunning dress shocked and delighted fans and fashionistas around the world. But JLo has in fact been making style splashes since 1997—when she popularized the long and layered look. Image by Globe Photos/Mediapunch/Shutterstock (10336473a) Never change, Jenny from the Block. We love you. 1998—Short Bangs Drew Barrymore first burst onto the showbiz scene in 1982, when she starred in the classic sci-fi movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at the tender age of 7. But it was in the late 1990s when she really started making a splash, showing that she had truly grown into a strong and independent woman, owning her own fashion and style and working the confidence to experiment with new looks. Image by Dave Lewis/Shutterstock (286226cl) And thanks to her, this short and funky fringe became the go-to style for hair lovers everywhere in 1998. 1999—Soft Crop 1998 was a monumental year for Gwyneth Paltrow fans everywhere, because it was when most of us realized that she wasn't actually British. Accepting her Oscar for the mega-successful movie Shakespeare in Love, she shocked the world by speaking in her real, American accent, something not everyone had heard before. Screenshot from "Sliding Doors" Anyway, once we had recovered from that amazement, we were free to gaze upon her stunning short hairstyle—the soft crop, which became the most popular hairdo of that year. Lovely! 2000—Super Straight And so we come to the end of our hairdo saga, stopping at the end of the millennium with one final, iconic look. And who better to represent that look than Aaliyah, the Princess of R&B. Aaliyah was a huge star since first appearing in the scene and she worked with mage popular producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. In 2000, she appeared in her first film, Romeo Must Die. That same year, her single "Try Again" topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay. Sadly, a year later she tragically died in an airplane accident in the Bahamas. Image by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock (325680bo) Here she is rocking the signature look of the year 2000, the super straight style, at the red carpet of the MTV Music Awards. Now that’s what we call fierce!