For women who think it doesn't really matter how old they look, this recession may be just the time to reassess. Charla Krupp, who wrote the essential 2008 bestseller How Not to Look Old, says appearing younger and hip is even more important in tough economic times. "When I wrote [my book] I cared about women staying in their jobs longer. Now that everybody is being let go, women need to have a competitive edge."
That doesn't just mean working harder -- it means not looking dated. "No one wants to work with old ladies!" exclaims Krupp, appearing anything but in her chic print dress with her glowing skin. "It's not like you're trying to look like you're 20 years old," she says. "You just want to look fresh, current and ageless. You want to look modern." You definitely don't want to look what she calls OL (Old Lady).
And it doesn't have to cost a fortune to update your style. Here are some simple ways to look -- and feel -- younger:
1. Don't wear reading glasses on a chain around your neck: "That is so OL," Krupp says, laughing. "It's a sign you can't remember where you left your glasses. Why are you advertising that? Put them on your head. Or put them all over the place, so wherever you look you have them." And don't wear those necklaces with charms for each of your kids. "Would you wear a necklace saying you're 60?"
2. Think pink lipstick: One of the quickest ways to look younger is to wear pink lipstick -- and don't forget to gloss. It'll make your lips look plumper instantly and brighten up your face. Dark lipstick seeps into the cracks around the upper lip no matter what you do, Krupp advises. If you wear light pink, no one will notice.
3. Drop the dates off your résumé: Really, just take them off. Most people won't even notice. Plus, Krupp says, don't write about all the little jobs you did 30 years ago. Keep your résumé focused on the big picture.
4. Trim some bangs: Don't want to get Botox for forehead wrinkles? Just cut bangs to disguise them. "They're a great trick for an older woman," Krupp says. And they'll bring the attention to your eyes, which is where you want people to look anyway. You can wear the bangs straight across your forehead, but avoid an out-of-date Louise Brooks fringe. Just make sure the bangs are casual and not too short. You can wear them brushed to the side too.
That doesn't just mean working harder -- it means not looking dated. "No one wants to work with old ladies!" exclaims Krupp, appearing anything but in her chic print dress with her glowing skin. "It's not like you're trying to look like you're 20 years old," she says. "You just want to look fresh, current and ageless. You want to look modern." You definitely don't want to look what she calls OL (Old Lady).
And it doesn't have to cost a fortune to update your style. Here are some simple ways to look -- and feel -- younger:
1. Don't wear reading glasses on a chain around your neck: "That is so OL," Krupp says, laughing. "It's a sign you can't remember where you left your glasses. Why are you advertising that? Put them on your head. Or put them all over the place, so wherever you look you have them." And don't wear those necklaces with charms for each of your kids. "Would you wear a necklace saying you're 60?"
2. Think pink lipstick: One of the quickest ways to look younger is to wear pink lipstick -- and don't forget to gloss. It'll make your lips look plumper instantly and brighten up your face. Dark lipstick seeps into the cracks around the upper lip no matter what you do, Krupp advises. If you wear light pink, no one will notice.
3. Drop the dates off your résumé: Really, just take them off. Most people won't even notice. Plus, Krupp says, don't write about all the little jobs you did 30 years ago. Keep your résumé focused on the big picture.
4. Trim some bangs: Don't want to get Botox for forehead wrinkles? Just cut bangs to disguise them. "They're a great trick for an older woman," Krupp says. And they'll bring the attention to your eyes, which is where you want people to look anyway. You can wear the bangs straight across your forehead, but avoid an out-of-date Louise Brooks fringe. Just make sure the bangs are casual and not too short. You can wear them brushed to the side too.
5. Wash away the gray -- especially if you're job hunting: Krupp acknowledges the let-your-hair-go-gray movement, but she's not buying it. "You want to take the risk of going gray? Great! I will look younger than you, I swear!" And if you're seeking a new job, she thinks gray is an even bigger liability. Krupp has talked to job recruiters and they tell her they're looking for "energy" (read: youth), not gray-haired experience. "Sure," she says, "if you don't have a job and it's just you and your husband and you live on a beach, go gray and have fun. But we live in a competitive world in this job market crisis."
6. Brighten your teeth: Dingy teeth are aging, and whitening them doesn't have to be expensive. Krupp says every dentist she's asked promises you can get the same effect from the drugstore-bought Crest Whitestrips as from costly professional treatments.
7. Buy fewer clothes and buy better clothes: It's not a new idea, but if you're looking to save it's a great strategy. "You can wear the same black pencil skirt a hundred different ways every single day of the week," says Krupp. Just switch your accessories. "No one is really writing down what you're wearing. If you can't remember what you wore yesterday, do you think your friend at the office is?"
8. Smooth out your middle with shapewear: As women age, it's hard to avoid a "menopot" or "muffintop," not to mention back fat and other midsection flab. And if you wear pantyhose or high-waisted briefs, the elastic waistband can create unfortunate bulges. That's why Krupp swears by shapewear to create one smooth line. One of her favorites is the TC Smooth Hi-Waist Bike Pant, which extends from the bottom of the bra to the mid-thigh (perfect for wearing with a dress or skirt). If you're in pants or a long dress, get a bodyshaper that extends to Capri length. You can buy these undergarments in three stages of compression. "They take some getting used to," she says, "but it's well worth a little inconvenience."
9. Update your job interview look: If you're pounding the pavement, put some fresh thought into what you wear to interviews. Depending on your industry, chances are a suit and pumps won't cut it anymore. "You just can't wear the same old thing," Krupp says. "Fashions change and styles change and it shows you're not current and not with it if you're wearing things that are so five years ago." But no need to overbuy. Krupp says to get one great outfit and wear it to every interview.
6. Brighten your teeth: Dingy teeth are aging, and whitening them doesn't have to be expensive. Krupp says every dentist she's asked promises you can get the same effect from the drugstore-bought Crest Whitestrips as from costly professional treatments.
7. Buy fewer clothes and buy better clothes: It's not a new idea, but if you're looking to save it's a great strategy. "You can wear the same black pencil skirt a hundred different ways every single day of the week," says Krupp. Just switch your accessories. "No one is really writing down what you're wearing. If you can't remember what you wore yesterday, do you think your friend at the office is?"
8. Smooth out your middle with shapewear: As women age, it's hard to avoid a "menopot" or "muffintop," not to mention back fat and other midsection flab. And if you wear pantyhose or high-waisted briefs, the elastic waistband can create unfortunate bulges. That's why Krupp swears by shapewear to create one smooth line. One of her favorites is the TC Smooth Hi-Waist Bike Pant, which extends from the bottom of the bra to the mid-thigh (perfect for wearing with a dress or skirt). If you're in pants or a long dress, get a bodyshaper that extends to Capri length. You can buy these undergarments in three stages of compression. "They take some getting used to," she says, "but it's well worth a little inconvenience."
9. Update your job interview look: If you're pounding the pavement, put some fresh thought into what you wear to interviews. Depending on your industry, chances are a suit and pumps won't cut it anymore. "You just can't wear the same old thing," Krupp says. "Fashions change and styles change and it shows you're not current and not with it if you're wearing things that are so five years ago." But no need to overbuy. Krupp says to get one great outfit and wear it to every interview.
10. Try makeup that glows: It's time to toss out your old makeup and use the new products available at the drugstore to help you glow. "Foundation now is not really cakey, cover-up-every-pore," Krupp advises. Start with a foundation primer with a silicone base; it glides over your face and helps to fill in any cracks (Krupp's pick: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 with Dermaxyl Complex). Next, apply a creamy foundation that shines -- you don't want a matte look. And don't use a lot of powdered makeup. Go for cream blush too. (Krupp says she's no fan of the mineral makeup that's popular these days; she thinks it's aging.) Definitely play up your eyes, lining them with a liquid eyeliner pen (she likes The Makeup Fine Eyeliner from Shiseido).
11. Leave the rubber-soled shoes in your closet: Yes, those ugly shoes are comfy, but at what price? "A lot of women don't realize the message they're sending to the outside world screams old lady," says Krupp, who urges high heels. She suggests ones from Cole Haan made with Nike technology. The heels aren't super high, and they're relatively comfortable. She is willing to offer some dispensation: "Just wear them for a few hours -- you don't have to wear them all day anymore."
12. Groom your eyebrows: "Getting your eyebrows done is like a 15-minute facelift," Krupp says. "It can really lift up your face." See a pro the first time to get the right shape, then you can tweeze them yourself if you want to economize. But don't pluck out the gray hairs, since brows thin with age and you might wind up with no brows at all. Krupp says to color in the gray ones with a MAC Brow Finisher wax pencil, which you can also use to fill in the sparse areas and to extend the ends if your brows are too short.
13. Buy new bras: Eighty percent of us are walking around in bras that are too small, says Krupp. "The older you get, the more you probably need a bigger cup size." It's amazing how much better your clothes will look once you've got the right support. (She likes the Le Mystere Dream Tisha bra for large-breasted women.)
14. Don't scrimp on salon hair color: Even if you're cutting back, Krupp says, getting hair professionally colored is the one beauty indulgence not to skip. You want your hair to have a variety of subtle tones that look natural, a brightening of color around the face to counteract the darkness caused by wrinkles and dark spots. Do-it-yourself dye jobs often result in a wall of one color and that looks frumpy. But there are ways to save: You can touch up your roots yourself with a kit or some of those pens or brushes to delay a salon visit a few weeks. She also suggests talking to your stylist and asking her how to make the color last longer. Maybe tone down the highlights so it's not so obvious when the real color comes in.
15. Dress up: "A lot of women don't have any dresses," Krupp says, and that's too bad, because she thinks they're super flattering. "They don't give you the separation between upper and lower body, you don't have to worry about waistline, you don't have to worry about a belt, you don't have to worry about 'should I tuck it in, shouldn't I tuck it in.' It just smoothes over your menopaunch, or your Buddha belly." The bottom line: "It's an easy way to get a slimming line."
16. No nude stockings. Ever: They look totally OL, Krupp says. Opaque tights and fishnets are fine. Or go bare legged. Krupp suggests rubbing DuWop Revolotion SPF 15 bronzing body moisturizer on your legs. "It completely covers all the goose pimples, bumps, black-and-blue marks, scars. It's kind of like self-tanner but it doesn't get on your hands."
17. Buy three trendy accessories every season: Freshen up your look with a few cool pieces of costume jewelry bought at someplace inexpensive, like Target, H&M or HSN. Right now you could go for a statement necklace, a big cuff or a really fun watch with colored bands. But Krupp says don't just grab the first thing that catches your eye: You need to do your homework so you actually know what the trends of the season are. Buy a fashion magazine, go online or watch a fashion show to figure out what's in style -- then update your wardrobe.
18. Skip plastic surgery: One side effect of the recession is that fewer people are springing for face-lifts, and Krupp thinks that's a good thing. "I don't think plastic surgery is the answer," she says. "I think it can really give you that 'I had surgery' look, which you don't want." But she's all for the injectables available at the dermatologist's office, like Botox, Restylane and a host of other products. If you want to go there, she advises talking to a doctor to get more information about what's available and right for you.
An updated paperback edition of How Not to Look Old will be published May 1, full of great tips and complete with more than 150 recommended new products.
11. Leave the rubber-soled shoes in your closet: Yes, those ugly shoes are comfy, but at what price? "A lot of women don't realize the message they're sending to the outside world screams old lady," says Krupp, who urges high heels. She suggests ones from Cole Haan made with Nike technology. The heels aren't super high, and they're relatively comfortable. She is willing to offer some dispensation: "Just wear them for a few hours -- you don't have to wear them all day anymore."
12. Groom your eyebrows: "Getting your eyebrows done is like a 15-minute facelift," Krupp says. "It can really lift up your face." See a pro the first time to get the right shape, then you can tweeze them yourself if you want to economize. But don't pluck out the gray hairs, since brows thin with age and you might wind up with no brows at all. Krupp says to color in the gray ones with a MAC Brow Finisher wax pencil, which you can also use to fill in the sparse areas and to extend the ends if your brows are too short.
13. Buy new bras: Eighty percent of us are walking around in bras that are too small, says Krupp. "The older you get, the more you probably need a bigger cup size." It's amazing how much better your clothes will look once you've got the right support. (She likes the Le Mystere Dream Tisha bra for large-breasted women.)
14. Don't scrimp on salon hair color: Even if you're cutting back, Krupp says, getting hair professionally colored is the one beauty indulgence not to skip. You want your hair to have a variety of subtle tones that look natural, a brightening of color around the face to counteract the darkness caused by wrinkles and dark spots. Do-it-yourself dye jobs often result in a wall of one color and that looks frumpy. But there are ways to save: You can touch up your roots yourself with a kit or some of those pens or brushes to delay a salon visit a few weeks. She also suggests talking to your stylist and asking her how to make the color last longer. Maybe tone down the highlights so it's not so obvious when the real color comes in.
15. Dress up: "A lot of women don't have any dresses," Krupp says, and that's too bad, because she thinks they're super flattering. "They don't give you the separation between upper and lower body, you don't have to worry about waistline, you don't have to worry about a belt, you don't have to worry about 'should I tuck it in, shouldn't I tuck it in.' It just smoothes over your menopaunch, or your Buddha belly." The bottom line: "It's an easy way to get a slimming line."
16. No nude stockings. Ever: They look totally OL, Krupp says. Opaque tights and fishnets are fine. Or go bare legged. Krupp suggests rubbing DuWop Revolotion SPF 15 bronzing body moisturizer on your legs. "It completely covers all the goose pimples, bumps, black-and-blue marks, scars. It's kind of like self-tanner but it doesn't get on your hands."
17. Buy three trendy accessories every season: Freshen up your look with a few cool pieces of costume jewelry bought at someplace inexpensive, like Target, H&M or HSN. Right now you could go for a statement necklace, a big cuff or a really fun watch with colored bands. But Krupp says don't just grab the first thing that catches your eye: You need to do your homework so you actually know what the trends of the season are. Buy a fashion magazine, go online or watch a fashion show to figure out what's in style -- then update your wardrobe.
18. Skip plastic surgery: One side effect of the recession is that fewer people are springing for face-lifts, and Krupp thinks that's a good thing. "I don't think plastic surgery is the answer," she says. "I think it can really give you that 'I had surgery' look, which you don't want." But she's all for the injectables available at the dermatologist's office, like Botox, Restylane and a host of other products. If you want to go there, she advises talking to a doctor to get more information about what's available and right for you.
An updated paperback edition of How Not to Look Old will be published May 1, full of great tips and complete with more than 150 recommended new products.
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