personal style: opinions needed - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

personal style: opinions needed

bella

(website)

Veteran

All the recent conversations on the forum about personal style made me think about my personal style as well. GG and Sinead described my outfits as glamorous on my last thread. If I wanted to describe my style, glamor would be one of the words that I would use. I am glad to see that it came through.
On the other hand, I started to wonder if I am dressing a bit older than my age.

So here is my question to you all, if you don't mind answering. Strictly based on the way I dress, how old do you think I am?

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Antje

Tanya

Veteran

Hi Bella, I would guess that you are somewhere in a 25-27 range based on your beautiful polished outfits.

Anonymous

I love your outfits! I'm guessing 25-30.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I would say that you are mid twenties to mid thirties. I think that your style could be appropriate for that big a range or broader. If I had to guess your age I would say 24-27 .

hanna

(website)

i'd guessed somewhere around my own age or a little older actually - 24-27ish? you wear things that i'd wear myself in a heartbeat

sinead

I'm also guessing 25-30. There's a sort of timeless quality in the way you dress, so it's hard to really pick a range based on that.

Anonymous

Because you have what seems to me a classic look, and you look very self assured in your style, I'd say 30ish. You look like you are comfortable with your style.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hmmm. My darling stylish Bella - you'll need to take your glasses off before I offer an accurate guess!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

That's what I was going to say, Angie! It's so hard to tell when I can't see your eyes. You could be any age. Young, or slightly more mature with fantastic skin. I'm 27, and I love your sense of style. I consider my style to be classic with a touch of glam and edge. So if your style is considered "old" then I'm right there with you. I don't think your look is aged at all. I think it's very appropriate and classic.

shiny

Veteran

That's a tough one. It reminds me that when I was in college I had a job as a market researcher, I was paid to stop people in the mall and ask them survey questions. I got really good at guessing people's ages, because we needed to get so many people in certain age ranges. I could probably guess your age within +/-5 years if I met you IRL, or I could see a close-up of your face without the glasses, and you weren't wearing a scarf. Hair and skin around the eyes, neck, chest tend to be the best giveaways - no matter how careful one is in the sun. Teeth are another giveaway, or used to be, until whitening products came into widespread use.

But that's not what you asked; you asked about how you are dressing.

I will say that there are some outfits/items in your wardrobe that have made me wonder if you aren't around my own age (I'm 43), even though you look younger than that. If I had to guess (without seeing that close-up of your face), I'd say early 30s. The items that make me wonder tend to be preppy/classic items ... which however you always manage to integrate into a more modern, fun outfit.

shiny

Veteran

You posted while I was posting!

Examples of pieces that throw me off about your age and make me wonder if you are my own age are:

1) the grey cardigan 3-24. I think because it's bulky. The earrings in that photo give me pause too, because I remember wearing earrings like this in the 80s. But, then again, it is 80s revival!

2) the sweater 3-23 - it's that little polo logo!!! Everything about this sweater reminds me of my teen years. But, you do funk it up and you are wearing it in a modern way. However, it does throw me off and wonder.

3) the scarves.... I have to be honest, since you wear scarves every single day, it does make me wonder if you are trying to cover up your neck deliberately, which a lot of us 40-and-above women like to do, because we really start hating our neck.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all very much for chiming in. You are all in the ballpark. I am 29. You are right to point out that sunglasses make a huge difference and you could probably all guess correctly if I posted a picture without them. However, I am most interested in the age I project with the way I dress.
Overall, I am relieved to find out that my outfits mostly come across as age-appropriate. On the other hand, Shiny hit the nail on the hand with her observations. I am worried that by relying too heavily on the scarves, sticking to a certain silhouette (skirt - button down- cardi- belt-scarf), I actually look older than I am.
I like my preppy outfits, especially my polo sweater but I guess I am open to suggestions on that regard.
Thanks again!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Bella, stay true to who you are. I started dressing "preppy" at age 14. While my friends wore tight, low jeans and Old Navy baby tees, I asked for a crisp navy blazer, red silk blouse, and navy/red/gree/gold plaid pleated skirt for my birthday that year. *That* was probably old for my age now that I think about it, but I've always been attracted to simple, classic silhouettes. There are ways to make something look more modern, but I see nothing aging about your style choices at all.
I feared that I dressed a bit old, so I opted for a younger hair style with the dramatic fringe, and I keep my makeup very young and fresh. I think the whole look balances out nicely. I can stay true to my personal style, but not be afraid of looking "old".

shiny

Veteran

Yeah, I'm with Sarbear on this, Bella. I wouldn't have really wondered, if you hadn't asked us, but since you did, I went back and looked a little harder at your photos for clues!!! Figuring it must be a trick question.

I wouldn't recommend giving up your preppy sweaters if that is your style. As I said, you always do a great job funking it up for a modern, fun twist. And I personally love the skirt-boot-cardi-belt-scarf combo and don't think that ages you in the least.

shana

Veteran

I'm a little late on this thread but I wanted to chime in and say that I also thought that you were in the 25-30 range. You seem to have a fun edge to your classic looks that keep them looking fresh.

I've always been dressing "older" than my true age and am a real preppy at heart. Since I am petite and always looked young it never bothered me. Now that I've hit my mid-30's and I am starting to see fine lines on my face and grays in my hair, I am a little more conscious about dressing age appropriately.

Inge

(website)

I had been wondering about this for a while, and was guessing about 30 (the glasses made it harder, yes;-)

Not just because of the way you dress (which I LOVE, there is indeed some glamour and sophistication going on, combined with a playful element), but also because of the way you stand and hold yourself. You look confident and happy with your style. I wouldn't change a thing if you don't feel like it.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Thank you very much Sarah, Shiny, Shana and Inge for your opinions. I am very aware of what looks and does not look good on me, how I can accessorize my outfits, how I can play up my strengths. These definitely contribute to what you perceive as happiness and contentment with my style decisions.
I don't think I will change my style, I am happy. I just don't want to be stuck with a look that makes me look older and you have assured me that it is not the case.
Besides, the weather will soon be warmer and I will have to rely less on my beloved scarves. It will be a challenge and we will see how well I fare.
Thanks again!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I didn't get to reply in time, but my guess was late 20s too. FWIW, I don't think your look says "old" at all; I think it shows maturity combined with elegance and playfulness. You dress like a confident adult woman who knows herself and what she likes. It's wonderful to see your choices each week! I learn a lot from you.

Antje

Veteran

I'm very late here, but I just want to chime in and say I wish I'd looked that smart at 29! It took me longer to develop my personal style (and I still don't think I've really found it, but at least I'm happy with how I dress/look most of the time). You don't dress "old", but confident and smart and well put together. And very very stylish!

Asha

I'm late too (I probably will be on most threads until I get back into a US time zone!), but I wanted to say I guessed around my age (I'm 30). I love the way you dress - I'm partial to classic with an edge, and I think you embody that.

Ellen

I'm late here, but I just wanted to say that you look fantastic and I love the way you put together your style. I would have guessed 25 or 26, so I don't think you're dressing too 'old' at all. And I for one am a fan of finding a style and running with it, so if you want to play around go for it, but otherwise, enjoy wearing what suits you!

P.S. I'm a big fan of scarves myself.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A late note from me too, Bella. You look perfectly age appropriate and wonderful. That comes through in the way that you feel. Don’t you dare change a thing :0)

bella

(website)

Veteran

I'm sorry I just saw this. Kristen, Antje, Asha, Ellen and Angie, thanks for chiming in. You are my fashion common sense, thank you for the validation.

I also wanted to let you know that I won't be here for a while. I am going out of town and will not have as much internet access.
Thanks!

Antje

Veteran

We'll miss you! Post pics when you get back, pleeze.