03/24/2009 9:20 am
Charla Krupp's 18 Ways to Not Look Old in the Recession
Charla Krupp
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 You can wear the bangs straight across your forehead, but avoid an out-of-date Louise Brooks fringe.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.
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?”
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Ill fitting clothes will age you -
1. Don’t be afraid to go into a dress shop and try on different tops to find out what cut looks best for your arms and bustline. Then when you shop, you have an idea of what type of outfit looks best on you.
I had to buy and outfit for my aunts funeral, and ended up buying 3 blouses after trying on 8. The best money I’ve ever spent, and they looked nice as well to wear later! (I hate shopping)
2. Stitching. If you are buying something, make sure that it won’t shrink (so if you think your long waist can’t handle a shirt that will ride up on you later, don’t buy it now). If the material stretches to the point you think that eventually the seams will rip (don’t buy it). If you notice a flaw in it and you think no one will notice it (they will).
3. If you like something, before you buy it, make sure you find a person (sometimes even a dry cleaning place) to tailor it to fit you properly, THEN buy it and have it properly corrected before wearing it. (don’t just hang it in your closet to do something with it later)
4. When going to a store to try on clothing wear a black bra so that when you DO try the top on, you can see how REALLY see through it is.
5. Wear black pants so you can see how that top REALLY looks with a neutral color.
— Wrong Make Up No No’s…
shimmer is for the young, not for those who have scars or age wrinkles, it will only show up more noticiable by wearing it.
not sure of foundation? dab some different shades if you can onto the top side of your wrist and find proper lighting. Never trust store lightening, it always casts a different glow so never shows make up true. (I love the book Color Me Beautiful for insight for your color palette. Its wrote by Carole Jackson).
Pink lipstick isn’t for everyone. BUT I’m sure you can find your happy medium within pink, peach, coral, etc. Just remember your skin tones, is it a blue undertone, or a yellow? Some people are gifted with just lovely natural lips. Whatever makes you sparkle, shine on hon!
Don’t wish to go all grey? How about a few highlights to have it blend? Sometimes you can easily mask your grey by light hightlights that make the grey look natural with your original hair coloring. (My sons will never see me grey that’s for sure! No honey..those are Highlights!:winks:)
- Shoes
Sorry but some shoes were meant to stay back in the 1800’s….too pointy shoes? All I can say is OUCH if you ever stub your toe! :laughs:
Just remember, if you wear the wrong color whether it be clothing, make up, or hair, it will age you. Always keep honest to yourself.
‘New & different’ - I am still waitng for that, HA BIBI. I always read these things hoping for one new glimmer of insight and just as often walk away wondering what was the least bit new.
The thing about only pro color being acceptable is such baloney - I had my SIL who was a stylist show me how to correctly apply my own color. I get so many compliments from people about my color and most don’t believe I do it myself. My own stylist is always remarking about how much she likes it. Doing it right and keeping it up in a timely fashion keeps you looking good with more free time and more money in your wallet.
Hi GT,
Yes wouldn’t it be nice to learn something new and useful, LOL. I was being facetious when I posted my original comment because it would be nice to hear something new. I to am a hairstylist, Esthetician and Nail artist, so do all my cut, color and nails myself and save loads of money and more valuable….time. If you can do it yourself and everyone loves the look, then you’re doing it right! I do use professional products as for me I do see a difference as opposed to haircolor products sold over the counter at grocery stores, but more importantly, the products I use after I color that make a major difference. That difference being between your hair feeling like straw or feeling like healthy hair. I use a product, well actually two depending on whether I find one or the other available and that is either Oxy-Free or Regenal. Both of these remove all peroxide residual from the hair. Peroxide is a chemical that continues to work, even after the color has stopped oxidizing. The peroxide is what drys the hair out and kicks in continuing to do damage to the hair at the least bit of moisture, i.e. humidity, rewetting the hair, ect…The products break down the chemical composition of Hydrogen peroxide to water. Peroxide= H2O2, by removing the 2, you are left with the composition of nothing more water…….Sorry for the long chemistry lesson, just thought I’d share this with you so your hair keeps healthy and looking great!
Loved the chem lesson, HB - I actually learned something new! I thank you for that and will look into the products you suggested. SIL would help me again, I’m sure.
Do you ever have someone do your nails for you? One indulgence I allow myself is a regular pedicure year-round. The woman who takes care of my feet has tamed my big toes and their ingrown nails. She massages my legs so well that it feels like they have had a refreshing nap when I leave the shop. I don’t know what I will do if she ever moves….
Naw GT,
LOL, I do my own pedi & mani. I’m am tooo damned particular! I do what is called the NY manicure, all cuticle removed so nails look magazine perfect. So don’t trust others with the nipping implements and don’t take the chance that their implements are not throughly sanitized. I’m also a Flight Attendant so I baby my feet and keep them smooth as a baby’s butt, LOL. When you’re on your feet alot you gotta take really good care of them….I do leave the foot and leg massages up to Hubby though as he does that oh so well! Your welcome and glad the Chem lesson helped.
In the book, the 50 Secrets of the World’s Longest Living People, it says:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1DCrC7vMagC&pg=PA217&lpg=PA217&dq=sex+%2B+antiaging&source=bl&ots=xkYG2oxvYA&sig=_aN1LdsN-ehBQclh45U9UNaMlwY&hl=en&ei=GujISdieOI3CMajOhdsD&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA218,M1
Yes, yes and so French. I keep writing about similar topics in my blog on a femme d’un certain age. In fact, talked about the pencil skirt last week and found a hilarious Barbie dressed in a pencil skirt with one of the season’s latest looks — a take on the French marine t-shirt.
Re. your lipstick advice: I agree completely. Also think another great trick is outlining the lips with a transparent lip-liner. It keeps everything from slipping up into those pesky barcode lines. There are lots of them out there L’Oreal makes one called Infaillible Lip Liner.
Et voila. Thought your book was great btw.
Best regards,
Tish
Oooops. Thank you Lois Draegin for your interview with Charla Krupp. (And to think I used to be an editor…)