Style Secrets That Will Help You Look Older

Many women, especially in the United States, resonate with the ultimate goal of appearing younger, thanks in large part to a society that's terrified of aging. It's hardly a surprise that we're always itching to know the hair lengths that make you look younger or the dress mistakes that make you look older. But there are occasions where women aspire to age themselves up, mostly because they want to be taken more seriously. Even though older women in the workplace report experiences with ageism, dressing in a more mature way can help us feel more confident, avoiding the patronizing that sometimes comes with being a young woman in today's world. If your goal is to dress in a way that's more refined, mature, and intentional, there are a few simple but effective changes you can make, starting with ensuring your wardrobe fits to perfection. But much of the work of appearing older should really come from within.

"The not-so-secret secret is that people take you as seriously as you take yourself," says personal stylist Jordan Stolch. "This is far less about the actual type of style you wear, and far more about the intentionality on the back of your decisions." In an exclusive conversation with Glam, she adds that the people we as a society tend to take seriously might not share a similar fashion sense or even dress in a way that suits our individual tastes. That doesn't matter, however, because their confident mindsets are what shine through. "Learn how to develop a signature style, a core look you are known for, and you'll take care of this problem," she advises us.

Believing that you should be taken seriously is half of the battle when it comes to appearing more mature. In terms of the way you actually dress, the power doesn't necessarily come with choosing specific styles, but rather ensuring that they fit well. There's no point in mastering minimalist dressing if nothing in your demure rotation fits you. "Proper fit solves 90% of style challenges," Jordan Stolch shares exclusively with Glam. "Learn the specifics of your body, learn the clothing that balances your proportions, make friends with a tailor — alterations are not as costly as most people assume they are. The impression you give by having a wardrobe that fits and flatters you will pay for itself in dividends." She recommends paying special attention to hemlines that are too long, garments that have no shape, and anything that is "too tight" or "too loose," as these can create the wrong impression.

Stolch's next tip is about what you wear, but there's lots of leeway to infuse your own fashion sense into the mix: "Integrate core elevation pieces into your wardrobe that you can easily interchange with the vast majority of your outfits." In other words, it's important to build the perfect capsule wardrobe for you. Stolch notes that the essential items that every grown-up wardrobe needs include simple jewelry and a "classic belt," as well as "nicer footwear" and handbags (though not necessarily those that you'll have to spend years paying off). The Town Bucket Vegan Leather Bag is a good choice for professional and everyday use, while the JW PEI Women's Elise Top Handle Bag is ideal for the office. "Elevation pieces allow you to easily take basic, more simple pieces up several notches (aka elevate), resulting in a more polished, put-together sense of dressing," Stolch explains. 

One of the major mistakes that people make when trying to look older is going too casual. Not trying too hard may have been cool in high school — and perhaps a low-key outfit is the perfect thing to wear on a casual first date — but there comes a point when underdressing comes across as sloppy. "There's most certainly a time and place for everything, casual clothing being one of them," Jordan Stolch exclusively tells Glam. "However, when trying to make a good impression or represent yourself favorably, don't play it cool by going the 'no effort' route. This will always make you look careless, juvenile, and less memorable."

The other area where Stolch advises practicing caution is trying to keep up with trends. There's nothing wrong with being aware of what's en vogue and incorporating those elements into your looks, such as a particular jean silhouette or type of footwear, but you don't want to jump from fad to fad frequently, never actually coming into your own sense of style. "Mature style is staying true to who you are," our personal stylist confirms. "Of course, there's ample space to change and evolve the way you dress, but when it's done as a means to try to make yourself look trendy, you inadvertently make yourself look like you aren't sure of who you are, and this ultimately comes across as amateur or younger."