I am 31F but my face and built makes me look like a teenager. Some people legit ask me where do I go to school. It’s frustrating and I am tired of it so I decided to dress in ways that would make me look older. But at the same time I always end up caving and wear anime shirts, pins, charms etc. which to an average person here reflects childish energy. Any tips on how can I dress older while also keeping it interesting?
EDIT: I want to add I don’t just wanna change for other people, I myself would like to do some switch-ups in my wardrobe too. I don’t want an entire overhaul, just something that’s best of both worlds.
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It’s probably not your face or hair that makes people think you are still in school, but your clothes.
Whether we like it or not, society doesn’t perceive anime prints and PJ as a sign of maturity.
If you have a friend who dresses like an adult, ask them to go shopping with you
If you don’t, try a personal shopping service. For example, StitchFix. You fill out a detailed style description questionnaire and the stylist sends you a selection of items . You keep what you want and return what you do not. Free shipping.
i got this a lot too. it’s nice as you get older bc then you still seem younger. dress how you like. i generally let my personality and way i carry myself indicate i am older. i did a lot of therapy for trauma and it changed how i am in my body. i am more confident now i think. body language can be a bigger part of how ppl perceive us than we think, too.
i say that b/c i believe you should feel free to wear whatever feels “you” and ppl can deal with their preconceived notions about anime etc. when i wanted to look older tho i started dressing like a friend who ppl always thought was older but it felt like cosplay to me and i don’t think it really worked that well either.
you can also always try saying things that help ppl clock that you are not a kid when they meet you too – job title or some other info. it always bothered me the most at work so i would kinda casually list prior experience etc. but most of all, i just wanted to be treated with respect. some coworkers were like damn how does she do all this so young and i just let them think that, meanwhile i knew i had other experience.
Plenty of middle aged people wear anime and sci-fi etc shirts. That’s not what makes you look younger. Nerd/geek/fandom cultures are multigenerational, and unless you have like a paw patrol shirt, youre good. Even PP shirts are cute.
If you look young, usually look young. It may be that school-aged dress more “grown” so the blurring of the lines is more the newer generations.
I would embrace it, but if you really want to look older, check out a lot of YouTube clips on how a 30 year old styles herself but adapt it to your personality.
You can also check out celebs with baby-faces and how they dress, and adapt that.
If you are a makeup girlie, there are ways to age your face but that seems exhausting and like putting on a mask. No matter what, keep wearing that sunscreen.
Being authentic to yourself is a much easier way to live than putting on a disguise to present a certain way in everyday life, but it is your choice.
I hope you find a way to balance your want to be perceived in a certain way with the fundamental need to be true to yourself. Good luck!
A big key to how you are perceived from your clothing is fit and quality. You can have a TON of fun with your wardrobe and still be perceived as an adult as long as your main pieces fit well and aren’t visibly cheap. Pop a fun but structured piece like a brightly colored blazer over your anime tee, and suddenly you look like a grown woman who likes anime, not a teenager with their parent’s credit card. Or pair a sundress with a whimsical print with more understated accessories to keep the tone from going too over the top