Style and appearance is important to the older generation
There may be more beauty aids and maintenance shortcuts today than ever before, but being well-turned out is a dying art. Research revealed by online retailer isme.com shows that four in five 50+ women believe that standards in appearance have dropped dramatically since they were young.
The growing tendency of younger women to “dress down” certainly shouldn’t be blamed on poor example: according to the research almost three-quarters of 50+ women have a basic routine and checklist for clothes, hair and make-up before they go out. This ‘polished generation’ wouldn’t be seen dead going out looking anything less than perfect.
Instead they have named and shamed untidy celebs they blame for lowering standards, namely leisure-wear fan Katie Price and the frequently-dishevelled Kerry Katona.
An overwhelming majority rated the Duchess of Cambridge as the shining example of a young woman who meets the standard of looking well maintained at all times. In second place came Holly Willoughby with Cheryl Cole third. Meanwhile, popular reality stars such as Tulisa TOWIE’s Gemma Collins Lauren Goodger barely registered votes for their presentation.
Julie Donnelly, Head of Womenswear Buying at isme.com commented on the findings: “Our customers truly are the ‘polished generation’, having grown up in an era when looking scruffy in public simply wouldn’t do. They were raised to take real pride in themselves and are the true champions of style that transcends trends.
“Some youngsters may roll their eyes when their mums tell them off for looking untidy, or complain if she stops to check her hair and spritz some perfume before leaving the house. This generation maintains high style and standards and perhaps daughters should start taking a page out of their book!”
Shockingly 70% of the 50+ women questioned said they’ve had to stage an ‘intervention’ to prevent their adult daughters going out looking unkempt. Nearly a quarter (24%) have ironed clothes for their grown-up kids, knowing they wouldn’t do it for themselves. A further 14% have taken to a needle and thread to mend tears, missing buttons and dropped hems.
Going far beyond the call of duty, one in ten mums have even booked daughters into a hairdresser or beauty salon to force them into taming neglected nails and tresses. Top appearance bugbears are actually much more basic however. These included un-brushed hair, badly applied make-up and even the unfortunate trend for wearing pyjamas and slippers in public:
Top 10 bugbears of the polished generation:
1. Pyjamas or other ‘home wear’ worn out in public
2. Exposed ‘muffin tops’
3. Stained clothes
4. Streaky fake tan
5. Smudged or badly applied make-up
6. Un-ironed clothes
7. Un-brushed hair
8. Torn clothes
9. Chipped nail polish
10. Roots showing
Femalefirst Taryn Davies