From an appearance perspective does blending improve with age?

[nikkiwindsor]

As I get older I've been paying more attention to the appearance of cis-women as they enter middle age and beyond. It seems to me that their facial features become more masculine. With this in mind, perhaps older trans-women would find it easier to blend in among the public than younger transgender ladies. Am I on to some kernel of reality here?

[Rachael Leigh]

Nikki, I think there is some truth to this it is most likely hormones that change as cis women get older. When I go out and
do my final mirror check I think I look manly but then once I’m out I see so many different faces and shapes and realize even if I’m perceived as a male dressed as a women it’s not ever been noticed by me that anyone seems to really care I’m
just trying to be me

[docrobbysherry]

I don't see myself getting more fem looking as I age, 75 now. I'm just getting more decrepit looking!:doh:

If u do and enjoy it, hurray!:battingeyelashes:

I'll consider "dressing to blend" when I absolutely have nothing sexy left to wear!:devil:

[Tracii G]

Why even give yourself something else to worry about ?
Maybe yes maybe no but one thing for sure there is nothing anyone of us can do anything about it.
Enjoy dressing anyway you desire.

[Stephanie47]

Maybe older women do not turn heads like younger women do. But, you have to define beauty, middle age and all those descriptive terms. Frankly, I see many young women who are not head turners just based on how they carry themselves. Same can be said of guys. Women who age do not look more masculine. They look like older women. My almost seventy year old bride can put many women to shame when it comes to beauty. She is years older than her younger sisters, but, looks years younger than them. I think anyone who is going to measure themselves by whether they look youthful is headed for a heap of disappointment.

It may be easier for a mature MtF cross dresser to go unnoticed because everyone is distracted by younger women. If middle age is 35 to 45 (?) I'd say they turn my head more than any twenty year old. Older women know how to please a man. Experience counts!!!

PS: My 82 year old grandmother always needed to shave her upper lip. I hated her kisses. Maybe when I'm 82 I can pass better. But, what to do about that six foot height? Maybe stoop over and use a cane?

PS: Wait to your high school reunions every ten years and see who shows up looking good!!

[alwayshave]

Stephanie, when I am 82 I think I'll be able to pass too.

[Ineke Vashon]

I'm 84 but don't plan to dress like an 84 year old anytime soon unless I can blend in so well that a boy scout may offer to escort me across the street. Ergo, I stay home and dress as I please. I mean, an 84 year old in a bikini? :eek:

Ineke

[Bea_]

I agree with the observation that women seem to be "less feminine" as they age. I'm not sure that that's a particular advantage for us, but I'd say it's true.

[Kas]

It will help you blend, but not sure why you would want to look like a masculine old woman hahaha.

As contrapoints said in one of her videos; sure there are old (cis) women which are balding and have beards bla bla bla, and nobody is arguing that they’re not women, but you still need to consider how society views bearded, bald women.

I see some CDers argue that, “oh look there’s a woman with a beard, and she’s an actual GG, so there should be nothing wrong with me having a beard!”. Though this is technically true, society will still treat you like an outcast, even if you “pass” 100%. But whatever floats your boat I guess.

This a rather extreme example I know, but I’m just using it to prove a point. GGs come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve seen some VERY manly GGs, but I don’t want to compare myself to manly GGs because that kind of defeats the entire purpose of why I dress. Anyway that’s just my view.

IMO, the younger the better.

[Beverley Sims]

I think older people are less looked at or surveyed, by others around them so ostensibly they could slip under the radar more easily.

[Tina B.]

As you age hormones change for both genders, as the male hormones drop, a man loses hair growth muscle deterioration, even height. women loss hormones too, they grow hair like they never had, mustaches included. A small older dresser, would have a much better chance to pass better than a middle age man with raging hormones, but for us larger men, I doubt it helps much.

[Tracii G]

Having extra weight does smooth out the wrinkles in the face as we age.

[Charlotte7]

Nikki, when we add this thread to your recent thread about losing weight I see a pattern here which causes me a bit of concern. I really think that you should see your doctor and get some advice. I may be way of the mark here and sorry if I am, but it appears to me that you may not be in an altogether happy place at the moment. You can't lose anything but at least having a chat with someone can you?

[Rayleen]

nikki, there is some truth to that, my wife's face looks more masculine with age. I notice also that some men looks more like female.

It all depend on individuals, some people's face never change. So dress up and enjoy with the way you look, not much we can do about it.

[GretchenM]

To add to Tina B.'s comments, hormones are a definite factor in the phenomenon of men and women becoming somewhat more similar with age. That said, hormones and their actions or lack of actions is quite individualized. Some change more than others and there is also a factor of how much one cares about how they look. Another factor is our own tendency to cherry pick the characteristics in another's appearance to determine what sex they are. If you are looking for masculine characteristics in older women you will probably find them even though there may be a lot of characteristics that head the other way and reveal an elegance that is unique to older women. Men tend to become somewhat more feminized over time due to the decline in testosterone. (And by the way, the testosterone in older men is low for a reason, so it is not a good idea to mess with it - that can be fatal.) So this perception of men and women is part truth and part just a shift in our perceptions. That said, it seems to me that many men can come close to looking elderly female in facial features but not much of anyplace else, provided they have taken care of their skin in their younger years. If they didn't, well that is a considerably greater challenge.

[Bobbi46]

"More decrepit looking" what a wonderful way of looking at age, it has been said that beauty is skin deep which in my case after years of stress I can quite safely say "I am inside out" !!

[Roxanne Lanyon]

Not sure about the "looking" part, but I certainly feel like a lady, now!
Roxanne Lanyon

"My Heart is Female, My soul is His"

[Eemz]

I think age does help. I'm reasonably passable now as a middle aged woman if you don't look too closely, especially in winter coats where body shape is less of an issue. A lot more than when I was younger.

[Cheryl T]

Things sag, skin stretches and we all look a bit more alike I suppose as we age. So in some ways it does become easier to blend in with the masses.

I have a friend who is older, dresses like a little old lady and has for years. A group of us went to the movies and these young girls were looking and giggling at us as our friend walked between them to return unused tickets. They never batted an eye at her yet they kept ogling and giggling at us. I guess dressing your age has it's advantages. Maybe someday I will, if I ever get that old ;)

[Patience]

I think age does help. I'm reasonably passable now as a middle aged woman if you don't look too closely, especially in winter coats where body shape is less of an issue. A lot more than when I was younger.If I may suggest (not necessarily singling you our, Eemz), blending might become easier with age because people are less likely to look one up and down attentively when we're spotted.

And, from what other perspective would we consider blending other than appearance? Is someone afraid they'll be clocked by someone reading their aura?

[NancySue]

The whole aging process sucks ! I do agree, like everything else, each year, you have to accept the changes and roll with it. I enjoy makeup and will put some on most days. When I go out, most older women wear no makeup. I make all efforts to blend, but without makeup I definitely look like a guy. Can’t win. Same with heels and hose. Recently, I wore low heels and hose and got too many looks. Even my wife doesn’t understand why women don’t/won’t wear hose...women’s lib? Frustrating for sure. I just know one thing...I’m not giving up..

[BillieS]

I hope so!

[Christie ann]

It has seemed for awhile that I am just about invisible to anyone under 30 no matter what I am wearing.

[Jane G]

Well I have improved my skills with make up as I have aged. Just the elephant in the room of being 6ft 4 and built like a dock worker and no one will notice. LoL

[Teresa]

Nikki,
You are partly right , male and female features do start to merge .

Whether it helps a CDer is questionable ,older women wear less make up or stop altogether , I feel I don't have that choice , like most I have to cover some male traits over , I'm working on minimum . I did get another compliment from a lady about yesterday saying it was good but I know I'm having to ignore my age and risk a touch of mutton dressed as lamb .

I guess I'll just keep going out as Teresa , the more people that know me the easier it gets , as I've said before they only know me dressed so have nothing to compare me with .

[Shely]

Blending is no fun at all. Most women are wearing things that aren't at all pretty and fun, like the things in my collection. I love pretty sexy dresses and skirts and blouses. I seldome see anything like that while shopping. Maybe if I were a party animal I'd see more things like I'd like to wear.

[carhill2mn]

Yes, I think your observations are correct.

[Heidi Stevens]

Along with what everyone else has suggested about age, hormones and wrinkles,your beard grays out. After being shaved, a gray shadow is way easier to cover. I am 62 and have had 9 laser treatments on my beard. Laser doesn’t get the hairs that are not dark. But that’s fine, at my age the remainder of my beard is pure white. I can go most of the day without a beard shadow showing because the shadow is white.

[Erika]

I see many older women with a shorter haircut, more of an androgynous look.

[Becky Blue]

Double edged sword I reckon, features do start to merge IMO, but middle aged spread in most males increases as one example.

[Stephanie47]

Having extra weight does smooth out the wrinkles in the face as we age.

Amen to that, Tracii! When I was recovering from gall bladder removal surgery my weight dipped to 185. Frankly, I looked like "death warmed over." My face was gaunt, i.e., haggard looking. As I regained my weight to the pounds my body felt good at I lost those lines. Going too lean can have a negative effect. Those women who obsess about their weight to the extent of being rail thin really are not appealing to the majority of men that I know. "Skin and bones" is usually the phrase I hear. Many have a self image problem. Back in my youth a Marilyn Monroe figure was considered desirable from the male perspective. Twiggy was viewed as too skinny. Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I can only assume different men emulating women have different perspectives on attractiveness.

Marilyn Monroe was 5'5", 118 pounds, 36-23-36 (wore 36D bra)
Twiggy was 5'6". 112 pounds, 31-23-32

Who would you try to emulate?

[Jaymees22]

I think as men and women get older the more they look the same. I notice this more now as we live in a 55 and better community.
So I'm going to agree that is easier to blend but I just can't bear to wear the older woman's styles so I stick out anyway.