Why do I look older en femme?

[JenniferMint]

I'm 24, but in drab, people think I'm 18.

However, when dressed, people think I'm older than 24---I've even been called 30 once!

Any ideas why? I have two hunches:

(1) The makeup I wear might make me look older. The 18-year-old GGs I hang out with generally don't use any makeup at all!

(2) I have no facial hair. That may be a sign of youth on a guy... but it's meaningless on a girl since girls generally don't have facial hair anyway.

[Karren H]

Funny....I'm the exact opposite....I'm 54 and everyone thinks that Karren is 40 something!!

Karren

[vbcdgrl]

There was a poll a while back on here, most of us think we look younger en femme. I'm 62, have never had anyone tell me I look my age in drab, but, the mirror tells me I look younger en femme than many GGs my age. I think the makeup has the opposite effect on youg people like yourself, makes you look more grown up, adult, womanly.

Vikki

[Sky]

(1) The makeup I wear might make me look older. The 18-year-old GGs I hang out with generally don't use any makeup at all!

Yep, it's the makeup, particularly when you're young. It takes a lot of paint to make a guy what he ain't. :sad:

[trannie T]

I like to think I look younger en femme. I still get the senior discount though.

[Butterfly Bill]

Do your drab clothes look more like teenager's clothes while your drag clothes look more like what an adult would wear?

[Katrina]

I definately look younger enfemme. My wig salesperson told me I had lots of "glitter" in my hair - referring to grey hairs. Obviously, I don't go for the grey in the wigs I wear though.

[ArleneRaquel]

I feel and look younger when I am a lady :love: From a Young Maureen

[sweetnsultry77]

I noticed today while I had my face planted in the mirror and even mentioned to my wife how old I was looking! I'm 46 but think I look in my 50's. Guess its time to get xerios about using moisturizers everyday!

[Sweet Jane]

Hi

I don't know if I look younger en femme, but I most certainly don't have any grey hairs, or I hope my wig doesn't....I don't really look my age as a guy, even though a couple of grey hairs are slipping in (dye time!!!)...the laugh lines haven't turned to wrinkles just yet.

[JenniferMint]

Do your drab clothes look more like teenager's clothes while your drag clothes look more like what an adult would wear?

Ah, the outfit I was wearing when I was called 30 was a pretty formal business-like outfit. My drab clothes are more informal stuff that teenagers would wear.

[Caitlintgsd]

Yep, it's the makeup, particularly when you're young. It takes a lot of paint to make a guy what he ain't. :sad:

I've found that if I fire up my air compressor and use a paint gun with a size 14 tip, it takes a lot less time to get ready to go out. Then just use the touch-up gun for blush.

[Paula T]

as when I'm dressed I feel 40ish even though that I may appear older. But definitely look younger than than I really am. I'm not going to say my age except that some refer to me as older than dirt.:eek:

[Rachel Morley]

Me personally, I think I look younger en femme because I don't have much hair as a guy, and I happen to think my eyes look more attractive with eyeliner and mascara both in boy mode and girl mode.

However, if you're young and you look older when you're en femme it could be your clothes choices/styles but I'll go with the others. Too much make up can make anyone look like an old witch. :D That's not say that you look like one...that's just what I think about me when I have too much on.

I've found that heavy foundation shows up every wrinkle you've got no matter how small or fine, although in your case at 18 I bet you don't have a single flaw! Anyway, I'd say try putting less on around the eyes and put the minimum you can get away with to hide your beard shadow on your chin and neck. See if that makes a difference.

[Glenda58]

Remember most models are teenagers when they put on makeup they look like they're in their twenties or thirties. Makeup will make you look older if you are young like you are but make me and Karren look younger I'm 59 Karren is 5?.

[Holly]

I think I look younger en femme. I will observe my 60th birthday next week, and what hair I have left is mostly grey. I was in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and my wife and I were playing Blackjack in the casino at the Sahara. I was sitting next to a young lady and we were having a nice visit while we played. She asked me how old I thought she was. She looked pretty young to me (well everyone looks pretty young to me!), so I guessed early 20's. Turns out she was 26 (whew!). I then asked her how old she thought I was. She looked me over pretty good, and finally said she thought I was 38. I wanted to hug her right there on the spot. Now I know she was just trying to spare my feelings, but she could have guessed a heck of a lot higher and still done that. Here's a picture of how I looked that day.

[MsJanessa]

Funny....I'm the exact opposite....I'm 54 and everyone thinks that Karren is 40 something!!

Karren ditto

[saraleehanes]

My guess is that your perceived age is a function of your outfit. A tasteful business outfit will likely add to your age. Flouncy "girlish" wear will detract. The, you have the attitude adjustment which is how you act and feel. I would suspect Karen lives younger as a girl.

[SherriePall]

Jennifer -- I would have to go with the clothes and make-up causes others have advanced here. Used to be that make-up was reserved for "older" ladies to help them look younger. Now it's for everybody. BTW, I know I look younger enfemme because I can't look any older than I do en drab. And Karren recently told me she just graduated from university.

[rickie121x]

I believe that I look younger when wearing makeup - of course by then I am in kind of a special mood and most certainly looking through "rose colored glasses!" :heehee:

Rickie

[JeanneF]

Body structure may be another factor. You don't see a ton of girls in their late teens/early 20s who wear "midrange" sizes (8-14 or so). Most girls either fall into skinny size 2-4s or seriously fat (at least here in the midwest). Very little in the middle ground.

However, when a lot of thin women get to their thirties, to fill out more and end up in midrange. If you're in the midrange in size, you're probably going to be assumed to be in that age range as well.

I found the same thing as a guy...when I was 25, I was quite a bit heavier (almost 50lbs), and people assumed I was in my 30s. This was because I had already developed a "middle age spread". Since losing that weight and having a flatter stomach, I actually look my age now(27).

I'd like to think I look my age as both a girl and a guy.

[Calliope]

I think the trick is getting the makeup to conceal the male features without looking made up (unless it's dancing at night where the object is a abit of color). Sometimes I get called 'Miss,' sometimes 'Madam' - depending, I suspect, on whether I'm ... smiling or not.

[Charleen]

Sheet! At almost 56 I look my age no matter what I do!

[ReginaK]

I look younger in drab, but I look the right age in drag. Maybe a little older. Why? Probably the make up. Most younger girls don't wear nearly as much makeup as the average crossdresser.

[carolinewalker_2000]

As many others have already said, us older girls tend to look younger dressed than when in drab. So Jennifer, although you may be thought older than your chronological age at present, think how much you will enjoy being thought younger in the years to come!

[Lisa Golightly]

Dolled up or slumming it everyone tends to think I'm late 20's... which is nice ;) As for your situation I think without seeing a photograph it is very difficult to offer constructive advice. The best I can give is to dress your age, which if you look young anyway will make you look super young.