Are you blind to your own visible signs of aging?

[quote] When they saw me yesterday, were they thinking what I was thinking about them?

Yes, they were. But you know that.

Not if I look in the mirror.

I look 14 thankyouverymuch OP.

Every now and then I notice. Before Covid I thought that I look five to seven years younger than my actual age. But now I am thinking that my body is rapidly catching up, like it's now aging faster than before. I don't believe I look older than my age (yet), just exactly my age. Some say I don't look my age, but I'm not even sure they know my age.

I'm not taking special measures to look younger though. I rather look 'natural fifties' than 'weird forties'. Since the forties are not anyone is striving for anyway and the twenties are unattainable, I'm going for 'pretty good fifties'. So I'm watching my weight and maintain good grooming routines, plus age-appropriate and perfectly fitting clothes.

With my ever-receding hairline, the signs of my aging are rad to miss.

You see yourself every day. You’ve gotten used to how you look. If you saw yourself for the first time in five years, you would immediately notice how much older you look.

I notice immediately how they have aged but then see them as they were if that makes any sense.

Hair and physique are the biggest shocks of aging.

r5 It's like totally rad dude!

I don’t want to look younger; I already get requests for meth too often. I can’t imagine what younger guys are going through.

I'm 50 and I started working out more over the past year. Since I already lost weight from quitting alcohol 4 years ago, it's very nice to see my body look better than it did during my 30's & 40's. It does make me feel a bit superior within my demographic... which might mean I'm a crappy person.

No, I can see it everywhere on my body. Woe is me.

R10. But how is the face looking after the weight loss?

Yes, you have certainly aged visibly in that time frame. But it's also possible if you've taken care of yourself and your skin like many gay men do that you look better than they do if these are old work or college friends.

I don't see it in mirrors 9as a friend of mine once said, "I've got my mirrors well trained"), but I do in photos of me.

I think I'm aging as well as I can for someone my age, but I don't fool myself into thinking I look 10 years younger than I really am or that I'm attractive to others.

I tried to avoid mirrors and photographs so as not to have to face the harsh reality that my body is slowly rotting.

r12 Face is holding up nicely, much to my surprise. Late 30's was when my face got noticeably older looking. Mostly due to the emergence of nasolabial fold aka smile lines and some sag in my upper eyelids. I'm expecting some significant aging changes in the next couple of years.

I'd say that at about age 54-55 things picked up steam.

Soft yellow to amber lighting really helps, but not all that much.

What R2 said. I'm 70 and I absolutely look my age. At least I'm fit.

Let me suggest that if you have bags under your eyes, wearing glasses often hides them.

I recently read Cary Grant always wore glasses in public when he was older for this reason.

My parents and grandparents were younger-looking than their ages (and yes, most of them smoked, up until the 1970s, anyway). I also looked younger than my age for years, without trying. Yeah, I know, it's a DL joke, but people were often surprised at my real age. BUT now that I'm getting closer to 70, this just isn't true any more. At all. And I'm not blind to it.

We all can't be Donna Mills and look exactly as we did 50 years ago when we're nearly 85. Some of us has to be the Shirley MacLaine.

Be well groomed. Schedule more haircuts than you previously did. Make sure eye brows are trimmed. Beard trimmed and COMBED. Get on an exercise routine. I walk miles every day at a fast pace. Eat well and in moderation. Avoid having a protruding belly at all costs. Wear nice new glasses (if you wear glasses). No wire frames. Dress stylishly and make sure your clothes fit well. No baggy clothes. And avoid "vintage" and worn effects like on jeans. You want everything to look crisp and new. Wear a classic expensive watch. Make sure shoes are spotless. Have a number of pairs to rotate. AND get a tan, not dark just a bit of color. Avoid looking pasty white..

^ Nothing is going to make you look younger when you're over the age of 60 or so. You want to shoot for looking great for your age. Do all of the above and people will see you as a handsome daddy...or grandad.

They'll also peg you as gay from space.

So much work for so few rewards, r22.

I recently attended a Google meeting, where one of the hosts was a guy I worked with 15 years ago. Back then he was a cute, skinny twink intern. Now he's chief of his department. I was shocked at how chubby and old-looking he got. Then I thought, he's probably thinking the same thing about me!

When I look in the mirror, I think I still look good, but when I see a picture of me, I see my middle-aged dad staring back at me.

R22 What's wrong with wire frames?

R22, wire eye glass frames can be very flattering to an older man. They should be chosen, based on your face shape and skin tone. Thicker, acrylic frames can make some men appear older. Frames, for older men, should be subtle and classic. As for tanning, that can emphasize wrinkles, plus risks for skin cancer.

Re. glasses hiding eye bags, it depends on the lenses. The bottom part of my lenses are readers which magnifies any under eye puffiness and wrinkles.

[quote]wire eye glass frames can be very flattering to an older man. They should be chosen, based on your face shape and skin tone. Thicker, acrylic frames can make some men appear older.

Thicker frames are the best choice for older men. Wire frames age you.

"Older men, between 45 - 65 typically suit thick frame glasses in classic shapes such as round, oval or square. Full rim frames made from cellulose acetate are particularly popular for men as they come in various colours, transparencies and patterns such as tortoise shell acetate."

"Chunky glasses frames create much stronger contrast against your skin, compared to thin, rimless or wire spectacles. This contrast helps draw attention to your eyes, emotion and sense of character whilst detracting from any signs of ageing."

"This is why rimless glasses (with no material surrounding each lens) have a tendency to make you look older. Their lack of colour and definition are much less personable, which doesn't help with the onset of wrinkling etc."

"Whilst slim, lightweight glasses may be appealing, they simply lack any depth or amiability. Rimless glasses or sports-brand frames are, for some reason, generally quite dull and uninteresting. Which is why thick frame glasses are a better option for men who wish to impart some panache and style into their appearance."

[quote]As for tanning, that can emphasize wrinkles, plus risks for skin cancer.

A bit of color is flattering, a wrinkle or two in all. A healthy glow. And unless you're frying in the sun, or are naturally super white, cancer is not a problem.

Respect the delicate ecology of your delusions, OP.

Grandpa Glasses

I can't trust "bantonframeworks.co.uk" as a definitive style expert.

Sorry.

R29's ideal frames, for older men.

No, I’m not, OP… however, I have less wrinkles than most people my age.

R33 that of course is another no-no.

BTW: google "grandpa glasses" and check the results by clicking on "image". Why are the vast majority frameless and wireframes? It's because it's a style associated with old men

But you do you.

My crows feet have crows feet!