The Importance of First Impressions When You're Over 50 Kendal

Like it or not, we judge most people on their appearance. Long before you open your mouth, someone meeting you for the first time will have come to all sorts of conclusions about the type of person they think you are based on what you look like.

So if you want get beyond the hurdle of becoming instantly invisible simply because you’re over 50 and no longer in the first flush of youth, you have to create what TV House Doctor, Ann Maurice, calls ‘kerb appeal’.

You have to make a good first impression - and as the old saying goes, you only get one chance to do that.

It’s not shallow, or trivial. If you look like an old fogey who doesn’t care about their appearance, then that’s how you will be perceived. It’s assumed that someone who looks scruffy, unkempt and apparently “doesn’t bother” will have that attitude to everything in their life.

That’s a particularly bad judgement to have made about you, especially if you hope to continue working.

Keeping up appearances

Keeping up appearances is truly an apt expression. By looking stylish, elegant and meticulous - man or woman - you show that you are energetic, aware, and that you still value yourself and the good opinion of others – in short that you are concerned with keeping up.

By no means are we advocating that you cling desperately to youth; there’s nothing more pathetic than someone who is obviously desperate to hang on to their youth and who shows it by acting and addressing totally inappropriately.

What we do recommend is that you commit to making the effort to make the best of every aspect of yourself.

And it is an effort. Like everything else worth having, it requires constant attention to detail and hard work. But the rewards are enormous in terms of your own improved self-esteem and the opportunities which will open up to you.

Taking positive action

Here are some suggestions of the most important areas for you to focus on:

• Posture: Now’s your final chance to stand up straight and look like you mean business before you slump into old age. By making a positive effort to stand, walk and sit better, you’ll appear more youthful, more active and more alert. And it should prevent you from back, bone and muscle problems in later life.

• Hair: Your hair really is your crowning glory and next to clothes, it’s probably your biggest indicator of the trouble you take over your appearance.

• Eyes: If you have to wear glasses, go for contemporary frames - there’s some wonderful ones about. And, update them regularly. ‘Old’ style glasses are an instant giveaway that the wearer doesn’t care about keeping up.

• Teeth: Brush, floss, visit the dentist regularly; hold on to what you’ve got. By this time of life teeth may be discolouring, so look into teeth whitening procedures and also, if your teeth have always been a bugbear, think about cosmetic dentistry – it’s never too late to have a sensational smile.

• Nails: Nails are a huge indicator of the care you take. They should be clean, neatly trimmed and appropriate in appearance. If you bite them – STOP.


There’s nothing so attractive at any age as someone who is obviously clean, smells good and who wears fresh, well maintained clothes. Coordinate your appearance, nourish your skin, disguise your bad points, emphasise the good.

Not only will you look much better, you’ll be amazed at how much better and more confident you feel. Completely ageless and totally in your prime…


Click here for more information about looking good in your prime