Girls should avoid girly trends, like Mary Janes and Peter Pan collars. Avoid items with lots of lace and ruffled tops, gathered skirts, and anything too ‘cute’. Avoid sporty styles. Sweatpants, basketball shorts, baseball hats, and gym shorts can make you look lazy and messy. These are also common styles for young people. [2] X Research source
For guys, choose your shirts by measuring the shoulders. If the hemline of the shoulder extends past the end of your actual shoulder, the shirt is too big and won’t be a good fit. For girls, choose clothes that accentuate (not reveal) your shape. If you have narrow hips, wear an A-line skirt to draw the eye outward, giving the illusion of hips. Choose scooped necklines and V-necks. Buy jackets and sweaters that fit your silhouette. [3] X Research source
If you want to wear t-shirts with writing or images on them, make sure the logos or writing is about “adult” brands or interests/hobbies. T shirts with logos of professional sports teams or travel destinations are good examples to look for. For guys, try plain colored shirts or stripes. Go for fun colors, like light pinks, yellows, and oranges. Dressing maturely doesn’t mean boring colors. Henleys and polos are good styles of shirts for men to wear instead of t-shirts. For girls, go for embellished tees or tanks. Try plain blouses in bright colors or in prints. [4] X Research source However, stay away from fluorescent and neon.
For guys, buy straight cut jeans. For girls, go for boot cut, wide leg, or skinny jeans. If you wear skinny jeans, make sure they are not too tight. Trade faded or ripped jeans for jeans in darker washes. Don’t get jeans with rhinestones or other accents.
For guys, wear boots. Black boots look good with just about everything. Brown leather lace up boots are also great for outfits. Loafers and boat shoes may also work if you don’t want to wear boots. Polished leather shoes are a mature look. For girls, wear shoes that fit the activity you expect to be doing. If you are going to a casual event or location, it may be a good idea to wear running shoes, flats, or other sensible shoes. In a formal situation, it is advised to wear flats or heels. Make sure the heels aren’t too high. If you don’t want to wear heels, wear sensible flats. Sandals look good in the summer.
For guys, wear khakis or dress slacks. Pair them with a tucked in polo or button up shirt. Wear a nice leather belt and dress shoes. A tie isn’t necessary, but will help make you look more mature. For girls, wear dresses that fall to your knees with necklines that do not show too much cleavage. You can also try wearing a nice skirt and blouse. Pair the dress or blouse with a cardigan or a blazer. Wear sensible shoes.
Shaggy hair makes a guy’s face look much younger. Replace it with a short, defined cut. Spiked hair, long hair, or any other alternative hairstyle might make you look younger. For women, think about cutting your hair into a bob, pixie cut, or other chic hairstyle. Long, sleek hair can also look mature. Avoid wearing lots of hair accessories, like hairbands and hair bows. [8] X Research source
Make sure to trim and groom your facial hair. Messy, unkempt beards look bad. If it grows in thinly, keep yourself clean-shaven. Uneven patches of facial hair will make you look even younger.
Conceal the circles under your eyes with concealer. [10] X Research source Avoid teenage products like thick, sparkling lip gloss or baby-pink nail polish.
Wash your face twice a day with an acne cleansing face wash. Use a moisturizer on your skin. If you have oily skin, use an oil-free moisturizer. If you have dry skin, find one that helps fight dry skin. [11] X Research source If you’re a girl, you might wear bangs in addition to makeup to hide blemishes on your forehead.
Interval training is an excellent way to burn fat quickly and using hand weights will help develop muscle. Join a gym or focus on exercises like push-ups and squats that build muscle.
There’s a fine line between being confident and being arrogant or condescending. Confidence is feeling good about yourself, not better than those around you. Don’t excessively brag about your accomplishments or speak in a way that puts you above others. This is classic immature behavior.
Changing the way you carry yourself goes hand-in-hand with confidence. Keep your head up high; don’t stare at the ground. Look people in the eye when you talk.
When people finish stories about themselves, don’t immediately launch into a story about yourself. This makes you look self-centered and uninterested. Instead, react to their story first, then use your own story as a way of relating to the other speaker. Learn how to use small talk. Ask how people are doing. Talk about the weather. Ask about their families. Be polite and carry on light conversation with people.
Learn some sophisticated vocabulary. A good place to start is with SAT vocabulary. For example, say, “That’s a novel idea!” instead of “That’s a new idea. " Tell someone to be “candid” with you instead of honest. A more sophisticated vocabulary makes you look mature and intelligent. Try not to overuse slang. Avoid “like,” screeching “Oh My God!,” and punctuating sentences with “totally,” “you know,” and other meaningless fillers. Try not to use “awesome” and “dude. " When texting, avoid typing in all capital letters, because it gives the receiver the impression that you are screaming, which is not something that is acceptable among adults in most situations. In addition to that, it is generally a good idea to use profanity in moderation, and avoid using it when it does not provide the receiver a further understanding of what you are saying.
For example, if someone interrupts you, say, “Hold on, please don’t interrupt me. " Don’t say things like, “Wow, I can’t believe you just interrupted me. Someone doesn’t know when to shut up!” Learn when to let things go. Everyone has negative encounters with others, but it takes wisdom to learn how to pick your battles. Being spiteful, resentful, or malicious will make you look immature. Learn the difference between venting to a close friend and putting someone down behind their back. Sometimes when people rub you the wrong way, they often don’t realize it. Be respectful of their feelings by either ignoring the mistake or, if necessary, clearly communicating to them that they have caused offense.
