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Woman & Home
Woman & Home
Lifestyle
Lucy Wigley

'You look good for your age': compliment or ageist insult? Expert weighs in

Nuala McGovern attends the Berggruen Prize Gala at Berggruen Hearst Estate.

How do you feel when somebody casts their eye over your appearance and says, "you look good for your age"? Some might feel overjoyed at their youthful appearance, basking in the delight of the compliment for the rest of the day.

Others might feel insulted and regard the apparently harmless accolade as ageist and dated. It's certainly becoming a hot topic of conversation, with celebrities such as Helen Mirren saying they feel aggrieved by people telling them they look good for their advanced years.

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