Yeah how true.
Nothing is as it seems, nothing is just one thing and nothing is ever just over there;

Agreed. Wasn't very flattering at all given her heavy make-up dark eye-liner and stupid wardrobe costume's for Lois Lane made her look older, less attractive and as you so rightly said too matronly indeed.
Given that the then 25 year old Mariel Hemingway cast as Lacy Warfield was far more youthful looking opposite compared to an older Margot Kidder at age 38 made it even worse.
Nothing is as it seems, nothing is just one thing and nothing is ever just over there;

When they started doing Superman IV the producers actually considered recasting Margot because, at the tender age of 37, they thought she was too old for the role.
She looks fine, but I feel like they made her look to matronly in some of the clothes. Lois was a very fashionable dresser in the first couple films and I just felt like they went out of the way to downplay her sex appeal and looks in a lot of this movie, in favor of having Lacey be the "it" girl.

always thought she looked ok in IV

• quite comparable to those pics. (although in that 2nd pic she dosnt look that much different to how she looked in 1978!)