I know that, at 50, I should probably just curl up and die (preferably in a neutral colored suit, with shape wear, and sensible healed shoes), but I just checked for a pulse and it seems I'm not dead yet. So sorry. I'm not sure whether to be terminally offended or laughing myself into hysterics when I read these articles. I DO agree that it might be young women unaware that 20-something isn't forever writing these bits of journalistic wonder, but it also might be my 90 year old maiden aunt. Not sure, but just saying.
Look, girls, 40 is not old. Good grief. Dressing one's age...what does this MEAN? Most women, or girls, can't rock a cheerleader skirt at 16. That's an extreme, like, o, let's say, corsets as outerwear. I've seen maybe a handful of women who could really get away with that. It's not just a physical matter, it's also attitude. But suggesting that women ought to dress according to some mysterious rules that govern age-appropriateness is insulting. Who says? What pundits of fashion are the purveyors of this dogmatic garbage? Why listen anyway? Phooey.
Listen, already many women claim they are dressing for men, to be more attractive, more appealing. In reality, I think, most women dress for other women, because women (not all, before someone threatens me with an unpleasant death) tend to scrutinize, judge, and quite vocally criticize their sisters. Check out articles, then comments on Shine sometimes, you will see that this is true. For some bizarre reason, many women actually CARE what other ladies think and worse, have to say about them. Their hair, their makeup, their clothes, shoes (o, the shoes!), whether they have lumps, what they should and should NOT be wearing and etc. At a workplace, it can be miserable. I have heard that at some churches (I do not attend, and this is a small part of the reason) it is a virtual nightmare. Why should they care? Because that is how female homo sapiens is hard wired, sociologically and biologically. But we CAN rise above such instinctual AND learned behavior.
So, why then should we dress according to our age? I do despise the phrase "You're only as young as you feel", but in this case it has merit. I wear exactly what I want, according to what fits well, fabrics that I like (I prefer cotton to all others), what suits my form, colors that both flatter and please me and comfort. After 50 years on earth, I should know, and I have learned, because I listen to people I TRUST, not some fashion maven with an agenda. Things suggested for "women of a certain age" that I ignore: suits, neutral colors, tailored clothes ( I don't know what this means, every single so-called "expert" seems to have a different definition), shorter skirts (bowed legs, need I say more?), "Mom" pants, shape-wear, hose, crisp shapes and classic lines. What in the hell are "classic" lines? I don't wear shorts (bowed legs, again), but I do wear jeans, Apple Bottoms, with bling (not too excessive) because they fit. I also expose my arms, which are quite firm and round and toned. And I have big girls, and I show cleavage, which is singularly lacking in wrinkles, age spots and freckles. My husband appreciates this, and I don't quite care what anyone else thinks. I do wear undies, usually cotton, in cute colors and comfortable styles (no granny panties or thongs, not comfy), and a supportive, but not padded or concealing bra.
And hair and make-up. I read the awful tips article on make-up, which presupposes that one is plastering on enough crap to be a clown in the circus. Ladies, all of that thick, heavy goop looks uncomfortable, unnatural and is singularly unkissable. My 77 year old mom insists on foundation and powder. For a while she was orange. Yes, orange. Now, she is a ghostie. She has a lot of wrinkles and lines and all of the...stuff settles in them. She also uses black mascara. Only on the upper lashes, mind. But she applies all of her make-up sans glasses, and she gets a singular quantity of black spots on her skin. When I see her, I try, very considerately and gently, to help, but it does no good. Myself, I do not, and never have, clogged my pores with foundation, or the new stuff you use to keep your foundation in place, or concealer (I NEVER fail to notice when it's used, which might be said to defeat the purpose). I have tiny crows' feet around my eyes, which came about quite naturally, a little frown line on my forehead, and slight laugh lines near my mouth. I still get zits, as my skin is an undefeated oil slick. I don't care, not about little lines, not about pimples, not about occasional dark circles. I am human, it happens. When I wear eye make-up, I have a little fun, though no more liquid eye-liner, as I am terribly far-sighted and too blind to apply it without disastrous results. I have enormous golden eyes, why not take advantage? I don't go crazy, I'm not a MAC model, but still...I get an awful lot of "tell me where you got your eyes done". People, don't try to hide, try to LIVE. The alternative sucks, I hear.
And hair...all this advice about hair I can't really speak to, because I get a 20.00 (with tip) virtual buzz cut every 4 weeks or so. I have lousy, fragile, thinning hair, and a hyper-sensitive scalp, so no perms, or color, or fancy cuts for me. I have grey hairs, yes, and each one is named after one of my two sons. Personally, I despise lacquered, stiff, untouchable hair (and I don't think men much appreciate it either, remember, you're not dead, sexually), but otherwise, I think any length, any color, including grey, is fine, as long as the woman is happy with the appearance and maintenance level.
In closing, dress, apply make-up, do your hair, your nails, your shoes, just to BE. Have fun, enjoy, feel good, and proud, and delighted with yourself (also sexy, no matter your age, you owe it to yourself to feel sexy). And, editors of Shine, do us all a favor. In considering articles such as this, please, try to consider that not all of your readers are in their twenties, as yet unaware that, inevitably, they will become "women of a certain age" too. Those of us in our 40's, 50's, 60's and onward are not deceased, or even senile, and do not require written instructions on how to present ourselves, especially not from women who haven't seen life through our very eyes, don't know us, and judge us based on the common misperception that youth knows all.
