Today’s News for Women over 50

18 Comments

1. Wow, that video covers a LOT of ground, and it raises some thought-provoking questions about how much importance we place on looking youthful. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle on that. I’m Southern enough that I always want to look my best in public, but I’m getting past the stage of worrying about whether or not I look older to those around me. There is a certain amount of invisibility that comes with passing 60, but there is also a new confidence that it doesn’t really matter. As a single woman who occasionally dabbles in on-line dating, I am well aware that I am past my “freshness date.” At 65, the men who ask me out are typically late 70’s to early 80’s and as an older friend says, they’re just looking for a “nurse and a purse.” But I also think aging has brought me wisdom and experiences that make me a better friend, mother, and community member. I’m trying to focus more on the things that really matter and what kind of legacy I will leave than how I look, even while admitting that I don’t like to leave the house looking like an unmade bed. I wish the video had acknowledged that there are many ways to look and feel attractive into our golden years, rather than presenting herself as some sort of shining example. I find her bleached blonde wrinkle-free look very artificial, like she’s trying too hard, and would not want to come across like that. She’s on target with her commentary on hairstyles and eyeglasses; updating both can go a long way toward making us look more current, but it’s also harder to afford replacement frames these days when the total cost of eyeglasses is getting close to $1,000. Extensive hair color and styling is also cost prohibitive for many women on a fixed income in their retirement years. The only point I strongly disagreed with was her pantyhose edict. I will happily wear midi length dresses with bare legs and sandals when I’m tan, but I consider bare legs with something like a dressy black sheath dress, pumps and pearls to be very inappropriate. I wish she had spent as much time on prints as she did on facial care, as most of us have found what works for skin care by this age; even the supplementary prints video was very basic: “Wear solids or small stripes, PERIOD.” I also think that we should wear the style of jeans that is most flattering to our figures. For example, depending on which sources you follow, skinny jeans are a) dated/out, b) making a comeback or c) now a classic that will never completely fade from the fashion landscape. Since they are the most compatible style to wear tucked into tall Western boots, I sure won’t be giving mine up any time soon! I hope you will tackle some of these ideas in upcoming posts, as I would be very interested in hearing from others in the reader community on these topics.

2. Haven’t had the time to watch the video Because I’m preparing for my House of Colour appointment this morning! I’m so exited! I’ll post again later today.

3. I am so excited for you, Rhoda! Have fun and let me know how it goes…

4. I like your comment, Lori…you also covered a lot. I want to hear what more think and I am pondering a post follow up! Thanks for being thoughtful with this.

5. Pam – I have such a difficult time finding stylish shoes I can wear orthotics to pair with skirts/dresses. I am aware of Vionics but they just do not fit my foot well…have some Munros…surprisingly Dansko which is a comfort brand sell very few with removable footbeds. I live in a small midwest town with few shopping options and get so tired of the buy/return cycle. Thanks for any leads and hope you can do a post on this topic one day. I feel like I cannot be the only woman who finds this a shopping nightmare.

6. My two favorites are Easy Spirit and SAS…I wear these brands almost exclusively. You can get 20% off your Easy Spirit order with the code PAMELA20 but I will do another post for you soon. BTW…my favorite brand for walking and traveling is Easy Spirit. Look on my Shopping links page for the Easy Spirit link

7. About the video: Point taken about a heavier moisturizer, I’ve been thinking I could benefit from a heavier one during winter months or at night. // Saying “no” to all prints is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I have quite a few prints and will not be eliminating them. Maybe a large-scale floral in a high-contrast print wouldn’t be the most flattering(?). However, I took a look in my closet and found a pretty, small-scale abstract on a boho blouse, a tropical floral on a Johnny Was top–you get the idea–and am really happy with them when worn. // Also, I was a bit put off with her mascara/lashes/eyeliner. The makeup was so dark you could barely see her eyes. That’s not a youthful look to me. // I’m looking forward to the other comments you will be getting.

8. Thanks for joining in, Kim.

9. Interesting video and lots to talk about. I don’t feel invisible and I’m not afraid of getting older. “Psychologists tell us….” fill in the blank with whatever you want and you will find psychologists who agree with it. (Before anyone thinks I’m discounting physiologists, I have a MA in Educational Psychology.) I thought her eye makeup was overdone, particularly the caterpillar eyelashes. That aside I thought she made some good points about hairstyles and glasses though as Lori points out its very expensive to update glasses. I won’t wear pantyhose; after all the years I had to wear them to work as a professional I’m thrilled I don’t have to wear them now. I never thought about them as aging. I keep my jeans style up to date and am wary of trends, like barrel jeans which I hope never become “modern”. I also wish she had spent more time talking about prints. With a couple of exceptions I don’t wear them. Its a big topic and the term prints covers a pretty wide range. Lots to talk about.

10. Good morning! I semi-follow Valerie, but I don’t participate in her discussions. She is a lovely, bright woman with a certain simple style about her and she doesn’t stray. I admire her for that. Her ‘colors’ couldn’t be further from mine, and most items are unavailable in my colors. When she mentioned that women want to be youthful, vibrant, and confident, I would agree with her, but I would personally substitute ‘current’ for ‘youthful’. I am never going to look youthful again, but I love finding MY style, looking MY best, and looking up to date. I don’t care if I look invisible to the general group of youth. I don’t dress for them. I dress for me. Like Lori, I absolutely disagree with Valerie about nylons in certain situations. I went to a December N.H. wedding and a January Vermont wedding where the bridesmaids were stockingless with strappy high heels. I thought it looked inappropriate. I thought nylons and closed stylish pumps were in order. Dating myself! As a Maine gal, I would never wear a truly dressy ensemble for an event in cold weather without hosiery. Not having lived in the south, I am not sure what my reaction would be today if I lived there, but I think the Florida gal overlooked a large segment of women. I just know that my legs aren’t what they used to be, especially without a tan. Prints, in my opinion, are tricky near the face. The last time I tried on a print dress, I took a photo looking in the mirror and put the dress back on the rack. I love striped Breton tops and some polka dots, as well as some prints that come across more as a texture. I think that prints are a style choice and this is where style analysis is invaluable. (I hope Rhoda has fun!) Eyeglasses, well I will admit that my color analyst helped me with those. It was a lot of fun and very educational; now I know what to look for. It’s all about facial shape. Jeans! Modern vs trendy vs outdated. I get the concept but it was a bit over simplified. I need those skinnies that let me tuck them into boots. I need a boot cut pair but to wear over a pair of boots. I look best in slim leg jeans and Chelsea boots, so I am not going overboard on trends that make me look anything but my best. I have to say that the primal, survival piece brought a chuckle. I have more to say but this is already too lengthy. Looking forward to breaking it down with you on future blog posts.

11. Interesting video and would make a great discussion. We will all have our own opinions. As for as style (i.e. wearing prints) I think that’s a personal choice, what you feel comfortable in, being you. Looking forward to future discussion.

12. Thanks for sharing, Kathie.

13. Thanks so much, Deborah, for hitting several points.

14. It was an interesting video. I agreed with some but not all the ideas. I did not necessarily agree with her take on jeans as I am of the mind that fit as much as style determines your best pair of jeans. I do agree that hairstyle & glasses make a huge difference in how you are perceived. The topic of prints can be very controversial because I think some of it has to do with proportion & personality. My late mother-in-law wore a lot of bright bold prints into her 90s, but they matched her personality. She was an over-the-top person who had a wonderful zest for life. One of the articles I found interesting was the one on the “fisherman aesthetic”. I had not heard of it, but I agree it is just another spin on coastal style.

15. Thanks so much for joining in, Becky…I enjoyed hearing about your mother-in-law!

16. Thank you as always, Pam, for this nice round-up of articles. The video missed the mark of what ages women. First of all, most of us know we are not fooling anyone about our age. I personally stopped dyeing my hair a long time ago. I do wear panty hose and knee highs with heels and dressier pants and skirts. I buy high quality hose that do not bag around the ankles and though I have lots of veins, my legs are still Ok. I also wear opaque colored tights with skirts in the winter. I don’t personally wear a lot of florals, but I like them on others and think it is a matter of the actual print whether floral or otherwise. I agree that skin care is important but so is realizing that too much intervention can also look very overdone and startling. Finally, I would add that I think the thing that detracts from anyone’s appearance more than anything else is poor posture. Sit up, stand straight! It does a lot to pick up your spirits and your look. My 2 cents!

17. Thanks so much for joining in, Mary!

18. Pam, great combination of articles. On the video, some of her basic concepts have merit, but they are not presented in a constructive way. This subject is not black and white. It explained what not to do (with no wiggle room or exceptions) rather than giving positive ideas. A woman at any age needs to be well-groomed and have proper-fitting clothes, a confident attitude and a smile on her face. She would look nice, even with a print outfit or a Rachel haircut. Lots to discuss. We could go over all the points and have fun with this. Thanks for an informative post.