Over-50, owning it and on the cover of a magazine
— by Alyson Walsh
It’s incredibly empowering to see a chic, grey-haired woman on the cover of a magazine. Saar is a Dutch website for women over-50 or what I like to refer to as Generation FAB (Fifty And Beyond). Saar means ‘Sarah’ in Dutch – apparently in the Netherlands when someone is over-50 they’re ‘seeing Sarah’ or ‘seeing Abraham’. Me neither. The website launched in 2016 and this autumn the editorial team (all over-50) has produced a special edition, one-off magazine that looks cool and interesting. Obviously, it’s in Dutch and so I can’t read it. They contacted me regarding a feature on ‘the most inspiring 50-something Instagrammers‘; other topics in the magazine include work, families, sex and relationships and psychology. There’s a feature on Empty Nesting with Mimi who looks like a woman after my own heart…
This is what 50-something looks like. What are you waiting for British publishers?
Discussion (46 Comments)
- Rebecca says:
I LOVED Nova! My fave mag of all time – I agree, it was rubbish when resurrected about 15 years ago…
- Anita Irlen says:
The editorial team is all over 50! That’s something. As much as I dislike breaking down into polarized groups: young and old, us and them, I also love the idea of working with a group of adults my own age. Let’s call it a passion project. Who wants to start?
- Annie Green says:
Me too. I truly struggle to find magazines to interest me now. I feel I have seen every damned interior going, looked at so many fashion features that make me feel claustrophobic and read far too many pieces about superfoods….there must be more to think and talk about. That’s why I blog.
- ann says:
hi Anita, i work in mental health and regularly i hear from women and men their experiences of invisibility, i’m all for a Passion Project, i think we have a responsibility to show our youth that ageing is not a dirty word, let’s shift “global self-esteem” !!!!! too much i know but hey you said a passion project, by the way im in ireland.
- Alexandra Blond says:
Ania, what did you have in mind? I’m up for anything that makes use of our wisdom and has a positive impact on the world. I’m in Maryland, go to NYC as needed.
- Swee says:
I’m still mourning the demise of MORE magazine, here, in the US.
I didn’t realize that MORE was no longer in the US. The Canadian version passed away in 2012 and I still miss it terribly!
- Susie says:
I’m in Anita. I’ve been wanting to do this but it’s hard by yourself. I’m in Sydney though!
- Jodi Brown says:
I love the idea of a such a project. Mental health issues, sustainability, care provision and education/Arts funding are all things that women of our age group are passionate about. Looking ‘younger’ articles are completely irrelevant to me, but I seem to be bombarded with them constantly.
- Jodi Brown says:
I think the reference to Sarah and Abraham is biblical, according to my vague sunday school memories. They were both very old, so it could be that…..
- jackie cohen says:
yup I believe that’s the reference …
I think Abraham was over 100 when he was circumcised and Sarah had her first child in her 90’s!
- Isabelle says:
The subtitle of Saar reads: ’50+ but not dead by a long shot,’ an optimistic Dutch expression for ‘still going strong.’ If that doesn’t put a smile on your face…
- Anne says:
Those quotes on the cover are hilarious! (I’m Dutch) I think Dutch women are fabulous (if I may say so myself..), they are natural beauties. Last month I was in the Netherlands and I saw this gorgeous +50 lady on the train. She wore a short skirt with panther print shoes, leather jacket and a lovely big scarf. Grey hair, hip glasses, I wanted to tell her how great she looked. I’m 40 now and I hope to look that good when I get older. Already have the grey hair and I love it 🙂
- Sue W. says:
For a few years now I have, whenever possible, told women how I love their look, or they look fabulous or great or whatever. I do feel fed up and insecure sometimes with my nearly 65 year old self and I like to think I can spread a bit of joy around by paying compliments when they are due. I know I love getting them occasionally.
I love the ideas coming forward from this blog.I’ve started to do that too, Sue! I’m shy by nature, but I know how good it makes me feel to be noticed and complimented, so I’m determined to pass that on.
- Saba says:
Yes, I tell people of all ages, including strangers on the street, when they look terrific. I can see that the compliment brightens them. Do not have to get up the courage, the words just come spilling out when I see something that works so well.
- ann says:
hi Anne, i was in a coffee /lifestye shop recently with my husband and this older woman was sitting at a table behind me with her friends, out of them all she had this really funky salt and pepper grey hairstyle, when they were getting up to leave, i stopped her to tell her how fab her hair was, she was so surprised and said it had made her day, but actually she made mine because i have been letting the colour go out of my hair since, Pass the compliments forward, is my motto
- Anne says:
She’s fabulous, but have to say with those cheekbones, she probably would in a curly perm & a pinnie… (apron)….
- Rachel Griffiths says:
Just for info, Abraham and Sarah’s story is from the Old Testament – book of Genesis. They thought they would never have children but God promised Abraham he would. They had to wait many years until they were both old, for the promise to come true. Their son was Isaac. (Meanwhile Abraham had à son with Sarah’s maid Haigar because he didn’t believe God would come through on his promise to him and Sarah.) So “seeing Sarah / Abaraham” is a way of saying “getting older”.
- Liz Edmondson says:
I work in Publishing and would love to get involved with something like this! The product looks great – surely there is a gap for this in the UK market?
- Madelaine says:
Makes me want to learn Dutch! If the smaller population of The Netherlands can support such a brilliant magazine, surely there’s a case for doing something similar in the uk? Count me in too. I do remember Nova btw – it was daring and editorially risky and absolutely glorious to look at. Perfect ethos and title for the over-50 readership!
- Betty Heywood says:
In Germany, Brigitte Magazine, the largest monthly magazine with a readership of over 3.6 million people launched Brigitte Wir for women over 60. See link here (in German) https://www.brigitte-wir.de. They used to do one for the over 40s, I think, not sure where that went. I’ll try and have a look at a copy of Wir when in Germany at Christmas and will report back! 🙂
- Judy says:
I love seeing covers like that! It’s not that I want to look younger (I wouldn’t mind being younger…sigh, I’m 71) but I do enjoy seeing photos of women who are aging naturally rather than those, often all over the media, of known women who have had a lot of ‘help’ and of course look wonderful at 80+.
- Liz Shedden says:
Sounds like a fabulous project – I’d love to take part -.
- Liz Shedden says:
Just a thought / request please can you put hash tag #over60 too ? Won’t be long for me and I don’t want to be left out !!
- Su says:
Loved the gift list!
So… an enjoyable and relevant 50+ English-language magazine with international viewpoints… maybe online as you are so scattered? Yes please.
- Deborah says:
Sarah and Abraham were over 90 and 100 years old when their son, Isaac, promised to them by God, was born. Isaac was the beginning of the Israeli people. “Seeing Sarah” or “Seeing Abraham” is an uplifting reference. Nice!
- Kate says:
Great ! and anyone who is interested Xsexcentenary are performing ‘not dead yet’ at Glasgow International next year April 20th-May 7th 2018, see Facebook page Xsexcentenary for more details.
- Irene Robertson says:
I’m 67 and keep being told that I look at least 10 years younger. I would absolutely love a magazine for the over 50s/60s and I’m sure it would do really well as there are so many of us out there who want to look as good as we can as we grow older and also keep up-to-date with everything!
- Imogen1327 says:
I notice in the comments a lot of enthusiasm from around the globe. I think that’s exactly what this project needs. I think a mag for women rockin it over 50 on every continent is what it will take for us to shake off that submissive invisibility mantle. What if we didn’t do a mag for vibrant women over 50 but to create them? Maybe featuring women who throw a few fingers in the air towards the status quo and set the expectation for impervious sassy confidence? I know that’s how I found this blog. Looking for a light to show me there was life beyond this universe. We should lead with conviction.
Our little sisters need us to break trail. I love Anita’s suggestion and all the interest shown here! I’m 65 and live in Canada, but I would love to be a part of something like this!
- Caroline says:
How delightfully refreshing to see a “natural” woman. Aren’t we all disillusioned when so much attention is paid to women who have had “work done”. That is their choice, of course, but comparing the average women to those women just seems ridiculous and, somehow, soul destroying. All woman should be encouraged to be the best they can in whatever way suits them. Which leads me to the question: why is so much emphasis put on how we look? Is it for men? Is it to encourage us to keep consuming? Whether constantly renewing our wardrobes, our make-up? What about our brains? Any comments?
- Tracy says:
Dear all,
I believe Alyson has struck gold here – again – as her featured photo of Mimi is cool. That is very empowering. Constant reinforcement of images and stories of women like us, or who we can model ourselves on is important. For me anyway. Mimi is emblematic of a woman our age who is current, confident and knows who she is. She is a bit edgy without wanting to join the kids – and if she has Bunions, she’s not dwelling on them; better things to do.
Re. Compliments from strangers – or giving them – has always slid into the slightly odd or unwelcome zone until recently. I was holidaying in Honolulu wearing a floaty (Gaudi) sundress and nice sandals when a young woman complimented me very publicly for my hair (very much greying) and total look. Rather than finding it awkward I am still dining out on it. It was a case of someone in their 20s liking a woman’s look which she may follow when she is older. It was nice.
Merry Christmas everyone, Tracy nz - Sisty says:
I just love the fact that one of the article titles starts with “Shit!”
- LolaFraola says:
I’d love to get involved in a 50+ project -we need something like this
- Lynn says:
Me, too! I have just relaunched myself as a freelance Languages consultant at 60 (not that anyone employing me knows my age, hee hee) and I would love to throw my hat into the ring to help or support anyone in the UK. Bring it on! If it doesn’t exist, you have to do it yourself.
- Jaxx says:
To the women here talking about a 50+ project – have a look at a US website called ageist (URL is agei.st). It’s amazing, consisting mainly of inspiring profiles of people (male and female) over 50 (and 60, and 70), combined with spot-on portrait photography, plus a few other relevant cultural/lifestyle articles. If you sign up for their newsletter, they don’t bombard you. Or they post regularly on LinkedIn or Instagram. They get the tone and, importantly, the visuals, just right. (I sound like I work for them! – I’m just a fan and think some of you ladies will love it.)
Alyson, another awesome find, thanks for sharing. Shame this Dutch mag is not produced in English too!Thanks, Jaxx! I have just signed up for the newsletter.
- Caroline says:
Thanks, Jaxx, for the tip. The newsletter looks interesting. I’ve just signed up.
- WINSOME says:
“Seeing Sarah”= having knowledge through having lived. Sarah lived to 127, so by 50 you should have got the message! In Holland, reaching 50 is a BIG DEAL, and quite rightly so.
- Caroline says:
In my (adopted) home-country Sweden we have several magazines that are aimed to a 40+ or 50+ target group.
Most explicitly: m-magazine, where ’m’ stands for ’mogen’ which means ’mature’. http://www.m-magasin.se
Other examples of magazines for ’mature readers’ are Tara, Amelia and probably also Femina. These often use older (cover-) models and have mostly articles about subjects (or with subjects) that are clearly 40/50+… - Elizabeth Pollock says:
Here in the States we could really use a great magazine for those of us fifty and over!!! So sad I can’t read this Saar magazine… Despite common thinking we are not invisible even if there are many that wish we were… that’s a sad thought actually. Anyway, fabulous post.
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Does anyone remember the excellent women’s magazine Nova? Sadly, it went the way of all excellent magazines and folded after a few years. It really was a standard bearer for bringing interesting, relevant issues into the public domain and it did it so well, without heavy tub-thumping. It was resurrected some years later but not being quite the same didn’t last long. If this Dutch publication is anything like similar, then I hope it does well, despite our not being able to read it over here.