Style at any age
Fashion has always been fixated with youth. The pressure to stay eternally young is what inspired me to start That’s Not My Age in the first place. The need to see more older models, more wrinkles, more diversity and less ageism in fashion. I know I’m not alone, there are tons of fabulous bloggers of a certain age out there (you can find a fair few in my Blog Roll) and by promoting older models and using photos of ourselves and other mid-lifers, I’d like to think we’re doing our bit to help shift attitudes.
I love this photo of Joan Burstein by The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman has the ability to beautifully capture stylish people of any age:
And, ta- dah! This morning, I opened the newspaper and found two age-related articles that helped take the edge off my hangover. One on the fact that grey haired, natural chic is on the up – I’m not going to be the one to say I told you so – with a great quote from Caryn Franklin, journalist and co-founder of All Walks on the Catwalk:
“Our culture is fearful of ageing,” said Franklin, “and especially ageing women. I say, ‘Stop apologising for getting older. Embrace it.’ I want young women to see that beauty ages beautifully and there is no need to feel that getting older is something that has to be medicated, managed with surgery or be obsessed about.”
And the other on the need to see more middle-aged women on telly. Chairman of the BBC Trust, Chris Patten, says he’d like to see more mature women presenting programmes:
“First of all, I’m 67, for heaven’s sake, and I’m married to a charming and beautiful 66-year-old, and I would be delighted if she was the face of anything on television.”
And I don’t think the former Conservative Party chairman was using his position at the BBC to find his wife a job. There are over 20 million Britons over 50 – let’s hope that this is a watershed, not a fad.
Quotes: The Observer
Discussion (22 Comments)
Charlene says:
I went grey gradually, and I love it! Began by getting some subtle streaks in my dark brown hair, then gradually lightened more and more of it. I have gotten far more compliments on my grey hair than I ever did when it was brown. I’m 70, and last week, a very handsome, much younger man literally stopped me on the street and said that he loved my grey hair. Told me to never ever color it. Be brave! Do it! What’s the worst that could happen? Perhaps you won’t like it? So color it back again. You have absolutely nothing to lose and you may even love it.
One day I'll go grey, I think white hair can be stunning.
Carmen in the first pic is pumped full of silicone, she had it done by Orentreich in NYC, there is nothing natural about how she has chosen to age.Its about blooming time! I would rather see a graceful and natural-looking older lady role model than someone who is fighting their age and relying on cosmetic surgery to stop the passage of time, so beautiful women are ruining their looks by too much botox and unnecessary treatments. Let's embrace the grey!xx
Such striking examples!
I'm still wishing there were a book made of/from that wonderful exhibit last year at Southbank of photographs of older women. So compelling, but they didn't have a catalogue, at least not that I could see.B&P – Yes, Carmen has had work done, and admits to it. But she is 80 and looks pretty fabulous. I probably should have used a picture of Kristen McMenamy or Daphne Self instead.
Materfamilias – I saw that exhibition too. Think they missed an opportunity there, a book would've been fantastic.
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww best post ever. I couldn´t agree with you more. I am keeping:
"Our culture is fearful of ageing," said Franklin, "and especially ageing women. I say, 'Stop apologising for getting older. Embrace it.' I want young women to see that beauty ages beautifully and there is no need to feel that getting older is something that has to be medicated, managed with surgery or be obsessed about."Here! Here! The other day I was in a beauty aisle and noticed that most of the prodcuts now say ANTI AGEING! Even for very young girls! We are beautiful and should wear it proudly…look at the designers in our age group still going strong!! Great post! Love it!
Hoorah! Let us hope this IS a watershed moment. If we treat it as such, perhaps that's a start. Great post!
I know I should know but who is that woman in the first photo? She looks great. I've seen the one of Joan Burstein — it's a wonderful shot.
Yay for ageing!
I still color my hair though. Not ready to be grey. Not yet.
Great post. I totally agree. Magazines are finally beginning to wake up to the fact that we are a very large and growing demographic. Numbers have power the question is how we choose to use it.
This is such a good post. I'll never allow grey in my 'do but my mum has a killer grey bob that always looks chic x
Thank you – today is my birthday – I'm 47 and am inspired by your post. I would love to go grey naturally but my Mum (67) still dyes her hair, and there is something about going grey before ones mother that makes it feel wrong. I'm tempted though, very tempted.
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Caryn Franklin looks gorgeous but I could never, ever let myself go grey, only wish I was as vain about my figure! Its just that awful thing when you have about an inch of grey roots, vile! If you could just wake up one morning and it happened over night, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.