Old dogs don't wear watches
I'll be off line for until Friday, and will respond to comments then.
The Toronto Globe and Mail published an article by Wallace Immen for those of us 50: "How Not to Look Like an Old Fogey on the Job" on December 18, 2009.
Preying on the fear and insecurity of the times, the piece counsels old dogs how to hang onto our relevance amid two generation's worth of heel-nippy pups at the office.
In a nutshell, so as not to tax your waning memory: Keep current in technology, don't try to use current slang (which will not be hip by the time it issues from your snaggletoothed maw), lose the '70s hairstyle, don't slouch. Unless you want to be led to an ice floe, avoid use of any finger but your thumb on your BlackBerry.
But what galled most was the advice to not wear a wristwatch. An accompanying sidebar, "The Dos and Don'ts of Trying to Act Younger" warned, "Wristwatches have become passé anachronisms for a generation that looks to their phone to tell them the time."
Dadgu
mmit, what in tarnation? Just when I finally got the hang of them Roman numerals. A few days later, the New York Times featured a huge ad for a $150 J. Crew Timex military watch. Guess that's for the young buck to wear when his phone (do NOT call it a "cell phone") is recharging.
Canadia
n image consultant Catherine Bell was one of the experts consulted. She said, "Both women and men should realize that looser versions of what they see in fashion magazines will camouflage bodies that may no longer be in perfect tone."
Anyone know a good tent-maker? For those of you not in my part of the world, Bell's home, Kingston Ontario, is a good gray university town whose other main industry is several large prisons. The local population hardly represent the beau monde.
Although some men and women muster Olympian discipline to stay bow-taut at 50+, do you think that the typical mature body needs to be camouflaged?
I am an older worker, and my age shows; at times I am irrevocably out of it. For a year, I thought it was "Charles" Barkley and called the duo "he". I thought Salvia was an island. I leave voice mail rather than texting, and insist that meetings begin on time.
You are also not to say "in my time", or flaunt your experience. So I'll keep mum about dating Iggy in our teens. But I'm confident that someone still does wanna be my dog.
Do you worry about fitting in with younger colleagues? Do you consciously try to act or look younger at work?
The Toronto Globe and Mail published an article by Wallace Immen for those of us 50: "How Not to Look Like an Old Fogey on the Job" on December 18, 2009.
Preying on the fear and insecurity of the times, the piece counsels old dogs how to hang onto our relevance amid two generation's worth of heel-nippy pups at the office.
In a nutshell, so as not to tax your waning memory: Keep current in technology, don't try to use current slang (which will not be hip by the time it issues from your snaggletoothed maw), lose the '70s hairstyle, don't slouch. Unless you want to be led to an ice floe, avoid use of any finger but your thumb on your BlackBerry.
But what galled most was the advice to not wear a wristwatch. An accompanying sidebar, "The Dos and Don'ts of Trying to Act Younger" warned, "Wristwatches have become passé anachronisms for a generation that looks to their phone to tell them the time."
Dadgu
mmit, what in tarnation? Just when I finally got the hang of them Roman numerals. A few days later, the New York Times featured a huge ad for a $150 J. Crew Timex military watch. Guess that's for the young buck to wear when his phone (do NOT call it a "cell phone") is recharging. Canadia
n image consultant Catherine Bell was one of the experts consulted. She said, "Both women and men should realize that looser versions of what they see in fashion magazines will camouflage bodies that may no longer be in perfect tone."Anyone know a good tent-maker? For those of you not in my part of the world, Bell's home, Kingston Ontario, is a good gray university town whose other main industry is several large prisons. The local population hardly represent the beau monde.
Although some men and women muster Olympian discipline to stay bow-taut at 50+, do you think that the typical mature body needs to be camouflaged?
I am an older worker, and my age shows; at times I am irrevocably out of it. For a year, I thought it was "Charles" Barkley and called the duo "he". I thought Salvia was an island. I leave voice mail rather than texting, and insist that meetings begin on time.
You are also not to say "in my time", or flaunt your experience. So I'll keep mum about dating Iggy in our teens. But I'm confident that someone still does wanna be my dog.Do you worry about fitting in with younger colleagues? Do you consciously try to act or look younger at work?
Comments
Watches are a status symbol now (especially for men - and I sometimes think half the status boost is from being buff enough to lift an arm with a ten pounds of gears on it), not a necessity.
For me, watches are just another accessory, like scarves, where I'll never make enough money to afford the beautiful status symbol versions, and I can't be motivated for long to try to develop the habit of wearing a mass-market version.
Whatever happened to articles about earning the respect of more seasoned colleagues? Oops! There I go, talking about "my day."
Oh, but I do, mostly use my thumbs on my iPhone, although occasionally I don't. Anyone can tell I belong on ice flow by the way I squint at the tiny print through my glasses.
I'm not sure this fascination with chasing after the illusion of eternal youth is one of the brighter aspects of our culture. Although I'll admit I'm as worried as anyone about not looking fusty.
I have some nice watches but I don't wear them unless I'm seeing clients or at a social function. Why would I need a watch when I sit in front of a computer screen with a clock all day long.
Oh, and I have the timex military style watch, and older version, not j crew and I love it.
Still, with downsizing looming all around us I do feel that it is important to have a look and personna that is youthfull. Business managers equate youth with energy and ideas. It's the ugly truth.
I DO expend effort to stay current with technology, current events, trends and fashion. Like mardel says, I try not to get stuck in my ways and stay interested.
I find that it's only a few people who seem to think I am invisible due to my age. Most people respond to interest and curiosity, no matter your age.
As for watches, I never wear them, I do rely on all the other gadgets around me to tell me what time it is. Just a comfor thing for me since I am typing on a keyboard much of the time (I work in IT)
Always a good read at your blog! Keep up the great work
Reminds me of Mumu's many years ago...
I do not think much of this article!
I'm in my 20s and I love your blog.
Pull up your pants
Lose the flip-flops
Stop saying like every 5 seconds
Read a newspaper
And, STOP saying no problem instead of your welcome.
Wouldn't that be a hoot!
I do not try to look "younger" at work, but do try to look current (not "trendy" but not outdated).
Even when I was much younger, my style was always a bit more conservative than my contemporaries(not comfortable with flashing a lot of skin or tight clothing) so I don't feel I need to change it up much now. Good fit, good tailoring when needed is much better than "camouflage!"
Jane W: I'm curious about your sector, as most aging workforces are trying to fill those retirements.
Mardel: So true, I have to sit in front to hear everything and read a Powerpoint!
LPC: I started working in a feisty dot-com when I was 50 and was I worried! They did call me "Maude"- I had the short hair and am tall with a big frame like Bea Arthur's. Occasionally their blithe entitlement mentality got to me (what, no giveaway trips to Europe this month?) but with the fall of so many dot-comes, that righted itself.
Anonymous: I wear a watch too!
Belle: I know men in their 50s who have had eye jobs (and maybe more) for that reason, but I think it is more prevalent in urban US than Canada.
Frugal: I agree- hauling out a phone is so obvious. Most of my professor friends abhor phones b/c they think- accurately or not- that students are texting rather than learning.
A little sewing: I stepped in it recently, being "too outspoken" about the amount a 21 year old woman was spending on her money- I know her financial situation, huge debts. She was spending $2000 on the cake alone, and my jaw dropped. That is my downfall, I think I know better. Have to watch my face.
hostess: I had a fit over this, it was so condescending and prescriptive.
Gauss: Thanks so much, and I too admire watches- would not give one up to 'fit in'.
Lisa: Oh, brilliant!
We can have fun with additions:
- Your hair should be on your head, not stuck to your lip gloss
- Stop telling me I am blocking your career advancement and pay attention to the quality of your work
crunchycon: Humour is a wonderful buffer! I like to say "Anything that rings, beeps or (wink) vibrates".
metscan: Please adopt only what you wish. Remember our favoirite elder teachers? Mine was "old fashioned" but we found it charming. I still carry a Filofax!
Pseu: You comment really made me think. Among the youngest workers, I find myself drawn to the more conservatively dressed, or the blue-haired,tatted-up "out there" ones. The In Style clones make the impression on me (strictly subjective) that they do not have an original thought in their heads.
Bell's comments could have meant anything from tents and lumpy suiting to the obvious fact that catwalk and glossy magazine looks usually have to be toned down a bit for the workplace, WHATEVER the age or body type of the workers. In practical terms, they were useless.
$85 000 to be a "wedding princess"? Wouldn't paying down the new couple's mortgage be a better foundation for their marriage? I'm glad the 21-year-olds I know are nothing like that. Some of my younger friends (a bit older than that, having completed medical studies) are now in Haiti as Doctors (and Nurses) without borders. I like fun and folies, but...
A Little Sewing, I do think there is a difference in how people perceive me when I colour my hair and when I leave it grey. I don't know whether they think I look "older" with the greys or just not caring any more, but I do get a lot more patronising comments and attitudes, so I'm sticking to the colour. It makes me happier anyway.
Botox is another matter...
I appreciate Imogen's precision too!
However, few young people can buy *everything* of the best quality, so many have, for example, the best electronics but not shoes, or vice versa.
I hate texting, give me a full size keyboard so I can type an email fast, or I'll call you so it's not a back and forth event. I don't get why so many love to text. My friends no that I'm not that into it, they text me, i call them back.
Why shouldn't I wear a watch? They can be quite attractive. I'm 22, if it makes a difference.
Helen: You do know this blog is for 50+ women? And you are very welcome here! Watches still have a function, and that function has nothing to do with age.