Over 80 and beautiful
That phrase was never an oxymoron, but lately I am noticing ever more beautiful elders.
This one I've even met: she's Kay, mother of my dear friend Susan. Is she not a goddess? Let's parse her style so we can emulate it: everything she's wearing could be worn by her daughter, also a beauty. There's no "little old lady" insipid pastels, no jewelry acquired before cars had seatbelts, no orthopedic shoes.
Best of all, that smile, and a presence suffused by joie de vivre.
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| Kay, age 89 |
Kay's ensemble is absolutely of the minute; I think that's the key to her chic.
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| The entire ensemble |
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| Now that's a good-looking family! |
Like mother, like daughter! Here's Kay with Susan, 60ish. Both wear vibrant colour and modern, bold jewelry– the same look flatters each generation. (I'm beginning to catch on that as I age, I could leaven my habitual neutrals with colourful accessories.)
People who refer to certain clothing items as "old lady" might meditate on these shots, and for good measure, consider this photo of her grandmother, kindly provided by Rubiatonta, originally posted on her blog Rubi Sez. Another elegant elder, she is 98 and, according to Rubi, able to make a racy double entendre with the best of them.
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| Rubi's grandmother |
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| Mrs. B in Marni |
Above, the ultimate in octagenarian chic, the renowned British fashion merchant Joan Burstein, "Mrs. B", over 80, in a Marni tunic, part of a fabulous feature showing what she wore for a month, in British Vogue. (Thank you Josephine, aka "chicatanyage", who writes the blog Chic at Any Age for posting the link to this.)
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| Mrs. B's earrings |
There are women like this in every community, and don't for a minute think they don't care about how they look anymore.
A commenter pointed out on The Sartorialist that the elders shot by Scott Shuman were dressing snappily before we were born. Calling them "adorable" or "cute" (as other commenters had) infantalizes, neuters and diminishes their substance.
There is certain behaviour I have observed in a few elder women, an eye-batting coyness, a reversion to adolescent giggles and flirtatiousness. (I suspect this is a coping mechanism for loss of independence). But the vast majority of elder women are not cute.
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| La voie lactée by Geneviève Cadieux |
A final image: the sultry red lips of this mature woman hover over Montreal.
"La voie lactée" by Geneviève Cadieux sits atop Le Musée d'art contemporain; a version will appear in the Paris Metro at Saint-Lazare. The lips belong to her mother, a family friend; we will see the piece when it is installed in October.
I applaud both cities for choosing this celebration of authentic age, with its distinct beauty and for once eschewing the easy allure of the unlined face.
Comments
I do think it's alright to refer to certain things as old lady however, even my mum would use that term, it can accurately define a style of dress.
Darla (over 70 herself)
And yes times really did change. All you have to do is watch movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood pre 1962 say and you will notice that in restaurant or nightclub scenes at least half the actors will be over 60, the directors, writers, hairstylists, makeup artists were often older as well.
If you can watch TV and flip channels and see 1 woman over 65 every 3 hours then you begin to see yourself as invisible as well. The women you describe are not the norm, they are women who have managed to cobble together their own style with no outside direction. The fact that you have to single them out for special mention speaks volumes.
1. Reduced finances: Check the median income for women over 75 where you live, I am sure it will be sobering.
2. Mobility: In the 80s, often mobility is decreased. Even if a woman has only a cane or walker, it is still much harder for her to go out shopping. Yes, there is mail order, which can help enormously, but many, like my mother, still prefer to actually see and try the clothes. Other health issues, like arthritis and osteoporosis make fit difficult.
2. Bourbon&Pearls: Funny story! Why join age and sex to form a derogatory term, though? Dowdy or frumpy seems more accurate to me and does not put a woman or her age down.
3. Anonymous: OK! Cliniqu make very good products for 60+ skin:
- Almost Lipstick: emollient, semi sheer
-City Block: a sheer, moisturizing protector with a slight tint
- Brow pencil to subtly enhance brows
- and take care of the teeth, whitening is a good idea but not to the unnatural blinding white stage.
The white-haired Madame of "La Voie lactée" (a great beauty and model) does not in fact wear that deep red IRL. She wears discreet mascara by day and a neutral shadow for evening.
unefemme: Susan in fact sent me a photo of her mom with another family member dressed just as you describe-so yes, that look is still around, too.
seeyouthere: Darla, I see little of the "clown effect" (but know what you mean.) I more often see zero makeup or effort. I once amused myself in church with my mother trying to find one woman wearing any eye makeup.
Pattti: Thank you. I am inspired myself, at 63.
Anonymous@ 9:44:I wouldn't know how many elders are on TV- I do not own one. However, I see plenty of them in the community, due to the demographics.
re" "you have to single them out for special mention": I could, if I had the time (and skill) to photograph local elders on the street, find many more examples of 80ish men and women who take care with their appearance.
Perhaps one sees what one focuses on.
http://passagedesperles.blogspot.com/2010/03/50-women-at-arty-boutique.html
Perhaps other readers will kindly add their recommendations.
I have followed Mrs. B for several years now and always enjoy how she puts herself together.
She also benefits, as does Madame (the lips) from having a stylish daughter who lends a hand in her shopping forays.
The women all look wonderful. Beautiful.
I also liked reading your post about "wearable art." I have a friend who keeps encouraging me to shop at an arty boutique but I refuse to go until I've developed a coherent style because a) I'm too impressionable right now -- the twenty-something salesperson would sell me the wrong things, and b) I don't see the point in shopping for "interesting" pieces until the core is in place. How would I know what you're complimenting/accenting?
Susan Tiner: Hold your ground! With your sewing skills you can make a top in an interesting print and see how you like that before investing in "wearable art" (a term that always rouses my suspicion.)
I agree with you about Advanced Style--I like that he's focusing on older women, but far too many of them look absurd.
On "art to wear"--my personal opinion, as a sewist, as that much of it is badly fitted. With a little more design/fitting care, it can look fabulous.
On color as we age--yep, more, please! I like the concept of columns of color. Neutrals are tricky for me, especially as I am blonde, blue-eyed and amazingly pale. (I have an "Oregon tan," these days.)
Oh, and I'll check the Clinique eyebrow stuff. My eyebrows have decamped for parts unknown...
Let us all champion looking beautiful in our own unique way, having fun with fashion and enjoying life at whatever age.
Sorry about your headache, and it reminds me of another point: if one does not feel well it's hard to care about appearance, and not many women over 80 are free of some kind of ache or pain.
Sewing Librarian: I had an aunt who turned to me in a shopping mall parking lot, grabbed my wrist and said "I an desperate for clothes"- and she was a size 8. Someone needs to seize this market, and they do not all want Applesed's.
materfamilas: Thamks and see chicatanyage's comment below- more to come.
chicatanyage: We will all be awaiting those photos. Love the story of your friend. I can do that too but need a massive nap in the afternoon to pull it off!
Who is going to come forward and serve this ever-growing market?
"Oh, Lynda you are going to look old" For heaven's sake, I am 72! And today, I read in you wise blog, "authentic age". That is what I want to be, my "authentic age" in my hair color, my clothing.
Thank you so much for making me see the light.
Happiness to you and your family in Montreal. My mother was so proud to be French Canadian. Her ancestry was traced to a little town in France, but she insisted she was Canadian from Montreal.
I'd say 72 is time to do what pleases you.
What a splendid group of fashionable elders!
Terri: Glad to provide and thanks!
Kay, at over 90, is *at a party* not walking.
Orthopedic shoes are usually quite ugly. They do not "offend" me; they are what they are: like support hose, walkers or canes, an aid to mobility. Since you are not only anonymous but don't post a picture of your shoes, who knows what you have?
You might be interested in the shoes sold at Labortoire Pouliot in Montréal (and probably sold elsewhere).
More unappealing than any shoe is being a peevish elder.