Style: When you're the oldest woman in the bistro
The winner of the draw for the iBook, "How to Get Fit Watching TV" is Doreen!
Doreen, please contact me with an e-mail address that Debbie Rahman can use to send the gift link for your book. (My address is under my photo in the right sidebar.)
Everyone else: Thank you for entering, your intention to be fitter is terrific. I encourage you to splash out for the book!
We tried a hip new restaurant the other evening, with our neighbours Lou and Jean-Yves. The median age at our table was a solid sixty; a round corner banquette was all the better for conversation. (Another friend insists that restaurant tables have gotten bigger and that is why she can't hear someone across from her.)
Next to us a couple read the menu; he was a skinny man of about thirty, all elbows and horn-rimmed glasses, in a Harris tweed jacket. She wore a stretchy black and red dress with a deeply scooped back, the simplicity of the cut revealed her graceful spine. Everything rested on that sole detail.
I said to Lou, "Look at that girl, the cut of her dress is so beautiful." Lou replied, "Do you realize we are the oldest people in this place?"
Though I sound-check, (and have asked for another table if I'm about to be seated next to someone on a phone), I don't age-check. We all wear more or less the same things, anyway: trousers, shirts, dresses or skirts. But a visit to a hot new restaurant is an occasion to dress up a little, which takes some thought.
Below, two versions: the not-so-current and the happening. Often is is not the garment per se, but how it's worn.
1. Wide-legged trousers
Always a good idea for a restaurant, relaxed and easy to sit in—but at left, the fringed top clutters the line. Not one woman under fifty in that restaurant wore stiletto-heeled shoes or boots with her trousers.
At right, clean lines, no clutter, and thick-soled sneakers. At the bistro, I saw only that kind of sneaker, or brogues with trousers, and block-heeled pumps on my neighbour in that dress. Not one woman in stilettos.
When the streets are clear of snow, a supple coat looks fresher than a heavy fur, fake or real.
2. Printed scarves
Printed scarves from Hermès to Joe Fresh are much-loved here, and while at the bar for the first course, I noticed a woman who wore one conservatively, in the triangle fold anchored by a scarf ring.
Across the room a redhead in a simple shirt wore her patterned silk tucked inside the neckline. You did not see as much of the pattern but the effect was more modern.
3. Off the shoulder
Young people show what they please, because it all looks pretty good. Off the shoulder shows that alluring sweep from neck to clavicle, but if the last upper-body workout you did was to a Jane Fonda VHS, you might be chary.
The young ones wear them tight, often also cropped or just to the waist, like the BooHoo ruffled top on the left. But those of us prone to chill, or not quite so daring, might choose the Getsuz off-shoulder sweater, snuggly and not too clingy, and let only one upper shoulder peek out.
These images are courtesy of Asos, where I was delighted to see this trend offered in many plus-sized pieces.
4. Long cardigans
As the evening ended, the young woman in the scoop-back reached for her long charcoal-grey cardigan, nearly heavy as a coat—and it may well be her coat, once spring is here.
At left, a long waterfall cardigan (by Betty Barclay), a style that hit big a decade ago and still is around the shops. I no longer have one; I like scarves and felt like a flapping tent with all that moving fabric, so gave it to a friend.
At right, the coatigan I'm eyeing: the sublimely strict "Melanie" by ça va de soi. Shown in framboise, suprisingly harmonious with black, navy, grey, brown, olive.
Much is written about "dressing your age". I'd rather not approach choice from age, but from the fact that styles do change, so inevitably the time comes to alter or replace a certain item.
I'm just back from a trip to the donation box, three pieces out (two skirts, one pair of too-tight trousers) and perhaps that coatigan's coming in.
What might you "spring" for?
Doreen, please contact me with an e-mail address that Debbie Rahman can use to send the gift link for your book. (My address is under my photo in the right sidebar.)
Everyone else: Thank you for entering, your intention to be fitter is terrific. I encourage you to splash out for the book!
We tried a hip new restaurant the other evening, with our neighbours Lou and Jean-Yves. The median age at our table was a solid sixty; a round corner banquette was all the better for conversation. (Another friend insists that restaurant tables have gotten bigger and that is why she can't hear someone across from her.)
Next to us a couple read the menu; he was a skinny man of about thirty, all elbows and horn-rimmed glasses, in a Harris tweed jacket. She wore a stretchy black and red dress with a deeply scooped back, the simplicity of the cut revealed her graceful spine. Everything rested on that sole detail.
I said to Lou, "Look at that girl, the cut of her dress is so beautiful." Lou replied, "Do you realize we are the oldest people in this place?"
Though I sound-check, (and have asked for another table if I'm about to be seated next to someone on a phone), I don't age-check. We all wear more or less the same things, anyway: trousers, shirts, dresses or skirts. But a visit to a hot new restaurant is an occasion to dress up a little, which takes some thought.
Below, two versions: the not-so-current and the happening. Often is is not the garment per se, but how it's worn.
1. Wide-legged trousers
Always a good idea for a restaurant, relaxed and easy to sit in—but at left, the fringed top clutters the line. Not one woman under fifty in that restaurant wore stiletto-heeled shoes or boots with her trousers.
At right, clean lines, no clutter, and thick-soled sneakers. At the bistro, I saw only that kind of sneaker, or brogues with trousers, and block-heeled pumps on my neighbour in that dress. Not one woman in stilettos.
When the streets are clear of snow, a supple coat looks fresher than a heavy fur, fake or real.
2. Printed scarves
Printed scarves from Hermès to Joe Fresh are much-loved here, and while at the bar for the first course, I noticed a woman who wore one conservatively, in the triangle fold anchored by a scarf ring.
Across the room a redhead in a simple shirt wore her patterned silk tucked inside the neckline. You did not see as much of the pattern but the effect was more modern.
3. Off the shoulder
Young people show what they please, because it all looks pretty good. Off the shoulder shows that alluring sweep from neck to clavicle, but if the last upper-body workout you did was to a Jane Fonda VHS, you might be chary.
The young ones wear them tight, often also cropped or just to the waist, like the BooHoo ruffled top on the left. But those of us prone to chill, or not quite so daring, might choose the Getsuz off-shoulder sweater, snuggly and not too clingy, and let only one upper shoulder peek out.
These images are courtesy of Asos, where I was delighted to see this trend offered in many plus-sized pieces.
4. Long cardigans
As the evening ended, the young woman in the scoop-back reached for her long charcoal-grey cardigan, nearly heavy as a coat—and it may well be her coat, once spring is here.
At left, a long waterfall cardigan (by Betty Barclay), a style that hit big a decade ago and still is around the shops. I no longer have one; I like scarves and felt like a flapping tent with all that moving fabric, so gave it to a friend.
At right, the coatigan I'm eyeing: the sublimely strict "Melanie" by ça va de soi. Shown in framboise, suprisingly harmonious with black, navy, grey, brown, olive.
Much is written about "dressing your age". I'd rather not approach choice from age, but from the fact that styles do change, so inevitably the time comes to alter or replace a certain item.
I'm just back from a trip to the donation box, three pieces out (two skirts, one pair of too-tight trousers) and perhaps that coatigan's coming in.
What might you "spring" for?
Comments
do look much more fresh.
Lizer Pearl
Duchesse, you are amazing! We are so happy you enjoyed the book and that you had positive results. We really believe in the program. As you said, “it works if you work it.”
The trainer Linda Killian who designed the program is unbelievable. Yes, she is very fit. Don't let that intimidate any of you though. The whole point of this book is to help the people that don't want to feel that intimidation at the gym, or don't have the time or for some other reason. Linda is super sweet and it comes through in her exercises. I wish all of you could meet her personally. You would fall in love with her. I personally have never worked with a nicer, sweeter and stronger person.
Doreen, congratulations on winning a copy of the book. We can't wait to send you a copy.
Leslie M:, I am thrilled you too are having success with the book. I am sure our Facebook followers would love to hear more about your progress.
For those of you that do purchase the book and the lucky person that receives the free copy, may I make a suggestion? Watch the video for the exercise a couple of times before actually doing the exercise. I think you will find it much easier to perform after you already have an idea of what to do. It will also help trying to hear Linda while you performing your exercise.
Regarding the Evaluation spreadsheets: They have been designed so that you only need to enter your data on the first page. All of your evaluations will automatically populate in the charts on the following pages. If this makes no sense to you, don’t worry, it will when you get the book.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me a note via our website or our Facebook page. I will personally respond to any of your queries or comments.
Thank you,
David Rahman
Art Director and all around tech guy for How To Watch TV and Get Fit, 3 Minutes at a Time".
hugs,
Janice
LauraH: Would that be a matinee performance? ;)
Wendy: for more like this, click the right sidebar "Safe or Smokin'" topic link;
Janice: I have a very similar one in navy and have to think if I need another.
We have a favorite restaurant that we go to frequently and always dress up a little when we go. When our 29 year old son came home to visit, we took him there since the food is delicious and the atmosphere comfortable. Upon parking the car and approaching the restaurant, my son looked up at the windows and exclaimed, "God, Mom, the average age up there is 75." I had never noticed that we skewed a bit older.