The message is loud and clear: We need to look younger!
Is this anything new?
Tight abs, tight faces, tight vaginas…. I feel like a sausage!
“How to look younger” “How not to dress too young” “How to age backwards”…… so much advice. It is exhausting. We are always in a battle with our bodies.
A nip, a tuck, endless products and so many exercises to stop anything drooping or just doing what our skin naturally does.
With all my years of being hyper focused on my body and all the flaws I perceived, aging was not a concern.
Maybe, it is because I was raised in a European culture and although times have changed, it is still easier to age there. Helen Mirren and Judi Dench command attention and respect for being talented.
Now at 67 years of age I am constantly being told I need to focus on my age. The goal is to make sure that I stay youthful, and according to all the messages out there I have to find the balance. I can’t dress too young as that means I am not aging gracefully . But of course I have to be careful that I am contemporary and not dressing in a frumpy way. And I have to know the trends, but I can’t follow them, as that will make me look as if I am trying too hard. I can adapt them, as long as I know what is acceptable. And certain parts of my body have to be covered, as apparently they are not deemed so attractive (think knees, arms, necks and legs).
I am exhausted just looking at that last paragraph!!!
It is another way we get sold some more products. Yep, follow the money. Create anxiety and dissatisfaction and sell the cure.
All of my years focusing on my weight and I forgot to focus on my aging body. I am very grateful that I didn’t go in that direction, I already had enough self hatred going on!
Finally in my sixth decade I love my body and I am going to dress it and show it off in the way I see fit. I am aging authentically.
There are a couple of links for you to enjoy that spread that message so well.
1. Advanced Style blog. Art Seth Cohen photographs older women with amazing style. The sheer joy and the passion he brings to his books the blogs and the subjects is inspiring. I love looking at these women and am glad to be living in a time when our self expression is only stopped by our imagination or fears.
2. ‘You Tube “Fabulous Fashionistas” is a film about 6 women (most of them in their 80’s) who ‘want to keep going, look fabulous and have fun’. What wonderful goals for all of us to have. This is full of charm and inspiration.
I am wearing what I feel great in and if that clothing is deemed too young or inappropriate I don’t care. Who are the fashion police? Let’s make them redundant and the only way we can do that is to stop judging other people.
Let’s celebrate someone who is frugal and chooses not to buy in to fashion, instead chooses recycling and saving the planet. Or maybe they have chosen to do something else with their time and money. Let’s celebrate other peoples choices around their looks and their wardrobes.
I am choosing to be the best of my self with a healthy mind and body. I am not looking for a youth serum or for the body of my youth. In the words of Chip Conley of The Midlife Wisdom School, I am ” growing whole”.
I am aging forwards.
This is me and I love her!
Let’s age forwards together.
Thanks for reading
Christina