General Chat

I was thinking, my Mum, who was 85 when she died in 1994, never seemed to worry about ageing and dressed to her age. Wore smart skirts and blouses, tights and shoes with low heels. Occasionally, on holiday, wore trousers (slacks as she called them), but would never ever have worn jeans or trainers. She always wore a hat to church because (as she said) she didn't feel dressed without one on. And she was content with how she looked.

Do you think that those of us of pensionable age (for want of a better description), have more pressure on us these days to 'keep up' with the likes of Lulu, Jane Fonda, Helen Mirren and other stars of like age who still look marvellous. Is there more pressure on us these days to strive to look younger and fitter for our age? For example my Mum would never have gone on a diet to lose weight, she accepted that she would inevitably get middle aged spread and just bought a larger sized skirt.

Would we be more content if we accepted the ageing process or not?

I intend to age disgracefully, I'm 57 now I do wear jeans and trainers etc and as a result I don't think I look 57, hubby likes what I wear and would say if it wasn't right for me, I also think the celebs can afford to look as young as they want, they don't have money worries etc like we do.

Susan, I am 70 and still wear jeans and trainers, my Mum would be either amazed or shocked and would think me 'unladylike' Lol!!!! I also have my hair coloured so am certainly not growing old gracefully.

I think you should be happy in your own skin.

Why do we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. The photographs of celebrities are airbrushed and some have gone under the knife if a bid to stave off the aging process. Why be plastic.

In my opinion there is nothing more beautiful than being yourself. Okay, I most probably will always dye my hair but can't see me ever having elective surgery and botox, I will never understand. Why put poison into your body?

The media has a lot to answer for by promoting the need to be young or youthful looking, what's wrong with aging, with age comes maturity, and inner beauty. All that matters is that you are happy with yourself.

I think it goes back to when you were expected to wear clothes that were appropriate for where you were in life, age, married, widow etc. I do remember my Nan commenting on some girls at a family wedding who shouldn't be wearing that now?????

I agree TootyFruity, when that ad comes on and they say "love the skin you're in" I always say I do without that on my face.

Jeans and trainers for me too, lol. Practical for work in the mornings, looking after grandchildren in the afternoons and walking the dog.
Can dress up as and when required, have never worn make up (apart from my wedding day) and dont even bother dying my hair now. I dress for me and to be comfortable and I'm happy with myself.
After 6.30pm its slippers and P.Js.

Cath xx

I think that previous generations aged differently. My paternal Gran (1889-1973) looked like an old lady by the time she was 50. She never wore makeup, had a 'trendy' haircut, or wore trousers. Grey skirts, blouses, pinnies and 'aggies' were her clothing choices :-)) My other Gran (similar age) was much more modern in outlook but still dressed conservatively. However I think that there was much less choice in terms of clothes, even as recently as the 80s. Styles, fabrics and availability of fashionable clothes for the more mature woman are so much better now.

Cath.

Slippers and PJs for me too but at 8:00ish.

I'm 68 and wear jeans /trousers flat shoes not
trainers. Only ever once coloured my hair and it was a disaster
never again, i'm going grey but i really dont mind.
If i go out then i dress up but wear very little makeup if any at all .
Hazelx

Intending to age disgracefuly...I'm just not emotionally ready to do so yet lol x

I dress appropriately for what I'm doing. Mostly jeans or trousers during the day but if going out, I dress up. It all about what's makes me feel good. Why worry about keeping up with the celebs.

Susan. I'm with you, I don't use products either.

I think it is true that even as recently as the 80s there was not so much choice in the shops for people over 50, or maybe that too was that they were schooled to think the choice was not for them. And I also agree that sometimes the pendulum swings too much the other way and the clothes available are geared to a younger generation. Having said that, if sometimes I have tried clothes that I would consider too 'young', because that was all there was, occasionally I am surprised that actually they are ageless and whoever wears them brings to them a different 'twist'. So we personalise clothes by how we wear them.

If my hair was white I wouldn't have it coloured but it is patchy dark grey in places, not an attractive colour. When the grey evens out I shall stop colouring it. And I do it for me, nobody else.

I with Muffy lol. I intend to grow old disgracefully ;-)

im growing old disgracfully too lol, all my friends go on sunbeds n dye there hair, i cant be bothere, been thee done that lol, x

Grandmas Shoes

When I was a very little
All the Grandmas that I knew
All walked around this world
In ugly Grandma shoes.


You know the ones I speak of,
those black clunky heeled kind
They just looked so very awful
That it weighed upon my mind.


For I knew, when I grew old
I'd have to wear those shoes
I'd think of that, from time to time
It seemed like such bad news.


I never was a rebel
I wore saddle shoes to school
and next came ballerinas
Thenthe sandals, pretty cool.

And then came spikes with pointed toes
Then platforms, very tall
As each new fashion came along
I wore them, one and all


But always, in the distance
Looming in my future, there
Was that awful pair of ugly shoes
That kind that Grandmas wear


I eventually got married
and then become a Mum
Our kids grew up and left
And when their children came along.

I knew I was a Grandma
and the time was drawing near.
When those clunky, black, old lace up shoes
was what I'd have to wear.

How would I do my gardening
or take my morning hike
I couldn't even think about
How I would ride my bike.


But fashions kept evolving
and one day I realized,
That the shape of things to come
Was changing, right before my eyes.


And now, when I go shopping
what I see, fills me with glee
For, in my jeans and Reeboks
I'm as comfy as can be.


AndI look at all these teenage girls
And clunky, black, old Grandma shoes,
And they really think they're neat


Thought this poem would make you ladies smile!!
When I think of my gran in her lace up shoes and thick stockings and see her in photographs when I was young and realise she was only in her 50's.What would she think of me who is most comfortable in trousers and casual shoes and I.m almost 76!!How times have changed!

Or as we say in our house "you can't improve on perfection" when someone is a bit anxious about what they look like.

I'm always drawn to the younger section of clothes ------wishing}},styles now can be mixed enough to be trendy without trying to look like a 16 year old teen.

Long hair ages women of 50+especially if they dress in teenage clothes or theres no style to it.



I must be a stand alone who dont own an LBD((little black dress))not me at all..dont do drab,dowdy or fuddy duddy,so will just carry on being me and go with fashionable stuff.