Don’t get excited. This isn’t about porn.
(I’m working on that one.)
It’s about how women who are “over the hill”
(or as I prefer to call us “veterans of life”) are supposed to look.
According to the fashion gurus — conservative and bland.
Who decides who’s “over the hill” anyway?
Men who are over the hill themselves?
At the Oscars they usually bring out an older actress who’s “over the Hollywood hill” (which means she’s not in her twenties). She’s usually wearing a jacket and some sequins. Everybody stands up and claps.
Most older women have a jacket and something with sequins somebody gave them for Christmas. Nobody ever stands up and claps for them. Kids don’t even stand up and give them their seats on buses and trains.
Older women should get acting awards. They act all the time. On the outside they act to be liked and not to make waves while inside they often want to scream…
Some women defied convention even when they weren’t spring chickens.
Frieda Kahlo never shaved her mustache.
Katherine Hepburn never gave up wearing pants.
Joan Crawford never plucked her eyebrows.
Carmen Miranda never wore a babushka.
Ladies, they’ll never be a better time for you to have “your time.” Rebel! You’re not beige.
After all the things you’ve done for others all your life you should get an award.
And you should have the freedom to wear what you want. Don’t let other people tell you how you should look. Don’t fade into the background in beige.
Wear red. Gone are the days when Bette Davis wore a brazen red ball gown in “Jezebel” when virgin girls were supposed to wear white and so lost Henry Fonda, the man she loved.
Be Ava Gardner in red seducing a bullfighter (or a bull…or Sinatra or anybody standing around), even if you feel like Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz.
As long as you close your mouth when you chew and you don’t drool, wear whatever the hell you want.
The older I get, the braver I get. My fashion look is Early Bag Lady though I prefer to call it Gypsy Chic (lol). I have blue eye shadow days when my grandkids don’t want me to get out of the car. Sometimes I laugh. I colored my hair purple a month ago. My husband still hasn’t noticed. Trust me, one of these days I’ll make him sorry.
My only advice to you is don’t listen to the fashion gurus. Or to me. But forget fitting in. Forget beige. Forget being nice. EXPLODE!
Want to make a big change in your wardrobe and put some va-va-voom in your life without spending a penny? Raise your bra straps two inches.
You’re just a button click away–
and I’d love to hear from you.
About your world, your family, your joys and frustrations, growing up, growing older, even recipes–even though I stopped cooking–by request–years ago.
Goodbye until next time…
Hope your day turns out as well as I hope
(but doubt) mine will,
Gingy (Ilene)
Even before reading this, I happened to shorten my bra straps this morning (after looking in the mirror). What a difference. I’m so happy to be in sync with you. More advice, please! XXX ES
Joyce: The lady with the mustache is Frida Kahlo–the
wonderful artist and on and off lover of Diego Rivera.
Salma Hayek played her in the movies.
Hello everybody else. Thanks for reading me.
Hi I.B.,
Finally found my way back to your corner of the world. Loved all the conversations taking place here. But……who is the lady with the mustache??????
Joyce
Hi, Gingy, you delightful thing. I hate acting my age, and I’m so inspired by your stories and encouragement. Pretty soon I’ll be switching my closet over from my winter wardrobe, to my summer one. I look forward every year to seeing those clothes I nearly forgot I had. Now that I’m 65 though, I’m down to about 4 pairs of shoes I can wear without pain. Thank you, Alexander McQueen, for black wedge flip flops!
I just returned from Israel where a discussion about swimming in the Dead Sea included my comments that the salt won’t burn me since I haven’t shaved my legs or arm pits in 20 years. Does that constitute “over the hill” independence?
Fun blog. Kudos to you Gingy.
Gingy,
Thanx for posting that photo coloring page of me to color. I posted it yesterday
On my Coloring is Healthy & Fun page on FB. What a serendipity!
Your a real gem friend!
Colored spring hugs always,
Oh Gingy… This is laugh out loud stuff! Thanks for everything that comes out of that quirky, amazing brain of yours and…oops, wait a sec… I’m gonna raise those bra straps…um, oh, I’m not wearing one!!
“Rebel! Don’t be beige!” Best. Line. Ever!
Gingy (Ilene-sweet friend)
I wear what is comfortable and doesn’t itch these days. If the tag inside the shirt itches it gets cut off right away. I have seen some women my age dye their hair blue and pink but I’m not as daring. I still have long hair that I wear down as well as pull back and I wear a fancy baseball hat with no logos. I have several pins of my moms I put on the side and change them when I want too. I live in a small town
And folks dress whatever they want. I do recognize with the women that everyone has their own style of boots. I just bought my first pair of UGGS..30% off it was a bargain and they are comfortable and don’t itch. Guys young and old wear cowboy hats, hoodies, baseball hats with logos, no suits and ties. It’s very laid back here and I love that.
Until we meet again, stay healthy and filled with giggles.
Don’t let anyone steal your joy from you,
Live your Flower Power Friend…
HI Ilene–love this one! Will the snow ever stop so we can find each other’s houses?
Thanks Gingy, I needed that. My wonderful friend that lives way too far from me just came to visit and that visit was too short. When we are together, I dress daring and beautifully and excitedly. She gives me strength and power I never knew I had. I try to keep it up after we’re apart but I always revert to old norms. Your words give me a little strength to keep it going. Harry Winston said ” people will stare, give them something to look at…”
Laughed out loud a few times! (as usual!)
OK- I will try again…..
Wear high heels, own a red jacket, hang out with younger friends, dress for this century, and have young thoughts. Driving a Maserati also helps ( I do), and I get thumbs up from 9 year old boys up to old men using walkers. Best of all are some of your old friends who always keep you young.
Great blog!!! I have been trying to send a more lengthy reply but your reply section doesn’t let me.
You made my day!!!
Ginny, Would love a gene transfer from you (minus the odd hereditary disease). It’s your talent and disposition and wit I crave
Love the bra sketches! A new book on how to dress young?
Please say hello to Sally W.O. for me. We worked together eons ago.
Hi Ginny, I always take the positive point of view. I’m glad I’m alive and able to enjoy being active and seeing my family grow older and grow up. I just wish that strangers would not refer to me as “young lady!” Some day I will hit one of them with my handbag! I feel older and wiser and will be marching this Saturday in Boca Raton with the “March for Life!” The kids from Parkland, just 20 minutes from Boca, give me hope! Love, Phyllis
Thank you Ilene….you always make me feel privileged (and excited!) to be getting older…and cooler…and more MYSELF! You are a GODDESS xx
Hilarious as always. And right on. The next person who tells me older is better is going to get smacked wherever it hurts more. Even though I do wear red.
i so do look forward to these a month is too long…
I absolutely love you! You have only gotten better and more hilarious with age! We really need to get together this year if it ever stops snowing.
I wear red all the time and I have red highlighting in my gray hair, but people still give me seats on the subway. Which I am always happy to take! I love your blog, Gingy!