I despise the UK's 'THE MAIL' newspaper at the best of times, for their often extreme right wing, po faced attitude and their downright homophobic reputation, but this article takes the biscuit!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-...-old-wear-.html

I happen to be one of those 'women over 40' (43 to be precise), who dares to wear mini skirts (and show their 'wrinkled' knees), bright colours, lace dresses, shows her cleavage, dares to wear a bikini, or indeed sequins!

WHO is this writer? She MUST be under 25..... I find it interesting how 'younger' women, instead of actually coming to terms with the fact that they too will 'age' (oh yes!) into an old crone over 40 - consider themselves 'untouchable'.
I don't think I ever felt this 'dislike' or distaste towards ageing, in fact I respected (and still do) those of seniority - they were there to learn from, admire and respect.
Anyway - just had to vent my spleen, this kind of thing enrages me, not just because i myself am in the firing line, but because of the 'attitude' in the writing. It's crass.
MB

I saw that article about Lulu, too. I thought she looked great.

For the record, I'm even older than you and break the mini-skirt interdiction with frequency. It's about being at ease with yourself and how you present yourself to the world. With luck and experience, one's taste gets better as one ages anyway, so we can break rules with impunity knowing what works best for our individual style.

I have nothing to add to that , you pretty much summed up that rag rather well.
And they dissed Babs

The human wreckage who wrote that article is unknown (to most of us anyway). With any karma she'll tick off someone of influence enough to lose her little rag job as well as that ridiculous ego.

ageist AND misogynous


no time to waste for crap like that!

don't buy that newspaper.

I think the whole idea of the Daily Mail is you're supposed to be outraged, shocked and angered by its articles--and dissemiate them as widely as possible. They do a pretty good job of achieving their goal.

This article didn't bother me at all. Some of it is not so much the age of the person wearing it, as the fashion -- it wouldn't look too good on anybody. I didn't like Madonna's dress, whether she was 50 or 20. It's just too fussy. Once you get to be a certain age it draws attention to the things that some folks are trying to hide.

She wasn't always critical. She didn't criticize Helen Mirren, but she mentioned that the rest of us would be better off not to spend so much time in the gym. Not many of us can put the hours in that Cher does, for example.

Dolly is going to be Dolly, no matter what. Whoever said she has the best taste in clothes anyway!

I was impressed that Heather Mills could wear those boots (the heels) with only one leg.

I don't worry too much about fashion since I know what is worn in other places is not worn here and vice versa. Lulu would look just fine in Florida. But the dress isn't the greatest.

Nipped in jackets look good on some people, but trust me, not on me. Never have. I liked Joan Rivers hair.

Who makes the writer the fashion police anyway.

Meantime, here in the States there was a big article a week or so ago saying that some of the major chains are going to allow veto powers to some stores for fashion that would go over big in some places, but not that particular store. Just what I was talking about a while ago. It sounds like more of an experiment since it is not all stores.

My recommendation to anyone who is going to move to another area is: don't buy clothes until you get there and see what is worn there or considered the height of fashion. Or, just be yourself (a la Dolly) because that is who you are and you know what you are comfortable in.

I don't read beauty magazines because they make me feel ugly. And occasionally outraged. I know what works for me, and to have some snot-nosed green grad who couldn't get their dream job at the Peoria Tribune sit on their tiny pedestal and tell me what's appropriate makes me giggle uncontrollably. Most of those pictures just about proved the writer wrong, particularly the Heather Mills one.

What Fiveoaks said.

I think the digs at the likes of Dolly and Babs annoyed me more than anything , these are not women known for being fashion plates , they dont even pretend to , they have boobage and schtick and are simply being over the top of they always have been.

The Daily Mail or that particular article didn't bother me in the least. I wear what I want to wear, and can also enjoy comments such as ladies 50 and over shouldn't wear bondage shoes, and Jane Fonda looked pretty bad in the jumpsuit.

I liked Madonna's elegant blouse. Dolly Parton always looks happy. I'll never priss around in miniskirts and 3 inch heels. It's fun to look at those who do.

Yes. I think Babs looks very good for 71. I should look so good at that age! Makes me wonder how much surgery? Do they airbrush these images?

I'm also glad that what I wear isn't picked apart. My look of the day most days is: sandals, denim shorts, T shirt, jewelry, makeup. I have a jacket in the car. Dress up is: black shorts...or a mini skirt...or a mid calf skirt.

Can you say it is HOT here!

I agree. Smarmy article written by a silly girl in a stupid newspaper. Pay no attention.

The Daily Mail was and always will be very anti female.

Liz Jones is 50 and ex editor of Marie Claire UK.

What about Lulu's saggy knees? Is that reason to stop wearing short skirts?


P.S. I'm a member of Lulu's fan Club... i've always adored her...

Articles like that used to bother me until I saw photos of a couple of the Mail's female writers. Scary! They clearly are jealous of any woman who is more attractive (that would be just about everyone) or who makes an effort to look attractive. Judging by the emailed responses, it seems like more and more people, men and women, aren't falling for those tactics any more.

I do like the Mail's coverage of human interest type stories that might be considered too unimportant for The Times or Telegraph to bother with.

One of the reasons I don't go to the hair dresser much is because they are always trying to get me to cut my hair, apparently older women shouldn't have long hair either. IMO the media try to strip women of their femininity once they pass 40. I love to see an older woman with long hair, it's soft and feminine and beautiful. Thanks for sharing the article! I enjoyed reading it, even though I found it incensing.

yes indeed , recent hair antics of my own notwithstanding I still love the sight of a lady with healthy strong long hair of any age. I am no fan of any sort of cookie cutter implications, perhaps I like having the option to shave it all off or wear it down to my ankles if I so choose.

Rasputin said:

"What about Lulu's saggy knees? Is that reason to stop wearing short skirts?"

Her's are rather wrinkly, sort of like my paternal grandmother's were at age 65. I can't imagine getting offended by fashion commentaries in print media. They've been a feature in English, French and American culture since the late 1780s, and through the 1890-now. Godey's Lady's Book and 'the Book of Beauty' dictated style before Vogue existed.

My little legs were quite nice but sturdy when I was young. I'm a reincarnated Roman centurian for sure. Now that I'm older, NO SHORTS for me, ever. Why feature my weakest feature? Skinny tan gals with wrinkly knees and skinny legs can get away with a lot but they're doing the spectators no favours! LOL!

I am not familiar with her body of work except this article , but has she ever made any cracks about long hair on older ladies I wonder?

I really don't care what other people wear...but I try to use common sense in *my* style of dressing and how I wear my hair and makeup.
I've always believed that when a person plays up (accentuates in a positive way) her/his best features...it's all good, and I'm all for change if it's uplifting and flattering, which is not to be confused with being trendy or "stylish".
All in all, when it comes to myself and my thoughts on being "age appropriate"....yeah, I think there are certain things which either make women look older...or not as good as they could look...but I sort of keep and apply any rules which stem from my thoughts on the matter to myself.
*shrug*

That "article" didn't really offend me, although I did find it hard to follow.

Some of the garments (jumpsuits!) are simply best avoided at any age in my humble opinion.

I've never enjoyed Liz Jones' writing. She is probably best known for writing a newspaper column about her marriage to Nirpal Dhaliwal and the subsequent break up in the most excruciating detail. She strikes me as crazy and needy. She's still banging on about it in fact, prime example here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/you/article-103.../Liz-Jones.html

The comments don't bother me, it's the tone of this whole piece - she's spitting and thats not nice.
Is THIS 'Liz Jones'?? Man, I hope she has google alerts on...and sees this post.
Personally, I think too much 'cleopatra' black eyeliner and tatooed eyebrows should not be allowed, especially at her age. In fact, she should damn well learn how to crochet / macrame, lock herself up and become a nun.
Strewth - who's she to talk! Everyone she commented upon looked a million times better then her! Heather Mills in particular....in fact E V E R Y O N E.
Bizarrely enough I am meeting with a friend of mine on saturday, who worked as PA to the editor of marie Claire for a few years. I know she worked with Glenda Bailey (nice woman, in the US now), then she worked with possibly.......LIZ JONES!
HA!
I'll get the round up.
What goes around, comes around - doesn't it?
Oh and Liz?

Watch those bingo wings....you KNOW ladies over 45 SHOULD NOT wear short sleeves...and black's SO ageing!
MB

Gotta say that Dolly P, Lor' luv 'er, looking 'a bit pantomime dame' is the understatement of the century, can't say that I think that a pair of kitten heels would render that outfit any more tasteful.

Didn't she say 'it takes a lot of money to look as cheap as me'?!

I thought several of these ladies looked alright to me. I would like to have Barbara Windsor's cleavage at 71. Lily Allen looked fine in the flats.

I don't like Madonna's intentional roots, but that's just my opinion. Not my look.

Heather Mills McCartney looked just fine. The poor woman has one leg, for crying out loud. Let her put a boot on it!

"Don't wear a pu$$y bow after 25." I'll try not to.

Yes, Liz needs that witch's chin filed down, as well as lipo on her chipmunk cheeks. Liz, how does it feel to take it after you've dished it out?

Her marriage was bizarre and she clearly has problems with men and self-esteem. She was a virgin until she was 32 or thereabouts. She was ready to slit her wrists when she turned fifty. Calling Dr. Phil!

The article was amusing. It is how she feels, her opinion on the matter. But I will say this, Madonna's blouse, I never liked blouses with bows. Maybe because I don't have boobage to pull it off.

Dolly Parton has great legs. I remember her saying the reason why she dresses trampy is because when she was growing up, a neighbor or somebody, I don't recall exactly, used to dress trampy. She thought it looked classy, remember, Dolly grew up poor, she did not know that was inappropriate dressing and look at her now, she is cashing that look all the way to the bank .

As someone said earlier, if you are comfortable with your body and you think you can pull it off, good for you.

RATFLMAO!

And I think rather than offensive I found it damaging to my self esteem (fragile as it is) I mean, I'm already cutting up my minis and my fluffy tops.
I just had a flash back to my ex's grandmother out in the garden in sandals, hot pants and a Guiness T-Shirt at the age of 85. She was puling up weeds and had the radio blaring. She had a slight sherry stain running into the crack in her mouth, but boy was she full of life, didn't give a poop what other people thought of her. She's still alive too and is now 96!
That's the way to do it IMO.

I wonder what's Liz's cut off age for looking sexy or for that matter, having sex with the lights on???

Thank God I'm not famous. Thank God I'm not even well-known.

While we're at it, what's her cut off age for having sex at all, or appearing in public without a bag over our head?

I bet a lot of people who have a problem with the whole thing about what's appropriate by way of fashion, for a certain aged woman, would have no problems with a 'don't list' for large women.
I know it for a fact because I've read some posts about that sort of thing, on this very board.
About how "fat" women shouldn't wear leggings...short shorts...bikinis...yadda, yadda, blah-de-blah.
Heavens to Betsy that a big woman should show a little mid-riff fat, eh?
Age -- weight -- prejudice against either is all the same...but somehow...the large ladies always take a beating...

That just reminded me of something I heard on the radio today. A 96 year old woman was roused out of bed by her yowling cat. It turns out the house was on fire. She ran outside at 4:00 am and flagged down a passing car. She said, "It was a good thing it was a woman driver because I was only wearing bikini underpants and a tank top."

Yes, I remember, I wrote something about it, after giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion, that it all depends on how you view dressing , your philosophy of dressing- if your philosophy is to dress up for comfort and you don't mind using leggings, while you are size 16 and over, than you should please yourself, as for myself, esthetics are as important to me to me as comfort. When I was in my 20s , I was very conscious of my legs, while I understood that they were very good, I felt they were not perfect , and felt very self-conscious when I wore minis - silly, i know. Now I'm size 12, I don't wear minis or even shorts , and when i see women with legs three times bigger than mine wearing shorts or minis, I just shrug my shoulders - to each his own, I just know that I will feel uncomfortable.

I honestly didn't know you had posted something about that, Smelka.
I was merely trying to make a point.
I'm a plush woman -- 47 years old -- and I don't wear shorts or mini skirts, shirts which reveal my stomach...anything cropped...
I didn't really wear minis or short shorts when I was built like a brick house, but that was my choice.
The thing is, if we're all honest with ourselves -- no matter how much we all try to be non-judgmental and fair and try to show no bias -- at least once in our lives we've looked at another person and thought she/he really shouldn't be wearing a certain outfit, etc., because of size or age or whatever.
I'll admit it. I've looked at women and thought they didn't look as good as they could look because they dressed in clothing geared for the younger crowd. I've looked at women with long hair that might be full of split ends or so thin it's stringy and oily looking, even though it's clean, and wondered why a woman (or man) would not want to cut it off and look lighter and lifted or like she/he has fuller hair.

What others choose to wear is their business...but sometimes I can't help doing a double-take or having a thought slip into my mind which questions a particular way a person might be dressed.
I don't sit around cutting people to ribbons, mentally, and I don't pretend to be some sort of fashion aficionado, either.

I also think such a big deal is made of all of this "age appropriate" dressing stuff and how it tends to de-sexualize the woman over thirty-five.
I don't quite understood why anyone thinks that to be sexy a woman, whether in her twenties or in her sixties, has to have vast amounts of skin showing and body parts poking out.
My mother is seventy-seven and she can work a great pantsuit...and have every man in the room turn to look at her.

And I also think short hair on a woman can be EXTREMELY sexy...and feminine, to boot!

I don't mind at all, Catie Ribbons, it doesn't matter if you had me in mind or not, I'm sure other people discussed it is well, I just remember that I posted on that topic some time ago.

Ehh, at least she got paid for it.

I just read the link you provided, .... and I'm disgusted... she published a private e-mail from her exs, with all the detailes, how trashy you can get ! And she dares to lecture what's appropriate and what's not ? What does she know about taste at all ?

Oh god, the wrath of a woman scorned knows no boundaries.
She was clearly 'brought up in a barn'...as my polish grandmother would say - no manners or restraint at all....and shes clearly STILL taking out her pain on every other woman around.
MB

Agreed!
I bet she'd love the Irish saying for a woman dressing 'too young' for her age, "mutton dressed as lamb".

Here's a question; do people judge men in the same way? Do people look at a sixty year old man in a shorts and say he should wear long pants because he's too old and has baggy knees? Do sixty year old men wear full body bathing suits because they have saggy moobs?

Well, recently scorned women are, by definition, pretty needy. Heck, if I had had a newspaper column when my first husband left me, I probably would've published every sordid detail too, just because I could. I, um, wasn't "in a good place," as they say, for a long time. I have a feeling Ms. Jones isn't in a very good place right now, either.

Now, I disagree with much of her catty article on women's fashion. It truly is unnecessarily unkind. But I have a feeling she may find herself wanting to print a retraction when she starts dating again, because she ain't no lamb, that's for sure.

We forgive them, because they don't know any better.

Off topic, but I know what you mean. When I divorced my first husband I wanted specify adultery and name names like the old days but my attorney said, "no, this is a no fault state, you don't need grounds".

The odd thing is that she wrote about her marriage in that sort of detail right from the very beginning. He's spoken publicly about how much damage her column did to their relationship. I can’t say that I have much sympathy for him, he’s monstrously arrogant and misogynistic, but she wasn’t a victim – can you imagine having every step of your relationship opened up for public scrutiny like that? Very peculiar.