I am Fifty and Fabulous

I hit fifty in July last year. I am now a golden girl with streaks of silver in her hair and a few pounds heavier everywhere.

At fifty you enter a whole new phase in life. You discover yourself. You are more cautious about your diet and are advised to have regular medical checkups, exercise is now a way of life and you are  expected to wear ‘age  appropriate’ clothes. Fashion at 50 takes on a whole new meaning and who says you can’t be fifty and fashionable?

Iconic French designer Coco Chanel rightly says, “You can be gorgeous at 20, charming at 40 and irresistible for the rest of your life.”

Oh yes! At fifty what should my style statement be?  How should I dress, what should I wear? A wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear is every woman’s nightmare and with age may turn to the queen of all nightmares.

I may be fifty, but I do not have to lose myself in baggy, ill- fitting, dowdy garments. I do not have to give up being fashionable altogether; keeping in mind a few factors I have to  find the right colours and clothes.  I must develop my own unique style, I must be comfortable in what I wear and look elegant.   Since body parts are not quite what they used to be I will not blindly follow trends, but wear clothes that flatter my form and figure.

I remind myself that the time has come to choose softer and good quality fabrics. Tailored and structured garments will be more my cup of tea. Loud is out. Bling is taboo. I may not have gained an inch around anywhere but I just cannot afford to wear clothes that I wore as a twenty-year-old because I am not forever 21.Knee length hemlines, age-appropriate jeans and modest necklines will give me that grace and charm befitting my age.

 ‘If you ask me personally, I like to dress young the way I feel but I don’t go overboard with frills and the girlie stuff”, says a 65 –year-old mother of four. “A bit of dignity befitting my greying temples doesn’t go amiss. I love bright colours and avoid too much brown and grey.”

My teenage sons sport hair longer than mine and berate me every time I get a haircut. How long should I wear my hair? A difficult decision to make at the halfway mark!  I guess all I have to do is place my tresses in the hands of a quality professional stylist… and keep my fingers crossed. Bangs, layers, angles, highlights, and lowlights done correctly will soften features and draw attention away from wrinkles and lines.

I realize that changes are inevitable with age and those strands of grey are just nature taking its course. Grey doesn’t confer senior citizen status on me. I haven’t found cause as yet to reach out for that bottle of colour. (I just might someday.) Presently I can live with my silvery highlights.

If I am to don those layers of greasepaint, I remember to keep it minimal, soft and subtle. I try and follow a skin care regime that suits my skin. Personally, I prefer the homemade lotions, potions and packs. They are a lot more effective than the ready-made stuff.

 Have fun accessorizing. The plethora of accessories in the market leave me spoilt for choice. I have been advised to keep clothing simple and hence try and adhere to a few guidelines in the accessory department:

·    Stay away from the small and unnoticeable. Develop the art of Mix&Match to get that stylish look.

·    Get handbag savvy. Number one on the accessory list, the handbag can make or break your look. Get a few handbags in different shapes, sizes and colours that can be matched to outfits and occasions.

·    Banish the stilettos and platforms. Wear open-toed sandals, go in for a pedicure now and then, paint your toe nails and you are feet pretty.

·    Do not ditch the glasses. They add character to your face. While shopping for the latest frames, buy one that suits your face. Glam up with the glares!

·    You don’t have to adorn yourself with the most expensive jewels to look good. Imitation jewellery works equally well. Necklaces, chains, pendants, bangles, bracelets, beads and earrings are all yours for the taking. Easy on the eye and inexpensive, a piece of imitation jewellery gives life to the plainest of outfits. Contrast colour of jewellery to colour of outfit so as to blend.

·    Scarves, stoles, shawls and belts also figure prominently in the fashion bible. Accentuate your trim waistline with a belt. Throw that scarf and stole over your shoulder to give you that hot and happening look!

·    Keep accessories to a minimum if the  outfit is colourful. Do not over accessorize, or you are going to look like an overgrown teenager.

·    Smile!

A friend sums it all up when she says, “At the back of my head I know I am 50+ and soon my skin,
nerves and bones may just let me down, so minimal make is the way for it to ring the bell that
soon, makeup should fade away as I approach 60, as this will not hide my age or my skin.
In a line, dress modestly, simple yet stylishly, wear confidence on your face, let the bounce
in your walk say that you are in love with life and have a kind word for all. 50+ is the age
to smile at the memories of the past and await the future with the eagerness of a child
waiting to open the present Santa just slipped down the chimney on a cold wintry night.”