Fabulous Fashionistas

Recently channel 4 showed a documentary about older women with a vibrant attitude to life and their clothing.  It really struck a chord with me, I found the ladies featured in the program inspiring.  Watching a programme like that makes you feel OK about getting older.

I know, I know.. I'm only 31, I'm not that old.  The thing is though, I've been very lucky so far.  I've no grey hairs, my figure has come back more or less then same after two children and my skin looks OK.  I have noticed the beginnings of some wrinkles beginning to form though, and I have to be honest, I don't really like it... but I know it's inevitable, so I'm trying to come to terms with it.  Watching this program was reassuring.

I'm not someone who wants to have plastic surgery and procedures one day.  Whilst I want to look as good as I can for as long as I can, I have no desire to go under the knife or have horrible sounding chemical peals.  I use creams on my face, and sun protection.  I always have.  I started a skincare regime aged 11 and have always stuck to it with a few changes here and there.  I've only ever gone to sleep with make up on once or twice.  I don't use expensive creams though.  Just Superdrug own brand.  I suspect a lot of how we age has to do with personality and genetics.  My parents are only beginning to get grey hairs in their 60s.  My maternal grandmother died with a head of mostly black hair, only a few grey, aged 76, so I'm hopeful on that score.  Mind you, I quite like the silver hair look, so I might well embrace that one day!!

I'm getting sidetracked... back to the program.  I suspect that these women and their interest in style/being smart/being active is not something that started once they hit 70.  I suspect these women have always been that way and will carry on in that vein until they die.  I like to think that as I've always loved colour, statement fashion, funky patterns and looking well put together that I'll stay that way as well.  I would LOVE to end up like one of these ladies.  Their attitude to life is amazing.

I have suffered with depression in my life, but one thing that has always kept me going is getting dressed and putting my make up on.  I always have make up on.  You will not find me at the school gates in tracksuits and no make up (well, unless I'm heading to an exercise class - though I'd still have my make up on!!).  I'm just not that way.  I'm not doing it to piss other mothers off, to make them feel bad because I have a dress and mascara on.  I just can't leave the house without doing that stuff.  It's a coping mechanism.  I feel better, I feel more ready to face the world when I have put something on that lifts my mood and popped a bit of eye shadow on.  I ALWAYS find time to put my make up on.  It does often mean I don't eat anything until 11 am because getting myself ready and getting the boys ready comes before eating (I know, not great, but again, it's me!!).  I'm not trying to be a "Yummy Mummy" just as I suspect these women aren't trying to be "Fabulous Fashionistas" or even be exceptional for their age.  This is me and that is them.

The day I don't get dressed and put my make up on is the day I know I need more than my citalopram!  I don't say that lightly either.

Did you catch this program when it was on?  What did you think?  Did you find the ladies inspiring?  Would you like to be like that when you're older? Or are you like that now?  You can catch the program on demand still, go and check it out if you haven't seen it!