There seem to be an onslaught of books and articles about the importance of appearing younger that are targeted to women in their 50s, which means ME!!! I 
didn’t realize that I was in trouble until I read Jesse Kornbluth’s review of Charla Krupp’s, How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger on his blog, Head Butler. Kornbluth, who usually tackles more literary and intellectual content, felt compelled to call his readers’ attention to this book due to the social and economic fallout that happens to women when their beauty declines. Ouch!
I followed the link he provides to Amazon where, for an additional sum, you can also get a copy of Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45. (Is 45 the new 50?)
If that’s not enough advice, you can read Redesigning 50: The No-Plastic-Surgery Guide to 21st-Century Age Defiance and learn how to dress better for your (thicker in the middle) mid-life body in Dressing Nifty After Fifty. For fans of reality TV, The Learning Channel has a program called “Ten Years Younger,” (not to be confused by TLC’s equally compelling “I Can Make You Thin” ) that judging by its website, is focused on women. They step into a sound-proofed booth and passers-by critique their looks and guess their age prior to a life-changing make-over. (Don’t we get enough of this without asking for it?)
If you’re still not feeling badly about your estrogen-starved body, read Lisa Johnson’s story in the WSJ. She’s a 49-year old women, who after a year of unsuccessful job-hunting, rejuvenated her career by hiring a stylist to make her appear younger.
Apparently, declining bone mass, creeping blood pressure and poor sleep are not our biggest concerns as we age.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Many of these books, I think, can help us feel better, not worse about aging with information and inspiration to look our best while living our best.
OK, I’m biased. I spend my life leaning what I explain in “Staging Your Comeback,” BUT — if the many emails of appreciation of the hope and inspiration felt by it’s readers is any indication, I think we’re on the right track!
Aging ROCKS! (but its even better with a good haircut and lipstick).
Christopher Hopkins, author, Staging Your Comeback, A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45. http://www.themakeoverguy.com
Thanks for your comment Christopher - Of course, you’re right and I have to admit that while I lamented the need to hide or thwart signs of natural aging I did reserve Charla’s book at the library so I could see if she had any pearls of wisdom I could benefit from. We all want to look good at any age and sometimes all it takes is, as you say, a good haircut and the right shade of lipstick! I’ll be sure to check out your book as well! And if you’re ever in San Francisco, I’ll be first in line for an appointment with you.
It all comes under denial. I talked with a 34 year old woman just this week who said “I know I look young”, and I thought , no you look 34. It is all perspective. I can’t number the women in their early 40’s who tell me they are having night sweats, dry eyes, irritability, and blame stress at work, the kids, etc.. They dismiss the notion I suggest that it may be menopause because they are too young in their minds. I hear often, “How can I be menopausal with a 4 year old?” Oh Denial!
I think it is very sad, this refusal of people who are older than 20 or thereabouts to dare look truly beautiful and strong!
I am 47 and VERY grey. I just had some of that grey tinted - still plenty of grey showing - and the hairdresser also gave me a young woman’s hair cut. They took years off me. It’s dawned on me after the initial fun that I actually feel I look kind of silly. I think I look like a woman my age trying to look like a woman half my age, while I had always felt very good about aging - until now! Because, ouch, my grey is really starting to show again, for example.
So, I will go beautifully grey again and those who think that means I am 65, well, I think they are the ones with the problem, not me.
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