Savvy Thinker » Fashion

Not-so-invisible older women

Karin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:00:18 +0000

I was surprised to learn that in the last 10 years, the Oscar for Best Actress hasn't been awarded to any woman over 39. For the past 9 years, it was even lower, around age 35. If Judi Dench, Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep wins, she will be the most mature recipient since 1990 when Jessica Tandy, at age 80, won for Driving Miss Daisy.

A weird thing happens to male actors, especially movie stars, in my experience. Which is, they become grumpy old men. I think a young male actor feels great. All the girls want him. He's a star. As they get older, that sense of not being in control of their own destiny sort of grates on them, and they get grumpy. And they move into direction to try and feel they're in control of their own destiny...I don't feel psychologically challenged, because I'm in a collaboative situation on a set with a director...

One of the great advantages of getting older is that you can walk into a world which is more truthful and less to do with other people's fantasies. Helen Mirren

Well, who's it gonna be? Likely the decision is already made; we just don't know who it is yet.

I often think life is hardly fair. Tremendous performances can be turned in by several, but because of the thoughts-of-the-year it's a shoo in for one who might not in other years be the choice. But that's life! On to the next project! Talent wins out, Oscar or no Oscar.

When asked if they still had to audition for roles, Dame Judi said:

I think sometimes we might be without knowing it. If you're having a kind of friendly [there's that word again!] meal with somebody and you suddenly see those very beady, gimlet eyes looking at you, you might be auditioning then.

I like to see power going to older women. It makes me feel more secure.

No, seriously, I was just seeing if you were reading. I don't feel more secure, but it may move us away from the 60's kind of veneration of youth.

A well-known George Bernard Shaw quote is:

Youth is wasted on the young.

I hardly think so. But I'd like to see age like Dylan Thomas did:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Let's go on and out with a few sparks and some Oscars.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-24 07:23:49.

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Hair fashions by Soho

Karin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:22:15 +0000

If you are lucky enough to have a Soho kiosk near you, then you have seen some of the lovely hair accessories that they have. They are not inexpensive. But they are very elegant, though they can be worn with jeans.

You can search to see if there is a location near you. I also have a business card they gave me that lists their locations.

The good thing is that they will show you how to use them and let you try every color or color combination or style until you find what works for you.

They also have hair extensions that really are amazingly good matches for people's hair. I've seen them sell one or two every time I'm at their kiosk. (I have a couple that I'm not wearing that are not from them, so I haven't yet decided to buy one. And my hair is plenty long on it's own. The question is whether I want a fast way to put it up. And then, of course, if I would ever do it. Shades of the 70s revisited, but updated. I wore plenty of them then.)

I first saw them in Las Vegas, but since have seen them in a couple of other malls.

Don't be put off by the styles necessarily showing on their website. Some are over the top.

Many are beautiful in clear rhinestone.

The stick styles are pretty sprinkled in the hair along the sides. They are even nice when used in multiple colors, either in rows of separate colors or alternating. On blond hair, I liked amber or clear. The amber is more subtle.

You can see other ways to use them at the website. Using the half rounds with little stars or flowers is very nice too.

One style I bought in LV was difficult to get out of my hair because it snapped so tightly. They made an exchange for ones of the same style that opened more easily. Using these (they are crystal circles that snap together) makes it look like my hair is braided without braiding. I haven't tried the looser ones yet. The tight ones necessitated by daughter helping me remove them so as not to break my hair. The above styles do not do that. But I thought their service was excellent!

Karin

Originally posted 2007-10-27 11:34:42.

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How many X hundred dollar creams can a woman use?

Karin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:19:44 +0000

What's a woman to do when the newest high tech face creams are running several hundred dollars each? And how is one to choose one over another, if one is staving off the knife?

Honestly, are they all worth that kind of money? Chanel, La Prairie, Shiseido, Clea de Peau all have their moving-up-to-$500-each creams. Some need to be layered just to have enough moisture -- what's the use of that. And how does one compare an expensive cream by Chanel with a more expensive cream by Chanel sold only in a few select stores? or a Clea de Peau cream with another Clea de Peau cream? Do you think the SAs really know?

Are they old enough to have really given them a run for their money?

Well, the only fair way would be to use one on one side of one's face and the other on the other. Then you could tell folks why you appear only half-rested.

Surely some of this is hype and some is reality and some is making you feel the more expensive, the better it works. But is it true?

Perhaps there are equally good things from other much less expensive drug store lines, all of which say they use their own labs to come up with new things. And maybe if the truth were known, the differences are in the packaging as the labs may be supplying to several lines owned by a parent company.

Believe it or not, it was Avon that changed some of the creams many years ago when they first brought in alpha-hydroxy. And theirs is still one of the best. They have one of the best facilities for research and development of any company.

So, what's your favorite face cream? Do you think it works? Would you spend that kind of money on a face cream? or do you reserve that for shoes or handbags or perfumes or airline tickets? How many mega creams do you own and use? (or owned and used up)?

What's your favorite recommendations?

How much of beauty is from within and how much from taking care of ourselves? (I have a couple of friends who are proud that they do nothing, and it shows. How much of that is laziness or frugality? Or not being able to see without one's glasses?)

If I didn't use something on my skin, it would hurt in a couple of days from dryness. That's not a bad thing, when it has caused me to continue to take care of my face. But I sure don't want to spend money for the proverbial Emperor's new clothes. They ought to sell mini-jars so you could test them at home.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-10-19 12:57:14.

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Fashion accessories

Karin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:31:24 +0000

I got SAKs Spring 2007 Accessories catalog today, chock full of shoes and purses.

I like it when you are offered so many choices that what you've kept is still wearable. Remember I said, I'm not a minimalist? I can recycle my closet quite nicely. And just about the time I was thinking of clearing it out. At one time I had matching items that I found in different places. Now I'm lucky if I get out the door and remember my wallet. I tend to mix and match now, very ecclectically, before it was fashionable.

Several pairs of shoes in the catalog have impossibly high stacked heels, because the toe is also stacked. I have always liked this style of shoe, because it is comfortable having all that padding under the balls of your feet. Many years ago I had a pair of shoes I really loved, made just like this in green leather with open toes. I also bought a sort of cherry color in the same shoe. I've kept them as I loved them, even when I no longer wore them as styles changed. I figured my first daughter could play dress up in them as they were sturdy and she wouldn't turn her ankle. As it turns out, she never really wore them either.

Now they are back in style.

Meantime, I got a laugh out of Moshino Cheap and Chic -- shoes for over $500. Not so cheap in my book. But if they'd stay in style...and if they are comfortable...

Dolce and Gabbana had a pair of shoes with open toes and stiletto heels. They looked out of place among the others, for the die-hards who don't want to give up that kind of shoe. Maybe for the price they'd be comfortable, you think?

They had many beautiful purses, but since I don't really carry purses, what I have will last me a life time. I found really good prices on purses at TJ Maxx. They carry designer purses marked way down. Our local stores have a huge selection of Michael Kors and Cole Haan if you stop in every so often and look. They also go fast.

I like to wear a purse, not carry one. It leaves my hands (and shoulder) free. It's hard to find anything that doesn't look like it's made for running or going to a theme park. Once in a while I've found something at one of the outlet mall leather stores. Meantime, with all the other gear I carry: cell phone, MP3, PDA, I either have to have a belt bag big enough to carry it all or wear them on the strap. I look like a bag lady, but I'm comfortable!

And don't forget the water bottle -- a necessity here.

As much as I like the look of the mega-expensive huge bags that I see in fashion shoots of famous people, no way could I lift them or carry them if they were truly full.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-02-22 17:05:47.

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An amazing laundry hint

Karin — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:15:17 +0000

I saw this on AOL the other day and decided to give it a try.

They said to get perspiration out of white clothes, put white vinegar on the stain, then wash.

I thought, hey, why not try. Both of my older girls have had these stains under the arms.

I figured, it likely wouldn't work, especially since the stain was old, and when I realized I had washed it without remembering to try it, while it was still wet, I put the vinegar on the stain, and it didn't appear to do anything, so I put a little soap with it, and maybe it erased it a little. (I had already tried bleach on another occasion.) When it dried, I could hardly see it! So before she wore it again, in the next light load, I put white vinegar on the stain, threw it in the wash, and it came out completely.

Who knew! Did you?

Karin

Originally posted 2008-02-09 22:35:38.

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Hand feeding hummingbirds (and finances)

Karin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:10:57 +0000

Just when it seems like a bit of good news would be exceedingly welcomed, comes this true story (I've checked it with Snopes) about a woman hand feeding hummingbirds.

Isn't it great that with the Internet we have a way to easily share these experiences that we might never hear about otherwise?!

Thanks to Cathy for sharing with me in the first place!

It's a reminder to me that "God's in his heaven; all's right with the world."

from "Pippa Passes"

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven -
All's right with the world!

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Is it possible that in these difficult times we could trust more deeply that God will feed and clothe us, as he does the birds and the lilies? Whether we are literally in need of food, shelter, clothing, water, health, employment or any of a myriad of other needs, the most basic need is for the ideas that will lead us in the right direction and out of limitation.

Ideas are always limitless! (This goes along with the short movie I posted earlier.)

Not too long ago while pondering how I should schedule my day, though my first inclination the night before had been to get on down the road and back home, I felt it was all right to meander a bit. In doing so, I had a number of interesting conversations with strangers, some welcome time with a friend, and a bit of fashion enjoyment, including some time with perfumes.

After I'd been back on the highway for a while, an electronic sign informed me of an accident 26 miles down the road. One lane was closed. (I learned later that it had only cleared about an hour before I got there.) If I had hurried my way home, I would have been stuck for hours while they cleared the road. I was able to get past it without any lost time.

Sometimes we do not know what we or others are protected from, but this time it was apparent. And it could have been far worse, but thankfully wasn't. On this busy stretch of road, many more could have been involved in this accident but were not.

That's just a small example of how ideas will clear our day for us. Expect ideas today and always that will help you!

Karin

Originally posted 2008-09-26 09:26:43.

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10 reasons we don’t use a product — and why we do

Karin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:36:39 +0000

I've been thinking the last few days about facial and body products. And why. we. use. them. Or don't.

Why we don't use them
10. We aren't knowledgeable. We have yet to hear about them.
9. We don't want to spend the $.
8. We're in a rut. We've always used such and such -- but now we can't remember why!
7. We don't think we need them. And our friends likely won't tell us.
6. We can't see well anyway without reading glasses, so we figure no one else can either.
5. We don't believe the pictures. Avon had pictures of before and after, just of makeup, showing how a person could look younger with makeup. I know it's true. I live it every day. A friend didn't believe it.
4. We think aging is inevitable.
3. We don't think we can reverse all the sun we took in as teens. Remember the baby oil? I can still smell the first suntan oil from France.
2. We are lazy. Old habits are hard to break.
1. We have never seen results particularly on the problem areas.

Why we use products
I think the number one reason is that we see or feel a difference.

If we feel or see it immediately, so much the better! We are liable to keep on with the steps. Forget it, if we don't.

Results not typical
Dontcha just hate that disclaimer! What's that mean for me?

Did they preview the product on someone who'd never taken care of their skin? So for someone like me, who has, what can I expect.

Airbrushed models
We can't compare ourselves to the fake pictures we see in all the magazines. What do they look like on a regular day?

BookGirl said to me that the reason one older actress looked like she did was because of the cadre of specialists she had working on her before every scene. She said I did not come up wanting, even though it is just me doing the work.

Aging in America -- or aging in this time frame
There is so much emphasis put on beauty and appearance in society at this time frame. But there are a whole lot of ways you can stop the clock or turn it back without resorting to injections or surgery.

OTOH, ask me in 10 years! I'm not 100% sure I'd want to be in the same room with a lot of women who've had work done. But I worry about if I chose to -- what if I didn't like it? what if I looked horrible or thought I did. I try to be patient and wait on God. I think there are times when we don't look as good as we will in a year or so.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-05-19 20:27:35.

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It is good to get out of town (and back)

Karin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:13:17 +0000

One thing that is good about getting out of town is that it broadens our perspectives. It is all too easy to think our little (or big) milieu is the final word or full extent of mores or fashion or culture or...

Recently while out of town, I was struck by how many men I saw with pony tails. Nearly all of them had them held back, then clamped across the middle to the ends with other bands. Most of the men were older, but not all.

Personally, I like this look but never see it at home. It must bring back aspects of my youth.

I'm curious where the men were from. The area we traveled has world-wide tourists, so the men were likely from all over. I wonder if the look is prevalent in their area, or if they march to a different drummer.

I saw a number of nose studs (we see a lot here) and a few tattoos. One elderly woman was heavily tattooed, though there was a bit of open skin.

What do you find similar in your own experience?

Karin

Originally posted 2008-05-10 13:47:33.

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Discuss: Hair styles that make you look older

Karin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:15:13 +0000

Allure talks about hairstyles that are aging.

Let's discuss!
A good hair stylist is hard to find
One of the hardest things to find is a good hair stylist, one who understands your hair, how you like to look, and keeps you updated. With a few exceptions, while you could live with a bad haircut as a younger person, the older you are, the more important it is to have a good cut and know your stylist is looking out for your best interests, as well as is keeping current with what's happening with hair and hair products, including coloring.

Is it the hair or is it the total look?
Some of the styles Allure mentions haven't really been in style for years, and if a model shoot includes these styles, or if they are done for a movie, they are tweaked to look more modern.

At the same time, it is hard to single out the hair, when we are talking makeup too. It's a question whether their stylist (not hair stylist) picked the wrong look, or whether they need a stylist to help them choose their look.

But truthfully, how bad does a beautiful young woman ever look!

And how much is magic on an other wise ordinary woman?

And some of the women shown are older than others, so they have a tendency to look older anyway. We have to think in terms of seeing these styles on the same age woman -- but even then we have to take into account bone structure, etc. It's never just the hair -- though hair plays a large part.

Severe updos
In the first picture of Kate Winslet, her foundation is heavier and matte. In the second, her foundation is dewy, and she is wearing a beautiful shade of red lippie. So not only did she have the hair against her, but the makeup, in the first picture.

Honestly, she is a gorgeous woman. But softer updos have been the style for some time now.

Book Girl had a severe, old-fashioned, updo for a dance, and I was not a happy camper. I expected better of the stylist. And then he charged more than a regular style. Double ouch. We have not been back to him since.

Limp and lifeless (too straight) vs. bouncy waves
Two pictures of Cheryl Crow. In the first, her hair is straight, looks dry, and the color is too dark. In the second, she has beautiful, long naturally looking blond hair.

No question which is better on her.

Medium length corkscrews vs. long, tousled layers
Leighton Meester is photographed in a style that Allure says has not been in style since 1986. I suspect she was growing her hair out -- or not using extensions. The longer, tousled layers look great on her.

Reminds me of a time when I was going from long to short hair, but the first haircut aged me by about 10 years. I was about 34 at the time. I felt like crying! My hair stylist agreed with me. I went in the next day, she cut it shorter, and it looked great! Later, when I grew it out, for some reason it never went through the same awkward stage.

Blocky bangs vs. sideswept
Penelope Cruz is shown in the first picture with not only blocky bangs, but a severe updo. Two strikes against her. And her eye makeup is sharply defined. In the second picture, her eye makeup is softened by smudging, and she has a softer lip color.

Wasn't it Katie Holmes who rocked a blocky bang look not too long ago? You just have to know how it works. I know two others who wear blocky bangs. They have totally different looks, but it works for both of them.

Yanked back hair vs. side swept bangs and softer do
Sarah Jessica Parker rarely makes a fashion mistake. But in the first photo, she looks like they snapped her going to the grocery store, yet you can see an elegant gown. In the second, her hair looks softly elegant.

Super high hair vs. side part and hair softer
It's hard to catch Beyonce in a bad moment. In the first picture, her hair is in a high beehive. In the second, it cascades around her face in long layers. I'm not sure either is her best look.

OTOH, I really had to laugh at this one, because in the most recent Allure mag, several pages featured a truly ugly beehive, super bleached hair, and magna eyeliner on a model.

They should get their story straight. At least Beyonce looked somewhat natural with the do, whereas the feature article was done for effect.

Of course, everything ugly is beautiful, once you get past the shock of it.

Too dark and heavy vs. softer color
Scarlett Johansson's hair is dark and somewhat auburn in the first picture. She is perfection in every way. Her makeup is balanced to the hair color. And it all looks too heavy and dark. We are not used to seeing her with this look. It's hard to make her look matronly, but she does.

In the second picture, she has dish-water blond hair. Also, not her best look. But again, her makeup is balanced. This color is also darker than we are used to seeing her hair.

Too bleached vs. softer, warmer blond and style
What was Kate Moss thinking?

She looks like she took no thought to her hair to a fancy affair. Ditto for her makeup and her lack of jewelry. Kate can get away with bright blond hair, so it's the style as much as anything. It's not so much that her hair is bleached as that her roots show. If she had worn her hair down, they would have been camouflaged. And pulling it back, even if not as severely as some, doesn't hide laugh lines.

In the second picture, her hair is around her face, as well as a softer color. She could use some color in her makeup. She looks like she's having a hard night. She probably was.

Short curly hair vs. sleek and layered (this layers onto face)
In the first picture, Katie Holmes' makeup is the wrong shade, and her eyes are sharply defined. It's not just the hair. She looks almost unwell.

In the second, she is wearing the style heard round the world. And not only that, her makeup is gorgeous. Her lips are soft here too, but the color is better.

Retro vs. updated
Gwyneth Paltrow looks like she's channeling Veronica Lake in the first picture. It is retro, but it also looks like it's not the length we are used to seeing on her. It could be that her hair is tucked behind her shoulders. In the second picture, her look is softened and tousled. She looks fresher.

What do you think?
Do you agree a good hair style can takes years off your look – and conversely a bad hair style can make you look older? Has this ever happened to you? Please share with us! How do you like to wear your hair?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-01 14:18:11.

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Cosmetics for Un femme d’un certain age

Karin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:02:09 +0000

Have you ever noticed
...that most makeup blogs (and images) are written by younger women...

...that advertising shows young women, even if they are advertising a product for an older woman, 90% of the time or more... What's up with that!

What if you fall outside the youth category, but you still have a lot of good years left!
...the short answer: find what works for you...

...if you intuitively know that something isn't working, be satisfied only when you figure out how to tweak it...

...ask MUAs, ask SAs, ask your hair stylist...

...ask a woman on the street if you love her look what makeup she is using or who cuts her hair or does her color...ask her what color she uses...

Colors
The older you are, the more it matters what colors you wear on your face or on your body. While you could get away with it when you were younger, you can't any longer. Wrong colors are no longer forgiving.

Warm or Cool colors
Find out if you look best in warm or cool colors. Most neutrals are also either warm or cool. So, for example, one gray or brown might be good on you; another not so good.

Softer or deeper
Because your skin tone changes some -- it might become pinker, asher or sallower -- you might need to go softer, brighter or deeper in your makeup colors to balance your skin tones better. You might need a darker or brighter lipstick -- or the opposite, one that is softer and more neutral. Same for your blush and shadows.

Hair color and style
Taking care of your hair will take years off your look. Keep your style in style.

If you color your hair, be sure to really look at yourself. Check the crown area. You might need to color more often. While you could get away with roots when you were younger, they aren't flattering now. Truthfully, they weren't flattering then either, but they are less so now. Or if you are quite white and your color washes out, you might need to color to keep the tone. If you let your hair go white, keep it white, not yellowed.

If you are used to being blond, you might have to change the shade of blond to one with more gold for it to look best.

It never hurts to look at illustrations in magazines and ask your hair stylist for other ideas. If you want to choose something different, give it some serious thought and go to someone who is really talented.

Eyebrows
Eyebrows becoming white
If your eyebrows are coming in strong with white, they are likely becoming more wiry too. Brush them upwards, then trim them even across the top. Then brush them back into place again.

Color the white
You can do this with permanent coloring. Some coloring is made strictly for brows. You can use some of your hair color, if you are careful. Disclaimer: don't get it in your eyes.

An alternative is to use a brow mascara made to color brows. Here's one.

Revlon also makes one that is duo ended, one end having a brow pencil.

A friend uses the following Lancome one, but in a different color. It has made all the difference in her appearance. Her natural brows are almost black, but she has about 50-50 white. This covers perfectly and looks natural. The brush is different than a mascara brush and covers better. I would recommend Lancome's. The Revlon (in blond) is more of a gel fixative; I don't think it covers my small amount of white, which fortunately doesn't show.

Hands
Don't forget your hands. If you need to, use hand lotion. You can even use a mask on them (some are made specifically for hands). Moisturize your cuticles before they start to ravel. After they ravel, a few applications of cuticle cream will take care of it nicely. I usually use the back of my hand for facial product; then I rub the backs of both hands together to distribute whatever is left on my hands. That works!

Body
There comes a point when you need to moisturize your body. If you are especially dry, you can shower, but eliminate any soap products. Just use water, except for the places where you need soap.

Arbonne has a fabulous Body Serum and Body Lotion. It cures what ails you. The difference in my arms is remarkable. Whereas before, my arms were moisturized, they felt like there was product on them. Now, my arms are moisturized, but it feels as if my skin can breath.

Contact Book Girl, if you are interested and do not have a consultant.

Use sunscreen and limit time in the sun
'Nuf said.

Teeth
Make sure your teeth are clean.

Bleach them with a drugstore product or at your dentist. All those years of coffee, tea and simply years do not have to show up on your teeth.

Change your products with the weather or by location
You will likely need more moisture in winter months than in summer. And if you go from a place with high humidity to a place with low humidity, you will need more moisture. The reverse is true also. If you go from a dry area to a humid area, you can use a lotion instead of a cream, for instance. Or simply use a little less product. Some products are considered smart products -- they deliver only what your skin needs at the moment. If you fly, moisturize your skin during the flight.

Think about tweaking your products depending on life stresses
We all know about skin break outs with stress or time of the month. Be proactive. If you are in a particularly stressful situation, take better care of yourself than you might on an ordinary day. It never hurts to be good to yourself. Change your moisturizer to one that defends against breakouts or that will give you added moisture. You know yourself and what you need.

Smile
If you look happy, you will draw people to you, and they will notice your happiness, especially if the rest of you matches the same image and doesn't get in the way of your smile.

What have you changed in your makeup or style as you have gotten older?
Have fun with it, and remember to be happy! Experiment a little; you might love it!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
don't steal my posts -- you know who you are

Originally posted 2009-08-24 13:51:47.

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