flattery or ageism?

How you look at any age may be due to genes, maintenance, or good lighting, but when ageing is a negative process and looking good is reliant on appearing younger than your years, it creates artificial standards.

And these are standards that are hard to keep up with.  Sometimes it’s about feeling pressured to do all you can to hold on to youth, other days it’s about conforming to those social attitudes that say you must not hold on to styles that are ‘too young for you’.

An older woman who wears her hair long and loose is likely to trip over one of those invisible date-driven rules, after which anyone is entitled to say you are ‘too old’.    Even when the older woman is award-winning actor Helen Mirren, long locks can inspire many column inches.

But women of any age should feel empowered to wear the clothes or haircut that reflects their sense of style and personality, not be defined or constrained by the number of years they have notched up.  It’s an attitude which is limiting for us all and overlooks the experience and wisdom that really counts.

Shifting attitudes in society takes time, but fashion and beauty brands have the platform to influence opinion if they themselves shift away from promoting a youthful idea of beauty and style. Calling them out on this and pushing for greater representation is something we can all do.

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