Gracefully Aging, Day 7: Role Models! Marie-Therese of the French Touch

Marie-Thérèse at the Kentucky Derby in 2013

What is it about Frenchwomen? No matter how old they are, they seem to be, in the words of an old Rod Stewart song, "ageless, timeless, lace and fineness, beauty and elegance."

We can even thank the French for giving us the term "une femme d'un certain âge." That means "a woman of a certain age," but my blogging friend Marie-Thérèse says it's loosely translated as, "You don't ask and I won't tell."

The French Touch

I don't know when I first discovered Marie-Thérèse's blog, The French Touch, but I was hooked instantly.

M-T is the American-born child of French parents, and it's obvious she was genetically blessed with the unique style and grace of a Frenchwoman. It's hard to believe, but she does admit to being over 60.

 Marie-Thérèse is the owner of French Touch Image Consulting,. This from her website:

"As the American-born child of French parents, I have spent a lifetime living in two cultures and adapting the best of French style to my American way of life. I can help you add that French Touch to your Look and to your Life. You'll love the results!
Learn the secrets of French style - how to do more with less, how to add that special accessory, tie that perfect scarf, how to eat what you love and not gain weight."

Musing on why many Frenchwomen seem to age more gracefully than their American counterparts, Marie-Thérèse  writes;

"By the end of the 60s, the pursuit of Femininity had been moved from the Virtue to the Vice side of the Feminist orthodoxy. It was deemed not only to be frivolous, but downright subversive. The French woman sailed through the last four decades relatively unscathed by American-style Feminism. As a result, she continues not only to age gracefully, but to live her whole life as gracefully as she can to the delight of the French man. Femininity underpins everything she is and does. Her individual version of Femininity may be classic or quirky, but she owns it, she works it, and she will go to the grave with it."

Some more great quotes/tips from M-T's blog:

•  "A great shade of lipstick is the quickest, easiest and best thing a woman can do for her face at any age, but particularly as we age when the natural blush of our youthful lips begins to fade."
• M-T uses Cetaphil lotion on her face every night; "It’s gentle, effective and if I want something a bit richer in the winter months, I mix in a few drops of my moisturizing lotion to create a creamier face wash."
• She  washes and moisturizes her face while still wet before going to bed, and splashes on warm water only and moisturizes, again while still wet, in the morning. 
• She quotes 63-year-old former model and stylist Linda Rodin: “The secret to aging gracefully is maintenance. Botox is fine in moderation, but the more you do the older you look. You can't chase youth. You'll just look old with a facelift.”

 If you want to absorb some of a Frenchwoman's tried and true philosophy on aging gracefully, I highly recommend The French Touch.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!