Thursday, July 12, 2012

Is There An Expiration Date on Beauty?



On the blog The Online Stylist, blogger Amanda Start is responding to an article in which some magazine fashion guy named John Januzzi questions how long people should people should continue style blogging. Januzzi is quoted as saying:
“Everyone out there has some kind of expiration date. What happens when a personal-style blogger wakes up and she’s 35 and not the cute 20-year-old girl in Brooklyn anymore?”
Granted, Januzzi was talking specifically about blogging. And mine is not really a style blog. But his remarks struck me as extremely age-ist and frankly, ignorant. I wrote this comment on Amanda's post (and by the way, Amanda took issue with Januzzi's comments as well):

"Expiration date"? Absolutely not!

That cute 20 year old is not going to "wake up one day" and be 35...she's going to evolve in the space of 15 years, and most probably be better and more beautiful at 35 than she was at 20. (Unless she takes the route of excessive alcohol, tobacco and tanning and makes herself old before her time, of course.)

I'm in my 50s, and determined to be the best "woman of a certain age" that I can be.  I'm one of MANY over 40 bloggers who still care about beauty and fashion.

 My friend Patti writes a blog called Not Dead Yet Style, and she hosts a blog link-up called "Visible Monday," so titled because women of our age often think we have to accept being invisible.

 Does that guy really think women should stop caring about these things because they're maturing?  Hogwash!

That sounds like a bunch of age-ist nonsense to me.

Even the most gorgeous 20 year old is getting older by the minute.  At some point she'll have to decide if she wants to just let herself go, or make a conscious decision  to be the best woman of ANY age that she can be.

Yes, it means accepting flaws that aren't going to go away.  But it also means putting equal focus on inner beauty as you do outer beauty.

What do you think?

Again, Januzzi was talking about style blogging. But I'd love to know what you think. Should women put themselves on the shelf, beauty and fashion-wise, when they get older? I'm still boggled that he implied that 35 is in any way old, by the way. Sheeesh.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

That young journalist, or whatever his job is, is just showing his youth. As he ages hopefully he will continue to see the mature beauty in his peers. He's just a product of his culture and generation which only seems to admire the young and shiny. ;)
love your posts!!

hi said...

Good thoughts! And I heartily agree with you. That guy obviously wasn't using his brain; there are plenty of highly successful style bloggers in their 30s, 40s and onward. Can I quote you? "Sheeesh." ;)

Pam @ over50feeling40 said...

Do you have a couple of hours for this almost out of 50 style blogger to address this question?? I agree that is immaturity is showing...he will get one day! But, what is so great about being over 50 is that we have some maturity...we can add to our fun wisdom and lessons learned and I submit to him that we have a lot to say the younger generation can grow from!! Style is different for everyone...but isn't that what makes it so much fun?

Fran said...

So typical of a young male. To be a REAL journalist...intelligence should always be foremoste. I am not sure he was thinking with his brain.

Patti said...

What a great comment you left, Cindy! And really, it's all so silly, thinking we cease to be beautiful, stylish and fascinating at . . . 35? Thanks so much for the mention, I appreciate you!

Marie-Thérèse said...

Gosh, does this mean that we can't "Blog about Style" after 35, because we can't know anything about style after 35? What a crock of "you-know-what!"

I celebrated my 60th Birthday in February, and I think I've learned a thing or two about style, specifically, that fashions come and go, but style is eternal.

Style may be hard to define, but, like porn, you know it when you see it, and it defies the ages.

Cindy Swanson said...

"Fashions come and go, but style is eternal"--I love that, M-T!

Sherry said...

I never knew anything bout style or fashion or beauty for that matter --and I still don't. Nevertheless, I don't think I've expired yet at almost 55.

sarahnicley said...

I'm 35 and more annoyed by the 12-16 year old YouTube "gurus" than the more mature bloggers. I'm just now at a point in my life where I pay attention to my health and skincare. In my twenties I didn't have to! ;) Now I'm showing care for myself and having fun doing it. So, to all you fifty - something beauties, I say, lead the way, ladies! I'm right behind you!

Related Posts with Thumbnails