<p>My mom was a dead ringer for MTM when she was younger. MTM looks a LOT younger than my mom now, albeit somewhat unnaturally so. One thing that really stands out is how nice MTM’s teeth are. Makes me happy I have my braces. Mom hasn’t had any work done on herself - wonder what she would look like if she had the same enhancements as MTM?</p>
<p>Oh, I know someone with a similar leftover hairstyle and her hair is turning the roadkill raccoon color so aptly described. It is NOT flattering.</p>
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<p>That is the sweetest thing, and I really mean it (that is, this is not sarcasm here). I identify with this because I am also 51 (and my D is 19).</p>
<p>But is that really true? Because my sister and I look more and more like our dad as we age. Don’t most old women look like old men?</p>
<p>Find a repeat of the episode on What Not to Wear (I think it was the most recent) of the 45 yr old woman. She looked much older. Gray hair, big t shirts and sweats and out of date glasses, the results were absolutely amazing. With clothes that fit and contacts and a good haircut and colored she looked years younger.</p>
<p>I am all for natural beauty, but then there is just letting yourself go. And some go natural and look amazing, ie grey hair, while ther go natural and seem to barely run a comb thru their hair or buy cloth that flatter. I have seen women of the same weight and bodyntyp and age yet they look a decade apart.</p>
<p>What I have read on this thread is something that makes me sad. Domestic akin to i never was a beauty so I have lost nothing.</p>
<p>Every woman is beautiful. Every woman is fabulous. Every woman has something.</p>
<p>Though I think that we owe it to ourselves to be the best that we can be both inside and out…there are times/stages in our lives when our inner cheer leader is tired of it all…can we try and remember that the next time we instinctively think someone has really let themselves go.</p>
<p>I understand the inner cheerleader getting tired, but there are things you can do that are not extensive or expensive to keep from “letting yourself go” that stop short of some of the things we are discussing/considering. I think almost everyone feels better if they are presenting themselves in at least a moderately good light.</p>
<p>MOWC,Yes, and they sound like your inner Mom…stand up straight, hold in your tummy, think positive, look at what you are wearing, listen to what you are complaining about…
Especially that last one.</p>
<p>I agree that everyone should do what they want and not fear judgement. Many women grow up with certain insecurities that never go away. When we get to a place in our lives that we can afford to do something about it, well, if it feels right, go for it. I’m not sure it’s the answer for me but i don’t judge others for it. A woman that I know got breast implants for her fiftieth birhtday. She was truly flat chested. Flat. She was also very fit and healthy and her chest size had always been an area of insecurity. I was happy for her and i think she looks great.</p>
<p>I remember a few years ago when the Catholic church was going through the sex abuse scandal. The Pope made some comment about Cher wearing a crucifix necklace. Cher responded publicly that the Pope should focus on cleaning his own house and not concern himself with her jewelry. Around the same time, someone commented on some plastic surgery that Cher had. Her response was something like “If I want to have my boobs removed and reattached to my back, then that’s my business”. Something to that effect. I just loved that!</p>
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<p>It’s great that you feel that way. But try getting a new job. Two 55 year olds show up to an interview with similar resumes and personalities. The first shows up with white hair done in her hairstyle from 1982, sweatpants, no makeup and a non-supportive bra. The second shows up with light brown hair in a current style, a good bra and reasonably neat and modern makeup and clothes. Who gets the job? Even if the person hiring is non-judgemental about appearance, the first is basically saying “I don’t care.”</p>
<p>I agree that it’s folly to label others who may or may not be going the botox/surgery route. We don’t know how we will feel a little bit down the road. I’m something of a shoe addict these days. I could shop shoes all day. It’s incredibly shallow and silly. I would never have predicted that I care this much about my shoes! So in a few years, I may be getting “treatments” that right now I don’t want. We change.</p>
<p>missypie–that’s an odd example. anyone who shows up for an interview in sweatpants should not get the job.</p>
<p>My poi t got lost I guess. I was trying to make the point that some seem to feel they were never pretty. That makes me sad. Every women has Beauty. It may be a smile, a tilt of then head, great legs, fab hair…</p>
<p>But to just not try because you feel you aren’t a classic beauty seems sad to me. </p>
<p>As well, I know women have stages in life, health issues, all kinds of stuff. But when you have just giving up caring about your appearance, weight, attire, etc, </p>
<p>There is a great middle ground between real housewives of orange county and bag lady</p>
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<p>Wise words to live by. I’ve learned to never say never. I think the whole issue is getting more complex by the day because so many treatments that actually work (fillers, lasers, Botox, etc) are available at a reasonable cost and in reach of a much larger demographic than just the rich and famous. Having a youthful looking face will one day become a standard for many middle aged and beyond women. Just as most women use to have to live with their gray hair whether they liked it or not…now it’s a choice and it’s perfectly acceptable to color your hair…I predict Botox and fillers will eventually be de rigueur for many women.</p>
<p>I truly hope that Botox and fillers will NOT become de riguer for many or most women, but that’s just my opinion. I think it’s sad that so many people are unhappy and uncomfortable to have some signs of natural aging and feel they have to fight it so hard.</p>
<p>Personally, I feel I have earned every silver/white hair and every wrinkle and age spot. I don’t feel the need to try to look like my 22 year-old D, who is beautiful in her own right, as I am in mine.</p>
<p>I understand in South America, among the middle & upper middle class, it’s very common for females to do all that is possible, including surgery to look as “fabulous” as possible. I also find that extremely sad.</p>
<p>We all have different values, which is abundantly clear from this thread.</p>
<p>I used botox on my frown lines. I just looked mad all the time. Angry. And it aged me ten years. Now I look on the outside how I feel on the inside. </p>
<p>My point is embrace your age but you don’t have to look down in the dumps. My mom looks amazing, she let her hair go grey. I started going grey at forty. Yes I proudly color my hair. Grey did not look good on me. Some people can carry off grey. I can’t. My very hair is awful, and I don’t do short hair well either.</p>
<p>I belong to a large chorus that has a WIDE range of ages (24-85) but tends to the older side (60-70 or there abouts). I am ever in awe of the ladies I sing with. I hardly can guess the ages of most.
When competition or showtime rolls around (and it’s often) it’s time to dye the hair, put on false eyelashes, and suck up the ailments that are ailing you. I’m always amazed that women who are limping one week and have had surgeries will show up in heels the next for the experience of being on stage. All with a smile. They are an amazing group of young-acting women–no matter how old they may be on paper.</p>
<p>I was at the mall today and noticed a couple in front of me. Him: ordinary looking 55 year old in dockers and a polo type shirt. Her: slender lady caught in a time warp…loooong graying hair with the sides pulled back in a clip, drop-waist lower-calf length floral print dress that I’m sure I had in 1987. Not a “timeless classic” look.</p>
<p>^^ Ah yes, the “aging hippie” look. Not a good one.</p>
<p>More like super-annuated kindergarten teacher…but still. I spend very little on my clothes but I’m not still wearing cotton dresses from 25 years ago.
(do you think that 25 years from now some Mad Men type show will make '80s clothes in again?)</p>