I recently attended a blogging conference and during our lunch break several of us were seated at a table sharing the subject matter of our respective blogs. When I shared my blog focused on image, presence and visual impact, specifically for the 50 and over woman, several women commented that they love watching bloggers for style inspiration, which of course I was happy to hear. But as I went on to explain the purpose and rationale behind my blog, I was simultaneously surprised and encouraged by what I heard.
I explained that I blog to give voice and inspiration to the invisible women (you can read more on my HuffPost 50, Curvy and Fabulous ). I went on to share that it seemed women of a certain age, particularly between 46 and 58, are not seen as the target market for much of anything, particularly for fashion designers and retailers. That the 20-30+ market was well represented and advanced style has led to an emergence of the 70-80-year-old woman as intelligent, authentic, independent, stylish, and sexy. What surprised me was that many women at the table were practically saying the same words as they left my mouth. What was encouraging and frustrating was that they were in agreement, the plight of the invisible woman was a real one. Validation can be a double-edged sword.
While we were talking, I immediately tried to think of intelligent, fabulously stylish women relatively close in age to me (early 50s) and who looked like me. Definitely a few came to mind but not many. Where were the images of stylish 50ish-year-old women or particularly women of color, that I, and others, could look to for inspiration? There's a weird phenomenon that takes place during this time of life (and it supported by the media), which is either a push to resist aging or an absolute surrender to it. Unfortunately, there are not too many external sources that support and inspire the 50+-year-old women to do much else.
Discovering and creating an authentic style is the number one concern I hear from my clients. Many find it exhausting looking for things to wear that fit their body, age, business, lifestyle, and sense of style, particularly when their fashion options are body-conscious, revealing or matronly and non-descript. As a result, they often abandon the idea of style in lieu of focusing on achieving success in their careers, businesses, or other pressing issues in their lives. This is unfortunate because what we wear has a tremendous influence on how we feel about ourselves and how others see us. Nothing is more intimate than the clothes we place on our bodies. It communicates what we want in life and what we want the world to know about us. Our clothes are fundamentally a reflection and extension of who we are.
Women over 50 are usually celebrated for being highly functional, intelligent, thought leaders, and world changers; and yes we are, but we can be style icons too. We CAN be both successful and stylish. We CAN be interested in both ending sex trafficking and Christian Louboutin's. We CAN send our kids to college, play with our grandchildren and rock Chanel. Michelle Obama is the perfect example of how a 50+ highly educated, intelligent and accomplished woman can be applauded for her both her success and her style. We need to see more examples like this; which leads me back to why I'm an image blogger ... to celebrate and give voice to the invisible woman.
I'm an image consultant who practiced labor and employment law for 10 years, was a professor of public health and leadership for another 10 years, developed academic programs, set diversity agendas, published and presented around the world, won community awards and believes in the power and importance of our clothing. Through my practice, books, and blog, I'll continue to share strategies and styles to inspire others to discover and claim their own.
So stand up and be counted my menopausal, memory losing, stretched marked, tummy bulging, graying, fabulous sisters! I see you, you are invisible no more!
Earlier on Huff/Post50:
