'Fabulous Fashionistas'

I saw the last bit of the programme but what I saw I thought very uplifting. Not about fashion per se, but attitude. Luckily I have it taped so will be even more uplifted later Gillian Lynne (?) looked amazing.

I thought they were all amazing, and I remember Gillian Lynne getting married to that lovely man. They seemed so happy.
I loved the charity shop lady's stylishness, and the attitude of the 'fringe' lady, inspiring stuff.

They are amazing ladies indeed,their style and attitude second to none,I laughed at the American lady who was the author of low fat cookery books and as to how bonny she was now but I loved her top coats over a plain black dress wonderful.

I was in awe of their fitness and flexibility. I don't think they were trying to stop the ageing process just enjoying life while they could. I thought the programme was quite life affirming Good for them - be who you want whatever anyone thinks. Wish I was as fit and flexible. Wish I had the courage to wear all these bright clothes. Wish I could find nice bright clothes - it is not always easy.

OK - will find it on i player! Your comments have persuaded me..

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!

Jenny Joseph

I have always loved that Jenny Joseph poem. However, it is not so easy to find purple and red gorgeous clothes (unless they are mother of the bride chiffon). I will keep trying though. When I go clothes shopping I somehow always end up with black and navy - where are all the jolly bright clothes in size 16?

I'm starting to identify with that poem much more nowadays!

I'm not. Disgraceful!

j08 I love it - you epitomise that poem. That's a compliment BTW

Who needs railings and walking sticks these days when we've got #gransnet

Tyke!

Daphne has poise. I've a hat like Lady Trumpington...I wear it well-rammed down on a rainy day. Just sayin'

I've just watched the first part of the programme on 4oD. Those women make you smile, don't they? Great characters!

They have a tremendous zest for life, bags xxx

I loved this programme. Have you seen the other documentaries that Sue Bourne has made? My Street was one of them. Weren't they wonderful the people in this programme?

I loved the programme. I was so pleased that Gillian Lynne is still so happy with her young man. Sometimes relationships like that really should work! Lovely to see people being so positive and enjoying themselves.

When I was at school our art mistress' mother used to pose for us. She always wore very gypsy like clothes with lots of scarves and beads, and I always wanted to look like her when I got old (I'll let you know when I do!)

Oh what an inspiration.......

Jean, etc I love you, ha!

(Blimey, I don't pop into this site too often, but from the negative comments.......which really SHOCK me, maybe I can see why......)

Channel 4 is to be congratulated, for showing us real people of a 'certain age'. TV can be SO ageist.......

Bit like some of these comments, I'm afraid.

Please back up your assertion with evidence of ageism in "these posts", squaredog. Otherwise, we'l think you're talking bullshit.

People have expressed delight at seeing old women enjoying themselves. How is that ageist?

Just someone attempting to stir us up, bags

Ok cat among the pigeons time......
I watched this last night and had rather mixed feelings.
I wasn't sure what I was supposed to admire.

The clothes? Not my style, though that's not a criticism, just a comment. I'm more an understated elegance type, like Bags. But Baroness Trumpington looked positively dowdy, to me. And why was she the only one referred to by her title? Why wasn't she called Wendy, or Beryl, or whatever her name is? I thought she was arrogant too - quite rude to the interviewer, famed for giving the V-sign to a younger male colleague, but how would we have felt if say Ming Campbell had given the V sign to a younger female colleague?

The fact that they were still working? Possibly, but I don't envy them that. It's possible to have a full and interesting life in retirement, I find.

Their physical fitness? Yes, I admired them for the self-discipline in maintaining that.

I admired their self-confidence.

I admired Bridget for her courage in trying to find work as a model, and could hardly bear the pathos when she was rejected each time, despite the admiring comments of those who had viewed her portfolio. The man who said old women in advertising was tokenism, and old people would never make it into mainstream fashion showed just how entrenched younger people's ideas about old people are.

I admired Jean for coping with the loss of her husband so courageously.

The fact that they had obviously all still got their marbles? Given that there is little evidence of anything one can do to prevent the onset of dementia, I think that this is their good fortune, rather than something to admire.

How would we have felt if the programme had shown Dementia sufferers going out and about wearing bizarre clothes? Rather differently I suspect, and that thought made me very sad.

I suspect squaredog has assumed that we are bound to have made ageist comments and has not bothered to read the rest of the thread.

Doesn't pop onto this forum very often, so has no idea what we are like.

I like Jean trumpington, I've met her on a couple of occasions, she's quite a formidable character, when asked what she wanted to drink with lunch 'I'll have a large g and t with a half pint of beer chaser?'

I enjoyed the programme and found much to admire in the women. Mostly their individuality, their enthusiasm for life and their determination to express this through their very different and unique fashion styles.

However the programme left me feeling a little uneasy and left me a little perplexed. What was its purpose? I cannot quote accurately but one comment made by one of the women was that she would not choose to go into an old peoples home and sit with her mouth open with all the other residents. This is not a choice for many old people, stuff in life happens. Another comment was about being in pain in the morning but still doing her exercises. Lucky her not everyone is able to exercise through pain or even has the mobility. I wondered if the message was that we can all emulate the attitude of these women if we try. A short step to victim blaming?

On the other hand maybe it was just a celebration of what older women could be.