'Fabulous Fashionistas'

Hope she said please and thank you.

Appygran
"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?"

Spot on with your comment there.

I saw the programme last night on iplayer and it really was inspirational. These women are great. Most of all they love life. The clothes looked amazing but it wasn't just about the clothes it was about them. They looked great and had lived amazing lives and dealt with life,love and loss. I am in My fifties so just a youngster in comparison but it really inspired me and I will remember their words of wisdom and enthusiasm .

Galen I might try that next time I'm having a pub lunch. If I'm brave enough.

janeainsworth I think an old woman could possibly get away with giving the V sign to a young man. An older man giving it to a woman, of any age, would be beyond the pale. That might be politically incorrect but, nonetheless, it's a fact.

Elegran, I thought that at first about squaredog's post, but then I looked back to the very beginning of the thread and saw what she meant!

I just watched it. The Baroness was the only one who seemed genuine. The others were all trying too hard. I guess the production people had something to do with that though.

I wouldn't want to see all that shrunken flesh wobbling around in real life. I think there is a lot to be said for being on the plump side actually. They did look amazingly old!

It was sad at the end when the presenter asked them if they thought a lot about death. Their answers said it all really.

Clearly there aren't that many older women around like them or they wouldn't have made a tv programme about them.

The women actually made me feel a bit inadequate. I would like to be able to say"I don't give a toss what anyone thinks" and really mean it like they did.

I don't give a toss what anyone thinks, which is obvious when you see me! I dress for my lifestyle, which is mainly walking in the Alps - not much elegance in my uniform of black trousers, white tee shirt, and walking boots, plus a fleece and cagoule when needed.
I didn't see the programme but I have looked at the photos. I don't think I would have worn such over-the-top clothes even in my glamour days, but if they feel comfortable in them, good luck to them. If they have always been flamboyant personalities, why should they change?

Actually appygran some people do choose to be an old lady sitting in a home with her mouth open - my mother in law for one! She embraced old age in her 40's, was pleased to give up any interest in fashion, sex or entertainment and just waited for people to do things for her. She complains about being stuck in a chair now but it's her own attitude that has put her there.

How sad for your mother-in-law deeda

I had a look at the pics and liked 6,7,8,10. The others sort of scared me a bit.

It would be nice to dress well and look fabulous. I did have one fashion era made for me - the 1960s and the mini. I had good legs and figure, so the short haircuts, the boots, short skirts, and little tops looked great. No other era was quite the same - the maxi look drowned me, and the fancy 80s hairstyles were not for me. Can't remember the fashions of the 90s, and since retiring in 2002 it's been tshirts and shorts, mainly. My best friend at U3A keeps trying to get me into more interesting clothes, but laziness is my enemy. Still, I do sometimes wear a skirt.....

My mother loved wearing beautiful clothes, lacy underwear and make-up until the day she died at the age of 85. She had a personality to match, someone after her death described her presence at a social event as like champagne, when she came into the room everybody started bubbling.

I was only eight when someone first commented about how well dressed she always was. At that age I was less impressed once telling her that she looked awful, just like something out of Vogue.

I have inherited her love of clothes, though my style is less certain and I lack the bubbly personality, but like her I dress the way I do because I want to and I enjoy it. I have never done it to attract or keep male attention and the only boyfriend who tried to control what I wore rapidly became an ex.

I was impressed by all the ladies in the programme? It is all about attitude. I come from a family where all the older ladies had style and attitude and I hope I have inherited some of both. I have just got back from a visit to Spain where my Aunt, in her 70s is driving a BMW Z4, has long hair, wears very short shorts (a la Kate Moss, with the fab legs to match). I only hope I can keep up! Age is a number! X

No. Age is scrawngy flesh, bingo wings, and mottled legs that should only be shown to the world once a reasonable tan has disguised the worst.

Oh, and don't forget the pull of gravity. And relaxed muscle due to the absence of hormones. (That's not fat btw! really it isn't!)

I might have invented the word "scrawngy"

Long and loose grey hair is an abberation.

And not in a good way.

Thinking of my mum at her eightieth birthday celebration.... She looked beautiful in her midi length flared skirt and a white blouse. You don't have to be eccentric to be stylish. Simplicity often works just as well. I think that's what I really mean about understated elegance.

Not that I have anything against eccentricity. It's often great fun.

I think young or old, you've either got it, or you haven't.

I've had it briefly, but it's buggered off now!

I love that Lona ! Sums it up really.

Why is long loose grey hair an aberration? I have seen women with long loose grey hair beautifully cut that looked fabulous.

And what age is scrawny flesh, bingo wings, and mottled legs? I have seen plenty of older women look fabulous - and not high maintenance women either.

Older women, like middle aged and young women come in all shapes and sizes and many of the things described can be seen on some 30 year olds and not on some 70 year olds.

Hear, hear, flick.

I think that's a polite way of saying speak for yourself, jings

There is a lady I occasionally see when I am getting the bus into town. She is tall, slim, has nice hair and wears really nice clothes - pencil skirts, patent shoes with little heels, lovely coats etc. Her face is always made up with just the right amount of make-up (not that I am an expert you understand). She was waiting at the bus stop one day and there was a man sitting down on one of the seats and he started chatting to her. He was moaning and groaning about his aches and pains and then he said 'I'm 83 you know'. This lady gave him a lovely smile and said 'are you? Just a youngster then, I'm 90'.
I know it's the luck of the draw sometimes but still.