'Fabulous Fashionistas'

I think they look great - I just hope I still have the energy and will to look as stylish when I get to my 70s/80s. I agree with janerowena - we have some knockout street style in this country and I'm often struck with how samey those elegant European ladies can look. I'm all for a bit of individuality! My daughters have a real eye for fashion - much better than mine - and always look stunning. One of them gets a lot of her stuff from charity shops - I'd look like a bag of rags in some of her vintage treasures but she always looks adorable.

Riverwalk that's amazing! (See my post 9.56 this morning)

I think clothes are an expression of personality aren't they? So if you have an outgoing and slightly eccentric personality, why not dress the way you want to - at any age? More colour and eccentricity on the streets would make the world more interesting.
The ad I can't stand is the isle.com one (at the start of Foyles War etc) - she looks like she is a hooker trying to find a customer.

I thought they looked fine, although I wasn't keen on the dead straight bob with the short fringe - I thought a softer style would have been more flattering. I don't like that particular style on younger people either.

Personally I prefer more understated clothes but don't often achieve understated "elegance", just understated (or possibly dull). I think it's good that these women feel confident enough to wear what they want to wear. They have their own style, which may not appeal to others, but if they're wearing what makes them feel good I think that's great.

Me too - and in France this year a french lady told me that she really envied our use of more colour over here. She said she feels seriously restricted by navy and beige and blacks and browns, that we have far more fun with clothes. Everything I took away with me this year was in teal, turquoise, blue, green. She coveted most of it.

I think they look fantastic. Two of the ladies appeared on Breakfast last week and showed a tremendous zest for life. For me, a zest for life is an important fashion accesory for any age group. Looking forward to the programme.

It's quite possible they never intended to look elegant, and there's no reason why they should if elegance isn't what they were trying to achieve.

My statement that I prefer understated elegance is simply that, a statement of preference. I ought to be able to do that without being thought ageist.

(Remind me who thought of Embrace Age? Oh, it was thatbags).

There is very little elegance in western clothing nowadays.

I think most teenage/young twenties fashion is inelegant too.

Actually, I think most fashions are inelegant.

I would have said the same if they had used young models.

Nope.

Bags you don't think you were a teensy bit ageist in your initial response (subconsciously)?

It they were teens or 20-30 somethings you wouldn't have been thinking about 'understated elegance' I'll bet

They certainly look more interesting than what my MiL used to call "the blue rinse brigade". Better interesting, if a bit inelegant, then labelled blue rinse .

Not sure I'd have the confidence to be so 'different' but to be honest I think they look great. Far better than the permed hair, pleated skirt and beige raincoat brigade.

My MIL is an almost-70 yr-old artist with a split personality where clothes are concerned. One day she will be wearing clothes very much like the lady with the large red glasses is wearing in the main photo, another day she will be in clothes from what I think of as an Old Lady shop in her local small town. I think it depends on mood and where you live. I dress like the dancer quite often but am twice her width.

There is also the practicality issue for me too. I like practical as well because I'm a practical person and do practical things. Always has been and always have done, even when I worked in a city, but I still manage to look decorative and have fun when I want to. Fun, practicality and elegance are not mutually exclusive.

I didn't say they should be elegant. I said I prefer elegant so I don't like those photographs because those women in those outfits do not look elegant. If they want to look inelegant, that's fine. And it's also fine for me to say so and not to like the look.

I thought it all good fun. The lady in 2 & 3 could do with growing her fringe a bit longer!

And ballerina Gillian Lynne looked lovely, especially her hair - she's obviously still very fit and supple even at 87.

I imagine j08 to be like Baroness Trumpington - a much younger version of course

But why should they be elegant? I just think they looked fun they seemed to have all the life and chutzpah so missing from most photographs of older people in adverts or anywhere else.

The one problem with now being a country dweller is the loss of urban dressing, which is just not practical.

You can still be colourful and elegant. You can still where interesting jewellery and look elegant. Etc, etc, etc.

I don't think those women look elegant because of what they're wearing, not because of their age.

I've always favoured understated elegance, flick. It has nothing to do with age. I think most young models look hideous as well. Why do you assume ageism? I like elegant and I don't like what I perceive as inelegant. It's as simple as that.

Saw them and loved them! Why should older women be forced to be discretely elegant and wear age appropriate clothing. If young women can throw caution to the winds and wear what ever outrageous clothes they like, why shouldn't older women.

I never expected to read so many ageist comments on Gransnet.

To be honest whilst I admire older folks who still love to follow fashion I am getting more and more happy to let lifestyle and convenience be my guide.
I used to find some fashion dictates unfortunate (mini skirts were out with my chunky legs - whilst I adored the whole Maxi thing) so now, as I get older and wiser I really am happy to please myself rather than feel the need to keep up to date.
I suppose Its because I have eventually decided to just be me....less peer pressure etc. That being said I love unusual jewellery especially if hand made. I'll wear a really bright colour some days and live in 'boyfriend' jeans and if I can find quirky AND comfy shoes I'll have them. But as to beige....have never understood that choice...it suits no flesh tone I know of.

Nah. I'd rather be invisible than look like that (except for lots of money).

I'm not invisible but I can disappear