As others see us?

For reasons unknown, when GD1 first asked me my age, I said 155. She said gosh and carried on regardless. She was 12 last week and asked, very matter of factly, are you still 155?

Shania Twain is 59!!!!

Less mobile walking a bit slower pain in hip. But I’m still working do my hair and make up and try and be as good as I can be. 64. By the way.

AreWeThereYet

petra

M0nica

I have no sense of age, and never have had. I am just continuing to be myself, whatever that may mean.

Same here. Sometimes I forget how old I am. And no, I’m not loosing it 😂

Same here.

But thinking about how others see us... I was watching Friends yesterday with an old friend and I said 'I think I'm more of a Phoebe than a Rachel or Monica'. She said 'No, you're definitely still Monica'.

I know I’m Monica. 😂

petra

M0nica

I have no sense of age, and never have had. I am just continuing to be myself, whatever that may mean.

Same here. Sometimes I forget how old I am. And no, I’m not loosing it 😂

Same here.

But thinking about how others see us... I was watching Friends yesterday with an old friend and I said 'I think I'm more of a Phoebe than a Rachel or Monica'. She said 'No, you're definitely still Monica'.

M0nica

I have no sense of age, and never have had. I am just continuing to be myself, whatever that may mean.

Same here. Sometimes I forget how old I am. And no, I’m not loosing it 😂

I've a feeling it was David in Coronation Street Calendargirl.

Dear Maw, you will be glad to know that I see you as you see yourself!
You are a well turned out smart lady, yes, agree with the edgy haircut, and you are very elegantly dressed.
You have an amazing sense of style and are as far from the 'old dear' look as it is possible to be!

As for me, well, people are probably thinking 'mutton dressed as lamb'.... Doesn't look good on someone of her age!
I have mini-skirts and boots in my wardrobe, wear skinny jeans and jeggings, shorts in the summer, and still colour my hair.
I shall be 80 in April.... but in my head I'm 24...

Kate1949

Ziggy Someone on TV the other day referred to Shania Twain as 'an old woman'. She is 59!

Yes, I heard that too!

Can’t think which programme it was, but I was shocked as I didn’t realise she was so old.

It helped when we could wear masks !

Ziggy Someone on TV the other day referred to Shania Twain as 'an old woman'. She is 59!

Petra that coat is great and a very classy look.
Rock on shades of beige 👍👍

At a recent family dinner we were talking about music, we got on to Robert Smith of The Cure.
My granddaughter's partner said, "oh he's getting on a bit now"
I said "he's the same age as me"
Poor lad looked so embarrassed but I just laughed and thought well maybe I don't look 63

Nannylovesshopping

I wear what I like, lots of colour, I have flaming red hair, dyed,I have to say, don’t care two hoots what others think, tho my daughter often says, it doesn’t take long to find you, when I’ve veered away fro her, my family obviously think I’m young as forever saying, oh mum will sort that, my two lovely granddaughters think I’m awesome, that keeps me going!!

A healthy attitude imho, I also like lots of colour, have no favourites but did go through a purple phase.

petra

Marydoll

Grannybags

Farzanah

What do they wear fancythat? Genuine question.

Beige!

I am wearing beige today! I can assure you, I am not dressed like an old lady! 😁

Some women just don’t get beige or don’t know how to wear it. I’d be lost without my beige 😥

Petrol that is similar to what I am wearing today. I thought I looked quite chic unold lady looking. 😂

I wear what I like, lots of colour, I have flaming red hair, dyed,I have to say, don’t care two hoots what others think, tho my daughter often says, it doesn’t take long to find you, when I’ve veered away fro her, my family obviously think I’m young as forever saying, oh mum will sort that, my two lovely granddaughters think I’m awesome, that keeps me going!!

I have a dear friend, very bright and lively, but she looks every day of her 76 years. "I think I look more like 60," she said to me recently. I smiled and said nothing.
As for myself, I know I look terrible, wrinkly and washed out after a major operation recently. Fortunately my joints work okay so I can walk normally, get up from the floor etc.

We spent last night at the hospital Aand E.
As we left my dh was given medication and was asked if he paid for them. He is late 70 s.(Funny thing is he looks his age).

I seem to consider myself fit and still able to do a lot of the things I did in my younger days.

I shall soon be 73 and when I compare myself to many others of my age I AM fit and able to do things that many of them cannot, which I count a a blessing.

However, since losing my husband last year, I have noticed that quite a lot of younger adults in the 30 to 60 age groups, seem to see me as a old lady who should be doing less and taking care of herself. Some of these people know me well enough, and knew my huband well enough to know how we had divided household tasks between us and should really know their seeming assumptions that I am afraid to be alone in this house (I am not) should not do household tasks that I have done happily since I left my childhood home at the age of sixteen, are out of touch with my reality, but apparently they do not know this.

Strangers too seem to think that anyone over 70 is a frail old lady or gentleman. Many are, but not us all.

So I obviously see myself very differently to the way others see me. Who is right?

A recent visit to A&E made my day when the doctor treating me couldn’t believe I was 77. No make up on, hair needed washing. Quite a compliment. Usually active, make up when I go out and try to look smart. Felt every bit of 77 that day but the compliment cheered me up.

I do make an effort for special occasions but most of the time as long as I am comfortable and won't scare the horses I don't particularly worry about how others see me. I had that worry when younger, always aware of the male and female gaze, but am quite happy in my own skin now I am much older.
And because my OH and I love to ramble I usually wear old mud spattered jeans in a trusted pair of old walking boots, and jumper/fleece under a waterproof jacket with woolly hat.

75 next April and had a rough year last year health-wise. Apart from aching joints all has been well in 2024 so I am making the most of it. Three holidays abroad over the Summer and heading off to Norway later this week. When the grandchildren visit though I realise I'm "not that young any more" as Maurice Chevalier would say.

I'm forming an camel - coat supporters group ( different from a beige coat, obvs)
I think mine is chic.
Also, I have a wild pink and green tweed jacket from Joe Brown that garners lots of compliments.
My face doesn't attract the same number of compliments, unfortunately..

What's wrong with wearing blue,pink lilac or beige.? I have several items of clothing in these colours

I think when people talk about “beige” in a disparaging way, in connection with older people, it’s shorthand for the whole overall dowdy look - a fawn coloured, shapeless ‘Mac’, over beige slacks that are slightly too short.