BBC regards older women as figures of fun

Hattie. Try cruising. It's great!

I was wondering where to go on holiday this year, my mind is now made up Italy of course.I could do with a Italian man who loves and respects older women. My old man hates holidays so I shall be on my own!!!! I won't bother with the pearls as he might try to pinch them.

Charlotta, Italian men love and respect older women. I think they appreciate their experience,and it's part of the whole family culture which we don't have much of in Britain.

I have to agree, but I didn't know that diamonds were allowed in daytime and coloured stones not. I've learned something. Back to the thread about older women being made fun of. The fact is that older men ( Steptoe&Son) were also the butt of many jokes and we women laughed at them.

As to the Strictly women over 60. Well I think they were asking for it and had an eye on their bank balances. In real life I think that older women are only laughed at when they are visible. Most of us spend a lot of time being invisible at least to men in the UK.
In Rome lately I was surprised how much eye contact I made with waiters and bus drivers etc. Perhpas I was in a better mood. Perhaps these Italian men were more visible to me than the usual UK man!
Still if there is good joke involving an old women then I will laugh for the simple resason, if its funny I won't be able to help it, and when did the BBC care about older women. They won't alter. It is a men's club more or less and plenty are no longer young.

I haven't worn my pearls in years I'll go and give them a polish. Aren't diamonds a girls best friend. I have a tiny tiny pair of diamond earings that I wear when I want to feel glam.

On the subject of looking older and 'comfortable' nothing seems to age a woman more than not wearing a good bra. I see so many women whose frontage is a big lumpy cushion and as for living in a fleece or anorak - words fail me.

Good idea petallus as wearing pearls is good for them and brings out their iridescence.

I've got a lovely string of pearls shoved at the back of the drawer. After reading this thread think I'll go and give them an airing.

Agreed. OTT any daytime, but ok as a brooch, earings( not dangly) or ring though.

I think diamonds round the neck would be a bit OTT for a meeting in MK wouldn't they.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Anyway the sparkling stone rule only applies to coloured stones not diamonds.

Maybe if you are truly upper class you don't give a toss about tupperware at the table or wellies or headscarves.

Funny thing is Charlotta, my daughter has started borrowing my pearls now! They really suit her.

You are right about the curls, and I agree thoroughly that once you are made up and looking nice, you feel so much better about yourself.

Absent. I can hear my mother - a very elegant woman saying that. Nothing sparkling before evening. She also said curls flatter a plain face and I have to agree with that many times a day when I see these pumpwater straight hairstyles on women that really would look better with waves and curls.

I can't agree on the pearls- I once read, you have to grow up with pearls, meaning your father could afford to give you them as a present- for them to suit you. Well. I have pearls but only wear them for funerals. They make me look old- or do I feel old wearing them?

As to being comfortable I can't give that up and have house wear and going out clothes. I must admit once out of the house and wearing decent clothes and make up, I do feel younger.

Yes well when one is that rich one can make demonstrations of ones economy to prove one is the same as everyone else!

jeni But HM is strangely middle class. Tuppperware? At the breakfast table?

I've got a ruby brooch my children gave me for my Ruby Wedding Anniversary (sorry DH!) I lost it and had to seek out and purchase a new one without telling them. Few later, the original turned up. So I've got two now. Identical.

I have a feeling that if I owned much in the way of precious stones I'd be scared to wear them! My Granny's diamond engagement ring being the exception, of course.

Oh wear it all absentgrana we can throw all the rules out now, that is the joy of getting older

Not these days. Look at what HM wears!

I was always told that it was vulgar to wear jewellery set with precious stones during the day – nothing but pearls before six. (Not that I have a lot of either.)

Nothing like pearls - they go with all colourings. I have a lovely string which my parents gave me when I was my sister's bridesmaid. I also inherited a longer string of smaller pearls which I found when I was clearing my aunt and uncle's house. Like pearl ear studs too and have several pairs in different sizes.

I adore pearls. My father gave me beautiful string for my 21st
My dh knew I wanted a triple string so got me one as his last Xmas present to me before he died.
I also have several other strings with
1 red coral
2 turquoise
3a very long string of rose quartz beads with 3 matching pearls between each 2 rose beads
As I said I love pearls

I agree about pearls Jess. My boss gave me a lovely 3 row set when I left work forty odd years ago and it's only now I've started wearing them. Mind you, DD1 did for one row when she was crawling. Found them in the open drawer and, next thing, they were all over the floor! So they are only two rows now.

The "Old Woman" is on the Steve Wright Show in the afternoons. Do you know, I've never thought of her like that. Always sort of assumed she was much older than me!

Charlotta I'm going to listen to that on i-player. Sounds interesting. Virginia I. often talks sense.

Depends on the context really. If running a meeting I usually wear a jacket and pearls. Very formal meeting, trouser suit or smart trousers and a non matching jacket. Pearls (plain) are my best tip for looking grown up.
Rest of time, in this weather, it's the dressed for gardening look...
Looking after grandkids down under - tunic, leggings/shorts and trainers in case a quick sprint is needed...

I have registered what Virginia Ironside said about not looking comfortable, although I think she would have been better to use a word like cosy or frumpy, as the implication of her remark is that you'll be taken more seriously if you look uncomfortable. Surely not. However, once one becomes une femme d'un certain âge, mutton dressed as lamb can kick in. I think the secret of being taken seriously starts and, quite probably ends with feeling comfortable in your own skin.