FRIDAY FIVE: What we can learn from the ‘Fabulous Fashionistas’
I’VE already decided what I’m going to wear if I live to be a ripe ol’ age.
I’m going to wear ballgowns and over the top frocks alongside lots of faux fur and huge sparkly jewellery. Yes folks, I’ve already got my future wardrobe for when I’m an old lady, well and truly planned out.
So this week, when I watched the brilliant C4 documentary Fabulous Fashionistas, I was smiling with total and utter joy.
In case you missed it, the documentary features six women, all with a love for fashion and life. Not so remarkable you might think, until you realise that this extraordinary group of women have an average age of 80.
If you missed it, I urge you to make some time this weekend and go and find it on catch up TV. Seriously, you’re in for such a treat.
To show my respect for this inspiring group of women, today’s post is dedicated to them. Here are five things we could all learn from the ‘Fabulous Fashionistas‘.
Be fearless with fashion
Have you ever left an item of clothing you loved behind in a store, because you were afraid of it being a bit too wacky, a bit too colourful or just not ‘you’?
Whilst it’s great to find our own personal style and stay true to it, sometimes it also pays to be bold and to try something different. Dressing up is supposed to be fun, indeed fashion is supposed to be fun, so if rooting through your wardrobe leaves you feeling bleurgh and anything less than joyful then perhaps it’s time to get a little fearless and introduce something fun into your closet.
Dig out those sequinned hot pants, buy that over the top jacket, splurge on that incredible necklace which speaks to you every time you see it and go and wear them.
Be inspired by the fashionistas and do as they do. Dress for you and you only and get totally fearless with fashion.
Get comfortable in your own skin
All of the women in the documentary have their own unique style but what I loved more than anything, isn’t how they wear their clothes but how they embrace their individuality. For all of these women seem totally comfortable in their own skin.
They own their bodies, they own their looks and don’t give (to quote) “two hoots” about what anyone else thinks about them. They are proud of their wrinkles, their grey skin, their less than taut skin and because of this, they look and feel AMAZING.
These women are totally, unashamedly themselves and because of this their beauty is ageless. A lesson for us all right here.
Look after your body
The women in this show have great respect for their bodies. They exercise, they do daily stretches, they appreciate their bodies and crucially, they value them greatly.
I watched them with total admiration as I shamefully realised that I can’t actually remember the last time I did any exercise (besides walking a lot) or made some space in my diary to show my body a little bit of love.
So if like me, you’re not very good at treating your body like it’s a temple, perhaps it’s time to make a start.
If you’re not happy with yourself, change
What was wonderfully refreshing about the women in the documentary was the fact that they had adapted and changed over the years. One or two of them, you could even say, had totally transformed who they were, as well as how they looked.
It was a powerful reminder that it is never too late to reinvent yourself, to start again, to start afresh. So whether you feel like changing your look, starting a new career or just getting a new haircut, do it today.
Let yourself grow, develop and flourish. The world wants and needs you to.
Love life
All of the women in the show had one overriding thing in common. They all absolutely LOVED life.
They all showed a determination to keep going, to enjoy it as much as possible, to push themselves, to look for new challenges, to embrace life and what it offered them. Seriously, how many of us can say the same?
It’s too easy to take life for granted especially when modern day life is just so damn busy, but as the beautiful Daphne said in the documentary, we only get one shot at it.
Ever day we are here is a blessing so if there is one thing we can learn from these wonderful women, let it be this.
Let’s start to love, laugh and live, properly, today.
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Did you watch the show? What did you think of the women? Who inspired you the most? As always I would love to hear your thoughts! x
Till the next time, remember age really is just a number.
Katie
So funny as I actually noted down the tips (similar to yours) for a post I was going to write about the doc but as the programme went on, I changed my mind!
Yes I agree it was inspiring and the way these women live their life is admirable but various things started to niggle me as it progressed. Perhaps because I’m a filmmaker…the voice over was a little patronising…the tone ‘beggers belief you can be 70 and run 3 times a week’ style irritated my mother and I as we watched…the women all featured appeared to be middle class/ educated irrespective of their current financial situation too. There was no mention of women from other socionomic backgrounds/ ethnicities and why they might may or may not living to a ripe old age…I don’t know I wasn’t as inspired as others/critics who watched it. It had a strange, dark vibe for me.
I wonder if it’s because my own family live a long time and the attitudes towards the elderly culturally for Greeks seems quite different to that I have sometimes found in the UK (generalising but from studies on ageism/ neglect of the elderly/experiences I have witnessed personally).. the focus for us is on family and most elderly relatives live with their children, nursing homes are unheard of in Cyprus and there is a great respect and appreciation towards the elderly. Perhaps this is why I wasn’t at all suprised, shocked or informed in any way by the film. I never judged or had preconceptions about women over 60 and what they could wear/do to begin with.
My Grandmother is 96, is incredibly intelligent, witty beautiful and most importantly healthy…I’m sure this all informed my reading of the documentary…as well of course as being a director and understanding the casting/structural process behind creating it.
Of course, still a lot to be inspired by-their zest for life was wonderful. I think older members of society need a greater focus in the media-their stories need to be told, the different ways you can be someone over a certain age needs to be depicted more so if this helps that, then fabulous!
Thanks for your comment Honest Mum. You’ve raised some really interesting points here, especially regarding the difference between your culture and the British one.
I definitely think, speaking as a born and raised Brit, that our attitudes towards older members of society in general aren’t particularly pleasant and that in this country old age is regarded as something to be fearful of and something to try and stop at all costs! (Even though we can’t of course!)
It’s incredibly sad, that we do see old age as something so negative, when like you say, in other cultures such as yours, old age is seen as something to be admired, respected and enjoyed! I for one, refuse to feel sad about getting older and losing my youth and I really do hope I live to be a ripe ol’ age. But not everyone feels the same.
I think that’s why I probably found the film so inspiring (it actually made me cry at parts) because although I have known wonderful older women who aren’t the ‘norm’, this is one of the few times I can remember older ladies being portrayed in a much more positive and dare I say it, stylish light!
I guess we can only hope that now this is the start of more positive ‘old age’ stories to come. x
Totally agree and must clarify that although I am of Greek Cypriot origin, I am British (important distinction) so understand both cultures very well but I of course can compare the differences I have sometimes found. I hope this is the start of things to come!