THE CITIZEN INDEX

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

REAL WOMEN: Wear Red Lipstick


According to the Nurture Replenish Skincare survey, red lipstick is disgraceful after the age of 59. Moreover, results showed that women over 45 years old consider 59 is the appropriate age to steer away not only from wearing red lipstick, but also from high heels and tight clothes. (source)

Did you read the poll survey results reported on Yahoo recently- the one where a survey of women over 45 years of age, said that wearing red lipstick over age 59 was disgraceful? You can read the report HERE, and while many people react angrily about the news, I suspect the main point is missed: 



that this survey reported the opinion of older women about other older women. Opinions about dignity and what's proper formed the consensus that at age 59, it is best to "go natural,"  to stop fighting the clock, and stop wearing body conscious clothing, bold prints, and bold colors- in essence, go invisible. 

That is what SOME women think. Some. But you and I happen to know a lot of other women, some who are older than 59, who don't subscribe to that point of view. Quite the contrary- there are loads of stylish women who not only wear red lipstick, they wear it, or intend to wear it well into their 70's. Or beyond. 

Which is good news for me- a forty-something somebody who loves her red lippy. So I thought I'd post some of my favorite images of "REAL WOMEN" who rock red lipstick, mini skirts and tight clothes, even though according to the poll, they shouldn't. But looking at the riot of color, and style, I'm thinking that they make a good argument on "DOING THE DON'TS."

Bold + Beautiful:  Vix, Melanie, Krista, Serene, Helga, Kitty + Sylvia  Rule As Rule Makers and Breakers.
So here's a list of rules you are welcome to make, or break, whatever makes YOU feel happy.

Random Fashion Rules for Women Age 59 + Older:

WEAR CLOTHES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. Figure flattering, curve hugging or loose-y and goosey- just wear what puts a smile on your face.

WEAR BOLD COLORS AND PRINTS: Make an entrance and command attention and embrace your style and age by enjoying brights that make you feel beautiful.

STAY UP TO DATE, YET REMAIN TRUE TO YOURSELF: If you want to follow a trend, go ahead. If you want to stick to mom jeans, bedazzled sweaters or biker chic leather jackets, and it makes you feel good, stick with what you like. If you want to play, have fun with fashion and wear a tutu as a skirt at age 60, rock it. Sartorial septuagenarian (and undisputed fashion designer extraordinaire) Vivienne Westwood, has been known to wear platform shoes and  body con clothing. IN HER SEVENTIES. WITH HER 25 YEARS HER JUNIOR HUSBAND. AND ROCKS IT. Proving that as long as your dress reflects yourself, and you rock, you just can't go wrong.

WEAR RED LIPSTICK: If red lipstick is your thing, wear it, no matter your age. Or its equivalent, which is whatever thing is that makes YOU feel like you: purple eyeshadow, a sequin top, platform shoes, ugly sweaters, short shorts or long flowing dresses. Celebrate yourself and your style however you see fit!


Cathartic Color: Catherine, Lissy, Judith, Shelley + Ally Revitalize in Vivid Color
My favorite "rules" come from one of my favorite rule breakers. Vix aka The Vintage Vixen is always railing against some ridiculous rule put forward by well meaning mavens who espouse  their beige advice like "hide your upper arms," "don't wear white after Labor Day" or "don't wear mini skirts." Her reaction  almost always includes gorgeous outfit posts showing her breaking the rules, and looking fabulous doing so. She, among others, prove real style, in a way those stodgy mavens miss: REAL WOMEN don't rely on rules but on what works. If you can rock a mini, a sleeveless shirt, red lipstick, or a pair of high heels, then do so. REAL WOMEN WEAR WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT.

Gracefully Disgraceful: Desiree is the Poster Child on How to Wear What Not to Wear. She Rocks. And Wears Red Lippy.

Getting older doesn't have to mean giving up your fashion flair. In fact, let me make a case FOR tight tops, mini skirts, bright colors and red lipstick by saying REAL WOMEN WEAR RED LIPSTICKAt age 59. And skinny minis, and maxi skirts, and clashing prints, and short hair, or long hair, or anything else they feel like wearing, because it makes them feel good. And the people I most love to watch are people who dress with character and panache, often times are breaking the rules while making a big, bold and beautiful fashion statement. 

So, go ahead and wear red lipstick. Real women (of all ages) do.   
What fashion rules do you like to make, or break? Share them in the comments.   

Like what you see? Please SHARE this post! 
Style 360: Dusk Devi, Sarah, Sacramento, Mrs Allnut, Helga, Adrienne, Shelley + LV Show Us Style From Front to Back



61 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahhh Bella, honored to be included in your roundup of fabulous women. And I couldn't agree more, make your own rules!!

citizen rosebud said...

Lissy I love your style- it was pleasure to include you!

Susan B said...

Hooray! I used to think there was such a thing as "age appropriate" but I outgrew it. ;-)

Pam @ over50feeling40 said...

Love this post, Bella...great job! Yes, real women set their set of rules and don't worry about the ones set by people who do not know us! I don't think we are suppose to wear leggings either...but I love em! Forget the supposed "rules."

Hope Adela Pasztor said...

I love red lipstick! Always have, and always will! =)

http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/

Idee Fixe said...

Love, love, love! Personally I don't have a rulebook, never did, never will! XXX

Patti said...

Brava! I wrote about this ridiculous "survey" on my blog, because the red lipstick ban really got me riled up. WTF? I'll wear it when I'm 90, if I feel the urge.

Shybiker said...

OMG! I was composing a comment about how much I agree with your ideas when -- bang! -- there are my legs! What a nice surprise. Thanks for letting me support your post in a visual way. It's a terrific message.

GreenBean said...

Beauty knows no boundaries of age, weight, size, gender, race, income or anything else. I'm thankful for all the great style blogs out there that continually inspire me to try new things. I'm almost 50 and enjoy having fun with fashion as much as ever!

citizen rosebud said...

I'm with you Patti, all the way! Red Lippy foreva!

Sheila said...

I love it! I wore red lippy all day yesterday/Christmas with bright green and fishnets and felt awesome!

Thanks for putting together such an inspiring collage of wonderful ladies of great style!

Kristy said...

I never did follow rules very well! Love this post! I personally think you should wear whatever makes you feel great.

Becky said...

I love all the maxi dresses, red lips, print mixing, the shaved head!!! Rock on ladies <3

joyatri said...

I saw this survey and knew that at least one of the bloggers who I follow would take issue with it. Thanks for featuring so many fabulous, gorgeous, inspiring women in your post. At age 52, I like having long salt and pepper hair and wearing short skirts and purple paratrooper boots. I'll never look 'elegant' or 'refined' or 'dignified' but I'll be me.

Suzanne said...

Loved this. I felt it was like you were yelling it from a mountain top.

I will wear what I want for as long as I want. Rules or no rules. Live and let live.

Bisous
Suzanne

Ulla-Marie said...

Great post, Bella!

Bohemian Chick said...

I'm in total agreement with you, Bella! I keep getting older but my taste in make-up and clothes hasn't changed much. As long as a certain cosmetic or style of clothing looks good on a woman, I think she should continue to wear it. We're no dummies - we know what looks good and makes us feel good!
Rock on!
Donna
www.prettysparklythings.blogspot.com

mispapelicos said...

I am in tears of joy.
Such a wonderful bunch, and so good to be under your warm wing.
You are a beautiful angel, my dear Bella.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Melanie said...

Huge bear hug, Bella! These women make me want to do a jig - they are AWESOME and I feel like giggling in their company. You are certainly at the top of the list for your own style and all things bold, bright and brave. This is the perfect thing to feast my eyes on after crawling out from work overload. Hugs, again.

Unknown said...

Yay! Rules are stupid! Clothes are coverings for our bodies until we die. So we might as well be as fabulous as possible while covering our bits! Thanks for including me, Bella - it's an honour to be in such wonderful company! HUGS! Sarah xxx

Unknown said...

I think if you wore red lipstick when you were younger and it looked good, then wear it when your older if you like. I hate following rules. For me personally, I never liked red lipstick on myself so I don't ever consider wearing it now that I'm 52. There are so many mature women that look fabulous in red, I'm just not one of them I guess.

Please may I? said...

Love, love, love this post hun! Too true.

Who needs to follow rules when its much more fun to brake them.

X x

Mrs. D said...

This is a brilliant post.
I think that a lot of people never had the confidence or the guts to wear whatever they felt like ever in their lives and it just gets worse with age, because now they'll have the excuse to bully others into following their ridiculous rules.

Xx

Amber of Butane Anvil said...

So much fabulous in one blog post, Bella!!! Well done! So many amazing bloggers, many already my favourites, and I love Une femme's and Mrs. D's comments too. Fantastic shift away from judgement and appearance-policing and toward celebration!

Vix said...

What a frigging honour to be included in amongst these legendary, fierce women.
Here's nothing to be gained by conforming and following these ridiculous "rules".
Sod what the rest of the world thinks, it's our life & our body and we're a long time dead!
You rule! xxxxxxxx

The Style Crone said...

What an honor to be included amidst photos of truly brilliant bloggers who I admire, respect and applaud. Love this post and everything you have to say about style and aging. Brilliant ode to living life to the fullest! Thank you Bella!

thorne garnet said...

thanks goodness I'm safe for 2 more years......hahaha.

Anonymous said...

Great post! I'd be bored as I aged if I couldn't express myself through style. And one of the best ways to feel better if we're under the weather is to wear lipstick! And a cute hat if we're having a bad hair day. ;)
I use to think certain hats I owned might be inappropriate as I'm getting older. But after blogging a while, and especially after following Advanced Style, I now know what BS that is. Life is short, live bold!

Unknown said...

Oh, hell who makes up these rules? The only thing that may steer a woman away from red is that dark colors can run into lip lines. There are so many products on the market to prevent this .. wear RED if you like it!!!

Love the collection of ladies and their fashions! Well, done :-)

Monica
www.pear-shaped-gal.com

Unknown said...

yay,Bella!!!!
love u soooo much!
Reeves

Anonymous said...

Screw the rules, red lipstick forever.
Currently mine is MAC Lady Danger.

Anonymous said...

AMEN SISTER AMEN!!!

All of these ladies are my style icons!!

How boring to be stuck in beige polyester crap because "someone" says it's age appropriate!

I'm looking forward to my hair finally being all silver (later this winter!) so I can rock a pink streak in the front!!

Sara Kristiina said...

INDEED !! SUCH a great post..! And when I am over 50 or so, I will definitely keep on wearing beautiful red lipstick and colourful clothes no matter what SOME say.

Señora Allnut said...

hurrah for red lipstick and for your Wise Words about the rules and dress codes!!
Love that Real Women make their own rules and create their own style!!, I would like to be a Real Woman, I'm trying it indeed!
besos & rojo

Miss Simmonds Says said...

some of my favourite ladies here! You're all inspirational. I find it depressing that women approaching 30 start limiting themselves, I've been guilty of it, but like you said, as there's a difference between feeling good in an outfit and thinking it's too old for you

Helga said...

Fark YES!!!
Great post Bella darling. I am so frigging irritated by these bloody rules.Who makes them?! Someone trying to keep us in our place, no doubt.Stuff that, I fully expect to be breaking more than 10 rules today, and now you've got me thinking about it, I might just get my gander up and go for 15.
Bahahaha!
Much love,doll,and Happy Holidays to you and your darling from G and I!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Megan, TfDiaries.com said...

love red lips
Xo Megan, www.TfDiaries.com

Megan, TfDiaries.com said...

love red lips
Xo Megan, www.TfDiaries.com

Ofelia said...

Felicidades en el nuevo ano Bella y gracias por todos tus comentarios tan lindos cuando yo no estaba escribiendo en mi blog.
Who are these women (on the survey)? and why are they putting age limits on fashion and beauty choices?
If you make it to 59 and beyond you earn the rights to dress and paint your face or your body anyway you want to.

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

All of these women, including you, are totally inspiring for their fearless expression of who they are in that moment!! That's why I love them!! My response to "you can't" is to say "watch me!!!!"

Pearl Westwood said...

Well said Bella, I threw out the rule book years ago and have never been happier! xx

CameronPoe2409 said...

Fab, Fab article, I want to go out and 'break the rules' too!x

Stacey said...

This post is amazing, and it's so good to see so many of my favourite bloggers involved!

Dina@VintageAdvantage said...

This has got to be one of my favorite blog posts of all time!!!

Forest City Fashionista said...

Bella, thank you so much for including me in this brilliant post! You've done a fabulous job illustrating that rules are made to be broken, especially rules about what to wear after a certain age. Red lipstick, mini skirts, bold colours, love 'em all, and will keep loving them! I am thrilled to be in such awesome company and will definitely share the link on my blog.

citizen rosebud said...

Ha ha! Psue I think I outgrew that too!

JTWisdom said...

The rules are broken. Often I see statistics that say women dress for other women not men but I think women should wear what makes them feel great.

Flattering50 said...

Red is my favorite color in the world! Can't imagine giving it up--ever. Style rules are just about the silliest thing going. Every style rule I've ever read online I've seen broken on the street. I wear what makes me look and feel the best on me. It works for me.

Krista said...

I need more red in my life, tight clothes, mini skirts and color! I love that not only are we ok with our age, but we friggin own it! Great post Bella dear and thnks for adding me to some fabulous women!

sylvia @ 40PlusStyle said...

Great article Bella and thanks for featuring me! I think I'm going to write my own response as well.....

Unknown said...

I love this post Bella. In fact I love it so much I'm going to on some red lipstick right now! xoxo

Seeker said...

This post is sooooooo brilliant and a must!!
Thank you Bella for writing it, featuring and also adding me to some fabulous women!
I feel the need to shout out about it.

xoxo

Astral Boutique said...

geez, aren't "rules" awful?!?! i think part of the problem is that women are also encouraged to hide their personalities as they get older- don't laugh too much in public! don't make passes at men! don't get so excited!- and so they feel that they have to tone down the look to match the toned-down self. you know my mantra? F*CK IT! ha ha ha!

Unknown said...

here's my rule about rules in general: they are made to be broken! just bought my first red lipstick and i love it.

No Fear of Fashion said...

Totally agree. I am 58, started to blog in November last year and I will wear red lipstick till I drop dead.
Love it, it suits me and I am even quite a conservative(ish) type of women.

Closet Coach said...

THANK YOU! This is the very reason Ari Seth Cohen's Advanced Style blog is so popular. Those ladies all rock some serious looks from 59 to 99.

If it's flattering and fabulous, wear it. Period.

Buttercup Rocks said...

I don't know how I managed to miss the heinous survey. I've just had a rant on my own blog about ageism among the ageing and the annoyingness of fashion rules. They can prise my Mac Russian Red out of my cold, dead paws!

Jamillah said...

my gawsh, i mean i guess everyone is entitled to express their opinions on age, but i just think to make these rules up is incredibly obtuse.

thank you bella, for showcasing these beautiful women and their rule breaking way and encouraging all us us to set our own rules.

happy new year, friend!

Tamera Beardsley said...

Bella you are forever the inspiration!

Lovely Sara said...

Such a wonderful post! I love to encourage people to break rules as well when it comes to fashion. Rules tell people what they shall not do, they frighten people. If more people would be like this amazing ladies on the pictures, I am convinced our world would be happier, the streets more colourful. Thank you for this wonderful post, it's an ode to diversity, tolerance and courage! Love, Sara xx

Nell said...

I l o v e red! I used to wear red lippy each and every day and until one day it just stopped suiting me, just like that, overnight! I will find the right shade, I will.