Rooting For The Best!

Two weeks ago I was watching a TV game show and one of the participants was a woman "of a certain age" with dyed blonde hair and over a full inch of gray roots showing in her center part.

No one should ever allow roots to get that long BUT she was on national television!!  Come on! Color those roots!





This isn't to say that I don't like gray hair or silver hair -- at all! I think those colors can be stunning. But not as roots!

But the good news is there are wonderful root touch up supplies available that take ten minutes and work so nicely no matter your hair color, whether you dye or not.

So easy to do on your own at home. Or go to a salon for regular touch ups. Or, finally, go all the way and let your hair be gray or silver.  Just don't do it by letting the natural color grow out.

You can get it colored the shade you are naturally and gently grow your hair out.  You don't want to look like you're wearing a yarmulke or cap on your head. Match your hair dye to the root color and keep at it until you don't have to do it any more.





Remember that changing your hair color means changing your make up. You don't want that washed out look that is tired and ageing. And you want to wear beautiful earrings, necklaces and clothes to highlight your new look. You don't need to spend a lot of money to do this. Just look around for fun pieces at stores you like.

By taking care of your roots, you can preserve the aging process with dignity and grace.  Shampoos and conditioners for mature hair are now available. There are even treatments for thinning hair or balding aged scalps for women.

Young women can get away with it better than we can and call it ombre but why would you do this when you can do better. Set that example and be the stunning woman you were meant to be.

Use hair tools that help you with hair that can get wirey, fuzzy, fluffy, thin, weak, or break. And be careful about brushing your hair as you get older. You don't want to torture your mane.

There's a belief that a woman's hair is her crowning glory. It might well be true. So we should treat our hair like it is a cherished crown.

By the way, the woman with the gray roots on the game show lost miserably. Correlation?  Probably not, but still......!

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Flat Out Comfy!

If you have been following my blog, you know that I LOVE SHOES!

And I'm not picky...pumps, sling back heels, strappy sandals, boots, ballet slipper flats, loafers, sneakers, and oxfords...I love them all.





But I had lunch last week with a long time friend who confessed to me that she doesn't buy heels anymore. She only wears flats, which got me thinking about comfort versus high fashion.

I remember when I was a young professional, wearing my high heels, when a woman asked me how could I walk in them. I bragged that I could even run in them. Ah, hubris! That was then.

This past Tuesday I saw a beautiful young woman in nose-bleed high pumps with a huge built-in platform. She strolled comfortably and with great grace and balance in her gorgeous red heels.

And I almost asked her that same question: How could she walk in them? Especially on a brick street?

And then I had an epiphany. As we get older, we trade the high style (sorry about the pun) for high comfort. I still love to drool over the really high heel, but I am now buying lower heels, wedge heels, kitten heels and have an exceptional collection of flats. 

That's probably for the best. Women "of a certain age" could fall and break a hip wearing really high shoes! And if you can't walk steadily in your shoes, you just look silly.

Fortunately, great style is available in lower heels, flats and other shoes. And your center of gravity is still safe and secure.

If you can walk well in the new super high shoes, more power to you. But if you cannot, don't despair...lower your shoe height and lift your head...and stroll!

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Trying Trends!

Trend means style or vogue and it really should not have a negative connotation for women "of a certain age."

Of course, there are some trends that we cannot or should not attempt.

Such as knee socks and high heels, ruffled skirts or belly shirts, to list a few.

 And it bears repeating that if you wore a trend when you were young, you absolutely cannot wear it again. Think tie dye, one piece shorty denims, or wide leg bell bottom pants (I LOVED mine so much...when I was 25!).

But there are new trends that we CAN wear.

One piece jumpsuits, collared jackets, statement necklaces, funky double earrings..to name a few.

My advice, though, is don't spend a lot of money on trendy pieces because they are temporary and ephemeral. I have found online shopping sites are perfect for buying trendy items inexpensively and there are so many to scroll through, depending on what you're looking for.

You can be current, stylish and still retain that classic look we have all developed over time. That's what makes us fashionable examples for the younger set.

What new trends intrigue you? Will you buy them and try them? Please let me know.

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz

Shapes and Shadows!

If you go anywhere on Pinterest (I love that site!), you see lots of tutorials on contouring and shadowing your face.

Apparently a celebrity started it all online, because she uses concealers, bronzers and blushes to shape her face into a more attractive one.

That looks like a lot of spackle and effort to wear even more make up and change the look of your face.

You can change the shape of your eyes, make your cheek bones stand out, narrow your jawline, lift your chin, camouflage wrinkles...all with the magic of make up.

 

Fortunately, we have make up counters and specialty stores like Sephora and Ulta where the trained staff can help you make this attempt and show you what works and how.

It probably isn't a make up technique that you'll use daily but for a special occasion, it might be fun. But don't wait until that special occasion to do it, unless you're paying a professional to do it for you. Still, a test run would be beneficial to see if you look better, different or odd.

The best professional contouring pros are female impersonators. They just "get it" and make their faces look so amazing.

So play a little. Don't invest a ton of money because you might never wear all that make up again. Let a make up pro do it for you and ask a lot of questions, maybe even take notes.

Put your best face forward and smile. Everyone looks so much better with a smile!

Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz