Okay then, another topic about something that happened a while ago. The above picture is in fact also a reason for the existence of this blog. This photo caused some commotion in February this year. The photo was made for the Mexican Marie Claire and the photographer "leaked" it. Moreover, the photo wasn't (yet) retouched.
The photo led to a huge number of reactions in (social) media. There were reactions of disapproval and admiration. The majority of the responses, however, was very positive and Cindy Crawford was seen as a role model. Personally, I found it quite refreshing. We want girls learn at an early age that the images of models they see in the media are manipulated. At first I thought it was very brave of Cindy. She refreshened this awareness also for the "older girls" who are older than forty. Isn't it a great pity that we do not often see such images in the media?
Untill it became known that the above photograph was already a few years old and Cindy was not happy with it at all. The photo was not meant for our eyes. They were stolen from photographer John Russo and Cindy didn't want at all that photos were shown. And that wasn't all. Soon the news came out that the photos were fake. Cindy, in real life still very thight, declared it was retouched in such a way with the above picture as a result. Then her partner went one step further by proving at Instagram that Cindy still looks like a supermodel in a bikini.
Of course I can understand that Cindy wants to come at her best in the (social) media, who wouldn't? But she should have been a real rolemodel if she had said, "Yes, this is what it is. This is how a woman of nearly fifty simply looks like and I'm proud of it". By now we all understand that photos in magazines are retouched. In advertisment the world is more beautiful than in reality, we all know that. But does it have to mean that we can't be proud at the original? The (re)actions of Cindy at the pictures afterwards just gives the signal that we have to continue with the believe that women in their late forties and older are only presentable if they look (photoshopped) like they are twenty. If the reality is somewhat less perfect, than it should by all means be denied.
Who are we fooling?
The average adolescent today already know better .....
What is your opinion?
Português Nederlands
The idea for this blog was created on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Linda de Mol, (a Dutch tv-host). Or rather, by Cecile Narinx (Dutch Harper's Bazaar) who said in a Dutch newspaper that she does not like the old-girl-look of Linda. Cecile strongly advised Linda to grow out the dyed blonde hair back to her natural gray color and let the grey hair cut into a bob haircut. During the time that the blond needs to grow out, Linda can put a turban on her head and wrap herself in the clothes that suit her age.
Oh, my....
My first reaction was: "Who do you think you are, Cecile Narinx to lecture this (very successful) woman of 50 and to determine what she should or should not wear? Every woman can still decide by herself how she look. And certainly Linda de Mol". Furthermore, I myself never cared that much about of what is the 'standard'. So why should I, now I'm old and wise enough, care about the opinions of others. Do I suddenly have to listen to the advice of Cecile Narinx?
But the funny thing is that this all remained in my mind. We are now nearly a year later and I still think often about it. It even inspired me to this blog. With Sara waiting for me, I noticed I asked myself if the opinion of Cecile wasn't that bad at all. We can act (or feel) like we do not get any older, the outside world still sees it differently. And so sad as the women in the Dutch tv-program Hotter than my daughter (where mothers are sexy dressed and their daughters are ashamed of them) we don't want to be.
Yet there is still a world of difference between a turban on your head and a short snappy style or outfit that would not look out of place in Hotter than my daughter. But how do I know what is age appropriate or not? I have friends who all look dazzling at their (almost) fifties. Trendy and radiant. How do they do that?
When I was in college, the mother of my friend became fifty. On her birthday she threw away all her red colored clothes, because that color was no longer appropriate for a woman of fifty. I found that very weird at that time. A friend of mine who is now 53, wears all colors of the rainbow and it suits her beautifully. The only question is, how do I found out if it (still) suits me too?
In the magazines we are not really represented. Even Linda photoshopped herself on the covers of her magazine back into a young girl. Also in the stores, advertisements of high street shops and in the campaigns of luxury brands we do not really see models and reference images of women of our age. And that's weird. At the moment I'm fifty, half of the Dutch population will be in their fifties. Why we do not see that reflected in real models of fifty? I do not aspire to look like thirty, but I want to look at my best at this age.
Therefore, here this blog: Sarah's secrets unveiled. Here I try all the secrets that Sarah has in store for us when we become fifty to unveil. Where Sarah retrieves her mustard, I do not find that interesting. I want to know all about style, beauty, health and hotspots that are of interest to women like you and me. See this blog as a search for the secrets which Sarah now keeps hidden from us.
Will you join me on this journey?
