How much skin should we show after 40? And . .
.
Cloris Leachman . . .
If you want to look hip, sexy, and keep up with the latest in style and beauty, visit FabulousAfter40.com. They send out daily fashion alerts and I always read them to see how far behind the times I am when it comes to fashion and glamour.
Thanks to the site I realize that shoes I have been saving for 60 years are back in style. Now only that, but those 60-yer old shoes that probably cost a hefty $30 are now going for $300 or more. Wow! Am I ever glad I'm a pack rat. That the shoes no longer fit doesn't matter. I have them in my possession. Know what I mean?
But on to the subject at hand.
Recently, the Glam Gals (that's what they call themselves) who run FabulousAfter40.com asked "How much skin should we show after 40?"
My immediate reaction was, Girlfriends, you don't need someone to tell you how much skin to show-- use your common sense!!
It appears there are two camps out there in the world when it comes to the question of skin exposure. The first says, "My body with all its wrinkles, fat and flab belongs to the world. I'm gonna show it off and if you don't like it, don't look." This camp is supported by a TV show that encourages out of shape women to love the way they look. I argue that those women would be better served if they were helped to get back into shape, but then, that's just me being crabby.
Then there is the other camp that says, "My body belongs to me. My fat, flab and wrinkles are mine and I'll expose as little skin as possible because I know I look better and more sexy covered up than I do uncovered." Yikes! Such prudery!
But back to the Glam Gals question. I decided to agitate a little so I emailed this burning question:
"Why the obsession with showing skin?"
I thought for sure I'd be quickly castigated by someone claiming the right to show as much skin as possible, regardless of age. But I was wrong. There was one reply (so far) and here it is:
"You're right. There is an obsession with showing skin in our culture.
The other day I took yet another top I had bought to the dressmakers to be hiked up a bit at the shoulders, because it was so low cut in the front.
I don't feel comfortable hanging out of my top at the grocery store or while picking up my kids from school. It's not sexy. It looks cheap.
My dressmaker told me I'm not alone, and that in the last couple of years she has never done so many alterations like this. Sure, some skin is attractive, but there's a point when too much cleavage, particularly in the daytime looks vulgar.
Sexy is an attitude not a neckline."
Isn’t that great? Let's all say it together: Sexy is an attitude not a neckline.
Yaaay!!! My buttoned-up, puritanical, antediluvianism has been vindicated! If only by just by one other woman. What a triumph! But I gotta think there are more of us than the world suspects. But I could be wrong. :-)
Now to Cloris Leachman and her appearance on Dancing with the Stars.
Oh, my!
I am fully aware that the name of the game on the show is "the more skin the better." Furthermore, it also appears that those who dress the talent never heard of body shapers, or do they call them foundation garments? The young women don't need them but Cloris does. Seeing Cloris's unrestrained belly jiggling around was distracting and her cleavage was too exposed. I don't blame Cloris, although I assume she could have made her preferences known.
I could have tolerated her appearance but when she hoisted her leg up onto the judge's desk and flaunted her saggy breasts to the seeming delight of judge Len Goodman, I was flabbergasted. My husband had one word for the display: Nasty.
Yes, we giggled and the audience loved it, but I think it was the same kind of laughter of embarrassment that's generated by a dirty joke.
Here’s the thing: Just as grabby old geezers reflect badly on all older men, her behavior reflects badly on all older women. Worse, it gives a green light to those women who think advanced age is a license to act like desperate senile little old ladies.
Had she been put into gown with a proper undergarment she could have looked classy, elegant and yes, even sexy. But her behavior screamed, "I'm a little old lady who has lost it."
On the next show she was restrained and charming. Her dance performance earned praise. However, the images from the first show are forever out there. She blew an opportunity to show the world that a woman at 82 can demonstrate elegance, grace and competence without a show of denigrating theatrics that reflect badly on all older women.
But then, that's just me being crabby. :-)
Source: October, 2008 Put Old on Hold Newsletter
Barbara Morris — Image F/X Publications
Barbara@PutOldOnHold.com
760-480-2710
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