Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, Audi popped this request into the suggestion box:
Sal, I’d love to see you do a piece about looking stylish at any age. As I approach 40 it’s of course a subject that’s near and dear to my heart, but also I think there’s a disturbing trend for women to try to “pass” for younger than they are, rather than just be a beautiful 40, 50, or 60-year-old. You write a lot about body image, how about age image?
Well, here’s what I think about THAT:
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
Sal, great advice aside
, I am LOVING that necklace you are wearing!!! I couldnt stop staring at it!
yay, love the video and the advice! you might as well have said, “laura brown listen to this” at the part about changing hairstyles, since that is exactly what i needed to hear. and the part about merging the spectrums of my wardrobe.
Love these tips Sal, first time I watched one of your videos. You have a great speaking voice by the way. Your tips are great! I think you nailed some good starting points for those who are unsure as to how to be more effective with their wardrobe choices! Now me on the other hand, I break the rules sometimes (even though I believe there are no rules in fashion) but, I believe most African American women can get away with a lot because we age very differently then our counterparts. If AA women take care of themselves we always look 10 to 20 years younger then women with less melanin and pigmentation in their skin. We also don’t expose ourselves to the sun via tanning which can be very damaging to the skin later on in life. We look younger, therefore we can “get away with more youthful fashions”. I’m lucky in that respect.
Always enjoy seeing you on video and this one was great. But Sal, a new hairstyle every year?! Ack! What if, because of our face shape, we can’t wear long or short hair? Not to mention changing something we finally found that works. Learning to operate new gadgets for a new sytle gets harder for us over-60 year olds! That said, I’ll talk to my hair stylist next time I’m in
budget chic: Good point! And, of course, all broad-spectrum advice like this should be taken with a grain of salt: Each individual should decide for herself how she wants to style herself as she gets older. And my GOSH, if you’re looking 10 years younger than your chronological age, take advantage of that!
Judith: Hahaha, oh I hear ya, lady. I hadn’t truly changed my style in ages until recently and know it’s a daunting order. But I really do think it’ll help keep your style evolving to change up your hair once a year, and also keep YOU aware of yourself. If you’ve got the perfect cut, experiment with lowlights or color. Try pinning it back if it’s long, or play around with hats. It doesn’t have to be a super-drastic change in the cut … just something subtle to keep things interesting. After all, your FACE will change shape over time, too, so adjusting your hairstyle a bit is the only way to see if something even better is possible!
This is really neat, I like that you put it in a video. Great necklace, I wondered where that painting that I love was in your house. Dining room. AH!! Thanks for always giving good advice. Even after just one week of reading you I can tell it is a trend.
my word verfication was prolib…I liked that for some reason.
You are so cute! I’m digging the video post. Also, I adore that painting in the background.
Here’s my question to you: What do you think you’ll do next with your hair?
Erin: Hahaha, lady, I JUST CHANGED IT! Don’t make me think about a year from now. I could be living on Saturn by then.
~Hurricane B~ and Erin: Our dear friend, Greg Page, created that painting for us. His process is pretty amazing, as he loads tons of pigment onto a giant board and then lights it on fire, which creates all those grooves and textures. I don’t think Greg is painting much these days, but if you’re really keen, let me know. He does take commissions!
Sal, thanks for the fantastic advice. However, I found myself completely distracted from it by how amazing you look in that video. I love your new hair! And I agree, that necklace is gorgeous.
i LOVE this!!!! i’m writing down the five adjectives right now. you are lovely!
1) Great advice, as usual!
2) ADORE the new hair. Looks fantastic!
3) I also LOVE that necklace with that top! I now want to go on a v-neck shopping spree!
great video. Love that necklace.
xoxo
J
http://www.talkprettytome.blogspot.com
Such amazing advice! Colour is so important, and I still find it odd how people think they can get away with wearing absolutely every colour. Admittedly I am still finding out all of the shades that suit me best!
I have only recently begun to think hard about glasses frames – their shapes and colours. Yup, plural, I really do think having more than one pair can do wonders for a look.
And I have always thought that as I get older, I will wear far more ‘classic’ clothing, but as you said, it is always fun to switch it up with your accessories
That’s sooo great… thanking for sharing this video
.
Awesome, Sal! I love Audi’s question too because I’ve always been dissatisfied with the idea youth culture is more desirable than an elegance and confidence in style that older women can possess. Thanks for all the helpful hints. Gotta make a hair appt now
its funny because everything you said i knew and was nodding my head yes yes uh huh yeah yeah then you got to hair!!!!!!!!!!!
dude i am so bad at the hair thing!!! i havent changed my hair …. hmm lets see now…. must be… oh NEVER!!
and i know i really do i understand about how it so is a part of your ‘style’ and how it makes you look overall better or not and i say that because i’ve had my hair ‘done’ for a few weddings and such and WOW woweewoweewow! i kept looking and looking and dang i felt awesome! but did i ever ‘do’ antyhing with my hair after?? no! not cut not style not color nothing. and you hit a nerve (you think!) with that point im definatley gonna have to think this hair thing…. im not saying im cutting cause i just was saying how i love short short hair a few days ago but its not for me ive decided. but certainly i can see what other options there are and yes i can see how a little change will give me a boost!
(dude i write a lot!)
I agree colors especially around our faces/hair! You are so great lady…I'm sure this helps so many women in the blogsphere! Thank you for your kind effort & knowledge. ~XO*
Great video. I have a goal in life, and that’s to never look like I’m having a mid-life crisis.
The only thing I can never reconcile myself to is the hair. I’m definitely not a morning person, so I perpetually need something that I can towel-dry, comb, and leave. Unfortunately, the hairstyles this is true for are somewhat limited.
Fantastic advice, and I love the statement necklace and emboobening top lol.
oh lordy Sal, you are just too cute for words! I love when bloggers put up videos, it’s so much easier to tell how they really are than in pictures! You are lovely and I’ll SEE you soon! yay!
Very nice video. While I think radically changing one’s hairstyle every year is too much, I do think checking in and tweaking it and even just styling it differently is really important. That said, I just went platinum blonde, and even though I have my roots touched up every four weeks, I absolutely adore it. I think you’re right in that our face/head/hair is one of the biggest focal points in our style, and if that’s off, then nothing else will really look right.
I also found that with a completely different color of hair, I had to look very closely at my makeup and make changes accordingly. If we forget this step, we’re not going to look as good as we can!
I totally forgot I’d even asked that question! I love all your advice, ESPECIALLY about the hair. I’m constantly experimenting with mine, and I find it really fun to look back at photos of myself through the years with all my different hairstyles and colors. Even if it’s a subtle change, or an old hairstyle from years ago that you update and use again, it’s good to keep evolving and reinventing yourself.
Fabulous advice!
I have something for you on my blog.
Please go and check it.
xoxo
And I’ll be back…
great video, sal! and i love it when you wear red…it looks smashing on you. btw, you remind me so much of mary louis parker. you guys could be sisters.
Oh, Sal, you are so gorgeous. DON’T change your hair in a year, it is too perfect!
Perfect answer on my blog Sal, and perfect advice on here. Thanks xxxx
I read and write, but I must say:
Sally, Great job on the video!
I didn’t realize you had videos!! Very well done and you have an awesome speaking voice
I loved that video! I also love your new hair and that awesome coral top you’re wearing. When you were talking about how we should all find the coloring that suits us, I couldn’t stop thinking that this is the perfect shade of red for you, and that any other shade would look wrong compared to the one you’re wearing!
Oh and not to forget: that was some great example of ENBOOBENING! Way to go Sal, I hope there will be more video-posts like this to follow.
awesome! i love that you make videos! this is the first one i’ve seen.. but i ssee you have a lotttt of em. fabulous!
I stumbled on your blog today, and really like the video. I am following now. Have a great evening.
And impactful is a real word – I’d advise a new hairdo every 2 years or so – definitely by 5 years.
You know I always love your advice (and your accessories).
I’ve been lurking on your blog for awhile, and this is the first video I’ve seen of you. Love your great advice, especially that about haircuts (guilty of stagnation, here). And what about that top and necklace (where’s that from?)! Most excellent.
here’s an “ask sal” for you, sal: what does a stylish girl wear on a camping trip? i’m still trying to figure out that fine balance between gear and..well..looking cute!
Great video, Sal!! I agree with all your points, wonderful advice that I’m just starting to implement and perfect myself.
I also agree with the other commenters that your necklace is gorgeous and that your hair rocks!
And it was so fun to see you speak and “3D” – you are so cute and I really hope I have the pleasure of meeting you in person some time!
S.
Nice video! I just turned 34 and I find myself with no fashion sense. Most of my days are in jeans, t-shirt and flops. For the most part, I am ok with this. However, as I get older I do wish to look some what more of my age. So, thank you for the tips. I’m riding through the archives now for more help!
Great advice! And… I thought something was different! Your hair does look terrific! Think I may start on those 5 adjectives and see how I’m doing…
Ack! I can't see the video! It says "invalid parameters."
OK, ignore my last comment. I was able to watch the video when I refreshed the page.
Great tips! And you're such a great on-camera presenter! Love it! But I did laugh when you recommended getting your colors done. That totally reminded me of the 80s. And yet I see that one of my friends from high school (Joe Lupo) just co-wrote a book about wardrobe colors and is getting tons of press. Y'all'd be appalled by me. I'm so into neutrals. But I have been adding a few splashes of color here and there, I swear.