The Golden City Girls

    I saw  this comparison photo between the Golden Girls and the Sex and the City girls.  The photo, posted somewhere on the internet, is supposed to juxtapose what we all thought 50 looked like in the 1980s as opposed to what 50 looks like in the 2010's.  Interestingly enough, when I looked up the ages of the actresses from both shows, a trio of the gals from GG were supposed to be in their 50s at the beginning of the show (Sophia was supposed to be in her 80s), but the actresses cast were all in their 60s except for Rue McClanahan (Blanche) , who was cast true to her age.

    

    The Sex and the City cast were in their 30s at the onset of the show, actresses and characters alike, and the photo above, probably showcases them in their mid 40s. After all this celebrity math, I must sadly announce that this comparison is flawed at best. Neither of these photos is a true representation of women in their 50s.  However, there  are some lessons to be learned here.

  

1.  Age is not just a number.  Age is real.  There are things one can do to look younger, but some aspects of aging are inevitable.  Wrinkles, cellulite, sagging skin, menopause belly, and the whole lot, are just a part of getting older.  But, a wonderful thing happens as we mature: our priorities change!  Keeping up with the teen fashion trends is not something a refined lady wants to do.  Rather than trying to look young, one should aim to look one's best, i.e. as classy and polished as possible without the extreme denial of reality so gruesomely showcased  by the horror shows of plastic surgery fails and over-use of fillers in decaying Hollywood sexpots.  

2.  Style Matters.  While we can all agree that, more than anything, there are certain things that can cause a person to look older than their age, such as the grandma hairstyles donned by the Golden Girls,  or younger such as the flattering feminine styles worn by the SATC cast.  In addition to hairstyles, clothing matters.  Timeless styles over trends are always a better choice, and an older woman should be more established with perhaps a little more disposable income to buy quality pieces and have tailoring done to make clothes fit her body in this season.  Dorothy in particular always made me sad, even back in the day, because it seemed like oversized, drapey clothes were made to hide her height and form rather than accentuating them.  Compare that with Miranda from SATC played by Cynthia Nixon, who is likewise one of the tallest on the show, yet not afraid to show off those long legs or wear something form fitting.  

3.  Fitness Looks Better Than Fillers.  No matter how old you are, eating healthy wholesome meals, getting plenty of quality rest and exercise are truly the best ways to look well at any age.  Fillers and botox are gross, and as we've seen from celebrities and influencer culture alike, at best they can prematurely age you, and at worst they make you look like a sideshow act.  Staying active is the best way to stave off a lot of the tell tale signs of aging and truly enjoy and make the most of your golden years. 

4.  Hair = Care.  Really and truly, this is just an easy tip.  If you want to avoid looking like a little old lady, please, oh, please don't get that horrible old lady hairstyle all my Golden Girls are donning.  It seems so common that once menopause hits, gals can't stand their hair anymore and chop it all off.  That's totally fine, but get something chic for crying out loud and don't forget to style it before you go out. Not ready for gray?  I hear ya, sister.  Put some color on those silver strands, but make it tasteful and a shade that really compliments your complexion.

The moral of this story is: Don't give up, but do find peace. Accept your age, embrace each season, remember that you are worthy of looking your best at every age and stage and love your life.