Atypical 60

I’m so emotionally distraught right now that I can’t even think straight.  Okay. I can think straight enough to write this post—but I’m angry and disappointed and just fed up.

…and I can’t take it anymore!  I’m tired of being ingored!!

This morning, while drinking coffee and lolling around in bed Bonaparte handed me a section of The Sunday Times; he said I would enjoy it.

The section was a special one.  The New York Times Style Magazine and was devoted to “The Greats”.  Solange Knowles, younger sister of the great Beyoncé graces the cover.  I have to admit, she’s a beautiful woman—but Bey is the great one.  She’s not on the cover.

Solange Knowles gracing the cover of The New York Times Style Magazine–The Greats.  I’ll admit.  Solange is a great beauty.  She’s has a great body because she’s normal-sized.  The has long legs and regardless of whether that’s her bio-hair or a wig–it’s great hair.  But–IS Solange one of the greats? At least the publication put a woman on the cover!

With interested piqued, I opened the magazine and started to peruse.

I was a bit perplexed with the choices of The New York Times as to their six “remarkable” talents who define the culture.  Solange–beautiful but I dunno how great her mark on our culture is–especially since she’s on the younger side.  Bruce Nauman–American Artist. Age?  76.  A contemporary artist, whose  works are at MOMA, he has not had an affect on me.  Vigo Mortensen–Danish/American Actor and Artist.  At 60 years old, he’s eye-candy for the older set (Womens can be sexist too–it works both ways) and he’s a very talented actor–but he hasn’t had a cultural impact on me.  Alessandro Michele–Creative Director of Gucci.  At 46 he hasn’t yet reached that “old” age because he’s a man.  A woman would be considered “old”.  More on him later on–but I would say as far as fashion is concerned, he has had a cultural impact.  Mr. Michele needs to put his hair up in a man bun because his hair is man bun friendly (that’s a cultural impact that is one of The Greats).  George R. Martin–He writes horror/fantasy/Sci-fi works.  This has absolutely NO cultural effect on me as I can’t stand those genres.  At 70, he’s a jolly man who can dupe as an in-store Santa should he get tired of writing.   And lastly,  Carrie Mae Weems–American Artist who works in multi-media but her most popular works are in photography.  At 65 years she is the ONLY OLDER woman included in this group.

Why are there four men, all over 45 (which is good) and only one woman.  I’m not even including Solange because at 32 years, she’s too young to be considered a “remarkable talent” –she needs to grow as an artist before she’s one of the greats. OK?

According to The New York Times, these six individuals are shaping our culture and are considered remarkable talents. Where is Joan Didion?  Why is there only one older woman.  Carrie Mae Weems–at 65 years old is the only older woman that’s considered great?

And I noticed something else. Something absolutely disgraceful and disgusting.  In all the ads and editorials Ms. Weems is the only older woman within the confines of this publication.

The other pages, editorial and advertisements were loaded with young models and older men.

Yes. Older MEN.  Further proof to me that older women, are, in fact, the ignored demographic in all media and in life in general.

Here’s an ad for Dacor, a company that specializes in high-end appliances for rich peeps.  The ad is focusing on 51 year-old Entertainment Business Manager John McIlwee.  He’s really successful too.  And rich!  And he collects art.  And he’s a man. I guess there are no women over 50 who are successful to warrant being included in Dacor’s ads.

Let’s take a  bigger look at some of the pages from this magazine (which I am now deeming “ragazine”) shall we?

UGH!  More “Celebrity” obsession in advertising!

Emma Stone is yet, another celebrity “model” and spokesperson for Louis Vuitton.  Funny how most women I know who go ham for LV are all over 50. And the “over 50” demographic is the one that can actually afford LV without going into debt.  Honestly, if  LV needs to go with a celebrity, why not go with a real French one like Audrey Tautou or Fanny Ardant?

Gucci.  More on Alessandro Michele.  He may be Gucci’s creative director but this???  I seriously have no issue with the Russ Meyer Faster Pussycat Kill Kill sweater. It’s pretty funny considering it was a cheesy movie.  But at $1,600 USD, that sweater is a sin.  And let’s hope Mr. Man-Bun Michele had nothing to do with this atrocious ad.  My guess is that the model is 22 years at best–or perhaps if she’s older they decided to put the ski mask on her head to hide the wrinkles and natural signs of aging.

This ad could cause PTSD for a child–it’s that horrific.  Whatever happened to fashion?

Prada.  Oh how I adore the pretentiousness of advertising!!  Check out the makeup on this photoshopped model.  Who walks around with contour lines on their face like that. Gurl would be laughed off of Instagram and would be getting shade thrown at her on YouTube!  And why the greasy hair falling on the face.  And why the miserable look?

I’ve seen girls strutting the walk of shame looking cleaner than this one.  She’s the walk of shameless in this ad.  And anyone who purchases this bag, even though it is rather nice, is giving Prada free advertising.  I can’t even anymore with this logo garbage…

Here’s a jewelry ad for David Webb.  Look at the model.  I’ve never quite seen a forehead that smooth other than a newborn’s and Nicole Kidman’s Botoxed one!  She’s eating cavier–I’ll bet IRL she eats nothing more than air.

Funny thing is–that huge cocktail ring that you can see in the far right corner is worn mostly by the over 60 society matrons.  So why is there a photo of a younger woman who wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this in the ad?

Here’s another successful man.  Don Chadwick.  He was born in 1936. Hell will freeze over before an add with a successful woman of the same age would grace the pages in a magazine!  Think about it.  It’s true. Why is it that magazines insist on only men as success stories?

Where are the older women who are designers of furniture?  Don’t tell me that only men are successful! What about furniture designer Ilse Crawford.  She’s  56 years old and a successful furniture designer?

Below is an ad for Bulgari jewelry.  Another brand that is popular with the tony older set but why then, use a young woman with greasy hair severly pulled back and wearing unblended contour and unblended eyeshadow?  Who do these people hire for makeup?  I could do a better job on her!

Perish the thought that Bulgari use a woman of the demographic that buys their stuff in an ad!!  Instead the brand uses a younger woman with dirty looking hair and bad makeup!

Calling Mr. Karl!  Calling Mr. Karl!  I love Karl Lagerfeld so much–not only is he a great asset to Chanel, but he’s a true dieting icon!  I want his self-discipline!  But alas, he doesn’t like fat ladies and he doesn’t like old ladies.  If he truly loved the older ladies who purchase the chanel lady suits, he would have opted to make sure his ad people used an older woman instead of making a younger woman appear older like in this ad!

Hot diggity dawg.  I could picture me in this photo–except I’m too poor, too heavy, and too old to be used as a staple for Chanel–even though most of the women purchasing the brand are older.  Mr. Karl needs to be more mature-woman friendly and more meaty woman friendly.  Perhaps he could stop dieting for a season or two!

Oh Jesus.  Another older man.  I’m beginning to think the New York Times is very sexist against the older woman–and the NYT’s acts like they are so diverse.  No they ain’t!

This is a nice watch.  I’m a woman who loves wearing a guy watch.  They look great on a woman’s wrist. Alas, only men are successful according to this ad and women are most likely in the kitchen stuffing escargot mixture into shells!

Ah–come on now!  How many ads of successful men do we need to see here?  Does the women’s movement know how sexist these ads are?  I’m about to foam at the mouth right now!

This photo is from an ad by UBS.  This very successful chef/restauranteur is asking Have I gone as far as I can?  Can I still grow my business?  Or should I invest in other areas?  Apparently only a man can ask these questions.  Why isn’t UBS using a successful woman with gray hair in their ads?  Women are chefs too–and damned successful ones at that!

Hey this young ‘un is the epitome of style and fashion as she looks seriously into the camera to draw one to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA.  Home of designer shops.  I’m sorry but she looks like she’s wearing my grandmother’s kitchen table cloths.  I don’t think an over-50 woman would wear that get-up to bed.

Well, at least her hair is clean and her makeup is blended.

This one kills me.  Tomorrowsleep.com  Apparently only good looking young people go to bed–is this the Arian Nation bedtime?  Does Tomorrowsleep not realize that couples over 50 go to bed to.  And participate in fun activities?

Tomorrowsleep only wants wrinkle-free sheets and wrinkle-free people on their mattresses…

…and wrinkle-free couples as well..

But what really woke me up to the fact that the New York Times and advertisers want nothing to do with the older woman was that these guys got more photo exposure than the older woman…FROGS!

Yeah.  Frogs got more photo exposure in The New York Times Style Magazine than the older woman.  There were two pages that included these croakers!  I guess the publications just want old ladies croaked!

And that’s it.  Successful older men abound but where are the successful older women?  Where are they in editorials and in ads?  Why are we ignored.  We buy.  We are brand-loyal and we are ignored.

Guess what New York Times?  My demographic has incredible and remarkable women who have contributed greatly to our culture.  We have Oprah who changed the face  of daytime TV.

Now THIS is a woman who is a cultural icon…and she has favorite things too!

We have the fabulous Jane Birkin, casual style icon.

Jane Birkin has been one of my most-admired women of all time, here with daughter Charlotte she is still a great example of wonderful personal style!  I love her so much!

We have Annie Leibovitz, the greatest American photographer of our time.

Annie Leibovitz. An iconic American photographer supreme!

And the list of older, successful women goes on and on–and yet, men still receive more recognition.  This is wrong on so many levels.

But most of all, it’s the average older woman who has a remarkable impact on our culture.  She’s the one who goes to museums and taught her children about art and the history of art.  She’s the one who actually goes to the movie theatres, purchases the tickets and raises the box-office numbers while the younger counterparts stay home to watch Netflix and Hulu.  She’s the one who spends the money on the cosmetics, clothing and other items that advertisers now market to a younger, flighty audience who isn’t brand loyal.

Shes you and she’s me.  And never, ever forget just how special we all are.  We are the average older woman.  The ignored but we need to empower each other and become more vocal.  Are you with me?

We are the ones who count and don’t forget it!!

I realize this is a rant of a post but I’ve had it.  I’m tired of our demographic being ignored.  There’s more to it than the obligatory advertisement and the token older woman editorial of Helen Mirren (and I love her–it’s not a dis–it’s a statement.)