Let's Talk... Ageing

Mums perspective:

Ageing is an inevitable part of life so why do we view it so badly? And why is there so much pressure to pretend you don’t age? It’s not a secret! Everyday you wake up a little older.

As a woman you’re told to age gracefully, but not have much work done but also if you don’t have work done you become invisible. While men are allowed to age with grace and are often complimented on it. Silver fox being the term.

We seem to buy every cream under the sun to stop this process yet I feel like I’m missing actually living my life as I’m spending my time focusing on when my skin will sag. Experience and wealth of knowledge is what we should be gaining in our 20s, 30s & 40s, not worrying about which anti-aging product to use. Skills, knowledge and memories are what matter. Not if you look 25 at 65 (also who really wants that?).

Ageing is a privilege that not all will have. We need to start focusing on the here and now and maybe get Botox at 50 like normal people?

Love from Penny (Kate’s mum)

Lily’s perspective:

I turn 30 this year. My hair has bits of grey. When I smile those little lines around my mouth stay there for a little bit longer each time. All of this to say, I am getting older. The idea of ageing brings about an extreme mixture of emotions for me. On one hand, I don't care!!! It feels like my life is just beginning, like I am just on the cusp of the best years of my life. Every day I feel more confident in who I am. My confidence grows and grows. I am becoming more certain of my style, how I like my hair and what eyebrow shape suits me. Then we have the other hand… the Forbes 30 under 30 list plagues me. Daily. It makes me feel that if I haven't achieved success (whatever the hell that means?) by the time I am 30, no matter what I do, I will never be successful. Hollywood hands out rolls to 19/20/21 year olds. Positioning these ages as the peak for women suggesting that it is only downhill from there. I see women being erased by the media as they age. George Clooney continues to be offered roles as he ages, whereas women are placed in some sort of weird purgatory past 30 years of age - too old to work, too young to retire. I think it is getting slightly better. I see Heidi Klum hosting shows and wearing cool outfits, I see Pamela Anderson at fashion week with no make-up killing it, I see Dolly Parton wearing a crop top. But in the back of my mind I think Emma Chamberlain made her fortune by age 21. Ultimately I think society is going in the right direction, just very very slowly. I must tell myself “I can be 30 and still make something of myself.”

Love from, Lily