A Dramatic Before and After, along with a History of Curly Hair in America

July 27, 2014

First off, it's a warm summer day and occasionally I let my hair go "au naturel", which for me is a curly mess.  People comment how lucky I am to have such curly wild hair. HAH!  If you grew up in or around the '60's, which I assume most of you did, you would know that curly hair was a "no-no". Cheryl Tiegs, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, you name her, every female icon had straight, and mostly blonde, hair. I probably wasn't the only one who went to great lengths to straighten their hair during those years but even today, I look around, and my hair is pretty out of control compared to the average population. My mom was adopted, so I don't know where it comes from. Anyway, those with curly hair, and even wavy hair, did everything, including: ironing it, wrapping it, gobbing DEP on it, pinning it down with pin curls, or actually chemically straightening it.

 Do you remember when you first started seeing Beauty Supply Stores independent from Pharmacies in the early '80's? Excitedly, I went in to one thinking that there may be something new to reduce the curls or the frizz. Nope, they looked at me like I was crazy.  That was not that long ago and Not ONE product for curly or frizzy hair.

It was the African American women who really knew how to really straighten hair, so that's where I went. I went to Alice.  What did she use? Sodium hydroxide, otherwise known as LYE.  For those that don't know Chemistry; solutions can be acid or base The more acidic, the more it burns. However, the more base it is, the more it also burns. Because lye is so caustic, it left burns on my scalp. How many stupid things did we all do for beauty?  Well, this is definitely one of the stupider things that I tolerated for the sake of beauty.  The good news, my hair would come out stick straight, and it would last until the next time I straightened it. Usually, every 6 months was good.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I found a great guy who knew exactly what to do. What happened?He ran off with an older woman who funded his Music Career.  I begged him to just do my hair every six months, but nope, he had a good thing going.  So, then I tried a woman on Melrose Avenue. After putting on the LYE, she put me under the hair dryer, which no one had ever done before.  Two days later, most of my hair broke off.  It took almost a year to get it to look halfway decent.

Oh the Trial and Tribulations of Curly Hair.  I could write a book.  If every one shared their stories we could write Volumes.  In fact, if you would like to share your story about your curly hair episodes, I will post them either here or on Facebook. Or please comment at the end of the article.

I am not sure what year the tide began to turn, but slowly curly hair became the thing to have!
Even then, I had been so brain-washed by society, that I still wore it straight. At first, the curly hair products were only in salons and beauty supply stores. We curly-haired people knew that Pantene and other drugstore brands were missing the boat. Once a product had a word on it to do with anti-frizz, I bought it.  I became an anti-curl/frizz product junky.  Sometimes I would mix 3 or 4 together at the same time. If I liked how it looked I was out of luck because I would never be able to duplicate it. To this day, I must have at least 15 anti-frizz/curl products under my sink, that I don't use.

Madonna was a great influence on many of us women in the '80's.  Not that women condoned her behavior, or her irreverence, but she empowered women to be more daring.  It was around that time that I decided I would be daring and let me hair go curly. I was in Law School at the time. It felt so BOLD of me to be able to just wash and wear it.  However, whenever anyone complemented me on how lucky I was to have curly hair, I was almost angry. I wanted to tell them how I had struggled with it for at least 20 years by: planning on when I could go swimming; planning on what to do if I was in a humid climate; sleeping on Campbell soup cans; feeling self-conscious if it rained unexpectedly and I wasn't prepared, and how it basically ruled my life.

What a mess!!

Today, 30 some years later, EVERYBODY who doesn't have curly hair, loves curly hair. The irony is that it is really HOT to wear it curly. It is literally like wearing a fur hat. Wearing a fur hat on a summer's day is no fun. And as all of us Over Fifties know, being HOT is not something we enjoy. So, just when curly hair is in style, I have done everything NOT to be hot. When it's really hot, I end up putting it up, and then one can't see the curls, just the FRIZZ, ugh!

I suppose there are a lot worse things to have struggled with in your life than curly hair;
believe me, I am blessed to be healthy! All of us are, no matter what struggles we might have. But, I guess in this lifetime, my hair will always be the boss.  No one is happier to see all of the DRY BARS springing up all over the country.  Now I can actually go away and know that I can get my hair done by someone other than my own blow stylist. (In the '70's, hairdressers had no clue how to blow it dry.  The all used that Vidal Sassoon rubber brush if you remember).

There is, however, one great advantage to having curly hair as we get older. Men notice me much more when my hair is wild and curly. I must look a lot younger, because it's the only time any male pays attention to me anymore.  My theory is that men must think: "Wild hair, Wild woman". Not so, but considering all of the headaches it's caused, it's fun to pretend!!!

Now you get to see the difference for yourself!!

Have you heard of the Spanish line of clothing HOSS INTROPIA ? It's here in the U.S..

If you have been to Spain recently, then among the Zaras, Mangos, and Desinguals, you may have noticed some other Clothing stores you have never heard of.  There is Blanco, Stradavarius, and Hoss Intrepido, commonly known as Hoss. Just as Spain has it's own beautiful and unique culture it now is developing its own designers, fashion, and style. Fortunately for their economy, this Spanish brand has now expanded throughout the world.

If you go on to their website, http://www.hossintropia.com/,  you will be shocked to find locations on almost every continent, and even in remote cities. It's a wonder that when you look up Chicago in the United States, there is only one small boutique that carries it.  That is, up until now. As of this past year, Hoss is now in some Select Bloomingdales.

Recently, I was in Chicago and walking through Bloomie's when the most friendly sales associate came up to me and started talking. (Not an uncommon occurrence in Chicago). Unfortunately, I have misplaced her card or I would give her special mention, because she was so helpful. She started to explain to me about Hoss, and was so excited about all of it's features. It is known for its detailing, including beads and sequins. The prints are also unique but the styles are a bit more traditional. Surprisingly, many of the pieces are sophisticated and not that costly. Definitely not fast fashionoWe can definitely use this line in the U.S.

"Intropia" is a word that the company made up.  It is supposed to evoke the fusion of Introspection with Utopia. Unique enough. Another unique feature to this brand is that they specifically choose women as their models. They are not picked solely for their beauty, that's a nice change, but for being the type of woman Hoss respects.  Hoss's Mission Statement in choosing their models is as follows:

They are unique women and we choose them every season to represent the essence of our brand. Women with strong personality who stand out in their professions and are willing to fight to achieve their dreams. There is a section where you will find the Intropia of those women who have represented our brand. They have all left us an indelible mark.

The first thing the sales woman and I did was to go over to the evening gowns. The quality was lovely and the styling perfect for those OVER FIFTIES who don't want to show their arms, or have other trouble areas. It is also seems like it might accommodate women who may be more on the Plus side.

 This turquoise dress was beautifully beaded and ranged in the high $300.00's.  That is not bad for a dress that is 100% beaded. It is a very loose fit, and in the right size and wouldn't require strangulating your bowels with Spanx. It reminds me of  40's elegance.

The soft green gown above with the silver beading is also fine quality and also looked "forgiving" for those trouble spots women OVER FIFTY sometimes have.  The beading at the waist and on the shoulders was the finest quality. Even though it is not tailored, it is still sophisticated.

Another customer came so I helped myself to a few more photos.

These pants had an elastic waist, always better for comfort and the print is really unusual. Made of silk, I was tempted to try them on, but Fall is coming up, and I need to save my pennies. The little purse on the mannequin is Fabulous.  Made of lamb's leather, with stunning beading on the front, it could be worn with just about anything. What a great statement piece.  It was $185.00, but on sale, maybe not too bad.

This is not a great picture of this pretty car coat, but I just got a new camera, so that won't be a problem anymore. Again, it is a somewhat boxy fit, good for OVER FIFTIES, but still stylish. The print is happy. The dress is youthful and sophisticated, sort of like Tory Burch, but much less money!!


Finally,  the picture below is not really for OVER FIFTIES, but it's really cute and the style is original. The play of colors makes it feel like something you would take on vacation. Again, it has a happy feel to it!

Here are some of the styles coming up for Fall/Winter taken from their online catalog. If you like what you see, look it up online to see if there is a store near you. You might also take a look the next time you are at a Bloomingdale's to see if they carry it. For Fall the line is much more subdued, but there is a monochromatic feel to it, staying in line with the sophistication that is in the Spring/Summer collection.

It's a Lacy, Colorful, and Striped Week in Fashion

For July, the weather in Chicago has been amazing.

Very little humidity, great for keeping the frizzy hair at Bay.

Shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago is so much fun.

From the ridiculously cheap to the most opulent expensive.

The thing about Chicago, the weather literally changes every 30 minutes.

So, it's good to be prepared for anything.

When it's hot, restaurants can be freezing from the A/C.

Today, I wore my new black and white crop jacket that I bought

A few days ago at H&M for $15.00, no joke.

The white jeans are by Adriano Goldshmeid, rolled up.

The sandals are by Via Spiga from a few summers ago.

The belt is a great woven and mult-colored and bought in a Peruvian market.

There are 5 left that I brought back from Peru for sale.

The weather has been great for having fun with summer styles!

Here are a few other outfits worn while here!

Skirt by SportMax

Lace top by Inc.

Shoes by Coach.

Shorts by Old Navy

Crop Top from Urban Outfitters last summer

Summer is my favorite time of year. Warm weather stirs the creative juices!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Is the LAGEN LOOK for you?

THE LAGEN LOOK SEEMS TO BE CONTROVERSIAL FOR A LOT OF WOMEN OVER FIFTY

The LAGEN LOOK is from Germany.  It entails lots of layers, styled in a way that is unique to each woman. Many women who are PLUS sizes like the look because it is "blousy" and loose. The right accessories make each woman look like a unique piece of art.

Other women, on the other hand, don't like the look because they think it makes them look heavy. The clothes are bulky and it is a lot to carry off unless you are very tall and thinner. The key, I think, is not to add too many pieces together, or then it looks a bit "clown-like". 

The dress I am wearing is by Tulip, a company that is known for it's LAGEN-Like look. My size is smaller than average so you wouldn't think a big and loose dress would look good. But, as seen here, it can look really cute. The length is great, just mid-knees and almost below, and it is so comfortable. Literally, it's like wearing pajamas.

I am wearing a T-shirt underneath because the arm holes come down a bit too low. When I wear it, I get so many complements. A long necklace would add a nice touch and give a really "artsy" feel but necklaces have always felt too much for my petite size.

Here are a couple of REAL LAGEN LOOK outfits. These are the classic look and as you can see, they are quite unique.

Personally, these outfits would be too much for most women to carry off. One piece of each outfit would look great. For example, the tops on both outfits are very cute. However, with the big pants, it is easy to see how someone would look very BIG.  If someone is on the PLUS side to begin with, it's just too much fabric!!

From the feedback I get on Facebook, at Fashion Over Fifty, most women do not like this look. Several of the Fabulous Fashionistas wear this look and most women find them somewhat of a caricature of older women. 

The key is to have fun, but to stay chic. If you were to wear the blousy pants, a more tailored top would look better. Even if you are PLUS size. Or, either of the tops with a more tailored pant would be much more stylish. 

Some nice stores that carry the Lagen Look are Bryn Walker, Layered, Jana, and Kati Koos. The stores are not located throughout the United States, but they all have on line shopping. If you are interested in websites, just message me, and I will send them too you. You might want to try and Google them first.

What do you think?  Your opinions are welcome.  Remember have fun with your clothes but you don't want to overdo a good thing!!!

It's a Johnny Was kind of Day!!

WHO DOESN'T LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL FABRICS AND PRINTS by JOHNNY WAS?

It's summer. After this past winter, the worst in many places, nothing feels more like summer than
Silk and Floral Prints. Nobody does it better than Johnny Was. This morning I received a notice on Facebook that a 20% off sale was starting. Errands had me near Santa Monica where there is a Johnny Was store. The greatest thing ever-.BOTH sales associates were OF's (over fifties). That scores big points with me. Another great thing about their line is that almost everything is Ageless!

So, today was a field trip day. Off to see the lovely sales associates at Johnny Was

This is beautiful Emily, a stylist and costume designer along with being a Sales Associate. Boy is she busy. Notice how chic she is with her matching Tory Burch shoes.

Then there is Tammy, who is another lovely and so put together Sales Associate. Notice how her scarf and tunic match. The possibilities with this combo are endless.

You could wear the skirt as a belt, as a shawl, wrapped around as a skirt, you name it. Such a comfortably chic way to do warm summer days.

Then, there's me! Wearing my favorite Capri jeans by Adriano Goldshmeid. You can find these " ex-boyfriend Capris on eBay all the time. I have them in a couple of sizes depending on the look I am going for. The tunic is a few seasons old Johnny Was. It's so cool, it's great on warm days!!


Then, the hard part. Which scarf to choose. Each one is more beautiful than the next. So, I chose the easy route. Navy blue to blend with the jeans. Navy blue and turquoise are so great together. The scarves are usually $86.00, but they are on sale For 20% off making them about $70.00. Not bad for such a large beautiful all silk scarf!!


Here are just a few other Johnny Was things on sale for 20% off. They also carry Plus Sizes.
If there isn't a store near you, you can order online at JohnnyWas.com

Alex B. a Gorgeous 56 year old Model in London is also A Unique Advocate for Fighting Ageism.

A BEAUTIFUL MODEL WITH WAIST-LENGTH GRAY HAIR, AND A GREAT ROLE MODEL WHOSE STRONG DESIRE TO CHANGE THE SOCIETAL VISION OF WOMEN
OVER FIFTY IS INSPIRING!

Alex B is the PERFECT Role Model for Fashion Over Fifty. Today she is 56, and lives in London. She only started modeling in 2005, when she was 45!! How great is that? On top of her modeling, she also held a lecturing post at a University in London. Eventually, her modelling career took off, so she gave up her post at the University!!Isn't it wonderful to know that someone can start a whole new career at 45?

Alex has a great background for modeling. She danced for many years and still, to this day, attends ballet classes at the famous Pineapple Studios in London. What a great way to maintain good posture for all of the modeling jobs, along with maintaining good health. Aside from that she has gorgeous gray hair below her waist. Alex's unique looks are not only great for modeling but they also help her on her own personal mission of defying what we think of as the "Glamorous Granny".

She works with more than one Modeling Agency; two in London, and one in the Midlands. However, she also works freelance, seeking out her own work opportunities. Surprisingly Alex also does nude modeling for visual artists and photographers. Not something you would think a woman of 56 would normally do! (This type of work is not done through an Agency). Today, she currently has a picture of herself on exhibit at the Truman Brewery. It is a conceptual photograph done the by the talented Piotr Karpinski.

As Women Over Fifty, we all know that there needs to be a Voice and a real Movement to overcome the Ageism in our cultures. We are so honored to have Alex as our friend because she is quite adamant and very proactive in advocating for real change. She is a member of the "All Walks Beyond the Catwalk", an initiative started by three amazing women in London, Caryn Franklin, Debra Bourne and Erin O'Connor (who also happens to be a supermodel.) These ladies have organized education and lectures "with influential designers, top industry creatives and fashion students, to challenge the fashion industry's dependence on unachievable and limited body and beauty ideals." In other words, they are calling for racial, age, and size diversity in the imagery of society today!! (This movement has not yet come to the United States, unfortunately. Come on Ladies, this is your wake up call!!)

Nude modeling is one great way that Alex is showing that women over 50 should not be ashamed of their bodies, breaking yet another stereotype!! With her waist-long hair and posing nude, she has shown how our bodies over fifty can be transformed, with artistic collaboration, into real works of Art. This is a woman who is single-handedly helping to change the parameters of beauty. We all owe something to her for her courage and determination, because a path is not paved without a first step!! It also helps that she has a phenomenal figure!!

Alex would love to see more women take up modeling as they grow older because we need as many new and positive images as we can get. However, she cautions that things are changing. Agencies no longer dominate the modeling business due to the digital revolution, and Casting Directors often look for models who are not with an Agency. This means that someone seeking to be a model must be pro-active and get listed on websites like Casting Networks. Her advice to someone starting out is to test, as much as possible, with good photographers. Go to casting calls to be seen, and most of all, make sure you capitalize on your uniqueness. Discover your uniqueness and then determine whether you are more suited for commercial or editorial work. As a final caution, do not pay for your portfolio and don't think that just because you make it to a reputable Agency's books, the work will come pouring in. Keep working it!!

Alex  AlexB now has her own Facebook page. She did some pretty racy photos for a lingerie line that so brilliantly asked her to model.  I put them on my Facebook page and lost about 15 fans that day.
But it created a great discourse among the readers and it got people to think.  After all, we don't ever want to stop thinking, do we?

Chanel "Knocked-Off" The Skirt I Found in Carmel By the Sea

I found a cute little hippie chic store on the main street in Carmel. For 100.00 I bought a white skirt. Every year I buy something white because I am so sick of black, but then I never wear it. Well, this year I decided to break that habit and I wore it to a Charity Event in Beverly Hills.
Of course, I was the only wearing white. Good thing I'm not self-conscious!!

A few weeks later the Resort collection came out for 2015. I was so surprised when I found this skirt in Chanel's Collection.

The funny thing is that if I didn't laboriously blow dry my hair, my hair would be exactly the same as this model's. Why anyone would want this bushy mess is beyond me. But, if I had worn a mustardy sweater/jacket, we would have been like twins.

I'm so glad that Karl Lagerfeld likes my taste!!!

Older Ladies by Donnalou Stevens