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Thursday 27 February 2014

In Praise of the Older Model

If your face is your fortune, then how do you cope as you get older?  Do you try and put time on hold, doing whatever it takes to hang on to the appearance of youth (and thus ironically often losing your looks) or do you embrace your advancing years and accept the changes that ageing inevitably brings? We are surrounded by the cult of youth, bombarded daily with images of bright young things and often made to feel that growing older is something for women to be ashamed of. Since when did 'ageing' become such a dirty word?

85 year old Daphne Selfe Photo: El Pais

I wrote a post last year in celebration of the stylish over 50's and I'm happy to say that these women - Tilda Swinton, Kristin Scott Thomas and Charlotte Rampling among them, are embracing the ageing process gracefully and stylishly and still looking like, well, themselves.

Kristin Scott Thomas Photo: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP

So I was delighted to read that 68 year old Rampling has been chosen to be the face of the new Nars campaign, launching in September to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the brand. La Legende (as she is known in France) will appear in a “black and white portrait style image” shot by founder and creative director François Nars.  “She is a natural beauty that feels strong, yet relatable,” he told WWD. Nars went on to say Rampling’s “strength of character” and artistic talents make her a perfect fit for the brand. “I remember Dirk Bogarde referencing Charlotte’s ‘fabled look’ because of the combination of her beauty and withering gaze,” he said. “This is what makes her an endlessly watchable mystery.”

Charlotte Rampling Photo: James Macauley for The Guardian

Rampling herself has said "I know the power of my look, of who I am." She remains for me the epitome of the stylish and supremely sexy older woman, so bravo François Nars.

Jessica Lange @MarcJacobsIntl

And then hot on the heels of this news comes the announcement that 64 year old Jessica Lange is to be the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty with a campaign shot by David Sims - good on her.  Catherine Deneuve (somewhat heavily airbrushed I wager), can currently be seen fronting Marc Jacob's last campaign for Louis Vuitton, Vivienne Westwood is featuring 80's model and musician Leslie Winer (no Photoshopping for Dame Viv and Juergen) in her current 2013/14 ads, and Linda Rodin is modelling for J. Crew and Karen Walker Eyewear among others. As Anne Karpf asked in The Guardian last weekend - are the times really a changing and is the older model here to stay?

Catherine Deneuve Photo: Steven Meisel

Leslie Winer for Vivienne Westwood Photo: Juergen Teller

It would be nice to think the answer is yes and we will be seeing more of these beautiful older women in all their guises gracing the pages of magazines and advertising high end fashion and luxury brands that at the moment are the domain of the young, or George Clooney. This current wave of mature models is a very welcome one but in truth people are still scared of seeing age in all its glory, and so the advertisers pander to this fear, with only the individualists and innovators prepared to buck the trend.

Linda Rodin for J. Crew

Linda Rodin for Karen Walker Eyewear Photo: Ari Seth

Whilst English Gent is happily sliding into Silver Fox-dom and doesn't give ageing a second thought, I'm sure I spend way too much time wondering whether Co-Q10 supplements and the like are going to improve my wrinkles, but I am learning to love them, as they are a part of me.  I read a great quote from Penelope Cruz talking about her grandmothers and she said how much she loved their faces as "they had so much life, history and experience. Their faces were like beautiful poems." Seeing, showcasing and embracing that poetry is surely what beauty, at any age, is all about.

Friday 14 February 2014

The Look of Love

Call me a hopeless romantic, and I'll agree with you. Whilst Valentine's Day can get lost in a sea of tacky cards and wilting red roses, telling someone you love them - on any day of the year - is always a good thing.  I wrote about finding your soulmate in a post entitled Vive l'Amour,' last year, and I'm more than happy to have an excuse to return to the subject.

Photo: Robert Doisneau: A Bouquet of Daffodils - 1950

My love story with English Gent began 25 years ago this week - that first lunch date a mix of butterflies and flirting, of hope and possibility - who knew a shared burrito would prove so life-changing? And over the years, I've learnt that the waiting, the knowing and the wanting don't fade, as Walt Whitman's poem 'A Glimpse' captures so well :

A glimpse through an interstice caught,
Of a crowd of workmen and drivers in a bar-room around the stove late of a winter night, and I unremark’d seated in a corner,
Of a youth who loves me and whom I love, silently approaching and seating himself near, that he may hold me by the hand,
A long while amid the noises of coming and going, of drinking and oath and smutty jest,
There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word.

Photo: Robert Doisneau: Middle Aged Couple come to the Bals Musettes - 1950

After all these years there's really no-one else's hand I'd rather hold, and he still takes my breath away.

Photo: Robert Doisneau - The Kiss 1950

So wherever you are and whoever you are with, I hope you get to feel the love and have a very Happy Valentine's Day.


PS - I just found out that the man who was the voice of 'Mickey Mouse' actually married the voice of 'Minnie Mouse' - now that's what I call true love.


Monday 10 February 2014

Eat well, live well

Anyone else bored with their weekly shop?  I confess to throwing the same things in my trolley week after week, and with so many media articles encouraging us to eat more healthily, I'm trying to mix things up a bit, boost the family's fruit and veg intake, reduce the amount of meat I eat and hopefully find some new and delicious alternatives to the biscuit tin along the way.

Roasted Fennel with nuts & spices on a bed of Cauliflower Rice

Reading around the subject, the eating plan (I refuse to use the word diet) that is the nearest to the way I want to eat is Natasha Corrett and Vicki Edgson's Honestly Healthy alkaline plan which promises better digestion and improved skin tone and mood - I'm in.


Their new book Honestly Healthy for Life is out in March and available to pre-order on Amazon now. The everyday eating principles aim to keep the body's pH balance alkaline by cutting out processed foods (which are highly acidic), eating predominantly vegetarian meals, with lots of wholegrains, nuts and seeds - working on the 80/20 rule - plenty of vegetables on a bed of good grains, with your small amount of protein perched on top.


Calgary Avansino - healthy eating expert and UK Vogue's Weekly Wellbeing columnist, believes in applying this principle across the week aiming for 80% of her intake to consist of 'nutritionally dense foods' and the rest being as she puts it "whatever chaos the rest of the week brings".  I think that's the right attitude - eating like this for most of the week, means that it's OK to relax the rules on the weekend, or when you have friends round or when on holiday. This is not about restrictions for me, but about being more mindful of what I am eating, and what I am giving my family to eat.

Lentil & Tomato Stew with Roasted Vegetables (top); Quinoa with Roasted Courgette & Fennel (bottom)

We all know that unrefined foods are better for us, and the key is to find those raw, natural alternatives to the supermarket favourites. It's not rocket science, just good, plain sense. So, as well as trying out new and varied vegetarian recipes - deliciouslyella.com is great for inspiration, I am also aiming to incorporate some good habits into my weekly routine and whilst it's not every day, I'm definitely making inroads into the healthy lifestyle.

Photo: Getty Images

Green juice
Following on from the US, the UK has finally got the juice bug and from Pinterest to Instagram you can find as many and varied concoctions as you can think of. Here in France we're still some way behind - no cold-pressed juiceries opening near my field just yet - so homemade juicing is the way to go.

Blueberry, pear and spinach smoothie

You don't need to go and blow the budget on an expensive juicer either, a blender will do just as well. Kale is considered the master ingredient in a green juice/smoothie, but if that's not available, a variety of Swiss chard, spinach, savoy cabbage (the curly one) or broccoli will provide similar nutrients. It sounds pretty grim, but I promise you, when blended up with apples, mint and lemon, the overall taste is perfectly palatable.  I've been adding some spirulina and baobab powder (available in healthstores) for an extra boost of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and I've even managed to get my boys to have a taste, though I have to say they prefer the smoothie versions with blueberries and bananas....

Spinach, broccol, apple & lemon juice

Coconut Oil
Whilst a saturated fat, coconut oil (make sure you buy extra-virgin) is cholesterol and trans-fatty acid free, and is known to raise metabolism, boost immunity, and have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is great for cooking and baking, with a lower smoke point than other oils. I've discovered roasting vegetables in coconut oil is a revelation - the taste is subtle with a hint of sweetness that most vegetables are improved by. Plus you can also use it as a cleanser, moisturiser, hair conditioner and eat it straight from the jar - who knew? I'm buying three jars at a time, it's so useful.


Nuts and Seeds
Rich in the good oils that our bodies need, and essential for our skin, I've been throwing pumpkin, sunflower, flax and hemps seeds on my salads, as well as in with the roast veg. Almonds and walnuts are great to snack on and almond butter is plain delicious - a spoonful on a rice cake or with an apple is a great afternoon pick me up.


Chia seeds
These are one of the latest wonder foods and you can use them in several different ways. They have a huge nutritional profile, containing calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, and are a great source of healthy omega-3 fats, fibre and protein. You can sprinkle them on your salads, soak them in almond or rice milk to make a chia seed pudding (perfect for breakfast), or whizz them up with dates and coconut oil to make energy bites when you are on the go. I'm loving them (though they do tend to get stuck in your teeth....)



Organic Cider Vinegar and Manuka Honey
A capful of cider vinegar with a tsp of honey in some warm water in the morning is a great detox drink, and helps keep the body's pH levels alkaline.




Spelt, Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa
My store cupboard is well stocked with refined flour, pasta and rice, but I'm trying to use some alternatives wherever possible. That doesn't mean we've stopped eating risotto, or light, fluffy basmati rice with a curry, but it makes a satisfying taste change to experiment with the different textures and flavours of these wholegrains.

Photo: Deena Prichep

So, it's not all about raw carrots and a bowl of undercooked lentils for every meal - good, varied, tasty, healthy food is my goal and by turning our weekly meal plan into something of a culinary voyage of discovery I'm hoping to also boost our health and general well being - a win win situation in my book.  And of course, treats are absolutely allowed - I'm off to make some raw cacao Brownies, choc-full of good ingredients and no cooking required - I'll let you know how they turn out. 

Thursday 6 February 2014

Grown up glamour

Awards season is well and truly underway, and with just a month to go until the Oscars the red carpet fashion frenzy is in full swing. What I am finding so refreshing this year is how many of the more  mature Best Actress nominees are giving their younger counterparts a real run for their money in the style stakes. Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Julia Roberts have all been strutting their stuff, taking risks and showing us just how good 40+ women can and do look.

Photo: UPI/Jim Ruymen

When you are walking the red carpet year in year out (this is Streep's 18th nomination!!!) I imagine fashion choices become rather less important, but Meryl Streep has really upped her game this season, wearing a casual black and gold Michael Kors combo at the Palm Springs Film Festival (below) and a blue Stella McCartney tunic dress at the Critics Choice Awards (above with Julia Roberts in Juan Carlos Obando) to great effect:

Photo: Jeff Vespa/Getty Images for PSFF


And here is Meryl, in Stella McCartney again, at the SAG awards, goofing around with her new best friend Emma Thompson, who having thrown away her Louboutin's at the Golden Globes, is rather glorious in a vintage dress with silver flats. They actually look like real women, having fun, which makes rather a change for Hollywood, non?


Sandra Bullock has also been rocking a more directional look recently. I love this bright Alex Perry dress  - perfect for Palm Springs, with the pop of pink lip colour adding that final touch of glamour,

Photo: Fame/Flynet

whilst the Burberry sweater and skirt combo she wore at the AFI awards luncheon with nude Brian Attwood shoes is understated and classy:

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America

Julia Roberts has been away from the red carpet for a while but thanks to "August: Osage County" she's back, looking modern and fresh in leopard print Gucci with a messy up-do for the Palm Springs Film Festival,

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

and in pink Valentino with loose waves and a smoky eye for the SAG awards:

Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Last, but by no means least, awards season 2014 wouldn't be complete without la Blanchett. Does anyone else think she also seems to be getting more beautiful as she gets older? Her hair and make-up at the Golden Globes were so elegant, beautifully offset by the high neck on her Armani Privé lace gown, and those gorgeous earrings:


Here she is wearing sophisticated dark green Lanvin, with a stunning red lip at the Critics Choice awards,


and looking somewhat more edgy in Givenchy at the AACTA awards in Sydney. Whilst I can't condone the side-boob here - it is so hard to pull off, even for someone as classy as Blanchett - I do applaud her mussed-up hair and low-key make-up. In fact I feel a bit of a style crush coming on....


Whilst this is most definitely a post in praise of the older woman, I will just give a small shout out to this year's triumphant young newcomer - Lupita Nyong'o who hasn't put a Jimmy  Choo wrong yet with her bold, exciting dress choices - seen here at the Golden Globes in glorious Ralph Lauren,


and in tropical turquoise Gucci, getting photobombed by Emma Thompson at the SAG awards.

Photo: Wireimage
 
I can't wait to see what they will all be wearing come Oscar night, and who the After My Own Fashion Best Dressed awards will go to - watch this space.