This is 48

"Age before beauty" the saying goes - but why should one exclude the other?  Surely the two can co-exist? I recently came across Kristin Perer's beautiful and inspirational photographic blog called this is 50 which Perers started as a roadmap for turning 50 with style and grace, and here you will find both age and beauty in glorious abundance. These are women who are truly "bien dans leur peau" (comfortable in their own skin), following their own particular paths, career or otherwise, and their interviews make for uplifting reading. The photo montages sing with a wonderful zest for life and if Perers' aim is to make other women feel better about themselves through meeting these ladies, then she has certainly succeeded.

Photography: Kristin Perers

Photography: Kristin Perers

Photography: Kristin Perers

One of Perers' subjects is quoted saying "I am not just one picture" which I really like, and another has written an A-Z of what makes her life tick at 50 so I thought that as I celebrated my birthday yesterday I would share my version with you - thank you to Sian Tucker for the inspiration: this is 48

 A:  Adventure, Ageing, Amour, art
B:  Boys, Birth, Beach, blogging, BELONG, bed, Balance, blessed
C:  Cocktails, colour, cat, caring, candles
D:  DAN, discovery, dancing, daring, daughter
E:  Evolving, exploring, energy
F:  FAMILY, friends, fun, flowers, freedom, food, flexibility
G: Glitter, growing, garden, GRATEFUL
H: HAPPY, hugs, home, health
I:  Inspiration, ideas, idling, Instagram
J:  Joy, jeans, Romeo and "me"
K: Kisses, kisses, kisses
L:  LOVE, laughter, LUCKY, light
M: MOTHERHOOD, Mary Berry, macarons, mountains
N:  novels, nature, nurture, nourish
O:  Ottolenghi, optimism, older, outdoors
P:  photos, prayer, play, patience, pebbles, pockets
Q:  quiet...sshh...
R:  romance, renewal, reflection
S:  SISTER, sunshine, stars, smiles, soul, snoozing, singing - SONS
T:  Time, tomatoes, thanks
U:  upside down, ups and downs
V:  Vitality, (la dolce) vita
W: Wonder, WRINKLES, walks, waves, wisdom
X:  eXcitement, eXample
Y: Yoga (to keep me) young at heart, yes
Z:  zzzzz - sleep...

this is 48

Rockboy declared that 48 is "not that old",  so it's good not know I'm not over the hill just yet - phew! And as I always say, you're never too old for a sparkler:

Inspiration on International Women's Day

I read a great article in The Guardian today about Stella McCartney (one of my favourite women) and she had this to say about her late mother Linda, which I thought was worth re-quoting on International Women's Day:

Photo: Alain DeJean

“My mum had a massive influence on me, not just in what she wore and how she looked, but in her spirit. She was married to one of the most famous men in the world and she didn’t wear any makeup, ever. I mean, have you ever seen the wife of a man like that rock up with no makeup on? Because I haven’t, since. That courage, that inner confidence, is something I’ve never experienced in anyone else. I certainly haven’t got the balls to do it. I find everything about her pioneering, and amazing. She had a beautiful ease with herself.”

Photo: Allison Michael Orenstein for The Fashion/Guardian

Pioneering, amazing, ballsy and a beautiful ease - aspirations for any woman, especially on a day like today.

And the Award goes to....

As awards season wraps up for another year, here's the 'After My Own Fashion' round up of the Oscars, with the Award for " Most Hollywood A-listers you can fit in a Selfie" to kick us off:

Photo: Bradley Cooper

The Award for "Most Beautiful and Natural" goes to Lupita Nyong'o in pastel blue pleated Prada - Pantone's Colour of the Year 2014 may be Radiant Orchid but from now on, it's all going to be about 'Nairobi Blue' this Summer - heaven.

Photo: Getty

The Award for "Most Comfortable in Couture" goes to the resplendent Meryl Streep in Lanvin:

The Award for "Most Age Appropriate" goes to Emma Watson in edgy Vera Wang, teamed with a bright red lip - the coolest kid on the block:

The Award for "Most Stylish in your Sixties" goes to the 'Divine Miss M' in Reem Acra:

Photo: Getty

and the Award for "Most Magnificent in a Tux" is a tie between Pharrell and Ellen, in Lanvin and Saint Laurent respectively:

Photo: EPA

Pharrell has even remembered to moisturize his shins, which gets points in my book,

whilst only the sartorially brave can carry off delivering pizza in white.

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Hats off (geddit?) to both and here's to Hollywood not taking itself too seriously for once.

Pharrell Williams & Lupita Nyong'o getting 'Happy' Photo: AP

Pizza anyone?  Photo: AP