the rise of natural glamour

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As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been a Natural Glamour girl all my life. I tried to be a straight-up Glamour Girl and do the whole hair, make-up, nails, dressed-up, high heels thing and it’s just not me. Sure, I like it once in a while but I can’t get over the women who do this on a daily basis. I love to watch them on reality TV, but in reality, that will never be me. 

As I’ve grown older, I’ve settled into my style more and more. I want to look good, but I also want to be comfortable. I like wearing make-up, but I want to feel perfectly fine with the way I look when I don’t. I want nice clothes, but having my own individual style is more important. 

Especially in times of COVID, I can’t help but feel Natural Glamour is on the rise. Suddenly there was no need to go to the office, therefore no need to dress up for the office. There was a need to be on camera for Zoom or Teams calls, but suddenly there was no need to dress up for those, or even shower. I can’t tell you how many people (myself included) look like they just rolled out of bed in these meetings, and I think it’s great. We’re comfortable being comfortable. What’s better than that? 

I think it’s important to note that Natural Glamour does not mean giving up. I still carefully choose my outfit each day, although there are plenty of days when that outfit consists of sweats and slippers. But I’ve found some REALLY CUTE sweatpants. 

I still put on my favorite jewelry pieces most days, because I love jewelry and you don’t need a special occasion to wear it. It’s that little bit of glamour that boosts my spirits, especially on days when I’m not leaving the house, which is often. 

It’s been very important to me to keep up my exercise routine, which I do every morning. I know when the time comes to put those jeans back on, they’d better fit. I’m experimenting with new beauty products because I want my bare skin to look fresh and glowing. I’ve starting buying some really cute Spring clothes, in anticipation of warmer and brighter days ahead.

I love to see so many women embracing their natural beauty during these times. I hope you feel as good as I do. 

Yup, it's happened.  I had a birthday and suddenly found myself on the other side of 49. Never before has the phrase “time marches on” had such meaning!

I’m 50. That feels strange to say. I’m not used to it yet. For the first time I thought - I’m really at the back end of my life, which is something I’ve never considered before. 

What does 50 look like? Well, there’s some wrinkles, quite a bit of wiry white hair, and I’ve noticed a lot of “Jane Seymour’s Crepe Erase” ads suddenly appearing on my Facebook feed. (How does it know???) But there’s also muscle tone from daily workouts, a definitive style and comfort with myself, and a radiant smile. 

What does 50 feel like? There’s waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep, there’s mysterious aches in my lower back and left knee that I’ve never had before. But there’s also a feeling of excitement, empowerment, and gratitude. I’m currently training for a half marathon and I feel great. 

I wasn’t sure which category to post this under because this milestone birthday has me thinking of all the categories of this blog:  I want to look good, feel good, find joy AND have fun. Consider this a “one size fits all” post. 

There’s so much I want to do with the next several years of my life. I want to travel, I want to learn a new language, I want to re-decorate my house, I want to connect with old friends and make new ones, I want to take a Master Class, I want to write. I want to forgive myself for past mistakes and I want to have more kindness towards others. I don’t want to grow up but I do want to grow wiser. 

I better get used to it. I’m 50. And I like who I am. 

Natural Glamour girls, this is our time. The world is in chaos right now and I hope everyone is healthy and staying sane. It’s truly challenging to be at home right now ALL THE TIME, trying to balance a new normal of work and family time. Stress levels are high and we’re all worried about the future. Allow yourself to have these emotions and remember that although we don’t have an exact end in sight, this too shall pass. 

I take time every day to make a mental list of the things I’m grateful for and to say a prayer for those in less fortunate situations. It may feel selfish to worry about seemingly petty things like when you can get your next manicure, eyebrow thread and hair coloring, but that’s human nature. As women, we still want to like what we see in the mirror and we still need self care. 

Take this extra time to focus on yourself, inside and out. Part of being naturally glamorous is being OK with not wearing make-up.  And since you’re not leaving the house, no problem! Give your skin a break and enjoy your natural beauty. 

Now is the time to try new creams, serums, masks and that jade roller thing for de-puffing. Give your nails a break, cut them short and leave them alone. They’ll grow back stronger and healthier than ever before. 

Let your hair grow! Stop straightening, styling and blow drying and let nature take its course. Ignore the greys and whites if you can, or run to the drugstore and get a root touch-up kit. Warm weather is right around the corner - what better time to spritz some lemon juice on your hair and sit in the sun for natural highlights. 

Tweeze stray hairs, and keep eyebrows groomed with this simple tool:  https://amzn.to/2X8gCuH

Have fun and laugh at yourself.  Literally every woman in America (and much of the world) is going through this. Now is the time to experiment, relax, and get back to basics. Take a no make-up selfie and be proud. Worst case scenario, that’s what filters are for! 

I love following glamorous people on Instagram. The perfect hair and make-up, the couture outfits, the exotic locations, the jet set lifestyles. I love it because it’s a fantasy for me, an escape. 

I myself am...not glamorous. I guess it started in childhood, when I wore mismatched clothes and always had a big knot in the back of my head (which, BTW, is still there and I have absolutely no idea how to get rid of it). In high school, one of my best friends was super glam. Christine was always beautifullly dressed and accessorized, and I was her skinny sidekick in sweatpants. I suspect hanging out with me only made her look 10 times better!  But man, we did have fun. 

I come from a family of women who wear big clothes and don't know how to do hair. To this day, I’m embarrassed to admit that I can’t braid hair. I have no clue. Don’t ask me. 

I struggle with make-up as well. I still can’t figure out how to put eyeliner on the “water line” of the eye. I tried once, and I swear absolutely nothing happened. Once I tried to put on false eyelashes for an event and ended up gluing my upper eyelid to my brow bone. 

In short, I’m a glamour disaster. 

It took me quite a long time to develop a style, to appreciate beauty routines, and to get interested in carving out a lifestyle that suits me. I call my style “Natural Glamour” because over the years, I’ve come to feel more comfortable just being me. Natural came from not wearing make-up much, not doing my hair, and wearing what I like. Glamour because damn it, I still want to be glamorous! 

If you’re like my friend Christine who is talented at hair and make-up and always looks gorgeous, then I look at you with awe and respect. You keep being you and I’m going to keep being me. The moment you accept who you are and stop trying to be like everyone else, or someone else, that’s freedom.  

Enjoy being yourself.

For years and years (we’re talking, like, decades) I painstakingly straightened my hair. It was part of my daily routine.  First I would blow dry my hair completely, then I would get out the the flat iron, always on the hottest setting, and straighten every last strand of hair. I carried a hair band around my wrist at all times in case there was the slightest hint of humidity. I was obsessed with fighting frizz. 

I thought I looked prettiest with my hair stick straight and I wasn’t having it any other way. 

The problem was, my hair was not stick straight. I come from a family of curly haired women. My sister has very thick, curly hair. My mother has very thin, curly hair.  My hair was neither straight nor curly. I didn’t know what to do with it. I believed I was cursed with bad hair for life. 

Finally, at my hair dresser's urging, I decided to give my hair routine a break.  I didn’t blow dry, I didn’t straighten. I did NOTHING. And to my surprise and delight, I discovered that my half-straight half-curly hair was actually wavy.  Like the kind of beachy wavy that women spend a lot of money to get.  And I loved it.

My look is  what I call “Natural Glamour” and the main component of this look is  feeling good about who you are.  For me, that means spending my weekends make-up free, wild hair just doing its thing, and wearing what makes me feel comfortable, pretty and unique. 

Last summer, my husband and I went to an event at a local vineyard. When I went up to the bar to get a drink, the young girl pouring wine enthusiastically said to me, “I love your hair!” 

Maybe she was saying it for a bigger tip. I don’t know. I don’t care. I was finally the girl with good hair.