a great read I found:
Jackie O. did it. Ingrid Bergman did it and Katharine Hepburn probably did it best of all. Chic is all about what is diplomatically discarded but how hard it is to leave behind the looks we love.
Somewhere between 18 and 29 we master the hemline that suits, the eyeliner that flatters and the hairstyle that takes three minutes to fix, then we get comfortable. And dated.
Decade-leaping takes courage and the will to experiment.
Let Paloma Picasso wear the same red lipstick for 30 years; you have other tricks up your sleeve. After you give up a Jennifer Aniston 'flip-do' you can do anything.
'70s WomanDitch:
Henna for the hair. It looks best on teenage Goth girls.Switch: To natural silver, blond highlights or lush auburn. Invest in a colorist.
Ditch: Your college jeans, it's time to hand them down.Switch: To flattering suit pants, stretch cords or velvet capris.
Ditch: Cocoa-colored lipliner with nude gloss, spindly mascara-heavy lashes, heavy tanning.
Switch: Fattening and flattering cherry and berry tones, good powder bronzer, one coat of clear lash mascara.
Ditch: Really huge, really uncomfortable tote bag.
Switch: A pretty city tote that carries the bare basics. You are no longer sleeping in the rain at Woodstock.
Keep: Cowboy boots, carpenter husband, Moroccan djellaba, surfboard, Stones albums, silver and turquoise bracelets, integrity, oatmeal cookie recipes, '40s dresses/Ossie Clark/Zandra Rhodes and Jean Muir.
'80s WomanDitch:
Big hair, hot rollers, hair spray, short 'perky' fringe, curly Melanie Griffith bangs, and shaggy Valerie Bertinelli bangs.
Switch: A soft layered un-do (Meg Ryan/Cate Blanchett-esque), a chignon, or, if addicted to bangs, a blunt bob like Audrey Tatou's in Amelie.
Ditch: Fluffy, embroidered sweaters, leather micro-mini, ankle boots, lace stockings, multiple bracelets (or keep just one and wear it as ironic 'post' statement).
Switch: Your first no-shoulder-pads suit. White for black. An evening dress without any spangles, velvet bits or pie-crust collar.
Ditch: Fur, distressed leather, long 'Edwardian' overcoat for work.
Switch: Cashmere layers. Short Tocca coat. Leather gloves and calf boots only.
Keep: Investment savvy, first Prada backpack, DKNY black bodysuit, gym addiction, Bruce Springsteen albums, cowboy hat, La Perla account, red lipstick, gold bracelet (just one), real diamond earrings, denim jacket(non-embroidered), Walter Steiger, Maud Frizon, Sonia Rykiel, heels, gold hoop earrings. Black Joan Jett-esque eyeliner.
'90s WomanDitch:
Stuff that reminds you of Friends: the Rachel 'do, too many blonde highlights or Phoebe's "jogging style" double-knot pony tail. Extreme push-up bras, jeans with everything, zip-front leather jacket.
Switch: Braids or soft natural curls instead of the scrunchie. A vintage Azzedine Alaia-style leather jacket, a bra that doesn't look hard-wired, mis-matched stripes and dots, a man's silk tie and waist coat.
Ditch: Skinny, skinny eyebrows circa 1991.
Switch: Substantial but sculpted brows, somewhere between Ava Gardner and Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby circa '78.
Ditch: Roll-neck cashmere sweater, JP Tods loafers, skinny pants (Elle Macpherson, supermodel).
Switch: Pleated Hermes scarf, boat-necked cashmere sweater, tuxedo pants, gold tap dancing shoes (Charlotte Gainsbourg, super-rebel)
Ditch: Logo mania, handbag/sunglasses/perfume/magazine addiction, shopping mania, obsession with celebrities' cellulite levels. And, say it loud, banish G-string thongs now!
Switch: To real novels instead of McFiction, French underwear, your own seamstress.
Keep: Yoga classes, natural skin-care, vintage savvy, one logo item (framed), honey-colored fishnets, Manolos (for bridesmaids at your wedding), hats, Laura Mercier make-up brushes,fig-scented candles, handbags (for granddaughters), one G-string (for birthdays and Christmas).
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