Aging women should ditch the halter top and carry smaller purse
The more 30-something I become, the more conscious I am about dressing my age without dating myself.
Too many fashion choices are made for women as they age (nature has a way of ensuring 50-somethings don't wear Spandex), but there are some accessories we can use to our advantage.
For example, a woman too often reveals her age by the purse she carries. Specifically, the size of a woman's purse almost always correlates directly to her age - the older she is the bigger the purse.
Teen-agers tend to get by with a teeny little pouch attached to a long slender strap. At that age, they don't have checking accounts or car keys, so all they typically carry is a tube of lipstick and some cash.
Twenty-somethings, by nature of advancing financial responsibility, graduate to larger, more mature purses to accommodate a checkbook in addition to a set of keys, and, of course, a tube of lipstick.
Thirty-somethings tend to take a big jump in purse sizes as their handbags grow to accommodate husbands and growing families. Even when the kids outgrow diaper bags, they still seem to need Wet Ones, toys and emergency snacks on the go.
Mom's purse is the obvious vehicle for these necessities plus her own growing list of necessities, such as Advil and a first-aid kit for the entire family, in addition, of course, to her tube of lipstick.
And ... once a mom, always a mom. Whether they need them or not, women have a hard time graduating into smaller purses. As a rule, women in their 40s and 50s continue to buy larger and larger purses, because they can't part with all the necessities they've grown accustomed to having with them.
I know a woman who carries a complete mini-pharmacy in her purse for herself or for anyone who might need help. It includes several types of antacids, pain relievers and ointments, in addition to a full line of manicure equipment and polish.
Add all this to her usual tube of lipstick, and suddenly her handbag looks more like luggage.
Our child care provider, Vi Uithoven, is living proof of this trend. At nearly 70, her purse is huge. One day, I informed her someone's diaper bag had been forgotten by the door, but it turned out to be her purse. We laughed, but I made a mental note that yet another woman had proven my theory to be true.
At some point, I suppose, old age will prevent us from physically lifting such heavy baggage, but I for one, am determined not to let my purse reach those proportions.
My current purse is purposely smaller than my last one, and while it took painful adjusting to, I am now able to leave the house with just my wallet, keys and, of course, lipstick, in tow.
The really good news is that big hair is coming back in style. Sporting my 80s-style mop and my little purse, no one will ever know my real age.
Have a happy Independence Day. The forecast calls for halter tops... if you're young enough (and fit enough) to get away with it.