45 Days to 45

 

In 45 days I’ll turn 45. With that, I thought it was timely to share an article I wrote on Cougar Style for the Irish Examiner shortly before my 40th birthday.

For me, a cougar isn’t the risible caricature of a toyboy-toting older woman; she’s a demographic disruptor who plays by her own rules, especially when it comes to fashion. A self-determined style-setter, she refuses to bow to the semantic bargain bin of age-appropriate dressing. As for her toyboy reputation – that’s more of an aside than an accessory; she has Marc Jacobs for that. Instead, she challenges the status quo and looks pretty damn good doing it.

For me, a cougar isn’t the risible caricature of a toyboy-toting older woman; she’s a demographic disruptor who plays by her own rules.

In the feature, I share my own sartorial predilections, which although have evolved over the years (I’ve swapped those NASCAR jackets for killer tailoring), remain rooted in my happy closet mantra: I wear what I love; I love what I wear.

As we age, the surface of our lives may change (a few more wrinkles, a lot more wisdom) but the substance of who we are remains.  It’s all about riding the wave of self-appropriated balance, a personal groove-finding mission where style is its own reward.  In the words of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “Know thyself and dress accordingly”. That’s all you need, kiddo. The rest is just opinion.