IS THIS’ DO A DON’T?
Jessica Simpson’s pigtail look sparks a debate about ‘age-appropriate’ hairstyles
L EAVE Jessica Simpson alone! Haters are spewing their bile onto the singer-turned-business woman, who last week posted a sexy Instagram picture of herself sporting pigtails. The caption read, “Channeling my inner school girl.”
One follower commented: “Pigtails? Not flattering. Maybe if you were 2 lol”; Another spat: “You’re too old. Try to look your age.”
Well, those critics have some nerve. How dare they cast shade on this 37-yearold mom who has every right to have a mohawk if she wants?
Last time I checked, it wasn’t illegal for women over 35 to style their hair in the manner of Pippi Longstocking, Cindy Brady or anyone else for that matter. If Simpson wants to pull a “Tangled,” so be it.
Not only is it rude to question her choices, it’s downright sexist and ageist.
We unfortunately went down the same well-trod track last month when 79-year-old Jane Fonda wore a long faux ponytail to the Emmys.
“It’s amazing what you can do with a gallon of Bondo [putty],” wrote one troll on Yahoo. “A bag over her ugly head would work just fine for me,” replied another.
It amazes me how open-season can be called on women over a certain age who dare to try to look younger than they are. This is 2017, not 1957.
What about guys who’ve had facelifts — like 79-year-old country singer Kenny Rogers (who wanted to look closer in age to his younger wife) and shock jock Howard Stern (who had a nose job and liposuction to remove his double chin)?
Isn’t it funny how nobody picked on megastar Simon Cowell after he admitted that Botox injections are part of his standard beauty regimen?
Now, I’m a middle-aged mom who hasn’t worn pigtails since third grade. But that doesn’t mean I can’t give them a go. And, furthermore, I’d be fascinated to see what a long faux ponytail might do for my image.
One of Simpson’s fans wrote on her Instagram post: “She looks gorgeous, no matter what. Hater gonna hate! You do you, babe! Love forever!”
I’m with her.