A good sex life makes for a happy marriage
Brigitte Bloch, 63, has been in Britain since 2009. she moved here with her husband, Philippe, 62, to open the BB Bakery in covent garden, london. they have two children aged 30 and 28. ThE sequins, fussy clothes and large jewellery I see many British women my age wearing are not to my taste, and when I need to buy a stylish outfit in London I head to Zara.
It might be aimed at women half my age but, like most French ladies, I know the most important thing with clothes is a good cut that flatters your body shape, something many British women overlook.
Sometimes my style is flashy, but other times it’s understated. I don’t want to look like I’m 40, but I do dress younger than I am. People say ‘You can’t be 63!’ more in Britain than in France, where many women look fantastic well into their 80s.
I’ve noticed that women here don’t seem to have the same energy as French women do. I don’t particularly like being in my 60s but French women focus on making our good bits better and on enjoying life. I have some grey hair but have it dyed, and I’m not afraid to keep it longer as I think it suits me best.
British women seem to approach ageing differently to the French. They worry more about ageing, they slow down and talk themselves into being old before their time.
Still, most French women of my age will have spent a lifetime subconsciously ensuring they won’t be fat, grey or unfashionable by the time they reach their 60s.
We were taught by our mothers to be disciplined. So I will eat a baguette with butter in the morning if I want to, or try a new cake in my bakery or drink red wine. But then I will be careful for the rest of the day to balance it out.
It’s why I believe most French women are slimmer than British women, but then we also recognise that being slim makes us look younger. I don’t do any formal exercise as I’m always running from one thing to the next with my job and family. And like most French women, I have an active sex life — that’s my exercise!
We know that sex keeps a man happy, and that being as adventurous in life as you are in the bedroom is the making of a happy marriage.
French wives don’t let everyday life become boring. We go to different restaurants, visit new places, surprise each other, have passionate arguments. My mother taught me to never be afraid to argue — men enjoy making-up.
As I get older, I don’t want to look fake. I have had subtle botox and fillers for many years, although not so regularly since I moved to London. I can’t find a cosmetic doctor here who can achieve the natural result I’m looking for so tend to have it done in Paris.
There are stylish women in Britain just as there are French women who are not so. But when I look at British women my age, I think they need to feel more confident about themselves and enjoy greater independence and freedom.
They are not just somebody’s wife, yet many seem scared of being a little selfish about their own needs — a fear French women never have.
When I met Philippe I was the marketing manager of a hotel in Paris and although we’ve been married for 35 years and run a business together, I am still very much Brigitte as well as Mrs Bloch.
I believe being energetic, relaxed and independent makes me more attractive to him — and happier in myself — even after all this time.