Never been a better time to be over 50...
DAME Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Elle “The Body” McPherson, Tom Cruise, Madonna...
All epitomise glamour, ooze sex appeal and share a certain, ahem, vintage (circa 1960ish at the very latest).
Yes, they have A-list budgets, make up artists to make them pretty as a picture, hairdressers to quaff their locks and fashionistas to keep them bang on trend.
But, it seems, they are no longer the exception to the ageing rule.
The Baby Boomers are fitter than ever, more active than ever and embracing life more than ever.
Just look at some of the figures.
According to one study, women aged over 50 shell out an average of £1,783 a year on looking glamorous, typically spending £117 on make up, £378 on clothes and £1,288 on nights out.
Far from being over the hill, this study of 1,800 females aged 50-70 revealed they are living full and active lives, with a minimum of three evenings a month out on the tiles.
Over the same period these ladies will fine dine twice, go on two clothes shopping sprees, catch-up with friends four times – and visit their local hair salon every other month. Their efforts are rewarded with seven in ten women being complimented on their appearance and a fifth regularly approached by potential suitors. Commissioned by Peter Hahn, specialists in fashion for the mature woman, the research also found a quarter consider themselves to be glamorous – and over half say they have experienced a new lease of life since turning 50. “Our research suggests many older women like to lead quite a classy and glamorous lifestyle – enjoying nice food, looking good and having a great time with their friends, said a spokeswoman for Peter Hahn. “They appear to have refined their tastes over the years and know what they like – and what they want out of life.” Older men, too, are taking inspiration from timeless icons like the evergreen Pierce Brosnan. Skincare, grooming and keeping fit and active are crucial to more and more health and image conscious over 50s men. And with the fashion houses and beauty industry finally waking up to the spending power of the Baby Boomers, there really has never been a better time to be a certain vintage...
Women aged over 50 shell out an average of £1,783 a year on looking glamorous Over-50s shell out £1,288 on nights out a year Over-50s women spend £378 on clothes every year