Cyndy Lessing, 68, is co-founder of SoSensational, a 50-plus fashion website that she runs with her friend Jan Shure
As someone who spent most of her life in insurance, when I reached my fifties I wanted to do something new. I always loved fashion, so in 2002, I decided to train as an image consultant. Eight years on, aged 62, it was time for another change.
At the time, my friend, Jan Shure, a fashion editor, was also nearing retirement, and one weekend in 2010 we hit on a great idea. We’d both met so many women who wanted advice on how to dress stylishly after 50, both through work and socially, and we realised we had something unique to offer.
Together, we created SoSensational, a site with the aim of making online style accessible to the older woman. Rather than scrolling through pages of inappropriate clothing to find something to wear, we do the legwork for our visitors – linking to websites, making recommendations and offering advice that is not age-neutral.
We also offer features on all aspects of readers’ appearance, from how to look after their skin to how to avoid the dreaded flat ‘hat hair’ that happens after hours of wear.
While it’s a real thrill seeing our readership grow, nothing can beat the knowledge that we’ve helped older women embrace their style and feel sexy and sassy again.
We may be a little older than some online ‘influencers’, but being from the demographic we serve is an advantage
– we really understand the needs of 50-plus women. And we both plan to be sensational for many years to come!