There’s a new wave of 50+ influencers taking over social media – here’s why you should take notice
Search for #instagrannies or #instagrandmas on Instagram and you’ll be inundated with images of stylish ladies who are aged from 50 onwards. These inspirational women are paving the way for the rest of us when it comes to fashion for all ages and are definitely worth looking up to for clothing inspiration when the catwalk just doesn’t cut it. From @baddiewinkle, who’s in her 90s and doesn’t believe in being age-appropriate, to @iconaccidental, a lady in her 60s who shines a light on lesser known fashion brands, there are a raft of granfluencers out there to discover. Here, we talk to Renata Jazdyk, AKA @venswifestyle, about how she became an influencer and the style tips she swears by.
Why did you start your Instagram account?
“I started my Instagram account at the end of 2016, so a bit over three years ago. Fashion was always on my mind. My goal is to show that fashion is for women of all ages. We all have the right to be stylish. I feel that it’s probably more relatable to see certain trends worn by someone of a similar age to you, hence why I started my Instagram. I wanted to inspire the women of my generation to feel confident and to experiment with style. I believe everything is possible regardless of age (this includes entering the fashion world and making life changes). I don’t believe that age defines a woman. At the age of 50, a lot of women are still professionally active and ambitious. We are still learning and building our skill sets, and we still want to feel attractive. Fashion can be our ally in that sense. I believe age, in this instance, is an asset and not a weakness.”
What is your attitude to ageing?
“Ageing is a natural process. It’s the next stage of our lives, which can be interesting for us, full of new challenges, opportunities to pursue our passions, and to finally make our dreams come true – something that we may not have had the time, or the courage, to do when we were younger. We have years of experience behind us, from which we can now benefit. Maturity is the stage in our lives when we are more aware of ourselves and our needs, therefore I believe that our lives can actually be easier.”
Do you have any advice for anyone who is scared of ageing?
“We often think that crossing the border of 50, 60 or 70 years is a ‘terrible tragedy’. But the fact is that, at present, the boundaries between youth and adulthood are becoming blurred. I think it’s always worth looking at positive examples of mature or older people who are active in their work and socially, who pursue their passions and make their dreams come true. Who achieve their greatest successes after 50 or 60 years of age. This will allow us to believe that life at every stage can be attractive and interesting and full of challenges.”
My top style tips:
- Don’t be afraid to try new trends. Have fun with fashion. It’s never too late to try something new, whether it’s a new trend, hair colour or make-up.
- Mix clothes from high street stores with more expensive, designer pieces to create a look that’s truly unique.
- Try to add original accessories to your outfit and don’t be afraid of colour. Even a single colourful element can inject energy and revive an entire outfit.
Famous faces
These celebrities are all in their 50s and are helping to blaze the way for the rest of us – here’s what they think about ageing
Tess Daly
“I genuinely believe you’re only as old as you feel. I’m very much of the mind that as long as I’m fit, healthy, able to do exactly what I demand of my body and enjoy my life, then that’s all good with me. I honestly thought I might feel differently now I’ve reached this landmark age, but I don’t. My kids keep me young.”
Davina McCall
“When you turn 50, if you feel physically fit and relatively good about yourself, it’s a time when you can say ‘hell, I’m 50 and I still feel amazing!‘ It’s important that I show younger people what 50 might look like for them. I feel like it’s my duty to have the best time ever and to show you all that there is life after 50.”
Andrea McLean
“I’ve never had a problem with any age milestones, I’ve always just appreciated being alive and able to hit them. To me, being 50 is all about feeling as great on the inside as you look on the outside, in the way that’s good for you.”
At the dressing table
Not sure how to make the most of your complexion? We turned to Tricia Cusden, founder of pro-ageing beauty brand Look Fabulous Forever (lookfabulousforever.com), to discover her step-by-step guide for mature skin
1. Exfoliate your skin regularly to leave it feeling fresh and smooth.
2. Choose a serum that’s rich in hyaluronic acid and apply it underneath your moisturiser to greatly increase the effect of hydrating your skin.
3. Apply a face primer mixed with foundation so that your make-up stays put all day.
4. Try not to be scared of foundation! Many older women fear that ‘mask-like effect’, but a good base unifies your skin tone, smooths skin and hides any blemishes. Our Continuous Cover Foundation (£28) is great for covering up uneven skin tone and age spots. Blend with a brush for best results.
5. Sort out your eyebrows! I’d recommend that you get them shaped and tamed by a professional first. Then, you can add subtle definition and a light colour. Remember that your brows frame your whole face and add shape and symmetry, so they’re very important. I would never advocate heavy brows on older women, but our Bring Back Brow Shape (£19) gives natural definition and shape without looking over the top.
6. Hooded eyes can be much improved with eyeshadow to create the illusion of an eye socket.
7. Use a dark shadow applied with a tiny wedge brush instead of an eyeliner. This way, it’s softer, more forgiving and makes your lashes look thicker.
8. A beautiful pinky blusher lights up an older complexion and makes the face look prettier. A cream to powder formulation, like our Real Radiance Blush (£19), means that it won’t sit in fine lines and you can build up the strength of colour. Blend it well with a brush.
9. Don’t be afraid to wear a bright lip colour. You can stop it ‘feathering’ into any lines around your mouth by applying lip primer. Red lips look amazing with grey hair!
