Did you tell your mother?
I’ll backtrack a little.
I saw an amusing reel of a woman explaining to her mother how she was letting her natural hair come in and forgoing the coloring process. She was nervous, had all the reasons under the sun and made me giggle with her roundabout way of fessing up. What her performance highlighted to me was the difference in the way we see ourselves and our mothers see us.
How do your mothers feel about the trend to wear our hair naturally?
My mother would never have let her hair be seen as grey. Was it a generational trend, a personal preference or a vanity statement? I’m not sure but I do know she would not have approved of my long “silver” hair.
Lucky for me and unlucky for her, vision difficulties prevented her from knowing my truth and allowed me to avoid the topic. The darling always thought I stayed blonde and I saw no reason to challenge her. She lived until 101 years of age and during her time I never knew her not to have her hair coloured and “set”. “Set” was what she called it and she never did feel a blow dry was as good. She was of the curlers, tease and lacquer generation and nothing could have destroyed her fabulous “do”. As she aged, she swapped the concrete set lacquer for a gentler hairspray.
As formidable as she was in her opinions I have stuck to my natural and maintained the grey. I don’t regret it for a moment and maybe it is more aging and maybe it isn’t – each to their own – but it’s where I am at.
The journey to having a pretty silver is easier for some than others.
There was one change I made, and it helped. I started wearing all shades of grey as many of my regular colours didn’t look the same. I’d never contemplated grey as an alternative neutral and it never need be drab, neither with hair nor with clothing. Followed closely in second place by black – always a winner – but grey can be the swap we need when black becomes too familiar.
With further thought, I’m sure if I could have shown her, my mother would have got it. xv
What works for me.
A great overcoat.
belted oversized coat || belted coat || herringbone belted coat || wrap coat
The blazer over cargo pants, sweats, jeans or a tailored trouser.
cargo pants || theory blazer || houndstooth blazer || sweatpants
Never be without a sweater dress and never worry about curves – all the better. Just figure in the shapewear and all is perfect.
sweater dress || darker grey sweater dress || skims bodysuit
Cashmere sweaters in every shape.
v neck || balloon sleeve sweater || essential cashmere
Rework the cargoes and the sweats with a pretty blouse.
vince flutter sleeve || sweatpants || cargo pants
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