Turning Sixty – No Big Deal!!

I have just passed a landmark birthday, my sixtieth. So, how do I feel hitting this number?

The stereotypical sixty-year-old of my mother’s generation was expected to collect her bus pass, get a fuss free perm, and retire, gracefully. Not now!!

Most of us in this age-bracket have a different mindset. We try our very best to have as much fun and adventures as possible in this “part two” of life.

I read this quote lately – “age is irrelevant unless you’re a vintage vino or stilton”, which sums it up, nicely.

Of course, as I write this post, restrictions have been reintroduced in the UK. This is due to a rise in the infection rate of Covid-19 which kind of puts everything into perspective.

The main thing to conquer is this flaming virus. Though, I still managed to have a little birthday celebration with my family, which I loved.

Amongst all of this, we are due to go to Turkey, next week. This holiday was booked as a surprise for me hitting 60. Currently, the travel company and government are saying it’s safe to go. Of course, things could change between now and then.

One thing we’ve all learnt in 2020 is to expect change and take everything in our stride while trying our best to have a philosophical mindset and to “go with the flow”.

I don’t think I have ever had a “midlife crisis” – if that means behaving differently from my usual self. I’ve just never felt the need. Maybe, I got this out of my system when I was younger. My husband is a musician and we both lived in London during the days of “The Punks” then “New Romantics”.  It was definitely a time of self-expression and it was great being part of it, though I didn’t realise how good it was, at the time.

I was never a punk, myself, but I do remember the shop “SEX”, owned by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren on the King’s Road. This is where I saw all the punk brigade congregating, on a Saturday afternoon.  I was fascinated by their makeup and outfits.  Some of them looked spectacular.

Chrissie Hynde and Sid Vicious worked at the shop.

Vivienne Westwood will always be known for her part in the creation of “Punk”. Here’s a pair of her spiked heels from that era.

I have just had a trip down memory lane reading Boy George’s autobiography. It was such a great read and brought back so many memories of music venues my hubby played at, and which we also frequented, as punters – the “Music Machine”, “Hope and Anchor”, in Islington, and “Marquee”, in Wardour Street. I do adore “The Clash” and “The Stranglers”, from that time.

This is a poster showing my other half’s band. They were called “The Showbiz Kids”, advertised to play at the Marquee in Wardour Street, London

One of the music venues from that time, where we would check bands out.  My other half played here. The “Hope & Anchor”, Islington.

While he was doing his thing, I was working for “Chelsea Girl”, which was rebranded to “River Island”, in the late eighties.  I worked in their buying department which was based at their head office, near Ealing.

I made some great friends and had a good time working there, getting an in-depth look into how the fashion world works on the high street.

                          Chelsea Girl LOGO

Currently, I have read about so many women in my age group who are inspiring, hardworking with great “attitude”. We are no longer shy in coming forward. Us, middle-aged women, have changed for the better.

Now that sixty is upon me, I certainly don’t feel old. My combination of life experience – some good and bad – has given me a positive attitude. And I try my best to have a “what the hell,” mindset.

I am overjoyed at the men my children have become, now that they have finally “left the nest”. So, this is the time to try and be a little unselfish with ourselves. I know this isn’t always easy or always possible as we still have responsibilities. Hopefully, it’s the time to try and have some adventures – fun and mischief – if not now, when?

I’m not the only one bidding farewell to my fifties, this year. I’m in great company: Julianne Moore, Daryl Hannah, Tilda Swinton, and Elizabeth Perkins, to name a few. All of them defying ageist stereotypes – proving that we haven’t passed our “sell-by date”, just yet.

This year has been a time to clear out cupboards and wardrobes and to really think about what we have and need. I haven’t been buying a lot and I’ve only added a few key pieces to my wardrobe which I know will serve me well.

I fell for this ruffle flowy dress on the mango website at the beginning of the summer, but, at £79.99, it was a little too expensive. So, when I saw it in the sale for £49.99, I sent away for it! It is a little “showier” than I would normally wear. But I’m so pleased I bought it and will wear it a lot as I feel good in it. It’s definitely a dress to swish around in.

I’ve had a look for what is available in the sales, right now.

Please see below:

Please note that the above are affiliate links – if you like the look of one of the items and click through to the website, there is no extra cost to you.

Thank you for reading my post. I hope you have enjoyed it.

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below. All products are my own.

Best wishes and thank you for stopping by.

Alison x

 

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42 Comments

  1. /

    Happy memories Alison, I am 60 myself in November. Remember well the punk/New Wave era, I went to many of the gigs and saw X Ray Spex, Buzzcocks, XTC, Wreckless Eric….Also remember spending my Saturday job money in Chelsea Girl (and Van Allan, they had branches everywhere – do you remember them?). Have a lovely time in Turkey. It’s one of the few countries still standing. I love your ruffle dress, so dramatic! Thanks for linking at #WowOnWednesday x

    • Wow, you have given me some memories here Gail. Of course, I remember Van Allan. Plus my other half did a mini-tour with Wreckless Eric, this was at the height of the Punk era. I read in the Elton John’s autobiography that he had a crush on Eric, which I thought was hilarious! xx

    • Thank you so much! Our holiday to Turkey was cancelled a few days before we were due to travel, but, hey ho we were half expecting it. We are living in such strange times and nothing is definite at the moment, unfortunately. xx

  2. /

    Happy Blessed Birthday! I Love this dress on You and your Attitude. I will be 69 this year and continue to enjoy my sixties. Make sure to enjoy every moment. . . .

  3. Happy 60th birthday! Fingers crossed for your holiday – we went to Turkey last year and loved it. Your dress is beautiful, I love the ruffles. Thanks for linking up!

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

    • Thank you so much, Emma. Our trip to Turkey was cancelled a few days before travelling, so, our very first trip there will have to wait. We have been given the option of another holiday but the way things are we are unsure what to do at the moment – things seem to have taken another turn this week. xx

      • I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you get to go on holiday soon xx

        • We managed to get away, Emma. The holiday company offered us a great deal to Cyprus. I have only visited once before when my children were younger.. It’s definitely strange travelling at the moment as there are tests you have to do and restrictions. Enjoy the rest of your week. xx

    • Thank you so much. Unfortunately our trip to Turkey was cancelled, however, the travel company offered us another holiday to Cyprus, which is where we are at the moment. It was certainly an experience getting here, that’s for sure.
      Alison xx

  4. Alison, you look amazing! What a beautiful dress. And a very happy 60th birthday to you. I love your approach to aging as mine is very similar! And I absolutely enjoyed every bit of this post and your walk down memory lane! Oh, I wish I could have witnessed the London punk scene firsthand! Thanks so much for linking with me. I hope you have the best year ever!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • Thank you so much Shelbee. It was your blog post, “Your Own Twist Link Up“ where your theme was punk which inspired me. As I started to write this post the memories all came flooding back – I enjoyed going there so much. xx

  5. Nice to have the memories, and I didn’t know Chelsea Girl is now River Island!!! they say you learn something new everyday don’t they. Thanks for sharing on the #linkup Jaquii x

    • Thank you Jacqui. I agree it is good to revisit sometimes. Enjoy your week.xx

  6. Loved everything about this post!! I’m 59…so we lived in the same times and I could so relate, even if I lived in Canada and not UK. YOu look amazing and seems like you had the life that most younger generations today, well, I just don’t know if they have the spunk and openness that we did. We had great times. Thanks so much for writing about this!! I Featured you on my blog post today as my favourite read of the Linkup Party:) Have a great weekend!! xx

    • Thank you so much for the feature Lucy. I’m so pleased you enjoyed my post – it was a lovely experience to look back. I really feel for our young people at the moment. Let’s hope they find a vaccine soon so our freedom is restored for all especially them. xx

  7. /

    Happy birthday! I’m only two years behind you. Loved the punk era. Oh to have been in London then. My brother just past seventy and is still drumming in his rock band! Age just doesn’t matter any more does it? I think it’s more important how you live it. xx

    • Thank you so much Laurie. That’s great that your brother is still playing – once a musician……as the saying goes. Age is indeed just a number and so true – it’s how we choose to live which is key. xx

  8. Happy Birthday Beautiful! I know you will rock being 60 the way you did 59!

  9. /

    Happy birthday! You look amazing! Hope you get all that you deserve and more in the coming year xx

    • Many thanks to you Tianna. Hopefully things will begin to improve for all of us soon. xx

  10. Happy Birthday, I love the dress, it looks great on you! I’ll be 60 on the 1st of November. But I swear I’ve aged 10 years since this rotten pandemic began. I loved reading this post and wish you many more wonderful years ahead. Hugs, Katherine

    • Katherine Happy sixtieth Birthday and welcome! It’s a great club to be in I think. I know what you mean re the Pandemic and as I speak we are
      about to enter into lockdown once more. We have to hope this will improve soon – for everyone. Enjoy your celebrations and have a wonderful time – it’s my hubby’s
      birthday next week, so it’ll be a few drinks in the house and a “takeaway”.xxxx

  11. Happy 60th Birthday! So exciting! I hope you get to experience your holiday. We were supposed to go to Italy and that didn’t happen, so we can look forward to it in the future. I love that quote about age! So true.
    thanks for linking Allison!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • Thank you so much Jess. The holiday is just a distant memory now. Hopefully things will improve next year so we can travel freely once more. xx

  12. Happy belated 60th. It’s hard to believe how quickly it sneaks up on you. I am closing in on 60s and I remember when I thought this was “old” and grandma status. Not these days and that change I feel is good. We don’t have to don aprons, curlers and rocking chairs.
    Sixty and fabulous
    Blessings
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

    • Thank you so much Dawn and I know what you mean. Sixty did seem so old years ago. Not now though. Yes to being sixty and fabulous. xx

  13. /

    Happy 60th! I turned 63 this year, and although my energy isn’t the greatest, I believe my creativity has just kept going up with age! The post was fun to read, and the dress is gorgeous!

    • Hi Pam. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I agree with you about creativity. This is the first time I’ve been able to write or try photography. There just wasn’t the time when I was younger due to work and family commitments, so I’m in my element and enjoying it so much.xx

  14. I turned 60 on November 1st. We are two peas in a pod ( smile). Happy very very belated wishes. Hoping you get your birthday wish and wishing you a beautiful 2021 filled with health and happiness. Hugs!

    • Hi Mireille,
      You have plenty of time to prepare for a great celebration! This is an old post, I’ll 62 in September and so true we have to enjoy every minute. xx

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