Le Chic after 50's Origin Story

Le Chic after 50's birthday

The idea of this blog was born after years of feeling lesser than due to a lack of representation of post-menopausal women in the media and in the fashion world. For the last few decades, unless a woman – or a person identifying as a woman – looks young and fit, she will not find anyone her age and shape in advertisements for travel and lifestyle, and even less so in the luxury industry. There is nothing wrong with hiring young and slim content creators. Still, everyone knows that young adults in their 20s and/or early 30s are not the primary demographics paying good money for designer brands and five-star hotels. I don’t see myself in their media campaigns, do you?

Menopause was brutal, traumatic to be honest. Here, menopause encapsulates the 10-15 years from the first peri-menopausal symptoms to a few years in the post-menopausal ghastly era. I put on 25-30 kilos – depending on the day of the week – on top of the sudden hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, itchy skin, creepy crawlies, brain fog, lack of energy, depression, and I forget some. I didn’t just get self-conscious; I hid under my doona, hoping the world that didn’t want me anymore would leave me alone, but not literally. When I started putting on weight – I am currently an Australian size 12/14, which is way within the average size in Australia – not only did I lose my beauty privilege, but people were looking at me with disgust. That was when they acknowledged my presence since I was mostly purely invisible: too old and overweight to be aesthetically pleasing and then deemed worthy of interest and not old enough to deserve the basic consideration due to an older person.

And then…Covid hit. Being chronically ill and therefore hiding from the virus for years, I stopped wearing clothes altogether since pjs and nighties provided the comfort my ever-expanding body and over-sensitive skin needed. I was all for ‘burn the bra’ and ‘free the nipple’ attending my degree’s Zoom seminar wrapped in a fleece robe. Once I finished my triple major and Covid had become old news – I lost count of the variants’ names and the waves’ number after Omicron – after having caught it three times despite having had four vaccinations, it was time to go out. And for that, I needed clothes that fit me!

I ordered a few Camilla dresses online for the summer. Still, my 50th birthday was approaching, and I realised I hadn’t bought myself a dream dress in my early 40s when I still had a fantastic figure; now, that body would never come back. If I didn’t get a dream dress, I would never get it. It was a now and never moment. And I don’t live with regrets. Life is way too short for that. So, in the year leading to my half-century milestone, I got the shoes, the bags, some jewellery, and a few clothes I could afford but never allowed myself to have before. I got an Opera House membership for my daughter and me so we could enjoy a show – and dress up – once a month. Little by little, my confidence came back. I didn’t care much about how people looked at me anymore, for I sure looked way better in my Dior dress, pumps, and designer bag than in jammies.

Yet, I must use all the power of my imagination to figure out if this skirt or those pants would fit and look good on me. As I mentioned before, I am an Australian woman of average size. Still, I am the largest size designer brands would offer when they do cater for other than model-like body shapes. I would buy more luxury items if they were made for someone like me. I created this blog and its Instagram account to be included in the luxury target audience since I’m standing up for an untapped market in fashion and the unrepresented luxury travel market. When I travel, I enjoy the five-star accommodations and treatment without doing a handstand on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the guests at breakfast are within my demographics or older, apart from the occasional honeymooners. So here I am, claiming my right to be represented but also employed to be the face – and the body – of the many post-menopausal women who enjoy the finest things in life.

I will post regularly about my tribulations in the luxury world. Feel free to comment and subscribe. Have a fantastic week!

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