Chic and Why?

I was writing to one of my best friends today and ran into a subject that I thought was worth mentioning. That subject is hair.........specifically hairstyles for us girls in our 40's and 50's.

I live in Paris now, as you all know, and since much has been made of the effortless chic -ness of the Parisian woman throughout history I wanted to offer my observation that part of this look is due to the lack of a real hairstyle on top of those chic little Parisian heads. The majority of Parisian women do not wear a definite hairstyle, they instead have wayward locks shielding their eyes and wisps of sexy strands pushed behind their ears. It all looks quite natural and not contrived - even if looks can be deceiving.

I have worn my hair in various incarnations of short for about 15 years. The main reason for this was that my husband preferred my hair short and it pleased me to please him. I also do not possess the kind of hair that screams ASSET, so it was just as well that I kept it short enough that most people would not hear it screaming LIABILITY.

There is something though about reaching the age that I have reached that makes me think about "the last time I will probably have this, or the last time I will ever do that........"Now that I am getting divorced and no longer have my husband here liking my short do, it seems to be the time to grow my hair for that last time.

So grow it has. For some blessed with sexy long locks, my hair is still butch short, but for me, it is long enough to actually toss when I shake my head. I might as well be Farah Fawcett in my mind.

So you know what is coming next girls, don't you? What happens as soon as you struggle through the months of agony of bad hair days; growing out choppy layers, dreaming of smooth, flowing locks?

You cut it all off of course and watch the salon assistant's broom sweep all your hard earned inches up off the floor.

I have not done the deed yet, but I am seriously considering it.

So, back to those impossibly chic Parisian women. I have analyzed what sets their hair apart from ours in the US and have decided that there is a definite lack of product usage (sorry Susie), though the salons are full of products. Go figure! I also do not think that Parisian households are serenaded regularly with the whine of the blow dryer. Maybe it is the length of my hair or maybe it is the Parisian air it is breathing, but I have never been able to just get up and run a brush through my hair and go...... until now. Have my self assessment capabilities been influenced to such a degree as to actually walk out of the house with hair that has neither been moussed nor washed and blow dried within 90 minutes and think that I look okay? Maybe senility is setting in as I approach my 50th.

Or maybe the Parisian women are on to something. I have come to the realization that the foundation on which chic style is built, is the ability to be comfortable in one's own skin. The French have the expression, bien dans sa peau, and from there all good things come. Whether it is expressed by allowing your natural wave  to fly off in an uncontrolled direction, or wearing your mom's funky 40's beaded cardigan with a certain je ne sais quoi (which, by the way, I have learned is a completely out dated expression over here but you all know what I mean), the important thing is to wear it as your own and for yourself. Everybody else will sense it immediately. And that boomerangs right back to your self esteem.

When I walk through Paris I feel light and unencumbered by tight style restrictions. There is something in the atmosphere that feeds one's soul (or at least my soul) with the freedom to just be. Whether it is un-moussed hair, or an un-styled style, there is a certain authenticity that I believe happens to be what true chic is all about.

I promised myself that I wouldn't cut my hair for at least another week.

Comments

[Stacy]

Hi Mary,

I think you found the key to personal style, feeling good in your own skin. I'm sorry it takes us so long to figure that out. Stacy H.

[Susie]

Well, I guess I would be out of business in Paris with all that "product"!! Keep your hair growing Mary!!

[Anita]

I agree with your Chic assessment totally! Go with whatever floats your boat if it makes you feel good. Sometimes I think we pay too much attention to what other people think at the risk of being safe. Go girl...continue to walk on the wild side.
Anita