Dan's Papers - July 11, 2008 - Book Review: How Not to Look Old

Aging sucks, or so says Charla Krupp, author of the New York Times bestseller, How Not to Look Old, and so agree women across the country turning 40, 50, 60 and beyond. Every mature woman can do her best to convince herself that she's like a bottle of the finest, best-aged bottle of wine that only improves over time - and intellectually and emotionally, that may be true. But while what's inside that bottle might be deliciously sophisticated, the outside, with its peeling, faded label and dulled sheen, doesn't hold up quite as well. The solution? According to Krupp, it's pink lipstick, new glasses, sexy heels and countless other ways to look "younger and hipper" now and leave "old lady" for later (or never).

But wait a second - shouldn't the mature woman have reached that wise, secure place in life where she's finally learned to accept and embrace her physical imperfections? Shouldn't she be fulfilled enough to simply grow old quietly, gracefully and without fuss? Maybe... if she's living under a rock, light-years from the real world. Says Krupp in How Not to Look Old, "For our generation, looking younger isn't just about vanity... Looking good is about our personal and financial survival. We are the first generation of women in which the majority of us went to college and then to work... Many of us are on our own, and we need to stay in the workplace until we say it's time to go. And let's not fool ourselves: looking good is key to keeping our jobs." Admittedly, a bookkeeper in Des Moines probably doesn't face the same kind of physical challenges as, say, a high-profile fashion and beauty editor in New York, but regardless, "it is empowering to pass a mirror and think, 'Wow, I look great!' It gives you a lift...Our looks and our self-esteem are inextricably wired."

To that end, any woman - mature or not quite - can benefit from the fun and useful tips in How Not to Look Old. The guide immediately takes readers back to younger days spent poring over teeny-bopper rags with a quiz designed to help them determine their "Maintenance Level," which then steer them toward the right suggestions throughout the book. Those scoring "high" will do every single thing they know to look great, no matter the time or cost; "low" scorers don't want to invest a lot of time or money, but are interested in taking small, subtle steps to looking better; and "medium" maintainers fall somewhere in between. Chapters are divided by categories ranging from hair to teeth to clothes, and jam-packed with helpful tips on how to do things correctly, based on your desired effect and investment of resources.

How Not to Look Old also includes the many ways women might be tempted to go overboard - from chic to ridiculous. "The problem is that what looks good on Scarlett or Lindsay or Paris will probably not look good on you," warns Krupp. Some of her suggestions of what to avoid seem fairly obvious (glitter, micro-miniskirts, scrunchies), but others (high ponytail, Crocs, mittens) might encourage the savviest of readers to rethink their practices.

And for those women too busy to even think about rethinking their practices, Krupp's concluding "Your Putting-It-All-Together Top Ten" list gets to the point in a hurry. Divided into "Ten Things You Can Do in the Next Ten Minutes to Take off Ten Years," "Ten Things You Can Do for Less Than $100 to Take Off Ten Years" and "Ten New Rules for How Not to Look Old," the helpful compilation bulletpoints what to do to look good and feel better, pronto. Making the pursuit of new-self even easier is a thorough directory of the best places to shop and receive services in cities across the country, including addresses and phone numbers. Those not near a major metropolitan area needn't worry, as Krupp makes countless brand and product suggestions throughout the book that any woman anywhere near a computer can stock up on and have shipped right to her front door.

The point? It's not over till it's over, and there are no good excuses until then. How Not to Look Old is a fun, user-friendly guide that any woman can benefit from - and be empowered by.

Charla Krupp has done over a hundred style segments on the "Today" show, and has appeared on "Good Morning America," "Oprah," "The View" and "Dateline." She was beauty director of Glamour, an editor of In Style and executive editor of Shop Etc. Currently, she writes a monthly fashion column for More magazine called, "Fashion for Grownups."