What makes you feel sexy?
Or maybe a better question is…do you still feel sexy?
In the not-so-distant-past being a woman over 40 meant society no longer viewed you as a sexual being. Obviously the person that came up with that idea was a man because it is simply ludicrous!
I’m so happy we have moved beyond that and are redefining what aging as a woman means. I mean honestly folks…does this woman look like she isn’t gettin’ any?
(If you’re a prude…please look away.)
Or how about this woman?
Or this lovely lady?
And this woman?
Okay…glad we cleared that up. 40 is just a number folks. That’s it.
What does the word sexy mean to you? For every woman it is different.
For me sexy means powerful, in control and desired.
I know red leather is a bit of a cliché, but these little red booties make me feel sexy. Almost like Wonder Woman.
I don’t care if she is an over sexualized cartoon character. She kicked some serious butt, was tough, smart and feminine and never ever had a bad hair day in her life.
The resemblance is uncanny, no?
If I had a nickel for every time someone confused me with Wonder Woman…
I’d be broke.
What brings out the Wonder Woman in you?
How do you define sexy and how do your clothes help you convey your sexiness and vitality after the age of 40?
Or do you prefer to keep your sexiness hidden?
Linking up with Get Your Pretty On, My Whims Wednesday, What I Wore, Throw Back Thursday, Fashion Should Be Fun Passion for Fashion
two birds says
Angela! Helen! Jane! I bow down. Super sexy women, all three. I am not sure if I would ever describe myself as sexy. I am more like the cute girl next door, in my own mind. And probably everybody else’s mind, too, except for my husband’s. My sisters all got the sexy gene and it skipped right over me. Ha! But you are right, there are definitely certain things that can make you feel sexy. A good pair of boots is definitely one of them. Your red leather pair are fierce and sexy! Super Woman has some competition! Your hair looks fabulous, as well!
joni@artfulcloset says
Well, I guess I feel most sexy when I’m riding a motorcycle! Which doesn’t say anything about what I’m wearing of course. As far as clothing I’d say skinny jeans, or leggings, etc….If I could wear heels that would do it for me, but my height and my bad foot dictate my shoes unfortunately.
You look super sexy in these floral denims and the boots.
carillo suzanne says
I agree…motorcycles are sexy. And especially a woman on one.
Patti says
I still feel sexy. Maybe more than I did ten years ago. I take things easier, wear more fragrance and squeeze my man more. (Maybe retirement is sexy?) You look gorgeous in cashmere and florals, xo.
carillo suzanne says
I think anything that provides more time to think about sex makes you sexier : ) So that’d be two thumbs up for retirement.
Shybiker says
I like this post. Too many women, especially older gals, shy away from looking sexy. And yet it’s one of our natural strengths. Jane at 77 still has it. And Wonder Woman always presented a mature adult female sexiness in sharp contrast to our cultural fetishizing of youth. You look great here. I wore a WW costume on my blog, complete with red/white-striped boots that I bought for the occasion. It felt wonderful!
carillo suzanne says
I tried to look for that on your blog but didn’t see a search box. Too bad. Would have loved to have seen that.
Shybiker says
Here it is from two years ago. Well worth a click.
http://shybiker.blogspot.com/2013/04/wonder-woman.html
Kristian says
Ah! I love this post both for it’s underlying point that age does not define sexiness, and for this amazing outfit.
Melanie says
I thought Helen Mirren was in her 90s because it seems people have been talking about how great she looks for an old woman for decades. I wonder if it pisses her off. Naw. She still looks great.
Your hair is looking gloriously Wonder Woman voluminous. And your pants are a garden. I’d give you a quarter, a Canadian one, not worth quite so much now. I could never keep my sexiness hidden – it spews from my sexy secret self indiscriminately, especially when I wear my granny shoes and button my blouse to the very top button.
carillo suzanne says
You are like a walking vortex of sexiness Mel. I’m surprised they even let you out of your house to walk around and flaunt your gorgeous self like that all over the streets of Vancouver.
Natalia Lialina says
Absolutely gorgeous look! Just beautiful! Sexy can mean so many different things at different times… Feeling free and comfortable with who you are, the way you are now – that’s the key to me. xxx
Curtise says
Sexy? Me? Nah, not right now, I’ve got a cold and my back hurts – another night, OK?
Really, sexiness isn’t a currency that much concerns me. It’s such a nebulous concept, isn’t it, so subjective and indefinable.
You and J-Lo share a love of the red leather, I see – yours being a rather more subtle approach! xxx
carillo suzanne says
I had to leave my boob squeezing patent leather outfit out of this post. (joking…or am I?)
Lana says
Love this outfit on you! I have always had a hard time feeling sexy, much to my husband’s dismay. He finds me very sexy, but I have difficulty seeing it. A sexy red dress would probably help!
carillo suzanne says
Maybe it’s because you live with so many men! LOL Not much estrogen in your house.
Happiness at Mid Life says
I have never considered myself sexy and I think it’s because I don’t have curves that I would associate with someone that’s sexy. I would say I feel most sexy in a great pair of heels and clothes that make me feel confident like – it could be a pair of jeans with a nice blazer to a lace dress.
I had a pair of red boots years ago but they were so poorly made that I had to toss them. I think it’s time I get a new pair. I love your sexy outfit because it’s sexy without too much exposed body parts.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
carillo suzanne says
It is funny how we associate certain ideals imposed by society on what is sexy and what isn’t.
I also think lots of Moms don’t even want to be associated with the word sexy. Kind of like that is in opposition to being a good Mom, which is sad really.
Vix says
I feel sexier with my clothes off!
Sexiness can’t be explained, can it? What one person finds attractive can be completely different to someone else.
You look fabulous in those skinny jeans with your wild curls and leather boots, watch out J-Lo! xxx
carillo suzanne says
We could all take a lesson from you in self love and sexiness. In fact you need to write a book on that Vix! ; P
Mrs C says
JLo! My twin sister from different parents! (we share the same birth date) She’s sexy, but that’s not what sexy is to me. One doesn’t have to bare too much skin to be sexy. Leaving some to the imagination is sexier actually. I am with you on sexy – confidence and comfortable in your own skin make you sexy. Sense of humor and intelligence are sexy and I feel the sexiest when I can make a bunch of guys (Mr. Husband including, smiling proudly, of course) listen to my theory about things they never thought I’d have a clue on and laugh out loud at my jokes! Great topic Suzanne and those booties are spot on cool!
carillo suzanne says
I found this really interesting.
Does that come down to the need to be accepted by the men as an intellectual equal?
Mrs C says
The thing is some guys here assume that just because I run a style blog, I don’t know a thing or two. It feels good to actually take them by surprise. I don’t really care what they want to think of me, whats important is that my husband knows that I am so much more! 😀
Sandra says
JLo is the same age as me, groan – I don’t feel sexy, I don’t think I have a hot bone in my body, I think when I feel my most kickass confident, that works for me – back to all you ladies, you are all fabulous, drop dead gorgeous and sexy as f**k x x x sorry for the swears x x x
carillo suzanne says
Well for someone that doesn’t feel sexy you come across as one hot Mamma! ; P
Shelley@ForestCityFashionista says
Ah, the old “what makes you feel sexy” question! First off, I think this outfit looks wonderful on you, and you look sexy but not like you’re trying too hard. I don’t feel sexy very often these days, but that said, I would have to say that if I’m wearing something black that hugs in all the right places (and if it’s made of leather, all the better), and I know I look good, then I feel kind of sexy. I think if you are receiving feedback that you are sexy, it shapes the impression you have of yourself. When I was in a relationship, I was told by my partners I was sexy, so I felt sexy. Now that I’ve been single for several years, I don’t think about whether I look sexy or not.
carillo suzanne says
It is so interesting that you write about the need to be told by someone else that you are sexy. As women we often rely on the emotion of being desired in order to feel sexy. Men are lucky. They (mostly) don’t have that issue.
Linda Cassidy says
I love the look and the women you are showcasing. Be bold, feel great. Link up on my blog if you would like to come join us http://bit.ly/1vBWwqu
Trina says
Great post, Suzanne! You definitely have my nickel, especially with the no bad hair day, do you ever have one of those? You define sexy in a very powerful way, as you said, powerful, in control and desirable, which you positively do on a daily basis or at least with every post you share. Yes, the red leather boots speak all three of these attributes.
I would like to think I fall into the “wonder woman” category of tough, smart and feminine, but I probably keep a lot of my sexiness hidden.
Dawn Lucy says
Yes we still can be sexy and this list of incredible beauties definitely puts an exclamation point on that sentiment! Including your hot self, Dear! There is just something about sexy red heels … my patent leather pumps feel like my sexiest shoes, though I always feel sexy in boots too. Fab and fun post!
Rock on, Wonder Woman!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Nicole Mölders (@HighLatitudeSty) says
wow, you are brave with these pants
No Fear of Fashion says
My sexiness is in my legs and I love it when it shows. It is a good thing I cannot show a cleavage anymore because of all my wrinkles. Otherwise I would be dead common, walking around showing the girls all the time.
I think this outfit of yours is outstanding. Looking very good. And sexy.
Greetje
elle says
Great subject Suzanne!
Timely, relevant and interesting!
Love the choices of women that you featured esp. Helen Mirren and Jane Fonda.
I agree age is a number and staying fresh, while still being appropriate, is important.
Sometimes it is a slippery slope, but Life with slopes is better than a long flat path..
Love your red leather boots, they really add some serious sizzle to those damask jeans ( a fav of mine) and I adore the scarlet sweater.
xx, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
Porcelina says
You ask such good questions Suzanne! Now, I don’t own any red leather, but I do have some Wonder Woman knickers!! I bought them because i thought they were fun, but my husband-to-be finds them sexy. For me, I like nice clothes to feel sexy, like a pencil dress, though if I’m on a roll I can feel sexy in old jeans and a borrowed tee.
I really, really hope that I will still be feeling sexy in 20 years time! x
carillo suzanne says
Oh my! Wonder Woman panties! I need some : )
Charlotte Issyvoo says
This is a fun question. It’s been a tough one for me because I became disabled in my late 30s and consequently gained weight after years of being very slim and extremely fit. I do notice that the sexy women over 40 whom you showed here have all remained slim, but not all of us can manage that. Ironically, when I think of my answer to that question, I realize that it is my new weight that makes me feel sexy! Now I have curves that I never had before and they make me feel very womanly. Of course, the way my partner looks at those curves makes me feel even sexier!
Debbie Stinedurf says
You are truly an uber-babe my friend! And not because of the boots, although they are truly fabulous. I think sexiness, like age, is a state of mind. I have sexy days and not so sexy days. Sometimes I’m fine with turning 50 in another few days, sometimes I’m not. When I’m not, I give myself a little head adjustment and I’m good to go. 🙂
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com