By Kevin Cowan
Some baby boomers aren't doing a bang-up job of dressing themselves.
Sherrie Mathieson, an award-winning costume designer, style consultant and fellow boomer, comes to their rescue with the book Forever Cool (Thompson Peak, 2006) dedicated to helping baby boomers look their best.
"Boomers are a set of the population that aren't getting the attention they deserve," Mathieson said. "Everything is geared to a youth culture. It's hard for them to find things that are age-appropriate without looking dowdy."
The title of her book stems from a feeling Mathieson wants her target audience to achieve.
"When it comes to 'forever,' the root of most of the clothes has a classic-ness," she said. "People will look at the safari jacket, the white shirt, the jeans as classic concepts. 'Cool' originated in the '50s during the beat generation, when a lot of these people grew up. It's one of those terms. Kids say it; 90-year-olds say it."
For boomers to be "forever cool," they have to change a few things, and mature men and women each have their own issues, she said.
"Some of the guys aren't so lucky and are losing their hair," Mathieson said. "They should be natural about it. Shave the head or wear the hair close-cropped. Don't wear a toupee or wear a hat to hide it. Women respond to men who are very natural. ... Also, they should not be afraid of manicures."
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