Jenice Armstrong: An age-old problem

FORTY IS the new 30.

No, make that 50 . . . yes, 50 is the new 30.

Don't mind me. The more years I pack on, the more I want to see the age in that old axiom bumped up. Getting older can be a real head trip, if you know what I mean. And you do, if you're older than 30. The more mature and self-assured you are, the more you want to relax and embrace the gray. Not that I have any, do I? You don't want to let outside influences make you feel as if your age is something you should have to cover up or lie about.

But no matter how much we rail against it, ageism and sexism are still rampant. There's a reason why Rihanna is considered a hotter ticket than, say, Angie Stone, and it's not all about the music.

And if you're at all like me, there's a shrill voice inside that says, "Nuh-uh, I'm going down fighting." So, even though you may hate yourself for doing it, you sneer at "mommy jeans," as well as at anything else in your closet that screams old lady. Hence the overwhelming success of Charla Krupp's best-seller, "How Not to Look Old" (Springboard Press, $24.95)

While it chafes to live in a culture that seems to think that once a woman passes her third decade she needs to be booking Botox injections, it's hard not to be at least a little curious about the age-defying tricks Krupp divulges in the 224 pages of her book. And, oh, girl, there are plenty. Each chapter begins with the comment, "Nothing ages you like" and then she goes on to point out that red nail polish and bony hands are just as aging as are matchy-matchy outfits and having a mouthful of silver dental fillings.

Some of it's perfectly logical. For instance, I know I shouldn't be shopping at junior stores such as Forever 21. Oh, and Krupp's not a fan of wire-rimmed granny glasses. She's into hipper styles. And she prefers shimmery pink glosses over dark lipstick.

"I have to get my hands on that book. Boy, my hands look old," said Sheryl Raskin, a Philly-based public-relations person, after I told her about the book. "I think about my age every day."

No wonder Krupp has gotten the rock-star treatment at some of her book signings. Women snatch up multiple copies and besiege her afterward, asking for critiques of their lipstick or wondering where to buy hair extensions. "Analyze me," they ask.

"We all want to stay young because we live in a youth-obsessed society," explained Krupp, who has done numerous style segments on NBC's "Today Show." "We live in a culture where we don't treat older women kindly.

"It's terrible. If you don't dress well or you don't look good or you don't have makeup on, you're not treated with respect.

"We all have egos," she added. "So we have to work hard and make ourselves remain vibrant and visible and not passed by."

As an example of how rampant ageism is, she mentioned a much-talked-about photo of Sen. Hillary Clinton that made her look older than her 60 years. Rush Limbaugh said, "Do we really want a woman to grow old before our eyes?"

"That question sums up how America treats women," Krupp recalled, adding that every president emerges from the White House looking substantially older than when he entered. "It was a very sexist comment."

And given the economic realities, job seekers can't afford to look dated.

"I'm on a mission with this book to let people know that investing in yourself isn't superficial and shallow," Krupp said. "It's essential." *

Want to know more? Listen to my podcast with Charla Krupp on Phillyfeed on www.philly.com. Also, Krupp will be at the Bloomingdale's in King of Prussia at 1 p.m. March 6, signing copies of her book, "How Not to Look Old."