20031121
Kylie's crisis of the 'pert bot'
November 21, 2003
Kylie Minogue at 35 - such a thing once seemed inconceivable. When she hit the milestone in May, the shock was severe for those of us who had assumed, Michael Hutchence and 15 years of CDs notwithstanding, that she was still about 20.
Kylie's reaction suggests she sees 35 as the thin end of a grim, inexorable wedge. She announced a few weeks ago that, henceforth, her "pert bot" (copyright: every British tabloid) will not be available for public inspection.
"I'm a 35-year-old woman, so I kept everything covered in my latest video," was her excuse.
How sad that she feels constrained by her age, which evidently has provoked a bout of dark-night-of-the-soul panic.
She went on to say: "The album reflects my life as a 35-year-old woman. I've slowed down the pace."
This smacks of aspiring to dignity, when probably she'd have rather drummed her elfin hooves and screamed, "Oh my God, I'm old!"
Your heart goes out to her, and to every female celebrity whose career depends on youthfulness. For all the brave stuff about 60 being the new 10, the mid-30s are still perceived as the dividing line between girlhood and Donatella Versace, whose relish for miniskirts and hair extensions adds about a century to her appearance.
If a 35-year-old wants to feel at all fashionable, there appears to be no real alternative to minis and little tops. That is, unless you believe American fashion magazines, which think women in their 30s should drop all pretence and aim for "classic elegance".
Not long ago, US Vogue quoted a socialite called Muffy or Buffy, aged 30, who said she "leaves jeans to the kids". With that attitude, she'll be completely grey by the time she's 36, believe me.
But Muffy didn't have Kylie's perfect bottomage, which makes all the difference.
So this is an appeal to Kylie and others entering the precincts of "middle youth": act your age. Classic elegance can wait till you're 90.
In the meantime, wear those hot pants with a bad attitude.
The Guardian
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/20/1069027248289.html
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