Comments on: Implication of “The Cougar” http://theliquidbetsy.com/2009/04/implication-of-the-cougar/ The Business of LIfe in One Swig Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:21:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: betsy http://theliquidbetsy.com/2009/04/implication-of-the-cougar/comment-page-1/#comment-45 betsy Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:15:14 +0000 http://theliquidbetsy.com/?p=326#comment-45 Agreed. State of mind translates into everything: what we do, how we act, how we look and what we buy. The body is just one manifestation (and a very visible one- great for illustrative purposes, since you can't turn the TV on and not see a Jenny Craig commercial- but you also have 40+ triathletes/surfers) As a chica closer to 40 than 30, I think women in their 40's don't feel like women in their 40's did, say, 40 years ago. Designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, retailers need to realize that. Agreed.

State of mind translates into everything: what we do, how we act, how we look and what we buy. The body is just one manifestation (and a very visible one- great for illustrative purposes, since you can’t turn the TV on and not see a Jenny Craig commercial- but you also have 40+ triathletes/surfers) As a chica closer to 40 than 30, I think women in their 40′s don’t feel like women in their 40′s did, say, 40 years ago.

Designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, retailers need to realize that.

]]> By: Christine Sierra http://theliquidbetsy.com/2009/04/implication-of-the-cougar/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Christine Sierra Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:44:00 +0000 http://theliquidbetsy.com/?p=326#comment-44 Interesting post. I've always thought age was a state of mind and soul, not body, until I learned The Cougar was ONLY 40 and then I called her a name I won't use on your blog :) In reality, when I think back to the demographics of 18 - 34 just 30 years ago, that age group was well on their way to raising families. Done and over by 25 years old. Grandmothers were only in their mid to late 40's in most cases. Pretty amazing. With societal shifts (in most parts of the country) to a generation waiting longer to start families and get married, we can't help but see a change in purchasing behaviors. And retailers should be embracing that, SOON, if not already. At 40, why would I act like a woman about to be a Grandmother when my 4 year old son keeps me so young? By my husband's age (47), my Mother had a daughter graduating college. Our daughter is graduating kindergarten! Sure, it must great to have the figure of a 25 year old at 40+, but at the end of the day, I still think it's a state of mind - and mine is PRETTY YOUNG! Interesting post. I’ve always thought age was a state of mind and soul, not body, until I learned The Cougar was ONLY 40 and then I called her a name I won’t use on your blog :)

In reality, when I think back to the demographics of 18 – 34 just 30 years ago, that age group was well on their way to raising families. Done and over by 25 years old. Grandmothers were only in their mid to late 40′s in most cases. Pretty amazing.

With societal shifts (in most parts of the country) to a generation waiting longer to start families and get married, we can’t help but see a change in purchasing behaviors. And retailers should be embracing that, SOON, if not already. At 40, why would I act like a woman about to be a Grandmother when my 4 year old son keeps me so young? By my husband’s age (47), my Mother had a daughter graduating college. Our daughter is graduating kindergarten!

Sure, it must great to have the figure of a 25 year old at 40+, but at the end of the day, I still think it’s a state of mind – and mine is PRETTY YOUNG!

]]> By: Sueanne Shirzay http://theliquidbetsy.com/2009/04/implication-of-the-cougar/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Sueanne Shirzay Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:26:43 +0000 http://theliquidbetsy.com/?p=326#comment-43 As someone in the Cougar Demographic, and sort of aging backwards, if you will, LOL I can say there are definately companies that are missing the boat. The most obvious is swimwear companies. Most of our choices are either teeny weeny bikinis or matronly monstrosities. To give examples of catalogs that everybody gets--Another classic example would be your Lands End type companies who are making their clothing too baggy,shapeless and bulky to fit out svelte figures. J Crew seems to get it by throwing in Lauren Hutton to model every so often, but really they need somebody in their 40's too. Boden definately gets it, and it should as the owner is in his 40s. As for me, I design jewelry and am sometimes surprised at the choices women in my age group make. Often I'll design something I thought would go to a twenty something only to find the 40-50's are snapping it up and it looks great on them. So , yes I think many companies are missing opportunities. All I can do is try not to be one of them! : ) By the way, you look MAHvelous! As someone in the Cougar Demographic, and sort of aging backwards, if you will, LOL I can say there are definately companies that are missing the boat. The most obvious is swimwear companies. Most of our choices are either teeny weeny bikinis or matronly monstrosities.

To give examples of catalogs that everybody gets–Another classic example would be your Lands End type companies who are making their clothing too baggy,shapeless and bulky to fit out svelte figures. J Crew seems to get it by throwing in Lauren Hutton to model every so often, but really they need somebody in their 40′s too. Boden definately gets it, and it should as the owner is in his 40s.

As for me, I design jewelry and am sometimes surprised at the choices women in my age group make. Often I’ll design something I thought would go to a twenty something only to find the 40-50′s are snapping it up and it looks great on them.

So , yes I think many companies are missing opportunities.
All I can do is try not to be one of them! : )

By the way, you look MAHvelous!

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