Last month, Flow Space had the honor of sitting down with Constance Zimmer, actor, director and co-creator of the “The Midlife Monologues,” along with her best friend writer, storyteller, style-lover and viral pro-aging influencer Heidi Clements to discuss how they are both actively re-writing the narrative around midlife.
Both women acknowledged that invisibility has long been the default narrative for women after midlife—and both are actively rewriting it. “I want to change the way the world looks at women over 50,” said Clements, who’s 65. “And to change the way women over 50 look at themselves.”
And while the launch of their new podcast, Talk Fifty to Me, is definitely a major step when it comes to rethinking what it means to age, prior to the podcast launch, Clements had already found that she was shifting the narrative via her social media accounts.
The 65-year-old fashion influencer regularly shares her outfits and style advice to her nearly 935K predominately of Gen Z TikTok followers.
“Almost all of my followers are under 40,” Clements shared with Flow Space. “They were desperate to see that you can have a different life from what the patriarchy and society tell you you can have. I’m single, child-free, never married—and I really wanted to show women that they could have a life that didn’t look like what they were told it’s supposed to look like.”
And as far as “dressing your age” goes—especially during the holiday season, when certain friends and family members have a hard time keeping their mouths shut—Clements has some advice.
“I remember, when i turned 50, I sort of forgot how to dress because i thought, ‘Am I too old for this?’ And I think when it comes to finding your personal style, you have to look around at what other people are wearing that you like and sort of copy it and make it your own,” she shared with Flow Space in a bonus video. “I post what I post so that people can say, “Oh, I have a shirt like that, I have jeans like that… How can I make that outfit, me? And I think that’s something you just know on the inside when you see it—that you love it and how to make it yours.”
Of course, your outfit might not be the only thing stressing you out about upcoming Thanksgiving get-togethers, and Clements, thankfully, took to her social media platform to share even more advice.
“Things to remind yourself at the family Thanksgiving table: You are not behind,” she shared with her TikTok followers last week. “You are not a failure. You are not undateable or unlovable. You are worthy of respect. You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to shine, and if you need it, you are allowed to rest.”
“You are not too old to begin again, to dream a new dream, to change your life, to choose what makes you feel like you. You are not too late for anything meant for you, and maybe you are exactly where you need to be. Not everyone will understand you. Not everyone will agree with your choices. You need to pull up to the table with confidence, clarity and the full belief that you are not going to disappoint yourself this year with other people’s opinions. And if you’re the one stuffing the negativity down your throat, knock it off, your turkey.”