BEAT COSMETIC COMPANIES AT THEIR OWN GAME

Bobbie Brown does it. So does Benefit,Nars and a host of others. What I'm talking about are those two in one products a cream formula color stick marketed to be used on lips and cheeks. I'm all for it. There's nothing like paring down the amount of cosmetics you tote around to make you feel like a natural beauty. However there's but no need to rush to Sephora to add another product to an already burgeoning collection. We already have multiple use products tumbling out of our makeup drawers and bags. It's just a matter of using a little creativity
A lipstick can easily duplicate as a blush, in fact many makeup artists have long used it as such. The trick in to have well moisturized skin at the site of application. It's also vital to blend well.
Concealer is probably your most versatile product. Nix the eyeshadow base the makeup consultants will tell you is a must; concealer applied with a brush works just as well. And here's a confession: I substitute concealer for eyeshadow itself on a regular basis. When used along with eyeliner and mascara, it gives a natural look that works well for daytime.
The possibilities for double uses are endless. When my daughter was in college she made her own tinted moisturizer be mixing a small amount of foundation with moisturizer. And speaking of moisturizer never ever discard or give it away. what wrecks havoc with your face will be heaven for your feet!
Cheers,
Barb

Put Away That Hand Lotion!

As usual I wasn't paying attention as I squeezed some sunblock out of the tube. I had already generously coated my face and messaged some over my throat but my hands were still covered with the stuff.
I was trying a new one from Bath and Body Works, True Blue Spa. The first listed active ingredient is Avobenzone which is proven to protect against those dreaded UVA rays, the ones responsible for aging . At $12. for six ounces I didn't want to waste the remainder of the lotion and so rubbed it on the backs of my hands
Those hands haven't been looking so good lately despite my being more diligent about moisturizing them. I even went so far as to invest in creams and lotions just for that body part instead of using what ever I had.
About an hour later as I was typing, I glanced down at my hands. They didn't have their usual dried out, dull look. The skin even looked a bit thicker and much smoother than it had in quite awhile.
All and all it's a good purchase, a multi purpose product that's both enhancing, protecting and water-proof
Give it a try.
Cheers,
Barb

WHAT THE DERMOTOIGIST SAID

After peering at my rough red scaly (and ugly) patches through the glass that appears attached to his eye, my dermatologist pronounced then all pre- cancerous.  One was more suspicious looking than the others so he biopsied it and said that he would scrape the rest at my next appointment.  
As soon as I heard pre cancerous I was ready with my question.  Could the problem possibly be caused by oxybenzone? He shook his head no almost before I got the word out. I told what I had read but he reiterated that it wasn't the cause.  I then told him how many products I used that contained the drug but he stuck to his guns and at that point I detected a slight note of impatience.
A few days later he called to say that the one he had deemed suspicious was not malignant but rather odd.  He'd scrape it with the rest.
 I've decided to use what ever products I have that contain Oxybenzone but not to buy any more containing it in the future.   What about you?
Cheers,
Barb

HELP FOR STRESSED SKIN

A while back a friend rhapsodized about the powers of a Nivea Creamy Oil (no longer in their product line) and of course I had to try it. About a half hour after rubbing it into my skin, I stood before my husband with arms and decollete smooth,glowing and craving a compliment. He reached out, touched me and quickly pulled his hand away. "What's that sticky stuff?"

That was it for me even though my dermatologist had advised that my severe dry skin would best be remedied with a combination of oil and lotion. It was also why I was a bit hesitant to try Dove's newest entry in the moisturizer market. DOVE CREAM OIL.Blame it on the chill in the air or the dryness in the house but in fall my skin yearns for more moisture. Despite fastidious use of sunblock summer's stronger rays still have a way of sneaking in and leaving their imprint on skin. Mine seems dryer and rougher and so I decided to give Dove a try.
My head still wrapped in a towel I applied it right after showering. It has a silky texture, smoother and thinner than Nivea's. By time I shook out and combed my hair it was completely absorbed and I was even able to pull on my ballet tights and leotard with out thinking they were being moisturized too! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Barb

BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A STEM CELL CREAM LOG ON TO BOOMERGIRL.COM

Stem cell technology is the new holy grail of anti aging face creams but before you plunk down your money log on to BoomerGirl.com and get the inside scoop. Today's article, a reprint from the Los Angeles Times is a real eye opener.
There's also a wealth of other information on that site that you won't find elsewhere.

Cheers, Barb

BARB'S BEAUTY BUY OF THE WEEK

You are probably expecting an inexpensive but great product that can erase all the imperfections that keep us from looking like the models in those glossy ads. Sorry to disappoint but what this Best Buy will do is prevent future damage .Yes, I'm talking about sun block, a product I all but bathed in last summer and spent quite a bit a money on in the process.

The other day on a routine trip to Costco,while trying to restrain myself from buying numerous things I really didn't need, I spied Neutrogena Dry-Touch Sunblock. It has an SPF of 55 which is usually hard to find. Neutrogena, in it's various forms is the one sunblock recommended by every dermatologist I've ever consulted(except for those hawking their own products) .

UltraSheer Dry Touch contains Helioplex, a combination of avobenzone,homosalte and other ingredients that block those aging UVA rays, the ones responsible for wrinkles, twice as long as any other product on the market. Most sunblocks stop working after two hours. The product is quickly absorbed and unlike other heavy duty sunblocks I've tried, leaves no residue. It's waterproof, sweatproof and resists rub off. $13.99 buys two 3.fl ounce tubes which is packaged along with a lip moisturizer. Stock Up!

FOUND! The PRODUCT I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR

It hard to believe that one could scour drugstore and high end beauty counters, not to mention Sephora and still be unable to find a finely milled pink powder that could be applied with a brush as a finishing touch after makeup.
Only pink, not coral, bronze or red gives that color that at a young age appears naturally. It lights up the face and brings it alive like nothing else, save vigorous exercise or sex can. In her later years my mother achieved it by combining three products together (don't ask). I wanted the same result from one.
I began to feel like an aging Goldilocks looking for that perfect porridge. At Este Lauder I discovered a bright pink pressed powder that looked great in the store but was far too matte when I tried it at home. Walking past the Bare Minerals display I stopped short when I spied a container of pale pink loose powder along side of which was a large fluffy brush. Certain that I
had found what I was looking for,I gave it a try only to find the result so sparkly that I felt ready to step out on the stage.
Then like a fairy godmother, Benefit appeared with a new product thrrrob which they bill as a"turned on" face powder. It is a bright pink pressed powder with just a hint of sparkle which I must admit gave me pause. But Benefit has never disappointed and now they've kept their record intact. I grabbed the accompanying brush with out a thought of who may have used it before and swept the powder lightly across cheekbones, forehead and chin. When I peered in the mirror I looked as if I had just finished a marathon or tumbled out of bed!
Cheers,
Barb

Quickest Way To Protect Skin From UV Rays

No, I'm not suggesting you sequester yourself indoors for the summer but I have found that getting myself equipped to face the morning sun on my daily power walk takes a lot longer than it used to. For years I just smeared some sunscreen over my face and felt virtuous . Always being a bit shortsighted I never gave a thought to anything below my chin. It was those glaring mirrors at ballet class that gave me my comeuppance when they reflected neck and arm skin that looked considerably older than that on my face. I tried to rectify matters by expanding my sunscreen coverage which also added several minutes to my departure time.
Now I've discovered a product that may help hasten it.
SunGuard is a laundry product that washes sun protection into clothing and helps block more than 96% of UV rays from reaching your skin. UVP,Ultra Violet Protection is similar to SPF ratings for sunscreen. Most light weight and light colored summer fabrics do little or nothing to protect your skin from those harmful rays. A white tee shirt has a UVP factor of 5. Adding just one packet Of SunGuard to a warm or hot water laundry load along with detergent will increase sun protection to a UVP rating of 30. while not changing the texture, color or breathability of clothing. One treatment provides protection for up to 20 washings. This product is recommended by dermatologists and bears the Good Housekeeping and Skin Cancer's Foundation seals. Sounds good to me!
Cheers, Barb

Beauty Product Rebellion

I've made up my mind and I won't be swayed. From this point on I will never purchase any two step beauty product be it mascara or anything else. Ditto for the primers that are flooding the market to be used prior to applying foundation. I am also swearing off the double blush application as touted by a Bobbie Brown sales associate. She swirled a cream pink blush over the apples of my checks and then addressed my cheek bones with a swipe or two of bronzer. Yes, I looked rosy cheeked and healthy and my cheek bones appeared more prominent that they usually do but it is nothing I would ever do at home.
Multiple products and numerous application steps remind me of a good friend who has since moved on to a place where adornment is unnecessary. When earthbound, her face while never shouting makeup, always looked great. Of course I had to learn her secret and she was happy to share it. The process involved layering and mixing three different foundations and two concealers for starters and then moved on to multi step processes for eyes,lips and cheeks. It ended with brushing a pale pink powder over her entire face with a big fluffy brush. As much as I admired the finished product, I didn't posses the patience or own the fluffy brush(which she insisted was key), to even try to replicate it
There are increasingly a ton of tricks and products available to seduce us in our efforts to present a more attractive facade. It's easy to be tempted especially if we compare ourselves with celebrities who spend hours being styled,buffed and Botoxed to within an inch of their lives. As vain as I may be, I'm still not willing to spend an iota more time than I already do applying cosmetics. Time is precious and there are too many other more interesting and rewarding ways to use it.
I'm still a beauty product junkie and will be forever on the lookout for that perfect product that will help transform or cover whatever is bothering me, the only criteria being that it's quick and easy to apply.
How much time to you spend putting on your makeup? I'd love to know!
Cheers,
Barb

Help For Those Age Spots

My colleague At GIRL-WOMAN-BEAUTY- BRAINS BLOG has found some help for those age spots that plaque most of us as the years pile up. This is a woman as obsessed with concealers as I am, so she knows of what she speaks. While she found several that worked on her face,they failed to camouflage the spots on her hands, which she refers to as sun spots. (a much kinder term that I intend to adopt ) .
Truthfully,I was always more concerned with my face but know that many women feel otherwise especially when spring rolls around and it's time to take the gloves off.
Girl-Woman - recommends Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation to make your hands appear spotless and ready for viewing. It comes in a wide range of shades and is transfer resistant. This concealer also contains SPF30 to help put the breaks on any future sun spots targeting your hands.
Cheers,
Barb

What Are They Wearing for the Oscars?

If the expressions on the stars sashaying down the red carpet look just a little more frozen than usual it could be because they're wearing Freeze 24- 7 According to a press release I received from that cosmetic company's PR people the faces of Debra Messing, Halle Berry and Renee Zellweger, among others will be sporting their products.
I haven't used Freeze 24-7 except for a quick pump and application of their Anti-Aging Eye Serum at Sephora pre-eye lift. I recall my under-eye area feeling and looking a bit tighter but not tight enough to justify The $115.00 price tag . They have a full line of products that address tightening and wrinkling. Like many anti aging products their results are most likely to be effective on the under 40 group who have a minimum of lax skin.
I"m certain that the stars we'll be scrutinizing regardless of age will be wearing the products on top of their Botoxed or Restylane filled faces. So don't be taken in. It's just another case of cosmetic industry smoke and mirrors

Lip Color With Staying Power

Any color I put on my lips has a tendency to do a quick disappearing act so I've long been on the lookout for lip color that lasts. Yes I know there are some out with staying power but they leave my lips feeling parched.
Now the people at Good Housekeeping have to come to the rescue. At their renowned Research Institute they recently tested ten of the latest long lasting lip colors.
After applying the lip colors in the lab,volunteers ate a buttered bagel, sipped a hot drink and kissed the back of their hand. An expert then recorded the amount of transfer color. The testers then wore the products for the rest of the day without reapplying and then rated them on comfort look and wear.
All had zero color fade and lasted 11 hours. Among the top three performers L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Lip Color was number two after Channel
Of course I had to check it out and made a special stop at Rite Aide. I spent a bit of time picking out the color bearing in mind advice from the book How Not To Look Old which says we older gals do better to stick with pale pink (being blond I had always veered to the more earth or coral tones which might have been a mistake.) So I picked Azalea, a medium pale pink. The product comes in an attractive mirrored case, but I was dismayed to discover that this one like the Maybelline I had previously tried was a two step process.
I still felt compelled to give it a try. The color is applied with a wand and has to dry for two minutes. It went on more smoothly but had that same stiff feeling as the Maybelline as it dried However this is then topped by a clear super moisturizing gloss applied in stick form. It immediately alleviated the stiff feeling and managed to keep my lips feeling moisturized all day.
By evening they were still pink, if not quite as shiny as they were in the morning. I may have to try this one again but in a brighter shade. I'm still not sold on the virtues of pink but do intend to check out the shades recommended in the book. I'll let you know. Meanwhile I can't believe I'm spending so much time thinking about lips!
Cheers,
Barb

CAN BOTOX TREAT DEPRESSION?

My mother and countless others subscribe to the adage that if you look good, you feel better. I tend to be a bit skeptical. However a recent pilot study led by Maryland dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Eric FinziM.D.,Phd, in which Botox injections were used as a treatment for depression suggests they might just be right.

Ten women all of who met the standards for ongoing major depression, based on their responses to standardized depression surveys, received five Botox injections into their frown muscles. According to Dr Finzi, the injections prevented the patients from frowning and in turn helped to lift their depression.

Now before you jump to the conclusion that it was their improved reflection in the mirror that lifted their spirits, hold on. Dr. Finzi asserts that there is a direct feedback between the frown muscles and the depression center of the brain. He told WebMD "If you can prevent the negative signals that occur when someone frowns, the brain interprets this as meaning that things are better." As one who has wrestled with depression on and off since menopause, it sounds good to me but many in the medical community are skeptical saying that the sample was too small and that the survey didn't follow all the usual scientific guidelines to make it a valid study.

Still I'm encouraged. Just imagine a time when instead of going to the pharmacy to renew your Zoloft, you just pop by the dermatologist for a shot of Bot0x. Now there's a triple winner; insurance pays, depression is alleviated and you look good besides. It's a perscription that would make a beauty addict almost giddy.

Cheers,

Barb

The Best Face Treatment



A few years back I was stuck in the airport at Aruba and every mirror reflected my tan dehydrated face. Surly it must be the lighting I thought to myself, unwilling to belive I looked that bad. And yes, I had used tons of sunscreen and moisturizer but evidently it hadn't been enough.

I headed for the duty free shop and was buoyed to see that they had a Clarins counter. The salesgirl took a quick look at me and suggested their face oil. Oil for my face? I remember being a bit taken back but there was no time to ponder because they were calling my flight. I purchased something called Santel Face Treatment Oil and applied some before take off and again before landing. I continued to use it at home in place of my regular moisturizer. However once the bottle was empty I didn't replace it and I can't remember why but then I do tend to be fickle about such things

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when the dermatologist prescribed oil topped with lotion for my legs, arms etc. I was so pleased with the results that one morning, on a whim I applied the same mixture to my face, substituting my creme Lancome moisturizer for the lotion. My face has had a dewy glow ever since .
I see that Clarins now makes 3 three different kinds of face oil, and several high end, heavy duty face moisturizers have oil listed as one of their major ingredients. And I seem to remember reading that one of the prominent beauty denizens , maybe Trish or Bobbie mentioned applying oil to one's face. I think I may just be on the cusp of a trend. But whatever, it certainly works for me.
Cheers,
Barb

GLOWING WITH GLOW FUSION



"Just A bit of concealer, some bronzer and I'm good to go." That snippet of conversation caught my attention and I turned to check out the woman who had uttered it. She was about my age but with the outdoor, healthy sort of good looks that proclaim time spent on the tennis courts or playing golf.

It's the look I crave in summer and that results in me experimenting with several different self tanners that end up just magnifying my discolorations. I also spend more money that I like to admit on bronzers that turn out to be either too orange or too drying or end up caking in my wrinkles.

Somewhere I read that Guerlain had come out with a new moisturizing bronzer but unfortunately my local Sephora didn't have it. I was set to try elsewhere when the salesgirl asked if I had tried the new GlowFusion Bronzer which promised to fill in fine lines and wrinkles while giving a healthy glow. Now that had my name on it and I sprinted over to the display with her following behind. She snapped open an attractive silver compact and reveled a shade called Golden that she thought would work for me. In the past I would have taken it but this summer I am seeking more of just a hint of color(trying to stay away that orange) and so I choose Luminous, their palest tint. I also purchased a large fluffy Sephora brush to apply it with.

At home I swept the blush across each side of my face in a W, starting at the temple going down to the apple of my cheek and up across my nose and stepped back. I looked healthy and yes luminous but I wasn't getting too excited because I've found that sometimes the way I look in my bathroom mirror doesn't translate well to other locations. Instead I gave it my personal Litmus test and one that has sent many products flying back to Sephora. I got out the large magnifying mirror, stood by the window and pulled up the blind flooding the room with light. I scrutinized my reflection from every angle using both magnifications. There was not a hint of caking. The finish had a slight sheen and my lines were defused if not filled in. I too was "good to go."

That night at ballet class my friend Marrieta,who I hadn't seen in awhile, commented on how well I looked. "It's bronzer," I told her. I didn't mention the eyeliner,mascara and lip gloss also adorning my face. After all for me,"good to go" or not, those items are a given.

Cheers,

Barb

Mexoral On Board !

Well after much research I ordered my Mexoral sun protection on line from La Roche-Posy(a division of L'Oreal). Of course I felt smug about being first on the block and on the blogs to have this long lauded and hard to find product in my possession.
The day it arrived I tore open the box, unsnapped the top of the tube and spread the white cream all over my face and neck. Going on it felt like a rich moisturizer but it was completely absorbed in a matter of minutes. I put the excess on my hands and feeling virtuous and protected and still smug I went out for my power walk.
The next day I saw a Lancome ad for their new sun protection. It's called Expert and yes it contains Mexoral. It was just a regular ad not the big announcement that I would have expected given the former cult status of this product, given the fact that it took forever to be approved by the FDA and people were smuggling it in from Europe. Then this morning I got a call from my daughter, Kim."You know that sunblock you wrote about? I bought it in Eckard (a chain drug store) they even had a coupon and I got $5.00 off so it was $25.00. " Well that certainly took the wind out of my sails, seeing in that my eagerness to finally get my hands on it I paid $30. plus $5.00 shipping.
Only time will tell if it lives up to all the hype.
Cheers,
Barb

Sorting Out That Sun Protection and Searching for Mexoryl

Okay,I'll admit it. I'm a reluctant user of sunscreen, sunblock etc. Yes I do slather it on and follow all the rules rubbing it in thirty minutes before exposure and reapplying throughout the day etc. etc. and each summer I head for the drug store and check out what's new in the world of sun protection. What I'm really looking for doesn't exist but I'm always hopeful that someday there will be a product that will provide adequate protection from those harmful rays while allowing me to replicate that golden tan I used to get from iodine and baby oil.
After all these years and two episodes of squamous cell skin cancer, it's still hard to picture a pale me in the summer. I love being tan. The summer sun transforms me. A few sessions in the sun makes my eyes appear bluer, my hair blonder, my spider veins invisible and even the stubborn cellulite on my thighs look firmer. Just add a tan and any body part looks more appealing.
But it's more than that. I crave the caress of the sun on the side of my face the way a smoker looks forward to that first drag of the day. The sun energizes me, lifts my spirits and its hard to imagine that something that feels so good could be so bad.
Enough complaining. I'm out to stock up on sunblock which until recently I confused with sunscreen. So what's the difference? Suncreen contain chemicals like PABA, benzophenones, cinnamates and salicylates that absorb UV rays. Sunblocks reflect those rays instead of absorbing them and contain such chemicals an titanian dioxide and zinc oxide. Remember that white streak on the lifeguard's nose?)
The sun protection product you chose should offer protection against both UVB (burning) and UVA (aging)rays. Each year the SPF factor keeps climbing and now some products now offer SPF 70 or more So does that mean that you can bask from dawn to dusk. Not necessarily It just means you have a bit more protection in case you didn't apply the right amount in the first place. Recommended is a teaspoon for your face and a tablespoon each for each arm and leg.

I intended to stick to my old favorite Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock SPF45. Then I recalled that Mexoryl Sunsreen long popular in Canada, Europe Asia and Australia was finally approved late last summer for sale in the US and I started to get that reved up just have to have it feeling. However a thorough search showed it hasn't made it to my neck of the woods yet but it is available for sale on the web. Several manufacturers are making it among them Ombrelle, a division of L'Oreal,
So what's so good about it . Well Dr. Vincent DeLeo, chairman of dermatology at Columbia University claims "It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine." He's not alone in his praise. His colleague Dr. Darrell Rigel, clinical professor of dermatology at NYU claims that Mexoryl is the number one individual ingredient in terms of protection from ultraviolet A radiation. Those are the rays that penetrate deeper into the skin down to those layers that are responsible for skin tone and elasticity. When they're damaged by those nasty rays you end up with lines wrinkles and all other sort of unsightly aging things.
Mexoryl may just be what I've been searching for. I' m ordering mine today and will report back soon. There's nothing like a bit of hope to buoy one along.
Cheers,
Barb

Guess Who's Courting Us?


It's none other than DOVE and just as in their previous ad campaigns they are using real women not professional models in their ads. This time they are promoting their new Pro-Age line, aimed at women over 50. Just wait until you see these women. They are nude, but discretely posed. However in full view are their age spots, wrinkles and fat rolls and a prouder, happier group of women you would be hard pressed to find. Their smiles leap off the page. True beauty is about acceptance and loving yourself and they certainly epitomize those qualities. What a lesson for us all. I found the ads so inspiring that I quickly exited to my local drug store to check out the products.
The line is extensive including skin and hair care products all especially formulated to enhance and treat our special needs. They contain super moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and olive oil.
I picked up a tube of their hand cream said to promote faster cell turnover along with nourishment and protection for even tone and texture. Then I glanced at the body moisturizers of which I already have an extensive collection. However I am always on the lookout because I have yet to find one that says THIS IS IT! My criteria is a product that will erase or camouflage for a day or so those vertical lines on my arms that shout "old lady". Not all older women have them. My informal survey tells me they are more prevalent on slender women who have had, and are now paying for, their day in the sun. Those lines do not seem to affect our more well padded friends as much. Anyway Dove has a regular moisturizer and also one for extra dry skin called Creamy Oil Moisturizer. Of course I had to buy it and tried it as soon as I got home. No matter that there was dinner to cook and phone calls to be returned. I have my priorities. The product is thick and creamy and was absorbed more quickly than I expected. My lines were nowhere in sight. However this had happened with other creams as well so I didn't get too excited. The litmus test would be how my arms looked the next day. You guessed it the first thing I did was check them out. The lines were back but much less visible. After a quick shower I applied more of the moisturizer and made it all the way through ballet class with out a line in sight.
Dove's Pro-age models and all ROCKS
Cheers, Barb

Who's A Babe Over 60?


Okay so babes and 60 are not exactly synonymous but times are changing. Sixty is no longer what it was when our mothers reached that milestone. As a group we are healthier, more active and vibrant than any previous generation and as the Boomers join our ranks, the stereotype of the little old lady,frail and bent with tightly permed white hair will be put to rest. We're redefining what 60 and over looks like
That being said,what is a Babe?
A Babe is a woman who maintains her sensuality throughout her life.
She abhors helmet hair,obvious makeup,and anything that screams "matronly".
A Babe does not own a pair of plain white cotton underpants.
She would rather arrive at a party with wet hair than don one of those plastic rain bonnets.
A Babe in comfortable in her skin and has developed her own sense of style. She incorporates elements of current fashion but isn't a slave to it.
She is determined to look attractive and enjoy each stage of life.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GAP?

The financial pages report that the Gap(Old Navy, Banana Republic) is sinking fast. Evidently the young demographic that they are geared towards has elected to take their credit cards else where.
Over a year ago they tried to buoy business by establishing a new division called Towne and Forth. Maybe the name was their first mistake. It certainly gave no hint as to what they were selling. I for one thought it was men's wear. So I was surprised to see an ad for them in MORE magazine featuring attractive, smart looking dresses with sleeves no less, stylish but not matronly. I looked forward to checking them out but they never opened in my part of the country.(Long Island, NYC)
Boomers grew up with the GAP and if the population I encounter on my frequent visits is any indication,many still shop there and also at Banana Republic searching for updated tee shirts, jeans and workout wear. However those basics are in short supply. The Gap is still courting the teens and twenty somethings with Abercrombie style knock offs. Banana Republic in its latest collection looks like an Ann Taylor wannabe but a shade more boring. Judging from the overstocks, this tactic is not working. The Boomers, the first wave of which joined our over 60 group last year is the fasting growing demographic in the nation, They clutch a good handful of disposable income and are hungry for the kind of good quality, casual clothes that will fit their active lifestyle. It's a natural for the GAP
They would do well to take another look at Towne & Forth and try to remedy whatever happened there. Maybe a lack of advertising? As for their original Gap and Banana Republic stores, do a test market with some stylish, well cut basics for the Boomers and the rest of us, keeping in mind that we don't buy boring.
Cheers, Barb