Hi Everyone, welcome to this month’s Ageless Style Feature. Each month the Contessa and I feature someone over 50 that we think has great style. Every few months I like to feature someone in the public eye that I personally admire. I have been dying to feature Andie MacDowell. The more I read about her the more I love her. Let’s get her accolades and stats over with. Andie MacDowell is a 64-year-old model, actress, and mother of three. She signed a modeling contract with Elite Model Management in New York City in 1978. She has modeled for Vogue and appeared in ad campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Vassarette, Armani perfume, Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and many others. She made her film debut in 1984’s Greystoke, the Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. She received critical acclaim for Sex Lies, and Videotapes, golden globe nominations for Green Card, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. So let’s get on with it. Raise your hand if you love Andie MacDowell’s, Silver Locks.
Most recently, she has focused her talents on television and Independent films. Since 1986, MacDowell has been a spokesperson for Loreal. How about that? That is 36 years. Most recently she acted alongside her daughter on Netflix The Maid (a favorite of mine). Image courtesy of Netflix.
Why do we love her so much? Perhaps because she seems “real” and approachable. Rachel Zoe said this of Andie MacDowell (when accidentally arriving late for her wonderful interview here)”Many celebrities would have been long gone, but I find MacDowell waiting.” Image from the Zoe Report
Apparently, during lockdown like many others, Andie ( after years of toying with the idea) let her hair go “au naturel”. Her daughters encouraged her to embrace it (mine did too). She rolled with it and championed her age in general. I think you will love this article via People Magazine.
Apparently, her managers advised her against it (shocker) Via Vogue “My managers had actually said to me”, “It’s not time.” Don’t you love this quote….
She said, “I think you’re wrong, and I’m going to be more powerful if I embrace where I am right now. It’s time because in two years I’m going to be 65. If I don’t do it now, I won’t have the chance to be salt and pepper. I always wanted to be salt and pepper!”
I find it fascinating that when Annie decided to go gray she received inspiration from real women on Instagram. She said she had a hard time finding celebrities or famous people with gray hair.
How does Andie care for her gray hair? While her new salt and pepper look doesn’t require as many salon visits (as I stated in my gray hair care post going gray, the good the bad and the ugly here) She says it does require a bit of maintenance. Andie shares that she “dumps buckets of conditioner on her hair” and often opts for conditioner over shampoo. She sometimes leaves it in her hair all night (interesting concept). She relies on purple-toned shampoos and conditioners to counteract the brassiness. You can read my post Gray Hair Products that Work for me here.)
“I think women are tired of the idea that you can’t get old and be beautiful,” Men get old and we keep loving them…I want to be like a man”
Andie has three grown children from her first marriage and is living happily in Marina Del Rey, California. If you want to learn more about the charming Andie MacDowell please read the articles below.
Vogue Andie Macdowell Says Embracing her Gray Hair is a Power Move
Prevention-Andie MacDowell Says Going Gray is Badass
Andie MacDowell on the Joys of Acting with her Daughter
Andie MacDowell Why is my Gray Hair an Issue and George Clooney’s isn’t?
The Zoe Report-The Silver Era of Andie MacDowell
Thank you so much for reading Raise Your Hand if you Love Andie MacDowell’s, Silver Locks. I love everything about her. You can follow Andie MacDowell on Instagram here.
Now pop over and visit the Contessa and see who she is featuring this month.
THE VINTAGE CONTESSA
Love Andie McDowell, she’s so femine, beautiful and that quote… couldn’t agree more.
How great to hear that she actually went against her management and followed her guts about going grey. This is an age when we finally enjoy more of what we are rather than fight against what we are not. I personally feel the most in peace with myself that I’ve been my entire life
Hi Liana
I adore Andie too. I have to agree with you about being at peace with myself. I think it is our age. We no longer have to impress anyone!
Cindy,
I’ve always appreciated the inspiration I receive from women who are real and aren’t afraid to share it. As I’ve aged, I feel more confident about being my own self. Thank you for shining the light on Andie McDowell. She is amazing and I think she’s beautiful.
xo,
Karen B.
Hi Karen B
I love Andie MacDowell well said my friend!
Loved this Cindy. Andie has always been one of my favorites and with her new salt and pepper hair, I think she makes going grey look chic. It helps that she has stunning hair. I love the long and natural look and I do not think she should cut its as others suggested. Why? She is so beautiful with it long. She also obviously takes great care of her body and face. I loved the article you linked to and it had a cute video of her giving her younger self advice. She’s just so likable and real!
Fun post.
Andie is beautiful with her long s/p hair. Don’t let jealous women cause you to ruin your looks on color. Cindy, please do not cut your hair short!!! Your hair is gorgeous!!!
Hi Nancy
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I appreciate it. I would never color my hair again. I honestly prefer it gray.
I love Andies hair!!!! I also loved the series Maid.
Hi Kathy
I loved the maid too. I just love her in general.
She is stunning! I love her attitude! Why can’t we get old?
Hi Annie
I love her outlook on life as well!
But, my gosh look at that wonderful thick curly hair on Andie! It is perfect for her personality. Wish I had half her hair volume.
And a big thank you for your brave facelift post. It helped me decide. And I am older.
I am also doing the collagen and believe it is helping my knee pain!
Really appreciate all the different and informative blogs you write.
Hi Vaughan
I have become a fan of collagen for her too. I was having some knee pain on and off and I do not seem to have it. Let me know if you go ahead with your facelift. I hope you will be happy!
I loved this post! Thanks for sharing more about Andie. I love her spunk, attitude and hair!
Hi Jennifer
I love her spunk and attitude too!
Love the George Clooney quote. I remember see Andie in her first movie and was stunned by her beauty. I’m still stunned.
Sandra
I agree she is stunning in every way.
I went salt and pepper at 53. I miss my brunette self, but I like being salt and pepper too. I think Andie looks softer with her gray. Yes, gray can age some people, but so can getting the wrong hair color for our skin tone. Simply having pigmented hair does not always equal looking younger.
Hi Karen
Great point! That is what was happening to me. My hair was turning this awful color from so much coloring!
I agree. I watched her in Cedar Cove (mindless, cozy, and fun) and thought her very dark and obviously dyed hair looked very harsh and unnatural.
It also looks as if she may be allowing her face to age naturally.
She is very beautiful.
“Salt and Pepper” is a great look…..seems those with dark hair win the transition challenge because the white and grey go together well. The “salt” with drab taupe that older Blondes get does not look so good. Often with aging blond hair there is so little white/grey hair that it just looks flat and this is a very draining look. I will just keep doing blonde highlights until there is enough of the white/grey hair to look ok
Hi Lauren
Good point. However, I have known platinum blondes that gray beautifully!
I have always admired Andie’s work, she’s a talented actress. If she’s comfortable with her S&P hair then that’s all that matters. That said I do prefer her dark hair, I personally think this current look adds 10 years to her look.
Hi Linda
Interesting. I never had a lot of salt and pepper. I am guessing hers will not last long. I pretty much went straight to silver.
I think Andie looks Beautiful , I hope more women celebrity or not embrace this look.
I certainly have and I love it .
Hi Kristine
I love her look as well.
Well…I’m 63 and let my dyed blonde hair go natural. I just hated the line of demarcation once I started going grey.
Now it is Salt and pepper, mostly salt in the front, and all the toned blonde has grown out and my salt pepper hair is down slightly past my shoulders. I was one of those with mousy light brown hair as an adult, blonde as a child, and that always looked better with the blonde highlights.
While the grey does look nice, nicely streaked and very healthy and shiny…I can’t lie…. I feel I look older than I should.
Grey hair naturally ages no matter how nice it looks in my opinion I wish it weren’t so, because I love the ease of it. Ideally I wish I could find someone to streak it with some blonde, so I have some blonde, but not all blonde. But I don’t dare experiment after having already grown it out for 2 yrs now.
A quandary.
Politics aside, I always think Liz Cheney’s current hair has a great grey/blonde color.
Hi Kitty
Liz Cheney does have great hair.
I think Angie is adorable- and her s&p hair fits her! I like your silver hair better, though!! I always think you look great!!
Hi Martha
Well, thank you. As I said by the time I let mine go natural, it was almost silver. I wonder if those that don’t care for gray feel the same way about silver?
Andie looks fabulous!
During the pandemic, I let my hair go white and have only trimmed it twice in 2 years. I get more compliments now than I ever did when I spent a fortune cutting and coloring it ever 4 weeks. I believe an important factor of wearing long white hair is dressing fashionably and staying fit, which I’ve noticed you do quite well. . Age and that mix is a big score.
Hi Vicki
I was so hoping you would all enjoy this feature. In regards to silver, white, or salt and pepper hair, it is absolutely a personal choice. I never want to be “that person” that thinks everyone should go gray or in my case silver. I have never looked back for a second, and am constantly complimented on my hair. I do agree about staying current and fit (I have called off the wagon a bit on that one lately) if your hair is gray…excellent point.
Hi! Cindy! And i’s sister lives here
in Knoxville and I am friends with her.
Teresa Hatmaker
Hi Teresa
Great to hear from you! It’s a small world, isn’t it? We have Knoxville on our bucket list. Once we get moved and settled we have to come visit!
Raising my hand over! I love the color and the length of her hair! I have been going grey since my 20’s and now at 66 years young, it’s grey/white. No body needs to tell anyone what to do with their hair, and Cindy, I love your hair ❤️
Hi Ramona
I think your point is excellent. There are those of us that have chosen to embrace the gray and some who don’t want to. I am all for whatever makes any of us feel good about ourselves at this stage in life.
A quote I hold onto daily is relevant here:
With the spread of conformity and image-driven superficiality, the allure of an individuated woman in full possession of herself and her powers will prove irresistible. We were born for plenitude and inner fulfillment.
—Elizabeth Prioleau
Andie is the quintessence of this statement…I admire her courage for aligning with her beautiful inner landscape more than ever on the outer. Thank you for this interesting interview posted. “Rose” is her moniker… how apropos!
Yes!
Love the quote and Andie
Hi Jes! So glad you enjoyed it!
Amelia
Thank you so much for sharing that one. What a lovely quote.
I,unfortunately am going white,not gray. I love gray hair but my white makes me look like a ghost!! I’m just too pale for white hair. But I admire all the women who are grat
Hi Diane
I totally understand. My friend and neighbor has the most gorgeous white hair and she is pale as a ghost. She has always worn red lipstick and a lot of color and is able to pull it off. She went gray early, never got in the sun much, and took excellent care of her skin. No one could ever figure out her age.
Andie MacDowell is okay, but I’m not raising my hand. I’m just not a big fan of going gray. I AM of that age, and I am stunned by how much going all gray has aged some of my friends. As with everything to do with aging, it’s of course a personal choice. And I’m all for empowerment and being natural etc. but I’m not embracing gray…yet!
Hi Nancy
I don’t think anyone should go gray if they don’t like it. It is certainly not for everyone. For me personally, it was a good choice, but I do not think it is for everyone.
Andie is gorgeous at every stage of her life! Love her authenticity. She embraces her natural beauty and gracefully accepts the process of aging. I highly recommend her film, “Harrison’s Flowers”! She truly exemplifies ageless style.
Hi Nan
I will watch Harrison’s Flowers. I love her authenticity as well. For many years she did not live near L.A.
Andie was born in South Carolina in a small town in the upstate area and maintains a home in Asheville, NC. She is a true Southern beauty, isn’t she?
Hi Nan
I totally agree!!
I thought she was brilliant in The Maid. Her hair style is and has been her signature. I love the gray. I went gray at 60 and have never regretted it. I think I look younger. I get lots of compliments. Of course, for me a good short cut is best.
Hi Ann
I think you make a good point. Her hair is her signature. It was beautiful black and it is beautiful salt and pepper now. I bet it will be gorgeous silver!
So glad I subscribed to your post.
I always enjoyed you.on Classic Casual on Sundays. Thank you!
I am not a gray gal. I enjoy it on others.
I will be coloring until.I can no longer get.to a shop. Ha! Ha!
Hi Nan
So glad you joined us! As I said gray is not for everyone. I had someone that heckled me for years to be natural and it nearly drove me nuts. For me it was the encouragement of both my husband and daughter. The condition of my hair from all the coloring just wasn’t good.
Cindy:
Glad ya featured Andie, Love. her, My thoughts is she needs to get Style/ Cut, keep the Wavy, Curls, and guess I am on the fence, Color or Stay with Salt and Pepper.
I like Cher, will not go Gray., plus some have beautiful Salt and Pepper, and the right bone structure etc.
Say, whatever makes one feel good in there own skin. Embrace it.
Thank you❤️
Hi Karen
I am so glad all of you ladies that do not want to go gray are speaking out. I hope we are a community here that supports one another for our individuality. That is what makes this so much fun.
Inspirational post. I am go back and forth on deciding to stop coloring my hair, do not know why it is such a hard decision. I love her quotes. Especially the one about the difference between men aging and women aging. I love your blog.
Hi Frances
I hear you. I did the same thing. It is a hard decision. I kept asking myself..what if I don’t like it? Can I go back? It is a huge decision. Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t.
I think Andie looks great with salt & pepper hair. She’s absolutely right! Men are considered distinguished while women are thought Old. Time to change that attitude.
I agree grey hair requires a great haircut but many women are beautiful with their long locks.. Andie is one of those women. Perhaps, it’s the curl that lifts the face, versus straight hair. Hmmm
Can we take a moment to appreciate her well toned body? Gorgeous!
Thank you for today’s Ageless Style.
Hi Joanna
I think you make a good point. It is hard to pull off long gray hair. My hair is longer than I ever thought I could pull off, but any longer and I think it would not be becoming. I haven’t had long hair since I was in college, so I am pretty sure I would look silly. That being said there are some like Andie that look absolutely amazing with long gray hair. Hats off to those that can pull it off.
I’ve always loved Andie Macdowell! I think it’s great that she does what feels right for her just as Ali MacGraw did who felt the same and didn’t dye her hair after she became a certain age. For goodness sake it’s the 21st century we should be supportive of women who feel like they should live their authentic life!
Hi Margarita
I agree with absolutely every word in your comment!
Love Andie. Love her hair too! I must tell that my hairstylist told me the purple shampoos are very drying . Have you experienced that? I have very little gray and I am so jealous of anyone with beautiful gray hair!
Hi Marcia
Your stylist is wrong. He/she may be speaking of some of the cheaper ones that they had back in the day. There are so many good products out there now. I have my favorites and not one of them is the least bit drying. You are lucky you don’t have much gray, you will probably not have to worry about it for years.
I agree with going gray…which I did myself after losing all my hair due to chemo treatment. I decided that I did not need to spend the time I have left going to the hairdresser for expensive color and sitting for hours to get it done. But, I do think that the “magic” of going gray is to get a GREAT haircut. Not just good, but GREAT haircut. It makes all the difference. Andie has a gorgeous face and good bones…she needs to accent them by getting a GREAT haircut. Just my opinion.
Hi Dinah
My sister-in-law got the most gorgeous silver hair after going through chemo as well. She inspired me to do it. I agree with the importance of a great haircut. I am going to have to find a new hairdresser when we move. Fingers crossed
I have always loved her. I loved her in Groundhog Day and in especially in Michael. 🎶 “Pie, Pie, I love Pie. Me oh my, I love Pie!”🎶 She’s a classic beauty.
Hi Gray
She absolutely is!!
Yea, Andie! My new superheroine -fighting age-ism, sexism, and old-fashioned thinking simply by trusting her gut and being herself! Thanks for featuring her.
Hi Donna
Isn’t it great that we have another super hero?!!
HER HAIR IS GORGEOUS!I THINK I WILL TRY CONDITIONER OVER NIGHT CONCEPT!
THREE KIDS?
WHEN DID SHE HAVE TIME FOR THOSE?
Hi Elizabeth
I think her conditioner idea is a good one. One of my tricks is to leave the madison reed gloss on for an hour or more. I know that would not work for all, but for me it does.
🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️👍🏼
You go, girl (Andie)!
Hi Wren
I knew my silver-haired friend would approve!!
I’m sorry I cannot raise my hand. There is too much hair, she needs to cut it and do some kind of color. I don’t like Jane Fonda but she does do her hair very well.
Long hair for the most part is not for the old.
Hi Cindy
You don’t need to! Thanks for weighing in. I cannot even imagine her with short hair though, can you? I agree Jane Fonda has great hair.
Thank you for this delightful post. I’ve loved how Andie always embraced her curly hair and now her beautiful salt and pepper locks. She is an inspiration!
Hi Rita
I agree she is such an inspiration to all of us! Gray or not!!
Annie is adorable at any age and I think I like her now more than ever. No nonsense and genuine. Isn’t it a great piece of advice not to listen to your agent? I think we all have an “agent” or two in our lives. Best to listen to our instincts and act on those. Thanks Cyndi!
Holly
You said it well she is adorable at any age. I love your comment about the agent…..so true…always enjoy your wit and humor.