৩ মে, ২০১৮

I keep getting served this ad and it's kind of freaking me out.



Now, I don't dress like that or wear my hair like that or act like that. I mean I'd put my hand in my pocket, but, given a small bouquet of flowers, I would not put it on my head with an ooh-it's-kind-of-like-a-hat gesture. But I'm afraid this company — Gudrun something or other — has been reading some dark garishly bright corner of my mind and calculated that this — this!!! — is the real me, traipsing and stumbling about town. And I've got to admit that it's just about exactly how I pictured the myself as an old lady when I was 19 years old.

৭৩টি মন্তব্য:

Big Mike বলেছেন...

Don’t feel bad, Professor. I got it a couple times myself and I don’t wear dresses at all!

Darrell বলেছেন...

Google thinks you would like the crazy progressive old cat lady look.
Send them a "Fuck You!" IM.

YoungHegelian বলেছেন...

Perhaps some advertiser's bot-net found a past reference to the 'Crunchy Con Exterior -- Hippy-Dippy Love Chick Center" phrase.

Expat(ish) বলেছেন...

It's sorta got that original Freaky Friday vibe.

I live in The SWF and we have crazy rich old ladies all over the place. Not many like that tho.

-XC

Mr. Groovington বলেছেন...

She has a good face.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil বলেছেন...

If they're going by zip code, it becomes understandable. I imagine you can find quite a few retirees who dress like that in Madison.

Yesterday at the Metro Market, I saw a woman with white, purple, and pink hair. She appeared to be about 75. I guess you can look at it 2 different ways:

"Look at that old fool trying to look like she's a 21 year old SJW! Must be a Bernie voter! Doesn't she have any dignity?"

or

"She's at an age where she just doesn't give a damn anymore. Who's gonna fire her? Dignity? F you."

robother বলেছেন...

I'm getting the Haven Bachelor Party ad instead of this. I suppose I should be insulted that I'm above this crass appeal to my id, but I'm OK with it.

Otto বলেছেন...

Musings from this little high school girl in the 60s studying hard to be valedictorian in suburban north Jersey while fantasizing about being a rebel.

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

For a while I was getting adds on your site for a doll of a much younger, more attractive woman. Life size. Anatomically correct. Don't have the slightest idea why they thought such a thing would appeal to me.

(If you see large chunk of change from your Amazon portal, that might explain it.)

Leland বলেছেন...

It looks hippish, and as we now have been told; the Internet was created by a bunch of hippies that wanted to exploit ordinary human compulsion to make a buck. It is less a reflection of you as it is them thinking they know you.

PM বলেছেন...

Data analytics - it's a gold mine.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"Musings from this little high school girl in the 60s studying hard to be valedictorian in suburban north Jersey while fantasizing about being a rebel."

It was the first summer after college, and I had to go live with my parents in their new house in south Jersey... in the Pine Barrens. I wasn't studying, but working in a diner.

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

I had the idea that when you're old, you're completely liberated, that you could really be a hippie.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin বলেছেন...

It's pippy goth hippy stocking

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

That was the summer I transferred from RC (at Michigan) to the art school, completely intending to forfeit all hope of becoming part of the productive economy.

Yancey Ward বলেছেন...

At least you aren't getting ads for funeral homes.

Jupiter বলেছেন...

Don't fight it. You can't outsmart an algorithm. Better buy something from them quick.

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

...completely intending to forfeit all hope of becoming part of the productive economy.

So what made you choose to re-enter the productive economy? ( Assuming that you believe you ever did )

In other words, why did you sell out?

Nonapod বলেছেন...

So the algorithm determined that Althouse is some kind of crazy cat lady?

Otto বলেছেন...

I call it the grace of being old- don't have to go to unproductive meetings, don't have to attend useless social events, don't have to wear a shirt and tie, don't have to meet deadlines and budgets, don't have to keep up with the latest in your field , etc.So in a sense you are a rebel even though it maybe short-lived.

John Henry বলেছেন...

A couple days ago someone posted a link to a rolling stand for potted plants. I've probably gotten 20 ads for that since.

As for the lady in the ad, I don't see you like that at all. I see that woman as living alone, in a small apartment where nobody knows her except her 15 cats. Kids never call.

It is a VERY depressing picture. Even if I wore dresses like that the ad would really turn me off.

Sad.

John Henry

Ann Althouse বলেছেন...

"So what made you choose to re-enter the productive economy?"

I got obsessed with teaching myself to read Italian and it caused me to realize that the verbal part of me was starving.

I found myself saying (in a random conversation) "If I had it to do over again, I would go to law school," then later, discouraged about art, realized that life was going to go on for a *long* time even if I couldn't start over, so I could still try a new beginning.

I wanted to have a child, and I genuinely thought it was a sensible path in that direction (and did in fact have a baby in my 3d year of law school).

Earnest Prole বলেছেন...

It's the aging hippie cousin of Theory and J. Jill.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

It's how Blythe Danner dresses when not doing Prolia commercials.

Unknown বলেছেন...

Isn't that a character in Altman's Popeye movie?

traditionalguy বলেছেন...

Gotta admit she's cute. The silver fox look.

traditionalguy বলেছেন...

I recently saw a you tube of an old girlfriend with her hair silver turned from dark brunette. 50 years goes by quick. She was reading her poetry to a San Francisco gathering. Her personality , voice and mind were unchanged. Sweet to Burn is her latest collection.

Sigivald বলেছেন...
এই মন্তব্যটি লেখক দ্বারা সরানো হয়েছে।
Sigivald বলেছেন...

Because of the type choices, I can't not read the company name as "Gundam [whatever]".

Which is frankly more interesting than whatever it actually is.

Giant armored suit fashion for old ladies!

Etienne বলেছেন...
এই মন্তব্যটি লেখক দ্বারা সরানো হয়েছে।
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent বলেছেন...

Ugh. Douchey and patronizing. I loathe the self-conscious cutesiness of Tom Robbins and Monk and Red Hat Society ladies. If you want to let your freak flag fly, by all means, but recognize that it's more tiresome than freaky.

Bilwick বলেছেন...

Hot. Very hot. I can see her doing GILF porn.

Ken B বলেছেন...

Aging Flower Child. The Age Of Aquarius dawns at last.

ALP বলেছেন...

More proof going gray gracefully requires serious cheekbones.

Earnest Prole বলেছেন...

Hot. Very hot. I can see her doing GILF porn.

She's grandmilfalicious.

Caroline বলেছেন...

Funny. I’m getting the same ad....i, too, take it as something of a memento mori, a shock. Like the time Mom gave me a Christmas sweater with Santa going down the chimney and told me she thought it was so “me.”

prairie wind বলেছেন...

It's the aging hippie cousin of Theory and J. Jill.

Yes. I also blame LuLaRoe.

SDaly বলেছেন...

What diner in the Pine Barrens? Probably on or just off Route 72, because once off the main road, there's not a lot of customer traffic.

SDaly বলেছেন...

Fun fact, the Pine Barrens was pitched as the location for Disney World, and was close to the top of the list, but edged about by vast amount of then-unoccupied land in Central Florida.

tcrosse বলেছেন...

A large part of the Pine Barrens was turned into Retirement Communities. My parents lived in one of them.

Rabel বলেছেন...

I see the connection.

hstad বলেছেন...

AA, these companies send out thousands if not 100s of thousands of these missives to potential clients. It's called advertisements! Why would a specific email promo concern you? I think if you see yourself like this, then there are bigger problems for you. My view of you is that you've have had a successful positive career. Plus, now you're onto a second act. Consequently, I view you as a very productive contributor to our society/country. Therefore, please don't be influenced by the "Madison Ave.," hucksters trying to define who you really are by needing to adopt this look? Have a wonderful day and keep up the excellent blogging.

Sebastian বলেছেন...

I'm getting Chicuu. WTF?

Inga...Allie Oop বলেছেন...

Me too! Yikes.

MayBee বলেছেন...

There are shoes you once linked for us that are not dissimilar from that look, no? Maybe a kind of flowered maryjane a few years back?

wild chicken বলেছেন...

What I hate are the ads for metamucil or whatever showing some old lady on a bicycle kicking both feet out like wheeee!

Nobody does that. Esp not us old ladies.

Ignorance is Bliss বলেছেন...

wild chicken said...

What I hate are the ads for metamucil or whatever showing some old lady on a bicycle kicking both feet out like wheeee!

Nobody does that. Esp not us old ladies.


Maybe if you were getting a little more fiber in your diet...

Jupiter বলেছেন...

Resistance is futile. You will be simulated.

Charlotte Allen বলেছেন...

I know women who dress like that. And Gudrun's stuff is really expensive. She advertises in the New Yorker.

Snark বলেছেন...

That's not completely un-Althouse like, particularly if there is some bot scanning past images. There was a fairly protracted long skirt/coloured tights/flat shoes period, in my memory at least.

Bilwick বলেছেন...

"What I hate are the ads for metamucil or whatever showing some old lady on a bicycle kicking both feet out like wheeee!

"Nobody does that. Esp not us old ladies."

My GILFy significant-other does that, only a bicycle is not involved. Usually.

Kirk Parker বলেছেন...

Althouse,


"...completely intending to forfeit all hope of becoming part of the productive economy."

Well, didn't you succeed?

stevew বলেছেন...

No fashion expert am I, but to me that is not how a grown-up woman dresses herself.

-sw

Rana বলেছেন...

Charlotte, her clothes are well made and not terribly expensive. Also, she has many styles available (ranging from hippy-dippy boho chick to tailored professional). I think Althouse would like some of them if she bothered to look at the website. I have several of the long, plain skirts and long sleeve tees as well as a few of the more brightly colored items for spring and summer. I always receive compliments whenever I wear one of my Gudrun outfits. Added bonus--the clothing looks great with clogs!

নামহীন বলেছেন...

Ann, they still think you are on the east coast where women actually dress like that. Having installed ad blocker on your site I am saved from all these kinds of misdirected ads that you decided to burden us with.

Clyde বলেছেন...

The book Pippi Longstocking came out in 1945, featuring a nine-year-old protagonist who was the same age as the author's daughter. That would make Pippi about 82 years old today, and I'm guessing she would look an awful lot like that picture.

Laslo Spatula বলেছেন...

I sent Althouse an updated version of this post's pic, crossing the wires of Althouse's past and future hippie-osity.

It ended up looking like something from a NYC underground version of 'Laugh-In'.

I am Laslo.

Rabel বলেছেন...

Hey, there's Laslo out and about.

Work release or Presidential pardon?

LuAnn Zieman বলেছেন...

The woman in the ad is a model. Gudrun herself is elderly looking, and rather chunky, with bright red glasses. She's Swedish and her business is based in Sweden. She steals ideas for her clothing line from several different cultures. She would be in big trouble with our culture warriors!

Christy বলেছেন...

I see the ad regularly, but figured it was because I visit fashion blogs for the over 50 set. I reluctantly embraced the leggings with long skirt look this winter, but try to keep the layers under 4.

Charlotte Allen বলেছেন...

Here are some Gudrun links, where you'll get a good idea of what she, her clothes, and her philosophy are like:

https://www.thewomensroomblog.com/2013/12/05/gudrun-sjoden-a-style-icon-for-all-ages-and-sizes/

https://www.thesucculentwife.com/gudrun-sjoden-profile-of-a-spirited-designer/

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/fashion/critical-shopper-gudrun-sjoden-in-soho.html

You either go for Gudrun--or you don't.

stevew বলেছেন...

It just occurred to me that my six year old granddaughter, whose parents have always allowed to dress herself, will dress in a similar way (pants under a dress, mixing of plaids and stripes, colors that don't match, etc. It is endearing in a six year old.

-sw

নামহীন বলেছেন...

That pic looks like Cloris Leachman doing Grandma in 'Bad Santa'.

n.n বলেছেন...

Her hair is white. Your hair is blond. Clearly a case of mistaken diversity.

the 4chan Guy who reads Althouse বলেছেন...

So I was reading this Althouse post with the ad of an old lady being groovy, and, like, this gave me an idea and shit, but my buddy Laslo beat me to it. So anyway, here's the pic Laslo did of young Althouse imagining herself as a groovy old lady...

"And I've got to admit that it's just about exactly how I pictured the myself as an old lady when I was 19 years old."

jaydub বলেছেন...

"I had the idea that when you're old, you're completely liberated, that you could really be a hippie."

Fortunately, when you're old and liberated your life experiences inform you hippies were/are really effed up people.

Danno বলেছেন...


Blogger Yancey Ward said...At least you aren't getting ads for funeral homes.

When Ann starts dressing like that we'll know she is ready for memory care.

Lindsey বলেছেন...

The model looks like Elon Musk’s mother. She is a model.

Phil 314 বলেছেন...

Does the outfit come with cats?

Quaestor বলেছেন...

Stay far away from this crap. The other Gudrun is Heinrich Himmler's daughter.

Quaestor বলেছেন...

Yeah, she's got flowers on her head now, but at any moment she'll put a steel pot on her noggin and start heiling.

LordSomber বলেছেন...

It looks like a glue-sniffing K-Mart employee's version of a Klimt.

mockturtle বলেছেন...

Women who dress like that are often named Heather or Susan. And yes, cats are compulsory.