I’m terribly guilty of the ageism trap that so many midlife women fall into. We really need to stop telling everyone that we are “getting old” all the time, rolling out the tired routine about how ancient we are, making jokes about “alerting the fire station before we blow out our candles.” Like many women I know, I’ve developed the bad habit of making silly, ageist comments about myself.
In doing so, I unintentionally fuel society’s prejudice against midlife women, reinforcing the damaging narrative that works against us.
I’m not alone. The moment I drifted past 40, I began loudly declaring to anyone within earshot that I was “getting old,” a chorus that has only grown louder now that I am 50. The contrast is stark. When men hit 50, they are silver foxes. When women reach the same milestone, we are branded hags, bags or crones. It feels like we are handed a cloak of invisibility right at the moment we reach the peak of our productivity. But why do we play the age card so often when it really is the joker of the pack? It makes no sense. Most midlife women I know are at the height of their powers, wiser, more insightful and more skilled than ever. So why reinforce stereotypes about ageism, the prejudice hiding in plain sight? Surely being this age is a superpower. We have lived rich, interesting lives, and we can do an incredible multitude of things.
Take my own life. After virtually retiring during COVID and remaining a recluse even afterward, last November my best friend Leesha and I decided to start a little business. We were both feeling overwhelmed, concerned about environmental issues, and increasingly disinterested in navigating the world of fast fashion, luxury or mainstream. Like many, the way we shop has changed. Gone are the days of chasing trends and “newness.” Now, thankfully, shopping is more thoughtful. Instead of buying one-off pieces, we focus on making the most of what we already have. That mindset sparked the idea for a vintage and second-hand store. Both of us had collected fabulous pieces on our travels, and we wanted to bring that same joy of discovery to Sri Lanka. While we first considered a physical store, we decided to launch online through Instagram: @latapatavintage. Our ethos is simple: Reuse. Reinvent. Recycle.
Time was past-season designer pieces would be pushed to the back of the wardrobe or handed off quietly. Today, pre-loved, thrifted and resale could not be more desirable. With vintage, you are not dictated to by glossy ad campaigns or the marketing machines of luxury brands. It is an intimate connection between you and your clothes, an opportunity to discover your own style and voice. That is what inspired Lata Pata Vintage, a treasure trove of unique, well-crafted pieces at accessible prices. What began with fashion quickly expanded into homeware, antiques and art. We now source from across Sri Lanka and around the world, working with trusted dealers and scouring fairs and brocantes to ensure authenticity and originality.
From there, a new branch of the business emerged almost naturally: reinventing spaces. Recently, we collaborated with Cinnamon Life, reimagining their beautiful interiors with touches of Lata Pata love, upcycling, repositioning and enhancing their existing pieces, while working alongside their talented floral team to add Sri Lankan luxe to the property.
Now, with our website about to launch, a pop-up in the works, a collaboration with Mumbai’s foremost art restorer Kayan Pandole, and even the possibility of a physical store, what started as a fun side project has grown real legs. The market’s response has been incredible. There is clearly an appetite for circular consumption, for eliminating waste, for embracing authenticity and individuality in fashion and in life.
Personally, I have never worked this hard, or on so many different projects at once, while enjoying myself so thoroughly. Which is why we must stop writing ourselves off just when we should be rejoicing in the fact that we are at the height of our powers.
