Inspiration, Conversation, and Hell Yeah!

Because the Third-Third is a giant space where we can explore the unique experiences and issues of women in this exciting and vastly interesting decade.

VIEW BLOG

Coming Soon

Tools for Living Brilliantly

12 Words, 12 Months

A Year of Transformation

12 Words, 12 Months is a guided journal built around a simple but powerful idea: transformation happens gradually when we choose our focus intentionally.

Rather than selecting one word for the entire year, this journal invites you to choose a new word each month. Each word becomes a theme that shapes how you think, act, and move through the weeks ahead.

Inside the journal you’ll find:

• A guided process for selecting a meaningful word each month
• Discovery prompts to help you clarify what you want more of in your life
• Weekly reflection questions that keep your intention alive
• Daily journal pages to capture insights, observations, and progress
• A year-end reflection that reveals how far you’ve come

This is not a productivity system. It is a personal practice that helps you stay engaged with your own evolution.

Dance, Shower, Retinol, Bed

At some point in my twenties, 10:00 p.m. was when the night officially began. One recent Saturday I was freshly showered, face serum applied, my favorite ‘90s tunes ringing in my ears, and sliding into bed thinking at 10:00 p.m. thinking …that was one of the most fun nights I’ve had in years. The plot twist? This was a dance party for women in midlife and beyond that starts at 6:30 pm and wraps up in time to get home before the nightly news. The event is called Earlybirds Cl

Patty Lowell

May 214 min read

Boomer, Generation Jones, or Something Else? Why These Labels Don’t Define Women Over 60

Are you a Baby Boomer or part of Generation Jones? For women over 60, generational labels like these only tell part of the story. This humorous, insightful essay explores why identity in later life is less about categories and more about reinvention, style, and living with intention.

Patty Lowell

May 44 min read

Florals? For Spring? Let’s Discuss.

Somewhere, I imagine Miranda Priestly standing in the middle of one of this season’s brightly lit department stores, surveying racks of peonies, roses, ruffles, smocking, and aggressively cheerful trims, deadpanning her signature line: “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” And honestly, she wouldn’t be wrong. With the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada arriving in just days, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit that iconic fashion observation, because this season, the in

Patty Lowell

Apr 234 min read

Her Friends, Their Mothers, Our Circle

Friendship in this season of life does not have to be limited to who we have always known. It can be found in unexpected places. All it requires is a willingness to say yes, to show up, and to recognize that the circle is not closed.

Patty Lowell

Apr 23 min read

Spring Refresh: Reclaim Your Energy, Style, and Social Life

When all of that shiny New Year momentum fades, and it always does around this time of year, I have learned not to panic. I wait for spring.

Patty Lowell

Mar 203 min read

Patty
Lowell
Want to know something about me?

The Brilliant Age is the culmination of six decades of writing, interviewing, and storytelling shaped by meaningful conversations with accomplished, insightful people. I began my career as a fashion journalist, transitioned into branding, marketing, and communications, raised two remarkable daughters as a single parent, and earned a master’s degree in creative writing at 50. This blog is dedicated to women navigating midlife and beyond—those stepping into The Brilliant Age with experience, curiosity, style, and a desire to break a few rules.

Featured Post

VIEW POST

YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME ON

Why The Brilliant Age?

“Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game,” Frances Mayes in Under the Tuscan Sun.

Something happened when I put a 6 in front of my age. Suddenly, I wanted to slam my foot on the gas and really begin creating and curating an extraordinary life for myself.

As I went searching for inspiration, I found that I kept walking headfirst into information about women "50 and older." But as any woman who reaches her sixth decade knows, the issues and interests of a 67-year-old facing retirement decisions are far different from the 52-year-old woman struggling to separate from children heading off to college.

I felt overlooked in the giant swath of 50+ content, so I set out to create a beautiful, thoughtful, engaging space for women to have important and inspiring conversations about this incredibly fertile and fruitful decade of life.

The Brilliant Age is about just that—finding, creating, evolving, and enjoying our vibrant selves.

VIEW BLOG

With novels like The Female Persuasion, The Wife, and The Interestings (one of my favorites), Meg Wolitzer has long captured the inner lives of women with wit, intelligence, and emotional clarity. Her work resonates across generations, exploring ambition, identity, and reinvention. She reminds us that storytelling only gets richer with time and that the questions we ask in midlife are often the most compelling of all.

#megwolitzer #thebrilliantage #WomenOver60

Memorial Day is here! It's the unofficial start of summer and a reminder to savor it all. Step into the sunshine, put on your sunscreen, feel confident enough to wear shorts, and begin this week like it’s the start of your best season yet.

Think you've outgrown dance floors, late-night singalongs, and spontaneous joy?

Turns out, women in midlife and beyond still love to dance. We just prefer sensible shoes and eight hours of sleep afterward.

Read about an evening reliving my dance party days with Earlybirds Club at The Brilliant Age. Link in bio.
#EarlyBirdsClub #midlifewomenrock #womenoverfifty #womenover60 #bombfactory

Every Monday is a reset, but May Mondays feel different…lighter, brighter, full of promise. Step into the week like it’s the unofficial start of something really good.

From boundary-breaking albums like Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 to her electrifying recent tours and performances, Janet Jackson continues to command the stage with power and precision. Her influence hasn’t faded; it’s evolved, proving that true icons don’t age out. They deepen their impact.

#JanetJackson #thebrilliantage #WomenOver60

There’s something about warmer mornings and longer days that feels like an open invitation. Start this week with energy. Summer is already calling your name.

One of the original supermodels, Linda Evangelista is redefining something even more powerful: visibility and honesty. By speaking openly about her health journey, she’s become an advocate for women’s wellness and self-acceptance. Still iconic, now also deeply impactful on her own terms.
#lindaevangelista #thebrilliantage #WomenOver60

In our 60s and beyond, we are no longer in the thick of packed lunches and carpools. We are something else entirely. We are advisors, witnesses, soft places to land, and steady voices in a world that moves fast. We are still showing up, just in more layered and intentional ways.

This version of motherhood, the one shaped by time, experience, and a life well lived, is nothing short of extraordinary.

Happy Mother’s Day!

I’ve been reassigned more times than a corporate reorg.
Boomer ➡ Cusp Kid ➡ Generation Jones.
Meanwhile, I’m just over here living my life.
If you’ve ever wondered who decides these labels… this one’s for you.
Click link in bio to read the whole story

A new week, a blank page, and just enough sunshine to remind you what’s possible. Let May be the month you pick up the pen and write something bold.

Happy Birthday to the endlessly captivating Michelle Pfeiffer, whose presence on screen has only grown more powerful with time. In her latest role in The Madison, she embodies a woman shaped by experience—equal parts wisdom, resilience, and undeniable grit. It’s a reminder that the most compelling stories, and the most magnetic performances, often come from women who have fully lived. #thebrilliantage #MichellePfeiffer

Consider this your reset button. A fresh week, a fresh season, and another chance to show up as the woman you know you are becoming. #thebrilliantage

With The Devil Wears Prada sequel opening next week, I can’t help but imagine Miranda Priestly walking through the spring collections right now. It's an explosion of girl-core florals, ruffles, gingham and bows...everywhere.

I can almost feel her icy stare.

Spring style should feel light, modern, and entirely your own—not like you are headed for class photos.

If you’re navigating this season’s trends and wondering where the line is, I wrote about it on the blog.

#DevilWearsPrada #SpringStyle #WomenOver60 #StyleWithConfidence #TheBrilliantAge

Created by UNESCO to promote reading and literature, April 23rd is World Book Day.

To celebrate, I have a very special friend helping turn the pages of, "Honey in the Wound", by Jiyoung Han. This beautiful, debut novel tells the story of a mystically gifted Korean family confronting survival during Japanese colonialism. Grab a cup of tea and cozy up!
#simonandschuster #jiyounghan #honeyinthewound

Happy Birthday to the effortlessly radiant Andie MacDowell, a woman who has redefined beauty on her own terms. Andie stands as a powerful reminder that aging is not something to hide. It’s something to own with confidence and ease. Here’s to a life lived beautifully, authentically, and entirely in your own light. #thebrilliantage #andiemacdowell

There is something about April light that makes everything feel possible again. Use it—fuel your body, focus your mind, and give this week your full, vibrant yes. #thebrilliantage

Happy Birthday to the brilliant Bonnie Garmus, whose breakout novel Lessons in Chemistry reminded us all that it’s never too late to find your voice, or to change the narrative entirely. With sharp wit and unapologetic intelligence, she created a heroine who challenges expectations and redefines what’s possible for women at every stage of life. Bonnie’s own story is just as inspiring, proving that creativity and success don’t follow a timeline. #thebrilliantage #bonniegarmus

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Emma Thompson, a woman who proves that talent, wit, and authenticity only deepen with time. From her award-winning brilliance to her fearless, refreshingly honest voice, she reminds us that aging isn’t about fading. It’s about expanding into who we truly are. Here’s to celebrating a life and career that only get more brilliant with every year. #thebrilliantage #EmmaThompson

New season, new week, new momentum. Let this be the Monday you stop overthinking and start moving toward what you actually want. #thebrilliantage

April has a way of reminding us that starting fresh is always an option. Step into this week with energy, intention, and the quiet confidence that something good is already unfolding. #thebrilliantage

A weekend with my daughters, their friends, and the mothers who raised them turned into something more than just a gathering. It became a reminder that new friendships are still waiting for us…often in places we haven't considered. Your social circle isn’t finished. Not at 60. Not ever.

If you’ve ever wondered what's possible for friendships in this season of life, this one's for you.

Read about it on the blog. Link in bio.

#WomenOver60 #FriendshipAfter60 #TheBrilliantAge #LaterLifeLiving #WomenSupportingWomen #MidlifeFriendship #CommunityMatters #LifeAfter60 #AgingWell #NewBeginnings

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Tracy Chapman. Your voice has always carried more than melody. It carries truth, conviction, and a quiet power that never needed to shout to be heard. Decades on, your music still feels urgent and timeless, reminding us that authenticity never goes out of style. #thebrilliantage #tracychapman #womenover60rock

Don’t ease into this week. Enter it. With curiosity, courage, and the kind of positivity that says, “Why not me? #thebrilliantage #womenover60 #midlifeinspiration

From that unforgettable summer in Dirty Dancing to a career defined by resilience and reinvention, you’ve shown that a woman’s story never stops evolving. You’ve navigated fame, reinvention, and the passage of time with honesty and grit. Proof that growing older isn’t about recapturing a moment. It’s about owning every chapter after it. #thebrilliantage #midlifeinspiration #jennifergrey

You redefined single-girl swagger in Sex and the City, then re-imagined that story in And Just Like That..., showing women of every age that style and substance can grow up beautifully together. You’ve worn the headlines, the heels, and the hard conversations with equal grace. Aging out loud, in couture and in courage? That’s a masterclass. #thebrilliantage #womenover60rock #sarahjessicaparker

This is your Monday nudge: show up with enthusiasm, even if you have to borrow a little at first. Action creates energy, and energy creates magic. #thebrilliantage #midlifeinspiration #womenover60 #ViolaDavis

There’s a moment every year when I stop trying to force my way out of the winter doldrums and back into momentum and action. It's where I let something far more reliable take over.

HELLO SPRING! 🌸🌼🌺🌷🏵

You always have a way of pulling me forward to brighter moods and bigger energy.

If this resonates, I shared the full piece on my blog the-brilliant-age.com. Link in bio.

#TheBrilliantAge #SpringRefresh #WomenOver60 #MidlifeMomentum #LiveVibrantly

From making history as the first Black woman crowned Miss America to a career spanning music, Broadway, and scene-stealing television, you’ve defined reinvention with grace and grit. Whether it’s powerhouse vocals or polished performances, your talent has only deepened with time. Proof that elegance, resilience, and a little star power never go out of style. #thebrilliantage #womenover60 #VanessaWilliams

St. Patrick’s Day mood: seasoned like fine whiskey, clever as a leprechaun, and still chasing rainbows on our own terms. #thebrilliantage #womenover60rock #stpatricksday

Fresh week, fresh spark. Pour your energy where it multiplies and watch what begins to bloom. #thebrilliantage #womenover60rock #midlifeinspiration

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@selfinthesixties

Contact

patty@thebrilliantage.com

Sign up for Spark 60, your weekly minute of magic delivered right to your inbox.

Inspiration, Conversation, and Hell Yeah!

Tools for Living Brilliantly

12 Words, 12 Months

A Year of Transformation

Dance, Shower, Retinol, Bed

Boomer, Generation Jones, or Something Else? Why These Labels Don’t Define Women Over 60

Florals? For Spring? Let’s Discuss.

Her Friends, Their Mothers, Our Circle

Spring Refresh: Reclaim Your Energy, Style, and Social Life

Patty Lowell Want to know something about me?

Featured Post

YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME ON

Why The Brilliant Age?

​

Follow us on Instagram

Contact

Patty
Lowell
Want to know something about me?