Jean Seberg, circa 1961

I have a haircut scheduled sometime soon; this is the cut I’m hoping for. And yes, it’s very much like what I have now, but more texturized across the front, I think.

For someone with so little hair, I certainly manage to overthink it, you know?

I’m constantly pulling photos of great short haircuts, because it can be almost impossible to explain a cut to a stylist exactly, particularly if she speaks Stylist and you speak Girl Who Overthinks Her Short Hair. They’re not compatible languages, sadly.

Recently, I’ve noticed that the cuts I’m the most drawn to are all the hair styles of women in their 20s. I am not a woman in my 20s, unless you want to argue that I’m in my second round of 20s, which is a stretch. So then I start to think that maybe Jean Seberg’s 1961 hair (she was 23 in this photo) isn’t the best choice. Maybe I should look for older women with cool short hair.

But other than Jamie Lee Curtis, there aren’t any, and while I really like Jamie Lee’s hair, I like Jean’s hair better.

Last night I bought a pair of boyfriend jeans, which has nothing to do with hair but which also made me think about being 40 (ok, 41, be particular about it) and looking to The Kids for fashion inspiration. Is there an age limit on boyfriend jeans? I really hope not because my god are they ever comfortable.

But the bigger question, I think, is this: How do you know what it takes to look your age? Do you feel like you look your age? What should your age look like? I’m 40 (FINE, FORTY ONE, WHATEVER) but I don’t necessarily feel 40 (ONE). I feel like me. Then again, what’s forty (one) supposed to feel like? When I was 20 I thought it would feel like being dead; now that I’m forty (one) it feels like being busy and being satisfied and being successful. And then I find myself buying a pair of jeans that most likely were intended for someone half my age and I think, am I over reaching?  Will I look like one of those women who tries regain her lost youth by dressing like a girl?

Because really, what I love about the boyfriend jeans and the pixie cut is how easy they are. I’m a grown up, but I’m still lazy. Go me.

Maybe this is my midlife crisis. Because I can’t explain my obsession with low maintenance hair and pre-distressed jeans in any other way.

Weigh in on the boyfriend jean — yay or nay?