Maryl sings: The Aging Rocker Blues

Roger Daltry (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty)

Did you catch “12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief” live from Madison Square Garden? I was reminded of “Live Aid”, a benefit concert in 1985 to save the starving children in Africa and the original one, “The Concert for Bangladesh”, in 1971 organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, recently deceased at 92. The 12-12-12 concert was less global and dire in the crisis it was addressing but there was some overlap with the venues and the performers.  The latter were naturally a bit weathered but still strutting their stuff. And apparently that’s what some of the Twitter buzz was about… 

….aging rockers and their attire and other attempts at keeping youthful.  Actually I applaud them all; some are still performing into their 70’s. The music was classic but not dated; the choice of clothing not so much at least according to some Tweeters.  A wardrobe update may be in order for some but one based on age or current fashion trends or both?  Women converse and debate a lot about age appropriate fashion in the mid-life blogosphere so it's kind of refreshing to read some comments that were critical of men not looking their age. (And it was a completely male program roster save for one younger female performer and that’s probably a topic for another blog post.) 

Daltry & Townshend: Is that really his hair?  (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty)

I only saw Roger Daltry with his shirt and jacket on but he ended up baring his chest at the 12-12-12 concert and that’s what went viral online. Should a 68 year old male be showing off his body as toned as he is at that age? It reminded me of comments made about Helen Mirren wearing a bikini on the beach a few years ago. The 12-12-12 performers’ wardrobe ranged from shirt and tie to tee shirt to no shirt. 

Is there such a concept as age-appropriate attire or is that judgement based more on body shape?  Remember I was recently on a cruise ship to the islands and I can tell you there were some 20 and 30 somethings that I wished had more clothing on.  Unless you're a celebrity no one really knows your age.  If people have formed opinions as to what a mid-lifer should wear, that's seems rather arbitrary to me.  I wear what I feel most comfortable in psychologically and physically; I'm not referring to just sweats or workout clothes.  I would probably be self conscious in a mid-thigh length dress with a plunging neckline but love my thigh high boots and black leather top.  And I can't wait to wear my floral print pants that I got for Christmas.  We have our outfits we feel our best in and so confident that no one's really worrying about our age. 

Take a look at these photos from the 12-12-12 concert and tell us who you think was the best-dressed and who had a wardrobe malfunction.

Springsteen & Bon Jovi:  Love my Jersey boys no matter what they wear.  (AP/Starpix, Dave Allocca)

Billy Joel:  Looks like a nice jacket. (Getty)

Mick Jagger:  Sophisticated but he ended up in a tee shirt.  (WireImage)

Mick Jagger & Keith Richards:  Two different looks but matching color shirts.  (WireImage)

Eric Clapton:  Clean look, except for the face.  (Getty)

Chris Martin:  Straight look for the under 40.  (Getty)

Kanye West:  A skirt, another look for the under 40.  (Kevin Mazur, WireImage)

Roger Waters-Pink Floyd:  Basic black tee.  (WireImage)  

Paul McCartney:   Can't beat a clean white shirt but what about the eyes? (WireImage)