By Karen and Erica

We were young once, and we had a good time being young. Wouldn’t have missed being young for the world. We felt good, we looked good (we thought) and we were on top of the world.

We didn’t know that much—about anything—when we were young. But we knew we wanted to succeed, we were excited about the future, and we were enthusiastic about our lives. We had few role models for the people we wanted to be—working women—so once we decide to come out as women we had a free hand to design an image for ourselves. And we did—drawing heavily on Diane von Furstenburg’s wrap dresses and Giorgio Armani’s suits. And colorful heels and neon totes.

Now, many decades later, we know quite a lot—about a lot of things. We still want to succeed, we are still excited about the future, and we are still enthusiastic about our lives. But—we are definitely not the young women we used to be, and we have no interest in reliving the past. Being, or looking, young again is not one of our goals. Which is excellent, because it can’t be done.

We are in our 70s, and we want to look our age. Our new age, that is. The sensational 70s.

We are fans of pro-aging—a term we began using some time ago. But we don’t think that means we just let things happen. We know better. We’ve learned over the decades that everything important in life requires care and attention. That includes our appearance. Letting nature take its course does not work, at least for us. So we do things to stay healthy, and fit (more or less), and mentally acute.

Here are ten things we do to look our age.

1. We spend time with people, including each other, sometimes in fountains, and time alone. We need both.

2. We get regular checkups and follow health advice. Losing our teeth will not help us look our age.

3. We use sunscreen, and various moisturizing emollients. Once you have lived for a few decades, you need a little goo to keep your face mobile.

4. We work out, Karen with weights, and we walk everywhere. Fast. Trying not to be tripped by the utterly dangerous flexible lane delineators that have been flattened by cars all over the city.

5. We try to maintain a Mediterranean diet. We believe in its value, and we like the food. We were disappointed when we were told recently that French fries were not part of that diet.

6. A glass of wine or two always perks us up. We know of new research raising heart-palpitating fears about even being in the same room as a bottle of wine. We’re in our 70s, have imbibed many a glass, and it’s too late to scare us.

7. We dress. We aim for elegant, graceful, stylish, wherever we are. Makes us feel good, which surely makes us look good.

8. We get our hair done. Because our hair expresses who we are now. And we’re far from carbon copies. (Remember what those are?) Classic, polished, uptown is who Erica is. Spiky, acid blond, downtown is who Karen is. Our differences keep us lively.

9. We try hard to use makeup. Neither of us has ever had good makeup skills, but we are learning. Andrea is helping!

10. We haven’t tried facelifts, but friends have. Why not, if you think your face does not reflect who you are now?

What are you doing to look your fabulous age?