'Formerly Hot': Is This What Happens to Women After 40?

I think that Ms. Torregrosa and many of the commenters are taking "Formerly Hot" too seriously, and the title way too literally. Ms. Dolgoff is making a tongue-in-cheek reference to that time in life when women start to realize that they have left "Babe-land", and I believe that she named the blog "Formerly Hot" because she was jokingly referring to herself. I can see no place where she says we are "kaput!", it's a "catastrophe!", our attractive days are "behind us", the "best years of our lives are past", or many of the other accusations made here. In fact, she says quite the opposite. But come on, didn't any of you women have a few of those "formerly hot" moments? (which for me somewhat cruelly coincided with turning 40). When you realize that your favorite midriff and hot pants simply can't be worn anymore? When you ask attractive young men for the time, or for directions, and you start getting a "just the facts, Ma'am" type of answer, instead of a welcoming smile? It's merely the next phase in life, not THE END. Dolgoff is taking a light-hearted look at this phase, and often makes the point that a woman can be desirable and lovely at any age. It just changes as we get older. I, like Dolgoff, seriously wondered if half of her critics actually read the book, the blog, or even an interview with her. In retrospect, perhaps the title "Formerly Hot" is off-putting, and sets people off in the wrong direction?

Women in their forties feel that the best part of their life is over for one main reason. That reason is that the best part of their life is over. They have to reach the magic age of about sixtyfive to realize that they could detect when the hormone levels began to drop and just would not admit it. This should be dealt with earlier and then devote their life to good works rather than looking backward toward something that no longer exists.

I saw Dogloff interviewed on The Today Show (I think it was that one...one of those morning shows) earlier this week. She said that she does think life improves as you get older; you become more comfortable in your own skin. The thing I was disappointed about was that she didn't even mention the youth-obsession and worship in our culture (you know, the whole reason this book even exists in the first place).

See I don't get it either, she sounds like she was hot then not? The problem is with her self worth, not all of the forty and over girls out there are not hot. Where has she been, older woman are hot now. He book makes no common sense. I think she needs to check her ego at the door.

I think Dolgoff's ego may have been bruised - I don't see her as ever being hot. Dolgoff is cute. Not hot. Ever. My 43 year-old wife is HOT. She became even hotter to me when she joined the Army - at 40. Now the woman who could not run is beating people half her age. That's HOT.

Lets face it we are all getting older and I prefer that to the alternative! Seeing how we can not stop the aging process even though many try to slow it down we all can not be lucky and look and feel young forever and with that in mind we do change and I personally think many women look better as they mature and some are even sexier!Before you comment on others check the mirror on your wall!

No I disagree -- Many wonderful women are most attractive MORE in their 40's and 50's and I look forward to meeting more of them. What matters is looks AND what is in-side.

... ... ...as they say in the chatroom: 8-O Your THIRTIES are when you stop being attractive?!?!? What era are we living in, the Dark Ages?