Braids, too young or just right?

Tricky subject for me since I really love braids but seriously feel there is an age limit. My first pre- pubescent love of "Adult Braids" came about when I saw the then young and absolutely stunning Bo Derek sporting them in the film10. Didn't everyone think braids were sexy after seeing her? I never tried to reproduce her look thank a God since most of the women I saw try this ended up looking, hmmm how should I say, ok like white girls trying to look like sisters, and in a bad way; there was nothing sexy about it; seriously this was a hard look to pull off.

Bo Derek had a face that was perfect and sadly or remarkably she could have done anything to her hair and look beautiful, a rarity indeed! 

I think Hiedi a Klum is also an exception, did I ever say how much I like her, well I do, she looks amazing for any age, rocks motherhood, is a seriously successful business women and even though every look she try's doesn't always work out she's confident and has a great sense of humor about herself! (my female crush I guess)

Back to braids I tried endless styles of them this past summer in the hopes of staying firstly cool and wanting to embrace this trend. Much to my serious disappointment my experiments didn't work, I tried but when I looked in the mirror I just saw this 48 year old women trying much too hard, this truly pissed me off since I wanted to sport some braids, really I did!

Please show me I'm wrong and send me your over 40 year old selves wearing braids and looking Chic!!

Here are some braids I Love and wish I could wear, that's me in the top left picture when I was about 32, sixteen years ago.