Nevertheless the UK Telegraph insists on showing us how fashion has liberated women by showcasing a long list of older women who have caught a second wind in a career that traditionally was relegated (and still is for the most part ) to the next 16 year old girl once she reached her late 20’s, with the exception of the odd super model like Kate Moss (who is in her mid 30’s) surviving past her ‘use by’ date. Of course that is not to say we are not happy for these women, but let’s be honest and not confuse the idea just because these women are getting an extended shelf life it now suddenly means we are celebrating the older woman. The fact that she is older is almost coincidental.
Other distinguished ladies buttressing the older-models cause this season include Jerry Hall (53) as the face of Aussie skincare brand American Zinc, Julianne Moore (50) for Talbots, and Lauren Hutton (67), who also walked for Tom Ford’s return-to-womenswear collection last September, for jewellery label Alexis Bittar’s campaign.
You’ll have heard about Elle Macpherson (47) and Laetitia Casta (32) walking Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter 2010 show, Inès de la Fressange’s (53) turn at Chanel, and ice-cool Nineties’ model, Kristen McMenamy (44) on the cover of Dazed & Confused last August. The message? Older is hot.
The Message? Older is hot? We couldn’t disagree more, what’s hot is brand name and spinning ‘old names’ for a fistful of dollars. Nice job if you can get it.
Terrific” Older Model “article-gorgeous pics!
Rose Hartman
In modeling an older model, aka mature aged model is no new news, mature models are working right now and have for many many years it’s just the media never talks about the print modeling world. Which is funny because most models are not fashion models, fashion models are a very small percent of the modeling world/business. Older models are modeling everything already from jewelry, to home goods, travel ads, skincare, in car commercials, older models retirement age are in demand and have been for some time. Fashion might be so concerned over height, measurements, wrinkles, but the print modeling world isn’t as narrow minded. The advertising world hires many models of all types for campaigns each year. They are not all giraffe tall or young. Especially now more than ever, when a 40 year old every five minutes having a baby or twins, in ten years these moms will be needing a vacation and who will be marketing to them, many many retail brands and the models in these ads won’t be teens. You might think models are only young and that modeling starts when you are 16-18 and that modeling is just fashion, you are wrong. Most models are actually older than you might think. Watch commercials, look at print ads in lifestyle magazines.Alot of it comes down to products that are out there and marketing. Despite the recession: Who is shopping. Who buys things? Who is more likely to purchase a handbag, a couch, a car, a hair product, a skincare product? An Adult. An older female. There are so many more products for adults. Therefore adult models are going to be working more to model these products in commercials and print ads. Sure fashion might be considered finally up to speed with the whole “mature model” thing, but mature models have been modeling already for many years. ~Isobella
Fashion should have been always all along using models of all types, the five foot- four inch tall consumer doesn’t relate to a fashion model and who really wants to hem a pait of pants 8 inches? Which is why if baffles me why tall is more marketable in fashion?? I think the consumer can handle the reality…hell we watch reality TV, but when it comes to how retail and fashion brands market themselves, they seem to be a scared to show a more real looking model, “must look like a bitch or starved”…what about a more relatable model… why aren’t more brands, other than United Colors of Benetton, showing more diverse models? WTF.
http://www.petitemodelingtips.com/2010/12/older-models-and-mature-models.html
Can’t help but draw a parallel to the Music Industry’s new reliance on established,
old “Classic ” Artists .
The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. archival works are being re-mixed, re-hashed, repackaged & re-released mainly because the measurable market for them is already in place, and the new system makes establishing new artists daunting.
Advertising is recycling & rehashing images of the Beatles, etc, instead of creating new stars.
We are going downhill artistically, and relying on salvaging celebrities & reminders from our economic heyday in the 70s.