Older women are taking the fashion industry by storm
For centuries, the fashion industry has been utterly obsessed with youth and single-digit clothing sizes. While our runways and catalogues may be slightly more diverse these days, it’s still rare to see anyone beyond their 30s gracing the pages of Vogue or plastered on big-city billboards.
“The fashion industry doesn't just forget old people, it forgets middle-aged people,” fashion icon Iris Apfel, who at 93 appeared in a campaign for Kate Spade, told The Telegraph. “The fashion industry is youth obsessed, which is totally insane from a financial point of view so I don't feel sorry for them, they brought it on themselves. Many top designers will make very, very expensive dresses costing many, many thousands of dollars that young people can't afford.”
Thankfully, more brands are beginning to take the leap and employing iconic older ladies to model their clothing – and they’re reaping the rewards.
In 2014, then-69-year-old Charlotte Rampling appeared as the face of luxury makeup brand NARS. That same year, a 64-year-old Jessica Lange became the face of Marc Jacobs beauty. In 2015, Joan Didion starred in an ad campaign for Céline at the age of 80, while 71-year-old Joni Mitchell appeared in a campaign for Saint Laurent.
It’s one thing for ladies over 60 to represent classic brand such as these, but how about fashion labels aimed at younger demographics? 88-year-old Instagram phenomenon Helen Van Winkle (also known as Baddie Winkle) proved age is no barrier to fashion creativity when she became the face of youth-oriented brand Missguided, pictured above.
“It's so refreshing that the fashion industry has embraced me,” Van Winkle, who was also the face of label Dimepiece, told Refinery29. “Older people are never really used, and this is such a blessing that we can show everyone that age is truly just a number. I would love to be a role model for older people. You’re only here once in your lifetime, so have fun.”
As for the naysayers who tell her to “dress for your age”? “I don’t feel old,” she explains. I have never felt old. I think you can dress any way you want to. I don’t like ‘old women’ clothes. I never wore them in my life.”
Image credit: @missguided/Instagram.