Ben Barry posted a wonderful quotation by Tom Ford as his Facebook status today:
“I am fascinated by women who have let time embrace them without ever cheating. Society today condemns this; me, I celebrate it.”
As you may know, Ben promotes diversity in the model industry through his successful and innovative agency specializing in models who represent beauty outside the current standard of tall, skinny, Caucasian, and young. Many of Barry’s charges are women over 40, a demographic often ignored when we talk about diversity in fashion images, be they on the runway or in print.
At standard agencies, models over age 25 are classed as “sophisticated” and although 25 is a frighteningly young marker to begin calling charges “mature”, it’s encouraging to discover the demand for older models is increasing. The idea of a younger woman’s appearance as aspirational to the older consumer no longer holds true. Now women want someone who resembles themselves or at least looks as though she might be old enough to need (in the case of facial moisturizers) or afford (in the case of high-end designs) the product she is pitching.
Burberry SS11 ad campaign: shouldn't those kids be in school?
In the past, advertising preyed on the consumer’s insecurities, making her feel if she bought the product, she might have a chance of enjoying the experience of the beautiful, young girl in the ad. For this reason, models had to be aspirational rather than attainable to the consumer.
The democratization of fashion media, however, has produced a more savvy and educated consumer. With the help of social media like Twitter and Facebook and, most of all, fashion blogs, we are privy to the reality of fashion and no longer need to buy into the fantasy. We know, thanks to Dove, that the model has been airbrushed and photoshopped beyond recognition. On the runway, as often as not, it is an eating disorder that keeps her fat-free.
Now I see models as worthy of compassion rather than envy. The rampant eating disorders, the sexual harrassment, the unfair working conditions…it doesn’t sound like a nice life at all. I once heard a runway show compared to a duck’s movement on water: the show is the image of the duck gliding effortlessly across the surface of the water. Backstage is the duck’s ugly orange feet scrambling furiously to stay afloat. Former model Sara Ziff’s documentary Picture Me gives a new, darker understanding to that analogy with its candid behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
Today, however, we celebrate the “sophisticated” muses, some of whom are returning after a heydey in the 80s.
Kristen McMenamy, 46, rocks grey tresses in Vogue
Halle Berry, 44, for Revlon in Vogue
Madonna, 51, for Dolce & Gabanna
Christy Turlington, 42, was an 80s "supermodel"
Stella Tennant, 40, in Vogue
Janet Jackson, 44, in Vogue
Do you like seeing women over 40 in fashion editorials? Does it matter?
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Loving Madonna for Dolce & Gabanna, she looks great!
I think all these models are really beautiful, and they just prove that you don’t have to be young to look stunning.
http://not-just-clothes.blogspot.com
Madonna is amazing the way she’s stayed the course and influenced popular culture. She’s not afraid of anything! Of course, the images are touched up like any other but it’s nice to see these women are getting this kind of work and it’s not only reserved for the teens and early 20s.
Hey! I love to see it. Art has to imitate life. Real people real life!!!! I’m going to check out Ben’s agency.
Thanks as always.
CamilleA
Thanks for your comment! Ben is dedicated to helping women love themselves in spite of the barrage of unrealistic images to which they are exposed.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post, Laura! This month, I am celebrating the over 40 women who still style it, and the 40+ fashion blogger, so this makes me feel so good! And I am going to mention it sometime, as I feel this post is a MUST read. Thank you for writing this!
the Citizen Rosebud
Hey, I’m glad you love it, Bella. I just turned 40 so I love that you’re celebrating the 40+ fashion blogger. Cool!
I think there is a massive difference between older celebs and older models almost every example you give is a popular celeb in a high end ad campaign which is not too surprising. If they are popular they are likely to be in ads no matter their age but as for older models there are very few of them.
Now i’m gonna be slightly controversial and say I’m not really a huge fan of older models but then I am only 29 and i look about 21 and as you say people like models that are a representation of themselves. I do love 40+ bloggers though some of my faves are 40+ – citizen rosebud, statements in fashion and ms papelicious to name just a few. I don’t actually believe that older models will become mainstream because we are a generaion obsessed with looking youthful. Its sad really
I absolutely take your point and it crossed my mind, too, when posting some of the ads. I hope I still got the message across. I don’t necessarily want older models to be mainstream, just not “invisible”.
Wow! What an awesome entry. You should definitely submit this to IFB’s LALM. I’m 23, but love to see models of all sizes, races and ages.
Thanks, honey! And thanks for joining my site. And for the suggestion…I often miss the Links a la Mode deadline so I’ll remember to post it on IFB tomorrow.
I am so glad tha Bella opened the door for me to be able to find your blog.
Age is a number to me and many other women. Style is what matters. Who is counting ????? Not me…
Besos from Spain.
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I’m so glad you’re here, too. And so grateful to Bella from theCitizenRosebud.com for her support. So nice to have a reader from Spain which is one of my favourite places.
Excellent post! There has definitely been an upsurge in older models being used for campaigns…but as they tend to look ‘better’ than most 20 year-olds it’s not quite the tidal wave of change I think some of us would like to see… I would definitely welcome a more diverse range of models, but it will mean an overhaul of our attitudes towards youth and beauty.
I was thinking the same thing as I was posting those pictures. Kristen is really the only one that gives a true representation of women over 40 because she has the courage to let her hair go natural grey. However, I am happy still that these women are getting work where before they’d be cut off at age 40 or earlier.
I think it’s great that magazines feature women over 40.
However, if they are photoshopped to look 20, what’s the difference?
–Courtney
Good point. To me, the difference is that they are still working
Sorry. Madonna nor Janet Jackson do not quality being celebrated one bit in my book. They both had an astronomical amount of plastic surgery which cancels out any part of growing older with grace or dignity. They clearly both fear age more than anything. They are completely insecure in their own skin otherwise they wouldn’t have it manipulated so drastically.
Thanks for your input! I didn’t realized they had had plastic surgery, although I’m not sure if that would have made a difference in whether I included them or not.
Yes! I LOVE older women, especially the 40+ set. They know what it is to be a woman!
I am so proud of Ben Barry for representing the rest of the bell curve of women. Fabulous business plan.
I have to agree, your examples have all been nipped, tucked, personal-trained, and airbrushed. But at least they have broken the age barrier!
The recent issue of V magazine had an older women theme as well, it was absolutely beautiful and heartening.
Vive les vieilles! xoxo
Ben’s story is so cool and, yes, his business model has been very successful!