anybody
Jo Sykes 2009 London Fashion week presentation
Anna Wintour, editor of US Vogue next to Alexa Cheung and Pixie Geldof front row of PPQ's London Fashion Week presentation 2009
Fashion week show by Mini Feu using all ages
By Elise Slater
When the fashion world's latest obssession is with 13-year old blogger Tavi and the latest issue of LOVE magazine ('The young and the reckless' issue) profiles only those under the ripe old age of 21 what hope is there for the rest of us?
Is life really over and dried up once you hit 22? Do you cease to exist? If you haven't made the big time by the time you are 18 you may as well give it all up? Where once older and wiser was the rule and the way to treat the elderly was with respect it seems increasingly the young rule the world, and the only products produced are either for the young or to make us look young.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter...well, ok maybe I am. But I am only 30 myself, and active in the fashion industry, so to feel like I am already old really is ridiculous, and I know it. I can turn my thinking around - but when you are completely surrounded by this adoration for youth and there is a complete black hole when it comes to anyone over the age of 25 it really is disconcerting.
At London fashion week, where the scenster brat pack of rock star offspring rule the roost (namely Pixie Geldof, Daisy Lowe and Alexa Cheung) It was great to see Anna Wintour - a woman with real fashion experience and talent sit aside them on the front row - and looking rather perturbed about the whole affair!
At a point in history where fashion's obsession with the young is literally reaching an all-time low it is refreshing to see some older models making a debut - with London Designer Jo Sykes using models up to the age of 81 - who looked fabulous in their clothing. She put a silver haired Daphne Selfe into silver jeans - modern and contemporary clothing for all ages.
Young people are great, don't get me wrong, I was young too once! Young people are full of energy and aspiration and unfulfilled potential. We should celebrate youth - but we should also celebrate women who have lived and experienced and earned their stripes - women who have had careers, and been mothers, who have wrinkles from smiling too much and who grow more beautiful and wiser as they grow older.
I think it's time we gave these youngsters something to aspire to and created a few older role models in the world!
Reader Comments (5)
Probably models over 81 is a little too extreme but is a sign that these are times for changing the fixed parameters of the fashion shows!
So designers, be creative and go for it!!
My husbands grandma looks younger than her age and has 8 boyfriends who all do different things for her lol, and yes they all know about each other.
She's 80 and she could model as she does NOT look her age.
I want to be her when I get that old.
Because being grown up is being concerned about 'doing' rather than 'looking'.