COMMENTS

33 responses to “Older models: Empowering or Not?”

1. It’s good to see older models. Representation matters. Now if they’d use older models of all sorts, not just the ones who are thin and/or younger looking! How about older plus sized models, older models in wheelchairs or mobility devices, the women who look more realistic than the ones who were probably fashion models their entire lives?

   Reply to Sabrina

2. I, for one, am absolutely thrilled by society finally recognizing that women are beautiful at all ages. I’m still in my 40’s but I feel so unseen, something that certainly wasn’t a problem when I was in my 20’s. It’s a terrible thing to only value youth. Obviously we are so much more than what we are on the outside, but it’s nice to be appreciated on all levels. Women enjoy fashion for themselves and other women, at least I know I do, and so it has nothing to do with objectification…it’s art (we have the museum exhibits to prove it) and beauty and we deserve to have art and beauty throughout our entire lives…not just when we are young.

   Reply to stacy

3. Please honor this request and delete/remove my comment. This is a privacy issue.
   Thank you.

   Reply to Elisabeth De Nitto

   1. Hi Elisabeth, no problem – your comment has been removed. We’ll also delete this comment.

      Reply to Barbara Aria

4. I like the idea of using older models because lets face it, we are all getting older.

   Reply to Mary Ann Brown

5. Interesting food for thought and discussion. While we appreciate “patina” on antiques, it is still hard to see the beauty of “patina” on humans.

   Reply to Deb Wood

   1. I agree with you. They may be more beautiful than the rest of us, but they are positive images of aging. I really wish Senior Planet would begin calling out the negative stereotyping of seniors in the media, because it’s really getting out of control, IMO. Even, or maybe especially in “liberal” publications, like Huffington Post. Racism is being attacked in the media, but agism is getting worse and is not challenged at all. Calling everyone over 60 “grandma” and “grandpa” and endless articles about a life of just cooking, changing diapers, and memory problems are examples of negative stereotyping, assuming that someone fits into this one role just because of age is condescending and negative stereotyping.

      Reply to Daphne Lawton

      1. Hi Daphne, thanks for your comment. Senior Planet tries to consistently present non-stereotypical views of older people to counter the stereotyping we see in mainstream media. We also make a point of commenting under ageist articles we see on other sites.

      2. Agree with Ms.Lawton. I dislike heartily being called “grandma.” Also wish someone would have a talk with Dr. Oz, a pretty influential tv guy. Some time ago, he presented a “mocked up” human purporting to represent a 74 year old. The space-suited individual could barely walk, go up and down stairs, or move its head, whatever. Are there folks out there with severe problems as this research model represented? Absolutely! However, to present as fact that this model represented everybody at 74 was disgraceful!

6. No this does not empower me. I am short and overweight and 65 and healthy as all get out and beautiful in my own eyes. I resent the older tall willowy abnormally perfect women just as much as I resent the younger ones. Why? Because I can’t wear the fashions they show. It’s just as demeaning now as it ever was. But now, as I am older and more likely to speak my mind — it makes me angry. Damn angry!

   Reply to Kathleen Shelby

   1. So the truth is what men have always thought, you don’t give a damn how you look to anyone but yourselves.

      Reply to Ed H

7. yes lets do it :)

   Reply to keely

8. Women over 50 with long, white/gray hair look ridiculous. A chic, short, well styled cut…any color is very becoming. I’m 77. I keep my hair straw berry blond ( used to be red many yrs.!ago ) short and stylish. Basketball & pickleball, among other sports, keep me active & young.

   Reply to Geri

   1. You’re certainly entitled to think so. I don’t agree with you. I think women with short, old lady haircuts look ridiculous.

      Reply to Maggie

9. You should also look into Black senior citizens with class. I am 66 years young and have created my owe vintage look and I have been told many times that I don’t look my age and I should consider modeling. We’ll see.

   Reply to Joanne Swain

   1. Do your thing Joanne. I can not wait to see you strut your stuff!

      Reply to Karen

   2. That model does NOT look “ridiculous”. She is very attractive. I see women with gray hair worn long frequently, and it looks fine. Looks good, actually. I say a woman with long grey hair halfway down her back in Target the other day, and she really looked terrific.

      Reply to Daphne Lawton

10. it is great that older models are being regonized

    Reply to blanche fantino

11. Who do I contact to discover whether I am suitable for more mature age group modelling.

    I am 77, petite, slim hourglass, five foot 2, and forever being told I have great dress sense.

    I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

    Thank you.

    Patricia (Kirby)

    Reply to Patricia Kirby

12. I am over sixty, and am struck by the style and grace with which my contemporaries and older women exude. I remember my mother and friends at my age. They were mostly identified as wives and mothers, and stlye was not a #1 option for them, although I do remember my mother did stand out in her group. She was beautiful, and sewed a lot of her clothing. She alternated between designing and using Vogue patterns. I like to feel I inherited her fashion genes!

    Reply to Elysse V. Cooke

13. Sorry, the woman in the dusky pink outfit, with long blonde hair, is an abject turnoff. She is of a generation who (should) know that ladies do not sit with their legs apart!! Forget the bling ring. I don’t even see the clothes, just the bad manners and poor upbringing.

    Reply to Trish Martin

14. I have to believe that seeing more older models is empowering and does fight against ageism. By featuring older models you are proclaiming that just because you are older that does not mean that you are “washed-up, a has-been, or of no consequence.” It does not matter whether you are classically beautiful or not; it still makes a statement that older women, just like older men are still viable, worthy, sexy, intelligent and bring something to the table every day, and how.

    Reply to Teri

15. A couple of different stories here. In 1976, Vogue announced that women had finally arrived – women’s liberation was here and now and clothes reflected that. In particular – NO MORE HIGH HEELS – EVER – BAD!! So much for what Vogue thinks, says, or does. Style, attractiveness, whatever for women 50, 60, 70 or more: some terrific blogs out there to help us seniors find our way. There are other clothes to choose from than, say, Alfred Dunner. Models are way too skinny: think such images are bad for our young women. Personally, at 76, I’m not impressed with any model’s body parts – my body, complete with surgery scars and a missing breast, is no longer a problem for me. Our returning injured veterans have shown me how to live with my own personal wounds – I salute our wounded warriors! And one more thought: elderly women today look and dress soooo much better than did those dear ladies I remember from my childhood. As the ad said, “we’ve come a long way….”

    Reply to Trisha

16. I love seeing older women models. It’s one more weapon against stereotyping older people. I think that it is also a good way to showcase diversity by featuring older models of different ethnic and racial groups. One thing I would caution against is the use of models who have had too much “work” done on them. That in itself is a form of ageism. And honestly, even in Vogue, not every model has to be tall and thin. A catalog I receive features, among the younger models, an older woman who is neither, and she looks fabulous in the unstructured garments the company specializes in. In my mid sixties, I think I look pretty darn good, and seeing women in my age group featured in magazines, not just in drug ads, makes me feel fantastic.

    Reply to Emily

17. Anything that expands the current depiction of femaleness is great. Differences in age, weight, color, ability/disability. In my interesting opinion, it is good for all of us, men and women, and especially the youth who are terrified of aging.

    Reply to Honor Finnegan

18. Most people spend a fair portion of their lifetimes trying to look nice and arrange their appearances appropriately based on social norms. By the time you get 50-ish, you don’t see many depictions of your peers looking stylish and well-groomed, and you begin to feel discarded, irrelevant, and unattractive. I want to see sharp stylish clothing, make-up, and hair styles that are designed for my age group and modeled by my age group. It’s not so much about looking “sexy” at this point, but more about looking striking, dignified, and admirable.

    Reply to Emewe

19. Absolutely. At 64, I feel a little excluded from fashion a lot of the time. Love seeing older stylish women.

    Reply to Margey

20. My answer is “yes!” While I would prefer even more diversity (different sizes, shapes and skin tones) I think it is good to see older women looking just as stylish (or more so) and beautiful and those who are uber young. How can that not help but make everyone who sees it become more used to older women? Ageism means that past a certain age you are invisible. This helps to counteract this and I would strongly support it in Vogue or any magazine. While it doesn’t necessarily empower me any more than seeing anyone without my skin tone or body type looking good, it does start changing the conversation about age.

    Reply to Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com

21. I think it is a refreshing change to see women over 18 in fashion. I have wondered for many years (I am 56) why fashion and particularly cosmetics seem geared toward youth. Certainly there are young people of means, however, mainstream consumers with the most disposable income are 30 +. Why show cosmetics to defy aging on a teens face? I love it when the cosmetic companies (Lancôme has always done a good job with this) show women over 30. We are the ones, after all buying the anti-aging products! Why not show a 60 year old woman with great skin?? Same with fashion. I want to see people of my age depicted wearing fashion forward clothing with great design. Nothing wrong with seeing a gorgeous 60 year old. And nothing wrong with seeing an amazing woman in her 50’s in a gold swimsuit that is not a size 0 looking beautiful and smoking hot!!

    Reply to Amanda Bolton

22. I like seeing older models but not in a special issue or article about “ageism.” Why can’t they use models of all ages and sizes for that matter. Why do models have to be teenagers. Why not 30 or 40 or 50. Ironically the skinny models don’t look so great at 60. A little flesh on the bones is way more flattering at our age.

    Reply to Erica Manfred

23. That’s wonderful for symmetrically featured, good bone structured people who have been fortunate to be photogenic at any age. That does not relate to me at all. I’m not lovely to look at. I have way too many dents and dings and blemishes from living. And I’ve lived enough to see beyond fashion. Get real. Worth is not on the surface.

    Reply to Kathy Weisner

24. Empowering? YES. When I turned 60, I took a long, hard look at myself and was appalled. What I saw was a dumpy old woman hiding herself in ill-fitting mom-jeans and oversized sweatshirts. All sense of style had drifted away. At some point I bought into the notion that aging gracefully meant looking matronly. That’s when I began the excavation, clawing through layers of emotional dust and rubble to find some kind of lost passion. A change of lifestyle emerged with fitness and improved nutrition leading the way. I was seeking out a new sense of style. But I felt alone in all of this. Thanks to Senior Planet and other sources, I have begun to see other women my age – and beyond – maintaining their own styles and I don’t feel alone anymore. I’ll never be featured in a fashion magazine. I’m not built for it. But that’s OK. It’s just good to see ‘my own kind’ being represented. We don’t have to be invisible and frumpy just because we’re not 19 anymore. Just as we don’t all have to be built like super models in order to be stylish.

    Reply to Roxanne St.Pierre

25. I can relate to models my age. Lovely ingenues with tan bamboo legs and hair down to here are just not interesting to me. That was one of my former lives. I’ve moved on.

    Reply to Carol