Ageless beauty

Sophie Shaw celebrates Joan Didion as the new face of Céline..

I kept seeing the same image pop up on Instagram – an older lady with porcelain skin wearing big black sunglasses. Originally thinking it was some forward-thinking artistic shot, I looked past it, but soon realised it must be of some importance. Upon spotting the classy, bold letters of Céline I was pleasantly surprised; it’s about time age should be celebrated, and with an aging population it was inevitable sooner or later. The image of the 80-year-old literary legend Joan Didion, shot by Jeurgen Teller, embodies every theme of the new season; understated clothing and effortless style, timelessly classic.

These women are all from a generation of independent, ambitious and strong women, and they are happy to be photographed in their older years.

So it’s only fitting that a women with such a successful career has been chosen, as we all know by now that it is brains not beauty that gets you far. The image has been heralded as one which can “fix the internet”, with its emphasis on class, which can finally turn everyone’s eyes away from a certain reality star’s magazine cover. Luckily, the French fashion house is not the only one to bring the glamour of old-Hollywood back in front of the lens; Dolce and Gabbana have featured older models in their campaigns for several past seasons. It seems fashion is not the only facet interested in celebrating wrinkles – even beauty brands are now keen, with the 64-year-old actress Jessica Lange welcomed as the new face of Marc Jacobs Beauty. I’m sure any make-up obsessive will know that the gorgeous Julia Roberts has been the face of Lancôme for years; and at 47-years-old the campaigns look better and better, emphasising her graceful aging.

Photo: Flickr / Tompickenfrets

Even someone as highly respected as Dame Helen Mirren has been featured in recent L’Oréal images, proudly showcasing her looks at 69-years-old, looking healthy and fresh. On being the new L’Oréal UK ambassador she says, “I am not gorgeous, I never was, but I was always OK-looking and I’m keen to stay that way. I hope I can inspire other women towards greater confidence by making the most of their natural good looks. We are all worth it!” And she is right. These women are all from a generation of independent, ambitious and strong women, and they are happy to be photographed in their older years. They relate to the demographic of the products they are advertising – 40-years-old and above – so why not let women in the spotlight encourage others to celebrate their age? After all, it’s better to be timeless than seasonal.