Vogue’s Ageless Style Issue
— by Alyson Walsh
There seems to have been a bit of a hoo-ha online about British Vogue’s July cover. ‘Like an advert for menopausal medicine,’ said one (obviously young) commentator, ‘Unbelievably bland’ continued another, ‘The cover looks more suited to Good Housekeeping or Psychologies.’ Well, I think it’s gorgeous. The epitome of Gentlewoman Style. Stella Tennant (44) is one of my favourite models. The Lovely Blue Shirt is one of my fashion essentials so, to me, the July cover of Vogue is perfect. What I don’t like is the ‘Fashion Prescription’ feature, inside. ‘Have a niggling body concern? Don’t worry there is a sartorial cure.’ An off-the shoulder Balenciaga blouse to cover your ‘ageing elbows’, hide your ‘nightmare knees’ with a pair of sailor trousers or cover up your ‘sun-damaged décolletage’ with an Edwardian high neckline. I don’t think so.
What’s with all the prescriptive, patronising fashion bollocks? I usually like Vogue’s Ageless Style issue because it doesn’t take the predictable fash mag route. Much better to use a chic, mature model instead. Admittedly, there are older women elsewhere in the magazine (Neneh Cherry, 51, Esther Weiland, 91) but if my calculations are right, Cecilia Chancellor, 48, is the oldest model featured. I know model years are like dog years, but I do think Vogue could’ve been a bit more adventurous.
Anyhow, here are some Lovely Blue Shirts:
Discussion (30 Comments)
- Louise says:
I read this issue of Vogue yesterday. I think Stella looks really great, but the cover image is a little ‘safe’. I’d have preferred to see one of the more edgy photographs of Stella, as featured inside the magazine, instead of this one. The blue shirt is undoubtedly chic and classic, but not that interesting.
I think Neneh Cherry would have made a more interesting cover. That girl must have done a deal with devil! She doesn’t appear to have aged since the 1980s, and always cool as a cucumber. And a grandma . . . wowza!
- eimear says:
the fact that it is called an ageless style issue gives the impression that this is a token issue and all others will be back to as usual soon! niggling body concerns?…. i think most women by a certain time are a lot more savvy in getting dressed than that so I think the magazine may be missing the point……………….. and sorry, but i also think the cover is a bit bland and not much fun
- Kerrie in France says:
I agree with Hilary as to age. The young have been the centre of attention in fashion for so long they don’t realise there is a whole other market out there deserving of the occasional recognition. Just as those of us who need a larger size are also ignored by designers and retailers. That’s a whole other issue.
- GSL says:
Stella does look great, and a nice pic but it is a bit bland for a Vogue cover and Stella certainly has the mature, dramatic range to do something more interesting….that’s how they could have utilized her age to advantage.
- Sharron Hinchliff says:
Thanks for this fab post. I also enjoy issues specifically aimed at ‘older’ women, but often find myself – like you – frustrated by the contradictions in them. In my view, ageism underlies the ‘pro-ageing’ narrative and that spoils it for me.
I’ve also wrote about this issue after becoming frustrated by the increasing number of articles that claim to celebrate female ageing while at the same time decry an aged appearance! http://sharronhinchliff.com/2014/12/20/pro-ageing-beauty-articles-why-we-should-cast-a-critical-eye/
I kind of understand why they do it (advertising revenue) but so wish they wouldn’t.
- Jill, Scotland says:
I’m with GSL. Yes androgynous style is a classic good look for women of all ages, but Stella could have shown ageless women how to dress in a much more interesting way. I look to Vogue for inspiration, not just a reminder of things I’ve read a million times elsewhere. BTW I have way more blue shirts than I need and yet still have the Jaeger linen one in my shopping basket…. So I could definitely do with a more inspirational Vogue Ageless Style cover lol!
- Accidental Icon says:
This seems to be a moment in our culture and in fashion where older women (and I mean 50+) are being featured in fashion campaigns and in magazines much more frequently than before. There has been some, albeit not enough, attention to older bloggers. Vogue lost a chance to give us all something to really think about. I adore Stella and have seen her (quite recently) in really edgy and beautiful photos and styling her in a rather nondescript way as the cover of an “ageless” issue is almost like saying, now that you are approaching 50 this is how you should dress…conservatively and tone yourself down. I also think there is a fine line between “adventurous” dressing and eccentricity. But how much fun when one plays on that line and Vogue could have gone much further in their styling of such a gorgeous woman. It certainly is not “ageless” when throughout the text as you note there are multiple references to “prescriptions” that are anti-aging. Your selection of blue shirts is lovely as I have started collecting them in addition to my whites, thanks!
Accidental Icon
http://www.accidentalicon.com I agree with GSL that the cover could have been more “dramatic” but I loved it anyway. Stella’s blue eyes with that gorgeous shirt, the unfussy hair and those bracelets… I think it’s pretty perfect. Maybe we need a rest from drama, and super-fringed, over-scarfed, uber-accessorized looks. And seriously if that cover qualifies as “mesopausal medicine ” women will be queuing up to get it. I’ve been a bit disappointed with Vogue’s ageless issue in the past. They need to look a little farther afield for their mature models, and not keep hauling out the same old, same old…no pun intended. BTW laughed out loud at your line…”prescriptive, patronizing fashion bollocks.”
- Patti says:
Agreed about what’s considered “menopausal” in the style world. That said, I love the cover shot and simple blue shirt. xox
- Jen says:
I have been a Vogue reader for the past 32 years and this cover is fabulous. She has great style. Who cares the age? Being able to pull off a shirt and pants like that is real style. Wouldn’t we all wish we could toss on the basics and look that way!
And shame on those criticizing her her age. Stella has been a fabulous model and I think she rockin’ this look as well. Here’s to all of us who want to portray our best selves! - Laura Lewis says:
I agree that age should not prevent any woman from dressing in an adventurous, edgy, or even eccentric style. But personally I’m conservative, even preppy, in my style choices. It has always been my style choice. And I’m not alone. So all you critics of the plain blue shirt need to just hush up. As older women (I’m 65) we can dress any way we want and look damn good!
- Frances/Materfamilias says:
Nothing to add that hasn’t been said above and by you. I like the cover, but the idea of 44 being “old” or even “menopausal” (I crossed into that territory in my mid-50s) is depressing. Better, I suppose, to take it as a challenge and just show ’em. As you do.
- Marilyn says:
I agree with SueB. I think we are in danger of becoming over accessorised. Personally I prefer a clean cut simple look though understand that there are 2 sides to a story. I need another pale blue shirt and a navy one all of a sudden!!
- annie g says:
Hurrah indeed for the blue shirt. I am now hightailing it back to Gap for the shirt I hummed and hahhed over last week. She looks brilliant – cool, comfortable, elegant and…free. If we are still beating ourselves up in our later years – Daily Mail being particularly vicious today about Elle McPherson daring to have crinkly knees or Felicity Kendal showing a wrinkled face – and agonising over elbows (elbows!!FFS!!) then we need to take a sharp look around. Alive. Healthy. Independent. Able to decide not to buy a magazine.
Re: the bollocks. Well said. I would prefix with utter.
A 57 Year Old Pedant Writes. - Olderbutwiser says:
……a tad patronising methinks, although I do love a blue shirt, usually men’s are better. However I wonder ( she says cynically) ‘they’ are beginning to recognise where the spare £££££ is these days, so here’s our crumbs of comfort….
- camparigirl says:
Maybe we are so used to fashion not reflecting reality that this cover could come across as bland. Then again, because it is so different, could it also be revolutionary? It looks like us. How refreshing for once.
- Catbird Farm says:
Love this cover. Absolute epitome of effortless, understated elegance, which is what I (over 50) aspire to in my own wardrobe. Agree completely with @camparigirl that the cover is realistic and all the more refreshing for it. I loathe seeing women dressed up as decorative objects.
Also, just to be clear, everybody knows that Every. Single. Photo. — from front cover to back — in an issue of Vogue has undergone retouching, right? Don’t get seduced/fooled/discouraged, etc. *None* of it is reality.
- Vix says:
Could be fun, wearing a shirt like that on a night out round here and watching the pub rapidly empty as the clientèle mistake me for a policewoman. x
- GSL says:
Vix,
In Chicago, I know of a pub where a charming chap would send a drink over.
- JulietC says:
Love the cover – it has a lovely serene look without too much riotous colour, over the top jewellery, or blinged up whatever (which can be fine but it is lovely to have a rest). I am so with you on the blue shirt thing, I couldn’t find one simple and in the right fabric so I made a couple, I guess I must have got them right to some extent as the daughter didn’t realise one was homemade (normally she would be appalled but she is 19 and worries about these things) and the other shirt I wore to work yesterday and someone asked me where they could buy one – I think simple and nicely made blue shirts are wonderful. Anyway, I think the calm, simple looks suggests she has a life rather than a desperate need to pretend she has one – maybe that’s what growing up and embracing your age (any age) is all about
- Jenny O'Connor says:
I recently wrote a post in my Blog ‘Visible Women at 60+ – Reflections and Conversations about the catch-cry ’60 is the new 40′. I’m concerned that if we’re not careful, this will only serve to perpetuate the notion that there’s something wrong with being 60 and that ’40’ is somehow more desirable. I have been photographing women in their 60s for over three years now and have produced a book called ‘Visible 60 Women at 60’. My goal is celebrate what I call ‘everydayness’. Women as they are at this time of their lives.
http://visibleat60.blog.co.nz/2015/05/27/6/ - lisa says:
I also didn’t like the cover, but I adore Stella Tennant. I think it is the lighting and the grey background that make it seem less exciting than what we have come to expect from Vogue. My VERY FIRST THOUGHT when I saw the cover was, “Hmmmm. Minimalist. I’ll bet you my house Lucinda Chambers didn’t style that cover!”
- Jennifer says:
The cover is lovely. Your Vogue must be better than my American one, because the ageless issues are regularly hideous and a joke here. I frequently howl at the choices they make for women at 50 & 60.
- kim says:
Love the cover. It’s classic and beautiful. I think British Vogue doesn’t pander to the youth demographic like American Vogue does. British Vogue regularly has older women featured on the cover and it’s a better magazine. I’m just done with hearing and seeing the Kardashians and Rhianna over here. I agree women of all ages should be a regular thing though and not just a special ‘issue.’ Kim
- Nancy from RI says:
I don’t like the cover all! For me it feels dull and boring and just because a woman is older doesn’t mean that she has to be background material.
- JES says:
I will never buy one of these horrid “how to dress at any age” special issues. What a load of condescending crap. But Stella is fab.
- Carole says:
I congratulate Catbird Farm for raising the issue of retouching. Aren’t we all aware of advertising deceptions and deep down don’t we all feel conned ? Here in L.A. one often sees a “celebrity” running an errand and the difference between their image photos and the “real” thing can be the difference between night and day. Why are we women so gullible to the pressures put on us by companies. especially those selling beauty products and fashion? Help! Is there a psychiatrist out there?
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If Vogue thinks 44 is old I’m not inclined to rush out and buy a copy.