Top 25 Age-Defying Fashion Moments of 2010
By Erin Donnelly
01/10/11 at 01:00 AM
From toddler campaign stars to septuagenarians with swagger, it's clear that numbers didn't count in the fashion industry this year. FashionEtc takes you through 2010's most age-defying moments.
- Miranda Kerr's Baby Bump After hitting the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2011 runway in her second trimester, Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr revealed her baby bump in all its glory with a nude photo shoot for the December issue of W and also bared all for the January 2011 issue of Vogue Australia, becoming the first pregnant model to land on the glossy’s cover.
- Jennifer Lopez's 2-Year-Old Twins For its first children’s collection campaign, Gucci tapped two chips off the old block—Jennifer Lopez’s 2-year-old twins, Max and Emme. The dapper duo proved to have inherited their mom’s stylish genes, modeling mini Frida Giannini designs for the beach-set shoot.
- The Fashionable Fours Those celebrity tykes sure know how to fuel the fire! While fashion plate Suri Cruise kicked off a pint-size stampede for little-girl heels, her fellow 4-year-old Shiloh Jolie-Pitt raised eyebrows when mama Angelina Jolie announced that the tot prefers to dress like a boy. More in touch with his feminine side was Gwen Stefani’s son Kingston Rossdale’the 4-year-old recently rocked a platinum blond Mohawk and multicolored manicure.
- Willow Smith, 10 Her parents may be Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, but judging by her outrageous style, 10-year-old budding pop star Willow Smith has a little Lady Gaga in her DNA too. From the straitjacket-esque, one-shoulder leather contraption (a Mother of London knockoff?) at the American Music Awards to the visionary hairstyles (a heart-shaped pompadour) in her “Whip My Hair” video, this grade-schooler is one to watch.
- Cecilia Cassini, 11 While her classmates were no doubt hanging off monkey bars, 11-year-old Cecilia Cassini was making headlines with her “eco-chic kiddie couture” fashion line. Sewing since age 6, the bow-loving sixth-grader has already designed for the likes of Miley Cyrus. Watch your back, Donna Karan!
- Tavi Gevinson, 13 Once considered a precocious schoolgirl blogger with a quirky wardrobe and wise-beyond-her-years fashion intuition, 13-year-old Style Rookie Tavi Gevinson has hit the big leagues as a front-row regular, frequent guest columnist, and Anna Wintour in training thanks to her upcoming teen magazine launch with former Sassy and Jane editor Jane Pratt.
- Lourdes "Lola" Leon, 14 It takes a lot to steal the show from Madonna, but 14-year-old Lourdes Leon has emerged as a style icon and budding fashion entrepreneur who helped translate her iconic mom’s ’80s-era staples for the Material Girl clothing line’s teen demographic. Here’s hoping Lola keeps blogging about being “obsessivo about ’80s shorts” and her love for brogues and grunge shirts.
- Daphne Groeneveld, 15 Think Lara Stone minus 10 years. At the age of 15, Dutch model Daphne Groeneveld managed to land the December cover of French Vogue, posing alongside guest editor Tom Ford. If that’s not a major endorsement, we don’t know what is.
- Underage Models As part of an industry-wide crackdown on underweight models, designer Michael Kors pledged to stop hiring girls under the age of 16. But with 15-year-old beauties like Daphne Groeneveld and Lindsey Wixson (now 16) on the scene, will other designers follow suit?
- Taylor Momsen, 17 Boasting more garter belts than Dita Von Teese and enough black eyeliner to rival Alice Cooper, 17-year-old Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen had people buzzing about her Goth makeover this year, complete with stripper heels. Not that it’s bad for business—Momsen also landed lucrative modeling contracts for Madonna’s Material Girl line and John Galliano’s new fragrance.
- Blake Lively, 23 Hailed as the next Jackie O, this 23-year-old actress is a front-row fixture alongside her seemingly biggest champion, Anna Wintour. And with friends like Karl Lagerfeld, who is rumored to have tapped the Gossip Girl star for Chanel’s next handbag campaign, it doesn’t look like this style icon is going to fall off the fashion radar anytime soon.
- Carey Mulligan, 25 With apologies to Alexa Chung and Kate Middleton, 25-year-old Carey Mulligan has stolen our hearts as 2010’s resident It Brit. From her growing-out honey-blonde pixie to her fashion-forward Prada Oscars gown, the Vionnet- and Elie Saab’loving actress, who will play Daisy in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby, embodies ladylike elegance with a gothically romantic twist. Hot on her tail: A post-Hermione Emma Watson.
- Kate Middleton, 28 She may not be a princess just yet, but Kate Middleton has already been crowned sartorial royalty. After saying “yes” to Prince William, the 28-year-old brunette beauty ignited a fashion frenzy that isn’t likely to let up. Her blue Issa engagement dress sold out immediately as jewelers rushed out replicas of her diamond and sapphire engagement ring (an heirloom from Princess Diana). Meanwhile, speculation over who will design her wedding gown has hit a fever pitch (odds are on Bruce Oldfield).
- Rachel Zoe, 39 After 14 years of marriage and many rumors, stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe has confirmed that at age 39, she’s expecting her first child with husband Rodger Berman. We’re already “dying” over the prospect of baby bow ties or mini fur vests.
- Return of the '90s Supermodel Forty-five-year-old Linda Evangelista may now get out of bed for less than $10,000, but the recent Talbots spokesmodel and her fellow ’90s catwalkers have had a priceless presence on this year’s fashion scene: Elle Macpherson walked the Louis Vuitton runway (at 47), Cindy Crawford (44) and Claudia Schiffer (40) hit the magazine racks, Christy Turlington (41) appeared in the Fall 2010 Louis Vuitton campaign, and Stella Tennant (now 40) starred in Salvatore Ferragamo’s ads (someone cue George Michael’s “Freedom ”!).
- Kristen Mcmenamy, 46 With her androgynous looks and ’90s-era boy crop, Kristen McMenamy was always an unlikely choice as a fashion model. Even more unlikely? Enjoying a career renaissance at the age of 46 with her long mane of gray hair. Capitalizing on this year’s obsession with silver strands, a striking McMenamy scored runway gigs for Louis Vuitton and a controversial oil-slicked Italian Vogue cover shoot that referenced the BP oil spill. Think about that the next time you go to pluck out a gray.
- Julianne Moore, 50 In what was easily one of the year’s most memorable fashion campaigns, a now 50-year-old Julianne Moore boldly posed nude alongside some strategically placed wildlife and Bulgari handbags.
- Inès de la Fressange, 53 Love means never having to say you’re sorry: Karl Lagerfeld buried the hatchet with his longtime former muse, 53-year-old Inès de la Fressange, by putting her back on the Chanel runway for the Spring/Summer 2011 collections.
- Mature Models on the Runway Proving that gray is the new black, 60-something models’including Spanish socialite Eloisa Bercero’hit the catwalk at designer Juan Duyos’s Spring 2011 show in Madrid. “Beauty does not end at 40 or 50,” Duyos told the London Metro. Hear, hear!
- Sixty Plus Why settle for one iconic leading lady when you can have three? For its Winter 2010/11 Age Issue, V magazine wisely gave 72-year-old Jane Fonda, 61-year-old Sigourney Weaver, and 64-year-old Susan Sarandon stand-alone glam covers.
- Helen Mirren, 65 Retailers this year credited 65-year-old Helen Mirren with inspiring the “grankini” trend as older women rushed to follow her age-defying, bikini-wearing lead. After posing topless for photographer Juergen Teller in June’s New York Magazine, will the great dame spark a flashing frenzy among the senior set as well?
- Lauren Hutton, 67 Don’t call it a comeback! At age 67, ’70s supermodel Lauren Hutton scored a fashion hat trick, starring in H&M’s summer campaign, nabbing a photo shoot in the December issue of French Vogue, and walking in Tom Ford’s top-secret Spring 2011 show. Toss in her modeling gig for J.Crew, and those younger mannequins should be shaking in their booties.
- Jane Schmitt, Age Unknown Almost as thrilling as Lanvin’s effervescent party dresses for H&M is the retailer’s campaign featuring gray-haired model Jane Schmitt, who also channeled Coco Chanel in Karl Lagerfeld’s short films for the luxe label.
- Veruschka, 71 At 71, the legendary supermodel looked as regal as ever as she walked the Giles Spring/Summer 2011 runway. The only person not impressed? Veruschka herself, who dismissed the clothes and branded her casting “a gimmick.”
- Gitte Lee, 75 Actor Christopher Lee’s 75-year-old wife, Gitte, came out of modeling retirement for Cèline’s fall campaign and a shoot for Italian Vogue. Consider us inspired.