This show featured only women over 40 at New York Fashion Week

Fashion week, long accused of celebrating only one form of beauty on the catwalks, seems poised to change the rules. And if women over 50 in the village finally have their place and all the legitimacy, then the change on the side of the chair is slower. Of course, there was the crowning of supermodels who returned to the catwalk for various brands, including Versace. And every now and then we see that a white-haired model appears among the army of young faces.

But the fashion show in New York on February 13 chose only women over 40 for casting. Without the characteristics of a teenager… For the Batsheva label, the models celebrate beauty in the prime of life.

Models with a sublimated spirit of heavily made-up or, on the contrary, without make-up, remind us that regardless of age, everyone can celebrate beauty in their own way. Make-up artist Vincent Oquendo, who worked behind the scenes, claimed on his Instagram page. he wanted everyone to feel “like a star walking the red carpet”, wanting to bring out their best. What about the hair? some have let their silver hair fully bloom, while others have embraced their roots. Others prefer coloring. No conformism.

“Aging in fashion is banishment, but aging in real life is amazing,” explains the brand’s founder, Batsheva Hai, in an Instagram post.

The latter chose only the women he noticed on the street. Like Ming Smith, whom he met on the subway when he was going to dance, as he says in another post. Moreover, the designer explains in an interview New York Times, that everyone was surprised and surprised when they asked. “There is a feeling of invisibility or not being seen. So when people notice you, it’s really amazing.”

If wild or street casting is not new, then it is more unexpected to do it with older women. THE: New York Times Asked the designer about this bias of setting 40 as the minimum age. “Because I’m 42 years old […] I find aging to be a big concern for me and my friends. In fashion, it’s a zone of discomfort.”

The newspaper also caught up with some of the models backstage, gathering their impressions of being on the catwalk at this point in their lives. “I want to see more [de mannequins seniors]. I want to see them in their underwear,” explains 67-year-old Birgit Doss, whose underwear appears under the dress she wore for the fashion show. “I love it! Today I feel freer. At the age of 25, I would have said no.”

In several Instagram videos, we also discover that the show is shaking other codes; there are smiles and dances that seem to let each person’s individuality shine through. The ultimate goal of Barsheva Hay. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re trying to look younger.” The mission is clearly accomplished.