Photo: Lacey Terrell / Courtesy of HBO1/10Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Photo: Shutterstock2/10Brigitte Macron is perhaps the most iconic WHIP of the moment: French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife was once his high school drama teacher. She’s endured tabloid rumors and mocking for their 24-year age difference, but has defended their love and mutual respect. And Macron has been similarly defiant in her fashion choices. For a simple Brigitte look, you’ll need a blonde bob wig, and a chic mod minidress, hopefully with a matching jacket. Don’t forget the heels.
Photo: Shutterstock3/10Dolly Parton might not be a WHIP in the strictest sense; she’s been married for decades to Carl Thomas Dean, who is four years older. But Dean notoriously stays out of the limelight, letting Dolly and her famous “girls” steal the show. Her confidence and unabashed celebration of her iconic figure lend her the WHIP status anyway. Dolly has many iconic looks, but pairing a splashy, deeply low-cut blazer with white pants and cowboy boots, topped by a big blonde wig, will do the trick.
Photo: Shutterstock4/10Jane Fonda has been starring in Grace and Frankie with her fellow WHIP Lily Tomlin, and, like her character Grace, refuses to go gently into the twilight of matronhood. She’s been married three times, and her latest partnership, at 71, was with younger man who was introduced to her by her niece, Bridget. Fonda spoke out at the Emmy Awards against Trump, and did it while making another signature WHIP statement: co-opting two millennial beauty trends, the ponytail and the color pink. Create this WHIP moment with a pink dress that has at least one of the following: bell sleeves, a boatneck, and a long train. And wear your ponytail with pride.
Photo: Getty Images5/10Erika Girardi is the daredevil of our WHIP list. She playfully uses the Real Housewives platform to showcase her decidedly un-housewife life as Erika Jayne, her sexy, confident pop star alter ego. It’s thrilling to watch Erika’s videos, knowing that the 46-year-old is unafraid to make music that’s just as raunchy as her millennial counterparts. Bling is imperative to achieve this look. An Erika Jayne costume needs a long, straight blonde wig, and some kind of leotard with thigh high boots. Bonus if you can sing all the lyrics to “XXPEN$IVE.”
Photo: Eric Ryan Anderson / Getty Images6/10Oprah Winfrey has reigned supreme as the queen of aging gracefully—and powerfully—for many years, but she’s making even more moves next, starring in Ava Duvernay’s version of A Wrinkle in Time. Oprah’s willingness to root for the younger women in her life makes her a WHIP of the highest order. Create an Oprah aura with a comfy, flowing sweater coat and pants, with or without belt, in soft neutral colors that make you feel safe and loved.
Photo: Alamy / Courtesy of Netflix7/10Robin Wright herself is a tried-and-true WHIP, having dated the actor Ben Foster who is 14 years her junior. But we also love her portrayal of WHIP power player Claire Underwood as White House ice queen. With the cleanest of clean lines in both her wardrobe and her signature short haircut, Claire got even fiercer as she got older. Not a costume for the faint of heart. The most identifiable Claire Underwood component is the closely cropped blonde wig (or maybe you already have it). A tailored dress in a dark color with stilettos and a thirst for power seals the deal.
Photo: Bill Davila / Getty Images8/10Kim Cattrall’s character Samantha Jones from Sex and the City was a WHIP before, as WHIPs have always existed, but just remained outside our appreciation. Brash, bold, and unafraid to wear spandex, she won us over with her self-deprecating humor and her unwillingness to be “the old one” among her girlfriends. But Kim Cattrall has recently given Samantha a run for her money, dishing all of her unfiltered thoughts on the doomed SATC 3 installment. We salute you, Kim, for your honesty. Pay homage with a signature Sam look: jacket with a fur collar, leather pants, sunglasses, and a blonde wig. Cosmopolitan optional.
Photo: Shutterstock9/10You might have already dressed up as “Heartbreaker”-era Mariah, but contemporary WHIP Mariah is the way to go this year. Fresh off her divorce from the much younger Nick Canon, and dating dancer Bryan Tanaka, Carey is the WHIP queen of “zero fucks,” to borrow a phrase from Erika Jayne. As long as you’re lounging on Halloween night, you’ve got the Mariah WHIP pose down. Create you WHIP Mariah look with a sparkly gown that has a thigh high slit, and the singer’s signature long bouncy waves. And carry a microphone to belt it out.
Photo: Shutterstock10/10Cher was one of our favorite political pundits leading up to the 2016 presidential election, and she’s continued to hold Donald Trump accountable on his favorite platform, Twitter. Her emoji-laden callouts only make us happier to see her back on the big screen again, with fellow WHIP Meryl Streep, in the upcoming Mamma Mia! sequel. A black wig is the most important item for this costume, whether long and flowing, or big and curly. A Cher look is not unlike a brunette Erika Jayne, but less Barbie and more biker chick. Think black leather and sheer fabric like this black-leotard-and-boot number.
