Why Inspiring Women Over 60 Are the Season’s Front Row MVPs

Fashion may always be focused on the new, but this season, the front row has been dominated by a surprising number of familiar faces. Stylish women over 60—many of whom have been present within the industry for decades—have emerged as MVPs at powerhouse shows like Gucci, Dior, and Burberry. Sure, the headlines may be devoted to the latest K-pop idol or social media star to make their Fashion Week debut, but many of the month’s best moments came courtesy of cultural fixtures. Whether it was 76-year-old Italian model Benedetta Barzini taking Alessandro Michele’s mixed prints to the streets of Milan moments before the Gucci show, or Japanese actress Mari Natsuki rocking Riccardo Tisci’s biker-chic leather Burberry trenches at the age of 67, the outfits and their wearers were the week’s biggest shining stars.

Inspiring women of a certain age have always had a place in fashion. Still, in recent years, the industry’s rush to populate its shows with the new faces that appeal to teens and 20-somethings has led to collectsions filled with TikTokers, Instagram models, and Hollywood starlets born after the Clinton administration. While there’s nothing wrong with seeing a buzzed-about influencer livestream from the front row, fall 2020 has reinforced the importance of talents whose value can’t be measured in online metrics. There is a degree of authenticity that comes with the endorsement of women who have been longtime fans of a designer’s work. Brands can barter with agents and management teams to ensure the presence of a starlet or viral star, but odds are that 83-year-old acting legend Vanessa Redgrave is not showing up to see a runway show unless she enjoys the clothes.

Add to this the pleasure of seeing how clients actually wear the collectsions. Bianca Jagger’s take on Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior isn’t the result of a team of stylists, it’s just one of the world’s most fashionable women doing what she does best. In an era where every look is the result of careful planning and committee decision making, the simplicity we used to take for granted feels refreshing. The outfits that have been worn by the women who’ve been enlivening the front rows of New York, London, and Milan prove that true style is about individuality and presence—a valuable lesson at any age.