By Red Dimaandal-Escamillas
At the latest shows of Paris Fashion Week, the runway told a story that fashion has long been slow to embrace: style does not fade with age.
Models in their 40s, 50s, and 60s commanded attention alongside younger faces. Their presence underscored a growing shift in the industry, where authenticity and individuality are becoming as prized as youth.
At Chanel, creative director Matthieu Blazy opened the show with 50-year-old model Stephanie Cavalli, whose distinctive gray strands stood out on the runway. Cavalli had also walked Blazy’s couture debut in January, and her appearance set the tone for a lineup that celebrated maturity and poise.
Other major houses echoed the message. Miu Miu, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors all embraced seasoned models who carried their looks with quiet authority. On these runways, experience translated into presence: a slower stride, a confident gaze, and a sense of self that can’t be taught in casting calls.
Together, the shows suggested a broader cultural change within fashion. For years, the industry has been criticized for its narrow beauty standards, but the latest season demonstrated that audiences are ready for something different. The message from the runways was clear: age is just a number, and when it comes to style, confidence only gets stronger with time.
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Janeena Chan is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now. The multihyphenate media star, in-demand host, singer, actress, Sparkle artist, and our very own Stylish correspondent shares her journey as a modern Filipina-Chinese woman navigating her career in entertainment and lifestyle while embracing her heritage.
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