Written by HANNAH HARGRAVE, LIVING

Originally posted on MyLumityLife

When it comes to the world of fashion youth used to be currency with rail thin teen models frequently being sent down the runways draped in designer gear. But there has been a very definite shift with women of all shapes, age and sizes being celebrated and we couldn’t be happier.

The tide has most definitely turned in the fashion world with Helena Christensen, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford all ruling the runways, starring in glossy magazine campaigns and out-modelling their twenty-something colleagues.

Meanwhile, over in Canada, Julia Roberts absolutely nailed the red carpets at the Toronto Film Festival this week, which lead to American Vogue declaring that vampy gowns and cocktail dresses are officially on the outs while grown up fashion moves forward to take centre stage.

With London Fashion Week kicking off today, we have decided to join the celebration and take a look at ten of our favourite style icons who are in their fifties and beyond.

Monica Bellucci

We can’t imagine Italian ‘Matrix’ beauty Monica Bellucci, 53, ever slouching around in a pair of tracksuit bottoms. She embraces her curves and flatters them in feminine figure hugging dresses or sleek, tailored suits. She’s rarely without a pair of heels either and has kept glam since her early days as a model.

Isabelle Huppert

The gorgeous French actress, 64, is the epitome of chic. “It’s important how personal and singular you feel in what you wear” she says. Whether she’s walking the red carpet in one of her dreamy tuxedos, boyish suits or a glamorous gown she manages to look impeccable. She oozes style in her day to day life too and keeps to the appeal of French style that less is always more.

Maye Musk

Maye Musk, 70, is the mother of Tesla founder Elon Musk but she was famous long before he was. The silver-haired dietician and five-decade model says she’s determined to be a role model for women and men who fear ageing and her bright and fearless sense of style is an inspiration too.

“I’m living proof that [you can] find work for an older woman,” says the style guru. “I’ve never worked so much as I do now,” and she always does it with great earrings and lipstick too.

Melanie Kobayashi

Canadian model, blogger and artist Melanie Kobayashi wants to prove you can be stylish and confident at any age. Her blog ‘Bag and a Beret’ aims to show off her self confessed “shameless” fun and rock n roll style.

Wendy Packer

The name of former lawyer Wendy Packer’s popular blog is ‘Fashion Over Fifty’ so it makes sense that she has a confident and brilliant sense of style which has garnered her 14.5k Instagram followers and a legion of fans.

“My mission,” she says. “Is to help every woman feel her inner and outer beauty no matter what her age.”

Lyn Slater

Her style might not be for everyone but there’s no denying ‘Accidental Icon’ Lyn Slater knows fashion. A huge fan of Japanese designs, you can count on the 64-year-old former university professor to make bold statements when it comes to what she wears and she always manages to pull it off.

Michelle Obama

She wasn’t just the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama was also the dubbed the First Lady of Fashion. An obsession over what she wore was boosted when she admitted she loved shopping at ‘J Crew’ and online. The 54-year-old has been consistently on point with her style ever since.

Sofie Fontanel

Her face is usually covered with her phone in her mirror selfies but French journalist Sofie Fontanel, 56, still gives her followers plenty to look at with her easy to replicate outfits. Her simple styling is effective, chic and follow.

Caryn Franklin

Fashion guru Caryn Franklin is a “mannish dresser” who loves print clash and she makes no excuses for it. The former ‘The Clothes Show’ presenter, stylist, editor, activist and professor has an incredible eye for fashion but she also insists she wears the clothes that make her feel good about herself whether other people like it or not.

Linda Fargo

Linda Fargo has been branded “the eyes of Bergdorf Goodman”. She is the senior vice president of the fashion office and store presentation. So she knows a thing or two about looking good. She’s not scared of leopard print and she admits she loves timeless classics “with a bit of a bite”.

If you’re inspired by these women to up your game in the style stakes why not also take some tips from a fitness expert and find out the best way to get in shape after 50. You might be interested in makeup advice for the over fifties too.

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