My September Issue

Each September the fashion bibles deliver their largest issues of the year. The pages are full of fabulous fall fashions and sensational new advertising campaigns. Historically the models in the editorial pages and ad campaigns are teenagers or in their early 20's.

And I have an issue with that.

It was in 1996 when Isabella Rossellini was fired from Lancome 6 days after her 40th birthday!! She was told,  "Be grateful Isabella. You're lucky you lasted so long in the business."
Conversely, remember when 44 year old Lauren Hutton returned to modeling 25 years ago for Steven Meisel's stunning Barneys ads. At that time an ad campaign featuring a 44 year old woman just wasn't done. Hence Ms. Rossellini's untimely departure seven years later.

My friends, things are changing.

Paging through several September fashion magazines I noticed advertising featuring models and actressess in their 40"s:  Eva Herzigova (Target), Kate Moss (David Yurman), Claudia Schiffer (Dolce and Gabbana).  Charlotte Gainsbourg (Louis Vuitton), Winona Ryder (Rag and Bone), Nicole Kidman (Omega), Carla Bruni (Bulgari). There are also ads with 53 year old Tilda Swinton and 61 year old Isabelle Huppert (Givenchy).

There were many cosmetic campaigns with women 40 and over:  40 year old Carolyn Murphy (Estee Lauder), 40 year old Penelope Cruz  (Lancome), 42 year old Sophia Vergara (Cover Girl), 53 year old Julianne Moore (L'Oreal), 65 year old Jessica Lange (Marc Jacobs), and 68 year old Charlotte Rampling (Nars).  Incredible.

Linda Evangelista (49) looks fabulous on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. Also, in the September Bazaar is an insert called Icons, styled by Carine Roitfeld. It's worth mentioning that out of the 19 "Icons", 11 are 40 and over. It opens with Cindy Crawford (48)  and closes with, the truly iconic, Lauren Hutton (70)

This is all fantastic.

Have they had "work" done? Maybe. Are they air-brushed? Of course they are. Even Ms. Rampling's famously seductive eyes look a tad more awake than usual. We all know this is de rigueur with everyone of all ages in the magazines. I'm just so delighted to see women over 40, and 50, and 60 in these magazines. Aren't you??

Maybe the editors will notice that age "sells" and put some older models in the editorial pages. Emmanuelle Alt, the Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue, had this to say recently, "I don't want to show any woman too skinny or young in the magazine. It's depressing to see only kids all the time. It's important to show real women of a certain age."

 I agree.

That's an issue I'll buy.

The Other "F- Bomb."

I've been thinking about the "F- bomb" for awhile.  It's use, it's meaning. I was shocked when I recently read it's use in an interview with an otherwise intelligent and accomplished woman in her 40's.  Some of us use it. Some of us don't. Some say it behind closed doors but never in public. Others cringe when they hear it and cast a disparaging glance at those that use it flagrantly.
The polarizing other "f-bomb."
Feminist.

I am always surprised when I read of any women, especially young women, who resist calling themselves feminists.  It's especially astounding when archaic arguments are used...but I don't hate men....I like being a woman...blahblahblah. You know, the word does have a definition, it's not just a  receptacle for our projections and misconceptions.
Just to be clear.

FEMINISM: The advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic  equality to men.
FEMINIST: A person who supports feminism.

Now, is that REALLY so threatening??

I came of age in the 1970's. Women were making 51 cents to every dollar made by a man, rape was a woman's shame, Women's Liberation was in the news as were Gloria Steinem and Phylis Schafley.  Ah, Phylis Schafley. When I was a teenager she drove me to distraction with her anti-Equal Rights Amendment crusade. What irony that she was a mother, wife and lawyer who traveled around the United States encouraging women to be stay-at-home wives and mothers.  She had the satisfaction of a career and family but insisted other women derive their satisfaction as home-makers. Her own college educated mother supported the family during the Depression because her father was out of work for most of that time. And yet she is vehemently against an ERA & feminism. Today she is 90 years old and STILL espousing anachronistic pabulum. Although I have to say, now she just sounds comical, then she was dangerous.

Yes, things have changed. A woman now makes 75 cents to every dollar made by a man. Wow, lucky us. Forty years and a 24 cent raise. Will it take another 40 years to earn what a man earns doing the same work?  The issue with economic equality is what exactly??

When French Vogue Editor-in-Chief Emmanuelle Alt, 46, (who is seemingly VERY cool) was recently asked if she considers herself a feminist she laughs "No, not at all! Life would be miserable without men. Who would you buy all those shoes for?" (So not cool.)
When asked if she is a feminist, actress Shailene Woodley, 22, said "No, because I love men and I think the idea of "raise women to power, take the men away from the power" is never going to work out because you need balance." (Yes, I know she's young, however....)
When Lady Gaga was asked the same question.."I'm not a feminist. I hail men, I love men. I celebrate American male culture, and beer and bars and muscle cars.." (This is just...I'm speechless.)

Okaaay. Shoes and beer and cars have nothing to do with political and social and economic equality. Ms. Woodley is right, it is about balance, because right now it is not balanced.  Look, I understand that some people don't like labels but when Bjork, Taylor Swift, Demi Moore, Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker, SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR and MADONNA for god's sake, won't call themselves feminists something is wrong. All of these women are fantastic examples of feminism and the thing is, if these women would admit to it, maybe some of the myths about feminists would be dispelled.

So thank you Amy Poehler, Sheryl Sandberg, Martha Plimpton, John Legend, Clare Danes, Patrick Stewart, Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway, Lena Dunham, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Toni Collette, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman and Beyonce for daring to call yourselves feminists.

I am a feminist.

It's easy.