At 71 years old, the iconic Veruschka sauntered onto the spring 2011 Giles runway in September, wearing the last look. This was one of the best moments of the season to be sure, along with Anna Dello Russo modeling at Ungaro, Miranda Kerr walking Balenciaga pregnant, and Crystal Renn walking Chanel. You know, all those times women who weren’t the typical straight-size teenage waif appeared on the runway. Yet Veruschka joins Joseph Altuzarra and Simon Doonan in questioning the alleged fashion trend of models being bigger and older, which has seemed to make the industry “more inclusive.” Also, she wasn’t thrilled with her look in the Giles show.
Veruschka believes she was a gimmick and that designers no longer have the skills to dress women who are not children with bodies that look like ironing boards.
‘I didn’t like the make-up in the show, and didn’t think much of the dress. Now we are using the old ones, make them look great and show their power as well as their age.’
She is as dismissive of the trend for vertiginous shoes.
‘In the Sixties, fashion was about liberation. It was about setting women free; it wasn’t about being unable to walk.’
That kind of honesty might not bring many designers knocking on her door to cast her in more shows, but it’s not like Veruschka would care. She cites as her current priorities in life “to be loving and to have a lively mind.”
FASHION THERAPY [Daily Mail UK]