Looks like the hottest women gracing the ads for luxury items these days are mid-century mavens with a little experience under their belts — even if they're not wearing any. These hot women may be having hot flashes themselves but they generate heat for a host of reasons: They have been there, done a lot, and bring a bring a little perspective to the collective table.
Risk-takers, award winners and working moms, two of these beauties are in their early fifties and the other two will be celebrating the big 5-0 this year. A few smart companies recognize that this is something to be celebrated.
Julianne Moore
Nude and nestled among birds, bangles and leather bags, Julianne Moore looks resplendent in the new ad for Bvlgari. The regal redhead, currently co-starring in designer Tom Ford's "A Single Man" with Colin Firth, is a three-time Oscar nominee and 50th birthday girl on December 3, who is also active in breast cancer research and the Save the Children campaign.
As the new face of Pringle of Scotland, the world's oldest luxury goods label, the Oscar-winning actress stars in a short film directed by art photographer Ryan McGinley. The film, like the actress inhabiting it, is by turns ethereal and grounded in that "cutting edge" way that compels you to keep watching what will happen next — a quiet interior/exterior adventure.
Favorite line:
Dig deep where you are, don't slip off elsewhere…."
The last line is good too, but you'll have to watch it to find out.
Turning 50 on November 5, Swinton, whose family can be traced back to 9th century Scotland, has frequently been a fashion icon — for a line designed by Viktor & Rolf and on the International Best Dressed List. She recently said she'd be up for playing Conan O'Brien in a film, which means we'd see a return to her rumpled red hair.
Madonna
Of course Madonna has been gracing luxury labels for years now, in the last several anyway as the face of Louis Vuitton. But now the design team of Dolce & Gabbana has smartly snapped her up for their Spring/Summer campaign. The singer/actress/author/model/mogul has created a stir on several fronts since she was born in August of 1958, continually reframing preconceived perceptions of sex, religion, marriage and motherhood. Odds are her ability to create buzz around whatever she does is far from over.
During both Golden Globe and SAG awards shows, it seems like we saw of more of Andie MacDowell's face than any other actress. As the spokesperson for L'Oreal on everything from hair color to eye cream, the soft-spoken Southerner was dubbed over for "Greystoke" but spoke for herself in "Groundhog Day." Now the soon-to-be 52-year-old North Carolina resident and mother of 3 speaks up for Ovarian Cancer and how aging on women is finally catching up to the perceptions of aging for men, and that this time in life is the beginning of an adventure — worth listening to.
Whether in plush pillows or the wilds of Scotland, the mountains of North Carolina or the world stage, fabulous 50s women are the reigning queens of ad campaigns.
Whose ad campaign would you like to do?