Time was when widely accepted and imposed convention decreed it unacceptable for a woman aged 40 and up to wear, say, think, do and be certain things. These things included standing out, joyfully letting her hair grey, revelling in sensuality and individuality, and, most of all, celebrating her age. The rules became more stringent with each passing year the woman ‘dared to age,’ as Jane Fonda described it.
In one of the most brazenly public displays of this convention, the French beauty brand Lancôme fired their starriest spokesmodel, the actress Isabella Rossellini, just days after her 43rd birthday, describing her as ‘too old to represent our customers’ dreams’.
Two decades later, Lancôme approached Rossellini, then 63, with a new contract. The star’s response?
‘I’m delighted and, more than that, I’m…
