Looking For Over 40 Bloggers That Have Modelled For Brands: An Upcoming Feature

Something a bit different today: have you – or do you know anyone who has – modelled for a brand (at the age of 40 or over)?

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A few years ago I wrote a blog post about why brands should be using over 40 bloggers as models after seeing the amazing photo shoot that Mel Kobayashi of Bag and a Beret did for designer Claire Cormeau.

It was the first time I’d seen an older fashion blogger modelling for a fashion brand. I soon realised it was a trick that brands were missing out on, not least the ones whose target market was over 40 women… weren’t (aren’t) we all fed up of seeing clothes aimed at older women modelled by 22 year olds?

My reasoning for brands using fashion bloggers was fourfold:

1. Fashion bloggers are naturals in front of the camera and used to having their picture taken.
2. The reach and influence they have is invaluable to a brand (and instant PR).
3. Fashion bloggers are relatable and “regular women” compared to models.
4. They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and personalities.

(Main image: campaigns I’ve been featured in for, L-R, JD Williams, Fantasie and JD Williams.)

 

When things started to happen

Fast forward a year or two after I wrote that post and my wish, to some extent, started to come true.

Swedish brand Åhléns used Instagram star Sarah Jane Adams for their SS16 campaign and Mango used 60-something NYC blogger Lyn Slater in SS17.

In the UK, JD Williams hired Anna Parkes – a 60-year-old fashion blogger I’ve known since she started blogging back in 2015 – for their “I Am” campaign in 2018.

I couldn’t have been happier for all these wonderful women.

Above, L-R: Alison Gary for Cabi, Lyn Slater for Mango, Mel Kobayashi for Nordstrom, Sarah Jane Adams for Åhléns, Anna Parkes for JD Williams. I’ll feature these images in full in the upcoming post.

None of these women are your typical ‘model types’. All are stunning in their different ways, all embrace their age in a powerful way that’s not apologetic or trying to be anything other than the age they are.

The news about Lyn modelling for Mango even made it onto the pages of The Telegraph and Business of Fashion. Her photos looked incredible. (Moody and mysterious, but incredible.)

I thought things had gone quiet on the bloggers-as-models front until last year when there seemed to be a mini-explosion of older bloggers modelling for brands. Mel modelled again (this time for Nordstrom) and just the other week I rejoiced when I saw midsize blogger Alison Gary had modelled for Cabi Clothing. It gave me the idea to feature them, plus any others in a future post.

And to find more I need your help!

 

Who I’m looking to feature…

I want to feature bloggers over 40 who have modelled in campaigns for (fashion) brands, or appeared in any sort of TV advert/commercial, anywhere in the world. I’m looking for women who are not models as a profession (most models these days have a strong social media presence) – I want bloggers (or Instagrammers) who have been given the opportunity to model, where the brand would normally have hired a professional model but instead chose to go the regular women route.

The more interesting their look (i.e. not typically “model-like”), the better. I know that a lot of high profile fashion bloggers have modelled for brands, and although I wouldn’t dream of downplaying the fact that bloggers like Victoria Magrath of Inthefrow, Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad and Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl have won major modelling gigs and even appeared on the covers of magazines (good for them!), they do essentially have “model looks”.

I’m someone who was lucky enough to have been featured in a British TV advert for L’Oréal hair colourant. I most definitely do NOT have typical model looks, but the team at L’Oréal were most likely after regular women and wanted a mixture of hair colours and ages. Being over 40 and an (albeit faux) redhead has fared me well in my career.

I’ve also been in a few other campaigns, all of which I’ll include in the feature.

So please leave details in the comments about those you know of (links are most helpful), or drop me an email directly notdressedaslamb[at]gmail[dot]com with high-res images in the attachments if you were the model yourself. The more details, the better.

I’ll of course give full credit to all concerned, and although I can’t promise to feature everyone (I don’t know how much of a response I’ll get), I’ll feature as many as I can, or at least give links.

Once the post is written and all the images are included, I’ll make sure it gets seen by all the contacts on my PR and brands mailing list. They need to know that this is something they should be doing, and if not – WHY are they wasting this golden opportunity… just LOOK at these incredible women!

(Timescale: I’m looking to publish the post in April, so send me images and links by the end of March!)

 

Have you been part of a major campaign for a fashion brand? Do you know someone who has? Give me all the details in the comments!

 

XOXO