Fashion Labels Casting Older Women in Ads

Scandalously known for using almost naked hipster models in its campaigns, American Apparel brand created a new shocking campaign but this time it features a 60-year’s old model, Jacky O’Shaughnessy, as the face of their so called ‘advanced basics’ line.

[Photo: Jacky in the American Apparel campaign, from Facebook]

“There was something so compelling about Jacky’s look and energy when we first spotted her in a New York restaurant this winter, we introduced ourselves and pulled up a chair. During a long discussion that touched on everything from career choices and nutrition to insights on relationships, age and beauty, we asked if she would consider being photographed by us,” says Amarican Apparel on its Facebook Timeline introducing Jacky.

American Apparel, which was supported by Soros this fall to stay alive, didn’t change its outright style—the gray-haired model is photographed legs akimbo. Feedback varies: some Facebook fans were excited about the new move, while others disagreed it’s a good idea.

In an interview to Fashionista, the model said that it was by chance that she was modeling for American Apparel. Jacky first met Marsha Brady, American Apparel’s creative director, when she was having her “nightly cigarette” at her friends’ house. She said she never modeled but she had no doubts to try it out and enjoyed.

6-feet tall Jacky, who had problems with finding appropriate clothes when she was young, said that she never wore American Apparel before doing their ads but now she has “discovered clothes that are beautiful, affordable and actually fit”.

[Photo: Jacky in the American Apparel campaign, from Facebook]

미국 의류회사 '아메리칸 어패럴'은 최근 61세 여성 재키 어셔네시(O'Shaughnessy)를 새 컬렉션 '어드밴스드 베이식스'의 모델로 발탁했다. 이 회사는 "어셔네시의 근사한 은발과 세련된 모습을 통해 우리 회사가 추구하는 멋을 보여줄 수 있을 거라고 판단했다"고 밝혔다. 어셔네시는 광고 캠페인에서 얇은 면 티셔츠와 속옷만 입고 포즈를 취하기도 했다. 미국 뉴욕에 사는 애리 세스 코헨(Cohen)이 자신의 멋쟁이 친할머니를 소개하기 위해 만들었다는 '어드밴스드 스타일'도 업계에선 큰 화제다. 거리에서 마주치는 60~70대 멋쟁이들의 사진을 찍어서 올리는 블로그로, 재클린 머독도 이 블로그에 소개되면서 모델로 데뷔하게 됐다.