Julia Roberts has been announced as the new face of Givenchy for the label’s Spring Summer 2015 collection.
Shot by photographer extraordinaires, Mert & Marcus, Roberts, 47, has appeared in the campaign sans hair and makeup and without her signature toothy smile.
According to Givenchy’s Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci that was what he envisioned for America’s sweetheart from the beginning.
“Sometimes you shoot someone who’s so popular, you try to make it glam, but I really wanted her the way she arrived: black jacket, men’s shirt, jeans, which is really what we have in common,” Tisci told Style.com.
“No hair, no makeup. I said to her, ‘Because your smile is so beautiful and everybody knows you for that, I think it should be no smile.'”
Apparently the Oscar-winner – who has also been the face of beauty brand Lancôme since 2010 – wasn’t at all daunted about the prospect of being pared back.
“She’s very cool,” Tisci said. “Of course, she’s conscious of herself. When you’re a well-known designer, you’re paranoid about your looks, so imagine when you’re so well-loved by everybody. She saw the first picture and she liked it, she said because ‘I can see myself, my real self.'”
Roberts’ recent appointment follows a slew of luxury fashion houses casting mature celebrities to front their campaigns. Trends have been sparked in the beauty game too with Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts all signing on as L’Oreal ambassadors and all over 45, respectively.
So do brand execs want to push that beauty should be ageless, not underage? We hope so, especially considering that women account for 85 per cent of consumer purchases globally – a huge chunk of which sit in the 40 plus bracket.
Here are some of the most notable mature aged brand ambassadors to recently spruik a luxe label.
Julia Roberts, 47, has been announced as the face of Givenchy’s Spring Summer 2015 collection. Roberts was shot by Mert and Marcus and appears in the ad campaign sans hair and makeup and without her signature toothy smile.
Madonna was recently revealed as the face of Versace’s Spring/Summer 2015 campaign – the fourth time the diva has fronted the label. “Madonna is one of the true icons of Versace,” Donatella Versace said. “I am thrilled to have my friend and the most powerful and directional artist as the face of Versace for Spring 2015.”
American singer Erykah Badu, 43, achieved new heights of style-icon status when she faced Givenchy’s Spring 2014 campaign.
Legendary British actress Charlotte Rampling, 68, was appointed the new face of cosmetic brand Nars in 2014.
Helen Mirren, 69, was announced as the UK face of L’Oreal in October 2014.
Because she’s worth it! Australian actress Naomi Watts was named the face of L’Oreal Paris earlier this year and will feature in campaigns promoting the brand’s new skincare product, set to debut January 2015.
Nicole Kidman defied age in her pre-fall 2014 ad campaign for Jimmy Choo. The 47-year-old actress’ shots for the luxury shoe label prompted a barrage of Photoshop criticism with many saying her legs appeared younger and longer than ever before.
Julianne Moore has been an ambassador for L’Oreal for over 2 years. According to the beauty brand Moore, 54, was appointed because “her beauty transcends the generations and her firm beliefs have made her an incredibly inspiring figure.”
Alexander Wang selected silver-haired 90s supermodel Kristen McMenamy, 49, to front Balenciaga’s Fall 2013 campaign.
