Fashion Victim: We Love You Lauren for being incredible

Jul 31 2008 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

REMEMBER this lady? To women who know their fashion she will be instantly recognisable as Lauren Hutton, the world’s first supermodel (excuse me, Janice who?). To men of a certain age she will forever be the siren who steamed up the screen alongside a babyfaced Richard Gere in American Gigolo.

Now at 64 – almost impossible to believe I know – Ms Hutton has been announced as the new face of fashion brand Mango.

It is not difficult to see why they picked her. One of the biggest models of the 1970s and 1980s, the Southern belle (she was born in Charleston) was the first to land a big contract with a cosmetics company when she signed a groundbreaking million dollar deal with Revlon.

The university graduate parlayed her modelling success into the world of film and has worked almost constantly since, even overcoming a horrific motorbike accident to charm the camera again.

Having graced some 27 Vogue covers, three years ago Hutton stunned conservative America when she appeared nude in a US magazine.

Apparently insusceptible to the cosmetic scalpel – she recently appeared in plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck playing an anti-surgery press agent – Hutton, with her glossy locks, sunkissed skin and gap-toothed smile, does not just look incredible for 64, she just looks incredible.

But her appointment by Mango is being viewed by fashion insiders as about more than mere aesthetics. It is seen as a signal that finally the high street has realised where the money lies. In the hands of middle aged women.

Where teenagers and twentysomethings may lust after designer wardrobes they are in reality more interested in fast fashion and £4 dayglo dresses from Primark.

The title of Mango’s autumn winter campaign is We Love You Lauren and the Mediterranean fashion house promises to show customers how to “adapt the latest trends to the wardrobe of the mature woman with a youthful, natural and carefree spirit... to remind us that fashion is not just for models with certain statistics, but for and within the reach of everyone.”

A laudable aim.

No doubt Mango, whose most recent “faces” were Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz and her equally glamorous sister Monica, have seen what the “Twiggy effect” did for Marks and Spencer and are eager to cash in. Indeed this campaign could be just the boost the Spanish chain – which is set to open in Liverpool One next month – needs in this country where it has yet to step out of the shadow of its compatriot Zara.

But before we start getting too excited about a pending fashion revolution it is worth pointing out Ms Hutton will not be alone in promoting Mango this season. They also recently announced the appointment of one Alice Dellal. In case you were wondering she is all of 21.