Tracey H. (of Unapologetically Female) sent in this series of photos from the French version of Vogue (found at Miss at la Playa). Tracey says,
The same model is photographed as if she is 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years old. I think the differences between the photos in makeup, wardrobe, hair, facial expression, and posture really say something interesting about how we view youth and aging in women. In lots of ways, it seems to point to just how performative age can be.
It also provides a great example of the power of makeup and computerized retouching to alter appearances, meaning the people we see in magazines look little like the actual people who posed for the original photos, much less like “normal” people, though we often compare ourselves to them as though they provide realistic beauty standards.
Here are the photos, from youngest (10 years) to oldest (60 years):
Of course, in Vogue’s world, 50 and 60 year-old women have very few wrinkles; their age, as Tracey mentioned, is shown more through clothing choices, jewelry, haircuts, facial expressions, and so on, than it is through visible signs of aging (though they’re allowed to have a little gray hair).
Great find, Tracey!
