A fashion show to change the way seniors look

The elderly will be honored during a parade organized by Les Petits Frères des Pauvres. This event will be held on October 27 in the heart of Paris, and will be sponsored by model and influencer Caroline Ida. The idea? Fight against preconceived ideas and age-related diktats. A fight that the association carries out on a daily basis, via its third place “Au 19|46”, where it organizes a cultural program to change the way we look at the elderly through exhibitions and debates.

In parallel with this parade, Les Petits Frères des Pauvres conducted a survey on the affective, intimate and sexual life of the elderly. We learn that 71% of respondents believe that an aging body can remain desirable. “This eco-responsible event aims to put the body of seniors in the spotlight” explains Fanny Berriau, national coordinator of the association’s events, who looks back on the genesis of this new kind of show, and talks to us about the importance of combating age-related discrimination.

Is fashion a tool to fight against ageism?

Fashion is a tool of expression to fight against all forms of discrimination. I think we are all witnesses that the world of fashion is changing, especially on the profile of models. Now, we are turning to rounder models, senior models. This is the case of the influencer Caroline Ida who sponsors this parade and who fights against ageism. Fashion can be a way to fight against that, and against collective representations at home, in relation to elders, but also in relation to women who may have the feeling of being different. It’s a change of collective perspective.

There are more and more models over 50 in magazines, do you think things are progressing slowly?

I do not claim to have an expert view, my job being the social and the associative sector. I have a relatively exterior view of fashion. What I perceive is that there is change. Whether on the catwalks, fashion shows or magazines, there are models with a size 44. I think there was an evolution which was made initially on the skin color and gradually which happens on body standards. Increasingly, these are women who look like the standard French woman.

Now, it seems to me that age is taken into account a bit more by highlighting senior models. And Caroline Ida strikes me as a pretty notable example. She made the cover of the Darjeeling lingerie brand a few months ago. It was on every bus shelter, every public display. This woman is over 60 and she poses for lingerie. From my outer eye, I see a change that is happening little by little.

To organize this show, you were in contact with the fashion school LISAA (The Higher Institute of Applied Arts). Can getting new generations to work on this theme help change mentalities?

It is our main partner for the event. We launched the opening of the school year with the 3rd year by this project. It was new to them. Some students told us: “It’s the best project we’ve done. It gives meaning to creation. It’s demanding and the old people are too cute”. They say it with their words, but we feel that there is a sensitivity among the younger generations, contrary to what we would like to believe. Young people are sensitive, are committed and want to make things happen, not only in the field of ecology.

Was it important for you to have an ecological approach for this event?

The initial idea was to recover objects or fabrics donated to the association and to provide these elements to the students as raw material. We haven’t bought anything, nothing is new. These productions will be created with recycled objects and the fruit of their creativity.

For us it was also important in terms of visibility. We knew it was an event that was going to be visible and we didn’t want it to be blamed on us. We could not overlook ecology. This is a very important dimension, but less highlighted than the fight against ageism since it is not our first fight.

It is possible to follow the parade live on Youtube Where Facebook