On April 22nd, Gigi Hadid threw a birthday party for herself in New York, at L’Avenue. The theme of the dinner/party was “denim.” So many A-listers and models were there, from Taylor Swift (who did not do the theme) to Ashley Graham, Olivia Culpo, Martha Hunt and of course Yolanda Foster and Bella Hadid. Helena Christensen also came out for some reason – I have no idea what Helena’s connection is to the Hadid sisters, or maybe Helena knows Yolanda. But Helena was there and she stayed on theme, wearing ‘70s-style wide-legged denim trousers paired with a black bustier. The outfit… was not great, honestly. It doesn’t have much to do with Helena’s age (she’s 50). It has more to do with my feelings on lingerie-as-outerwear just in general. Days after the birthday party, Alexandra Shulman – the former editor of British Vogue – went out of her mind about the ensemble:
British Vogue’s former editor-in-chief is in hot water after slamming supermodel Helena Christensen‘s sexy outfit. In a piece published by the Daily Mail over the weekend, fashion editrix Alexandra Shulman declared that Christensen, 50, was “too old” to wear the black lace bustier she paired with high-waisted jeans for Gigi Hadid’s 24th birthday party last week.
“We might like to think that 70 is the new 40 and 50 the new 30 but our clothes know the true story,” 61-year-old Shulman wrote, calling Christensen’s look “tacky” and comparing it to that of “the madam in a one-horse town.”
“Something you wore at 30 will never look the same on you 20 years later. Clothes don’t lie,” she added. “When women’s bodies no longer serve any child-bearing purpose, we find flaunting them disturbing and slightly tragic. I don’t claim that this is fair. But it’s true.”
Christensen responded by posting a photo of herself wearing the same corset alongside designer Camilla Stærk and Tali Lennox. “Let’s continue to elevate and support each other, all you beautiful, smart, fun, sexy, hard working, talented, nurturing women out there,” she captioned the snap, along with the hashtag #ooopssheworeabustieragain.
The fashion legend’s famous friends flooded the comments section with support. “You are BEAUTIFUL inside and out,” wrote Edward Enninful, who replaced Shulman as British Vogue’s editor-in-chief in 2017. “She should be ashamed of herself. You are a goddess,” added Linda Evangelista, while Karen Elson wrote, “I just read that article. Bitch please … you are on fire!”
“Such a cheap shot, she has no right or claims to be writing such a ridiculous article,” fellow supermodel Naomi Campbell chimed in. “I’ve known you 30 years and whatever you wear, you wear it WELL with class and dignity!! Hold your head high and keep your drive.”
You can see her Instagram here. I appreciate the way Helena handled it – a hashtag clapback without even naming names instead of some Olivia Munn-esque sanctimony and willful mischaracterization in which she punched down. I was trying to imagine what I would have said about this outfit if I had actually bothered to cover the photos from Gigi’s party. Most people wore denim and they did look super-dated, like ‘90s-Friends dated. When I look at these photos of Helena in particular, I don’t really think it’s a great outfit, but I’m not going to attack her for being 50 and wearing a bustier. Her age has nothing to do with it. And these jeans would have looked much cuter with a nice sweater or a concert t-shirt. Then again, she was headed to a party not the f–king Met Gala, so… who really cares? It made her feel sexy and she clearly thought she looked cute. It’s wrong to say that no woman past “child-bearing” years can ever wear lingerie, or dare to look sexy.
Oh, she’s carrying a jean jacket or a denim shirt or something. Maybe the bustier was never her on-purpose look, it was always meant as a layered look?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
They betta leave an Original Supermodel alone!!!!
Haters. The nerve.
Word
Bloody hell. It’s not, given what we are “exposed” to nowadays, even that revealing. I think it’s the connotation, regarding bustiers, that has brought this idiocy about. I’m with you – she looks fabulous, irrespective of age. Leave her alone.
Ditto! Also, Helena worked with Gigi before and recently photographed Gigi for a Vogue cover (don’t remember for which country).
I like the look, with the vintage jeans, too. Shame on the person who uttered those words.
A pox upon the haters. They need to STFU and go away.
Although I’ve said this before, it bears repeating-If I look like that in an outfit at 50, I’d wear it to church. Leave her alone.
If I look like that at 50 and if I ever went to church I would wear it to church.
Totally!!! I’m “child-bearing age” and I would NOT look that good in that outfit!!
I’m turning 29 this month. And I look at this woman and genuinely my first thought was “hey, her body is great”.
I mainly take issue with it being combined with those particular jeans haha. I think she’d have looked killer in some straight leg black pants or like cigarette pants.
I read a list the other day of things you shouldn’t wear at 30. And the person who wrote the list made all these snide comments about different things like athletic clothes and stuff like that – but then would go in and excuse certain things she wore herself. And it made me so annoyed that someone would act like such an authority but then start trying to validate the things she wanted to wear herself.
If you feel good in something – and are dressed within the realm of ‘appropriate-ish’ for the occasion – GO FOR IT.
The only thing you shouldn’t wear after 30 is the weight of other’s expectations.
@Kristen820
YES. The best quote for this kind of thing!
I think there’s a balance between “maturing” your look with age versus dispensing with any implication of sexual viability. I find that as I get older, the idea of dressing “provocatively” has changed. As you become more confidant in your personality and general mien, the less you equate the audaciousness of bared skin with being inherently sexy. At 22, I had no problem wearing mini skirts and short shorts. At 32, I feel more attractive wearing something sleek, classic, well-fitted. If that makes sense?
I think Helena’s outfit is fine – even if the jeans aren’t to my taste – specifically because the bustier is the only touch of daring to it. The pants “mature” the look and ground it. With the jacket over it, you’d barely realize it was a bustier. Which makes the criticism ridiculous. She has the build and the look for it, so there’s no reason she can’t do it. Nothing about the outfit says “50 trying to be 20.”
I have no problem with the bustier. I hate those jeans and I do not think they would look good on anyone. Those jeans just need to be burnt to ashes so no one can ever wear them again.
Since I’m past childbearing age I’d better start apologizing to everyone unfortunate enough to look my way. Thanks Vogue.
Ouch. That was harsh. While I’m not crazy about the look, what she said seems over the top. And this is why we women will never be able to truly band together and become a force to be reckoned with. We are own worst enemy. She could have stated it differently. I don’t mean to turn it sugary but really???? This was just way too much.
What she said was in service of the patriarchy. She doesn’t have to be sugary to offer a fashion critique, but she also doesn’t have to apply patriarchal standards when commenting on an outfit.
I never said she needs to sugar coat it but her statement about when our bodies no longer serve their purpose was completely too much, in my opinion. And we all comment on fashion here on this site. As a female, I am offended by what she said. And she does us no favors by putting it out there AS A WOMAN.
Yeah, that really pissed me off. I’m 43 and nobody better tell me I’m too old to wear something! I will bite their head off. And this editor should be ashamed of herself for saying that! I’m tired of men trying to police my body. I’ve been overweight and had men offer “advice.” I lost weight and this guy who always hit on me told me I had gotten too skinny. Who the fuck asked him for his opinion? There was a Male manager at my job who would make comments like are you ladies sure you want to eat that? When we had junk food and were sharing it. Idk where the hell men got the idea that we needed their advice so badly. I’ve always tried to be nice but I’m about to the point where i will start biting their head if they say that stuff to me. The older I get, the less patience i have for this crap
Snowflake, we have men say stupid things to us females at work as well. We were at an office party and one guy said to us females that we were eating cake that was fattening. A female turned around and said: you do know you look like your carrying a five month old …..in your tummy. I. Almost. Fell. Out.
Lol
Helena Tragic? Never. This ex-editor is drinking the Daily Mail kool-aid. Hate hate hate = clicks.
It was a horrible thing to say…I wonder why Alexandra Shulman said it? Considering she also said this, only a year before:
“While many of us are uncertain about our appearance at many stages of our lives, women in particular become entrenched in myths of their own making about what they can and cannot wear. Start with the notion that you can wear anything and edit back from that. Clothes should be enjoyable. Experimentation is part of the pleasure. Ageless dressing is about clothes that reflect the person you are. It is also about wearing clothes that make you feel good, not about wearing clothes that necessarily please others.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/alexandra-shulman-master-ageless-style/
I blinked at “When women’s bodies no longer serve any child-bearing purpose, we find flaunting them disturbing and slightly tragic. I don’t claim that this is fair. But it’s true.” It’s REPEATING THIS MESSAGE IN MAGAZINES that makes it true, Alexandra Shulman. The world is what we make it. If you don’t think it’s fair, do us all a favor and STOP SAYING IT.
Exactly
Exactly
Yes!
Did not this Alexandra Shulman person get fired from British Vogue? I so wish she had taken Anna Wintour with her to wherever she went as US Vogue has just gone to complete sh*t in the last 5-7 years.
OMG that quote is tragic. Dear Alexandra Shulman:I don’t know or care what you look like, but YOU are assuredly a hag.
what misogynist and ageist crap! Leave women alone, let us wear what we want, stop policing our bodies.
Yeah, this was pretty rage inducing to read.
Not to mention she has a great body.
YES!
And this applies to the nasty comments about women like Taylor Swift and Kate Middleton who are accused of dressing twee. Their bodies their choices.
Amen.
40 y/o NYer here. Helena, Christy and other insanely beautiful women of that generation of models look fit, healthy and confident at 50. Millennials, not so much.
* Do you mean April 22? Not May?
She is gorgeous. I love how she has her own unique style. Can’t believe what this vile woman wrote! After we women are done having children we should no longer show our bodies????? So incredibly ridiculous.
Exactly. I’m 33 and don’t want kids. Does this mean I have to stop wearing things I like as well? Apparently my body has no other use than childbearing.
Yeah, childbearing = acceptable. pwhahahaha
@Lory, I’m happy for you choosing to be childfree. I kept waiting for that longing to have kids but I never got it. I finally got a tubal litigation at 43, best thing I ever did. I got a consult when i was younger but they kinda gave me a hard time because I had not had kids and that annoyed me. So i decided to give it some more time and see if I changed my mind. I didn’t. Having it done was the best thing I ever did. Not having to get birth control is wonderful. Not worrying that I’m pregnant is wonderful. I feel freer and lighter. Not everyone will understand but thats ok. It sounds like you are pretty firm in your decision and whatever you choose to do is your choice. I have you have a lot of support. I was scared to tell my mom but she surprised me and was ok with it.
But don’t forget when you actually are pregnant you aren’t supposed to flaunt it or show it or vaguely refer to it….
Or God forbid you lay your hand on it! Remember the uproar on here over Meghan touching hers “too much?”
Ms.Shulman is so full of hate for herself she is spilling it out on others.
She is the girlfriend of the guy that wrote the hachette piece at Tattler on Meghan.
So when they say birds of a feather flock together, believe it.
A black man replaced her as the editor of British Vogue, so she is raging, once her calls would be returned, but not now, that’s why she is at the Dailyfail looking for attention.
Peg, thanks for the background. Ms Shulman’s comments read as, “My opinion still matters.” She belongs to a group of people who need the old paradigms in order to remain relevant. She doesn’t want to lose power, and Meghan isn’t flashing panties, so she is looking for targets so that someone can tell her, “you know, you’re RIGHT about that!” She’s a creep.
GFY’s caption on her outfit made me laugh. It wasn’t mean at all.
No longer serve any child bearing purpose – omg 🤮😡
Helena has always been goddess and I think she rocks the hell out of this outfit. I’ve said it many times on here before, but I’m in my late forties and still wear miniskirts and band tees. I’ll be wearing my favorite Ramones shirt on my deathbed. People can fuck right off.
Gen X follows NO RULES, esp from fired tired “style” zombie. I’m vintage riot until I die w my STOP THE FASHION system thrift relics…and child bearing as a litmus test of acceptable? WTF
I mean, she looks great…from a fashion standpoint I’m not crazy about the look. The jeans look really cheap.
Yeah, the bustier looks great and she does too, but the jeans are not a great silhouette for the overall look. However, she can wear whatever she wants – I’m 50 soon and there’s no way I could carry this off. I’m deeply impressed !
Agreed. I don’t really love this outfit, (I think the bustier is fine, as are the jeans…but *personally* would not put them together) but SHE looks great and can wear whatever the hell she wants.
And I think Schulman is too old to be a mean girl.
And super petty. I bet this has a lot to do with the fact that Helena is pretty tight with Edward Enniful and talked up her excitement of him becoming EIC.
It would not surprise me at all that Schulman expected Helena to take her side.
My body is done having babies, carrying any more could put me in a wheelchair 🙁 I have spinal issues. ANYWAY now that I’m past the time of carrying babies I have never felt so powerful in my body. I feel strong and beautiful, and anyone who would discount the beauty of women’s bodies as they age and mature will never know what true strength and beauty and feminine power are!
We are not meant to be simply sex objects for the male gaze, we are so much more than that. We are not meant to stay looking the same as we did 20 years ago, we are growing and we are MORE than that! And we can wear what we want on our powerful, complex, aging bodies thankyouverymuch.
EVEN if she didn’t look great, it is her right to wear what she wants. Someone bring a time machine to this person, ugh.
I’m 50. We all have the right to feel sexy and good about ourselves no matter what age, I agree with Naomi, it was a cheap shot, and SO unnecessary. …She looks gorgeous.
She looks Great!
Helena looks great, her body is just insane. Tbh the bustier is my favorite part of this outfit, in combination with a better jeans and a blazer, it would have looked cute. Also no to the clutch
She looks great!
Can’t believe she took the time to write this. I would wear that but it suits the occasion and she doesn’t look unattractive. Leave her alone. Some clothes don’t fit some bodies regardless of age. She is fine here.
*Wouldn’t
I know I’m jealous, I’m not 50 and I couldn’t pull off a bustier even now. I wouldn’t have the guts to even try, anyway. So Helena, from the waist up you are my hero.
From the waist down, those jeans are the real tragedy IMHO. That cut is doing her no favors (and I shudder to think what they would look like on me!) and they’re ugly to boot.
Those jeans are tragic. That bustier is not.
She looks great in it.
People can wear what they want, regardless of body type. Nobody can please everybody, and someone will always hate or love an outfit, so do what you like and what makes you feel good, and when you see someone wearing something you don’t like, say “cool,” and move on. Life’s too short.
She looks great. I hope to age that well.
Geez, what a ridiculously sexist article. Literally, the only part of her body that isn’t covered is her arms and shoulders – and she clearly has a jacket in her hand, meaning she was likely covered for a fair bit of the night! What the hell are women supposed to do past age 25 – sacrifice any lingering notion of sexual autonomy?
This is really disgusting. I agree that some outfits are age-inappropriate, and this one is border-line. It doesn’t look great, but that may be just the outfit. I don’t think she looks silly, just not served well by the look. But the comment about women’s bodies serving a child-bearing purpose is absolutely insane. This is from an editor of a women’s magazine? Just awful.
Honestly, I think she looks great! I hope my body looks like that at 50. And if anyone wants to say anything bad about her outfit, it should be about the jeans which are not cute.
Those jeans should be doused in gasoline and set on fire – and that has nothing to do with Helena’s age.
Last year, we stood next to her at The National concert in the city. She is otherworldly gorgeous in person. My 30 year old boyfriend could not stop starring. She looked better than all of us 20 somethings in the crowd. 50 or no, she’s very sexy and should be wearing whatever she feels like.
I saw her at an airport 7 years ago – she would have been 43 at the time. We were on the same flight, so I got to spend a couple hours looking at her at the gate. She is beautiful and very unique looking.
[*Those eyes almost sparkle.*]
Angela Bassett’s response was pretty awesome as well.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw5Bm_xAonz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I bet Gigi loved Helena’s party outfit
Eh I’m the same age and have those jeans. Those of use who have chosen to offend by living beyond our child bearing years rather than jump into a large perimenopausal funeral pyre to spare your having to look at us will also wear what we want whilst cackling. Perhaps dino-Vogue will feature bedazzled blindfolds in a future issue to spare the easily triggered.
Aging is a total mind-fuck which forces you to ultimately define yourself because you have to answer for all that experience you’ve had, sooner or later. You can either choose to parrot the status quo like that editor, or to push the envelope like Helena. If all your experience adds up to, “i’ll just do what I’m told”, there is a problem.
@kristen820 I am making your quote into a t shirt that I am going to wear with f**king hot pants and heels this summer. (And I’m f**king 50.)
The little I know about fashion makes me discount fashion editors and even designers. If you want creativity, you find it in the street.
Helena is a skjaldmaer. She’s glorious and may she wear bustiers for a long time.
Agree, 100%. Forget what magazine editors push on us – the real style is out there in the streets.
She’s one of those ladies who isn’t bright and walking about showing skin is all she ever had, so we all have let her continue to pretend, forever. I see no problem with this.
I don’t know much about her personal life, but intelligence and talent probably don’t have much to do with it. This country is full of talentless, ignorant ladies of all ages who dress ‘classier’ and want everyone to know it. There are also plenty who are smart or talented but aren’t overly concerned with that. She handled the situation well either way though, and so did the other famous women who defended her.
Wow, @Liz, I suppose you know Helena personally. Gross comment is gross. Do you actually have any idea what she’s done with her life and her career? (The answer is clearly a resounding NOPE.) Jealousy isn’t very becoming.
I think she looks fantastic.
Ms. Shulman, put down those stones because you’re living in a glass house.
One could argue that “women of a certain age” should never wear sleeveless clothing. I’d love to hear Shulman’s thoughts not only on this, but also on body hair, specifically arm hair.
Then again, perhaps Shulman’s bingo wings are exempt from criticism.
Ref: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57138431c6fc08d846f345fd/t/5a257dcaec212d11ce9076d2/1512406480419/AlexandraShulman_Iris-2.jpeg
Right, Shulman isn’t serving any childbearing purpose, so she needs to take that dress and climb on an ice floe with the other aged handmaidens of the fascist patriarchy.
YIKES!
This is just gross. You’re doing the same thing Shulman did to Helena… why continue the body shaming? What if you just made every woman who read your comment and doesn’t feel she has the “perfect” arms feel ashamed and like they should cover up their “faults”? And now apparently having hair on your arms (as we all do, though it may present differently) is disgusting, according to you? Not okay.
Schulman is projecting her issues onto the original super,also a successful and famously nice woman. Tragic, jealous tw**.
She’s writing for that awful rag the Daily Fail. That says it all! She actually looks great!
“When women’s bodies no longer serve any child-bearing purpose, we find flaunting them disturbing and slightly tragic. I don’t claim that this is fair. But it’s true.”
A woman wrote this? BARF. Go hide in your patriarchy cave.
The jeans are ugly and the bustier glorious.
I saw her last week, one day before this party, walking her dog wearing a olive jumpsuit and looking like a million bucks. She’s much prettier IRL and girl still has it going on.
Helena photographed Gigi for cover of recent issue of Czech edition of Vogue. Maybe they’re besties now, haha.
I agree that I’m not a fan of lingerie as outwear, or the jeans, or the combination of both – but saying she’s too old to wear that? Ridiculous, petty, and sexist.
And also, I feel like this look is not even worth judging? Hell, she was just going to a party! It’s not a red carpet.
Vogue…the people that bring you kimye on its cover every damn month…
She looks damn good! The outfit is ugly tho. Not sorry.
I don’t love this outfit but it doesn’t matter, Helena is always a stunner.
I’ll only tolerate this type of comment if we begin applying a similar standard to all men over 50 driving convertibles!
Helena looks better than most women half her age. She can wear whatever she likes.
Lame. The former editor, whatever her name is, is clearly out of touch. So glad Helena and others like her are enjoying life while they can and not curled up in a corner wearing a mumu waiting for the crypt keeper which is apparently an expectation for anyone not having kids. BTW lots of women cannot reproduce for various reasons that have nothing to do with age should we shame them into corners too for not being real women? So much wrongness with that biatches statement.
Helena is friends with Gigi, she shot her for the cover of a foreign issue of Vogue recently. she’s posted multiple photos with both Hadid sisters recently on her instagram.
Alexandra Shulman can STFU. Helena looks amazing, women can and should wear whatever they like regardless of age. Also it’s depressingly predictable that after denying she was a racist she has now chosen to write for none other than the Daily Mail. I guess she’s decided to stop pretending.
The critic must be smoking crack because Christensen’s body looks great.
But regardless of age, that type of bustier always looks tacky to me (especially when I see it on tv in those wedding gown shows). And the jeans are hideous. Again, nothing to do with age. And yes, she can wear whatever she d@mn well wants – but I can say I find it ugly and tacky.
I love when I visited Europe or see photos, women of all ages letting it all hang out. It was my first impression – coming from Los Angeles – of… “wow, so there exists a place where one doesn’t HAVE to be PERFECTION…and yet STILL flaunt it.” That is my inspiration, along with other women (in the US) of all ages who I see as beautiful. Growing up in warm weather climates, I’m not about to stop wearing sleeveless or shorts just because of a number. Or other, more daring things…as appears flattering – as isn’t that all what we are after, and shouldn’t we all be given space to judge what flatters us for ourselves?
Heck, I’d love to see men get to wear shorter pants, open shoes/sandals, and sleeveless shirts as workwear. They can’t all be comfortable in pants, socks and dress shoes, and long shirts in summer – no matter where the climate or age! Come on, guys!
Id have criticised her more for the denim pants. & some other attendees at the birthday party. So many designers showed absolutely beautiful denim outfits during the various fashion weeks & the ppl who came to Gigis party stepped out in 80s crap.
The bustier was the best thing about that outfit. Also I like the fact that Helena in her 50s is still ‘visible’ show biz wise.
“When women’s bodies no longer serve any child-bearing purpose, we find flaunting them disturbing and slightly tragic. I don’t claim that this is fair. But it’s true.” So if a young woman can’t have children she shouldn’t flaunt her body?
I’d love to look as half as “tragic”as Helena!
Helena photographed Gigi for the May 19 issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia, and they are friends as well.
One of her Instagram photos recounts their friendship story – https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4i2LzAKKx/
Oh good God throw all the women over 40 in ovens instead of constantly insulting them for daring to have confidence and exist. Honestly, are older women demons from hell or something? Do they need to be killed by shaming them enough they commit suicide because older women wreak havoc on the world? We fucking get it. Older women are absolutely worthless. Are you all satisfied? Now am I allowed to exist and feel good about myself? Sheesh
“When women’s bodies no longer serve any child-bearing purpose, we find flaunting them disturbing and slightly tragic.” Is the saddest line I’ve ever read.
I find it interesting that if it was Halle Berry wearing a bustier, she wouldn’t get many negative comments. She’s older than Helena.
Full bustiers and full corsets didn’t suit me well in my 20s since I’m small on top like Helena. Attacking her because of her age is mean.
THIS woman is one of the originals! no enhancements, no tweaks (that make her unrecognizable), no plastic, NOT A KARDASHIAN-stein body. Helena is still stunning. Granted those jeans are not something I’d dare wear, but she is rocking that bustier. please leave the Wicked Games legend to continue frolicking as she sees fit
She’s really beautiful but the see-thru bustier…? No way…not classy at all…