‘Why body-shaming is load of crap’: Let women wear what they want

After a supermodel was criticised by an ex-Vogue editor for her “tacky” outfit, it’s time we all rethink our behaviour, says Melissa Hoyer.

OPINION

I’m still in some kind of sartorial shock about the former fashion mag editor who has come out to say Helena Christensen — one of the most “genetically blessed” models of our time — is “too old” to wear a “tacky” bustier.

Have you seen those pictures? Helena just looks wonderful, happy to be wearing something she wants to wear. It’s a simple as that.

The 50-year-old ex-supermodel has always had her own sense of style — one that is understated, effortless and for many of us, enviable.

Sure, we all love dishing out our style judgments — me included, when it comes to questionable red carpet choices — but here we have a glorious-looking woman attending a party in a simple pair of denim flares and a black lace bustier that, to me, serves no other purpose than making her look mighty good.

Former supermodel Helena Christensen, 50, was criticised by an ex-Vogue editor for wearing a lacy bustier to Gigi Hadid’s birthday party. Picture: Backgrid Australia

By telling someone like Helena (a former “super” from the late 80s and early 90s) that she basically looks like crap in a bustier, what kind of message is former British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman sending to the rest of us? The rest of us who may be a little on the chubby side, maybe not as tall and slim as her, maybe already wrestling with body image issues? It is basically saying once you hit a certain age, “ladies”, it’s time to cover up so no one has to see your skin or figure ever again.

“We might like to think that 70 is the new 40 and 50 the new 30, but our clothes know the true story,” the 61-year-old ex-editor wrote, calling Helena’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,” Shulman 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.”

Helena was a guest at the denim-themed birthday party of 24-year-old model, Gigi Hadid.

After the slapdown from Shulman, it was heartening to see Helena’s runway compatriots, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell, supporting her by saying, “you go girl, wear what you like!”

Clothes should never determine the person — sure, we wear them because we might think they enhance certain parts of our body, or are appropriate for work, everyday or an event.

For someone to come out and chastise a woman whose career has centred around showcasing clothes — and has done a fine job at it — is preposterous.

She looks bloody fantastic. And, of course, not all of us are going to look like that in a bustier. But does it really matter?

Having interviewed Helena a few times, I know she would absolutely not give a stuff about the criticism, as evidenced by her follow-up Instagram post. She is a strong, articulate and wise woman and it will be water off a duck’s back.

That said, who really likes to read unnecessary criticism about something that didn’t warrant criticism in the first place? It is bad enough all of us being bombarded with images of “imperfect” bodies being perfected with OTT Insta-filters and slimming apps. Doesn’t that make some people feel inadequate enough?

it's real clear as to why #alexandrashulman made the inaccurate comment she did about stunning #HelenaChristensen - #jealousy of another woman is never #pretty
@helenachristensen rocking the bustier today and always

— Dogstar Rose (@Dogstar_3) April 30, 2019

Ex-Vogue editor says Helena Christensen is 'too old' to wear a bustier https://t.co/ccK789I6to via @pagesix; I think I'll wear mine this weekend ~

— Caroline Williams (@WilliCaroline) April 30, 2019

Why are some women such Mean Girls, I'll never know: Ex-Vogue editor says Helena Christensen is 'too old' to wear a bustier https://t.co/gi1kRwxytz via @pagesix

— randi packard (@randipackd) April 30, 2019

Shes's entitled to her opinion but I think Helena Christensen looks beautiful. https://t.co/q7poEz8dz9

— Lewis LaHaise (@wisewillow) April 30, 2019

THIS is what frustrates me about aging: Other women telling us what we can and cannot do at each stage of our lives. Feel free to loathe yourself, @ashulman2, but don’t project it on the rest of us. #HelenaChristensen https://t.co/dGaGAjAe1b

— Stephanie (@MissSteph) April 30, 2019

To see this natural, 50-year-old woman attacked for looking, quite frankly, sensational in a bustier just goes to show we still haven’t gotten over this obsession about “looking our age”.

Is it envy? Shulman is a little older than Helena, could she be a tad green? Is there a need by some women to object when another confidently dresses however she wants?

There could be a variety of explanations, but this commentary just goes beyond the pale.

Here we have a woman — yes, a model — going out to a party and she gets slammed for dressing sexily at the ripe “old age” of 50.

The world is getting crazier and crazier.

So go forth Helena — and every other woman on planet; do and wear whatever you like.