Luxury Brands Feature Mature Models on Runways
Fashion houses across major global hubs are casting models aged 45 and older for the Spring/Summer 2027 season.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fashion
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Luxury fashion shows in Milan, Paris, New York and London are increasingly featuring models aged 45 and older. The inclusion of mature talent marks a notable shift in runway casting across the industry.
Why it matters
This trend aligns the runway with a vital consumer base, as mature demographics account for more than half of all global luxury spending. By featuring older models, brands are directly addressing the audience that drives the majority of their market revenue.
Mature models account for more than 50% of global luxury spending, a demographic now reflected on runways in Milan, Paris, New York, and London. Chanel led the move by booking more than six models aged 45 or older.
The players
Shani Feldman
A Canadian model who walked for Chanel and Matières Fécales after receiving a booking call while on a family road trip.
Christie Brinkley
The 72-year-old model participated in the season by closing the Dennis Basso fashion show.
Naty Abascal
At 83 years old, she represented a mature presence on the runway for the Gucci fashion show.
Olivia Colman
The 52-year-old actor and model made a runway appearance for the luxury house Miu Miu.
Chanel
The luxury fashion house booked at least six models aged 45 or older for its Spring/Summer 2027 runway presentation.
The details
High-profile runway appearances include Christie Brinkley, 72, closing the Dennis Basso show, and Naty Abascal, 83, walking for Gucci. Other notable appearances include Karen Elson, 47, for Alexander McQueen, Evelyn Effrim-Botchey, 59, for Moschino, and Olivia Colman, 52, for Miu Miu.
Timeline
1996: Shani Feldman started her professional modeling career.
2010: Shani Feldman took a temporary pause from modeling.
2025: Shani Feldman booked her first Paris Fashion Week appearance.
Spring/Summer 2027: Luxury houses featured models aged 45 and older on global runways.
Industry Dynamics
This wave of mature casting follows the economic pattern established by the fact that mature consumers account for more than 50% of global luxury spending. Luxury houses are adjusting their visual identity to better reflect the financial reality of their primary customer base.
Consumers will see increased representation of mature models across high-end advertising campaigns and runway imagery throughout the season. This shift provides greater visibility for a demographic that has historically been underserved in luxury marketing.
The takeaway
The move to feature models aged 45 and older highlights a broader industry alignment between runway aesthetics and actual consumer purchasing power. Older audiences can expect to see more of themselves reflected in high-fashion presentations moving forward.
Further reading
Explore more industry trends on the Fashion section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Globe and Mail.
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