The New Face of NARS is 68 Years Old

Older models are having a moment — and, damn, if we aren't pleased to see it. First, American Apparel gave us 62-year-old Jackie O'Shaughnessy in lingerie. And now, 68-year-old actress Charlotte Rampling will be the new face of NARS Cosmetics as the brand gears up to celebrate 20 years this September.

Rampling's NARS campaign will consist of portrait-style images shot in black and white by founder and creative director Francois Nars. The actress has always been one of Nars' muses. "She is a natural beauty that feels strong, yet relatable,” Nars told WWD. "I remember Dirk Bogarde referencing Charlotte’s ‘fabled look’ because of the combination of her beauty and withering gaze,” he said. “This is what makes her an endlessly watchable mystery.”

Using an older model is a bold move for a cosmetics brand, and it suggests that NARS may be encouraging women to embrace natural aging — to an extent. They are a makeup brand after all, and makeup brands rely on a woman's dissatisfaction with her appearance to push their product. Still, it's pretty unheard of for older women, even still-gorgeous older women like Rampling, to be signed to major brands. I hope NARS uses this opportunity wisely and produces stunning images of the legendary actress.