“I’ll just say this: I aged gracefully.”
This from Robert Richards when asked about his age. He’s not kidding. His profile lists him as 5’11″, and his suit size “a perfect 36.” This reporter has it from reliable sources that he’s in his eighties, but he says it doesn’t matter anyway. His style is his own.
Richards is just one of the “senior” models represented by Zandwagon—a new model management and talent casting company who say they are showing the beauty in the unlikely and the non-traditional—in those who perhaps have been deemed too “this” or “that” to be beautiful.
Zandwagon’s mission is to represent and cast people who are breaking beauty standards in television, print, beauty, fashion and reality TV. Located on 5th Avenue in New York, and unmasking models they say have come “from the streets, subways, shared apartments and sweaty clubs, Zandwagon prides itself on “embracing unique people rather than people who imitate or act the part” and “guide everyday life individuals who are breaking beauty standards daily.” And that includes the over 50 crowd.
“We like to think we promote fierceness, and that has no limits or boundaries,” said Founder Kayvon Zand. “Zandwagon was a natural extension of what I was already doing locally for New York City nightlife: Bringing people from all walks of life together in celebration of self-expression.”
Zand describes himself as an Iranian American queer performance artist, nightlife personality and event curator. He said the agency that would end up featuring older people, was ironically birthed from his own experience from youth, when as a teen model, he said he was dropped by major modeling agencies because he was a male wearing makeup to castings and shoots. He said he started expressing himself as an artist at underground parties and art collectives after moving to New York, where later he went on to bring his look to such publications as Italian Vanity Fair, Vogue, Interview, Paper and French Glamour and to appear in television shows and commercials.
“One of the most heartening changes we notice in culture today is the freedom to express yourself however you want, and we’re celebrating that reality in the most authentic, constructive way we know how,” said Zandwagon Communications Director Steven Ramotar. “Our models are all across the board…but what they all have in common is a kind of grace, fierceness, fearlessness and boldness…what you wind up with are amazingly creative, striking individuals who just happen to not meet a traditional agency’s height, size, age, or some other predetermined requirement. But, as is often the case where beauty is concerned, what it is that makes someone striking cannot necessarily always be described in words – words just aren’t enough. Our models speak for themselves.”
Zand and his team are, simply put, recognizing the value of older models to the fashion, beauty and media industry and “the crucial role they are playing in supporting Zandwagon’s core mission of fighting against ageism, changing perceptions of what it means to age and promoting genuine inclusivity in our youth-obsessed society.”
Richards fits that bill. He lists his “special talent” as having a “good feel for what’s next.”
He might be surprised. According to Fashion Spot, in its article, “Diversity Report: Landmark Gains for Nonwhite, Transgender and Plus-Size Models on the Spring 2018 Runways,” “Women in their 50s, 60s and upward were the only group that didn’t experience a drastic bump in representation. Still, the category showed solid improvement. Last season, 21 models over the age of 50 walked the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. For Spring 2018, that figure rose to 27 — an underwhelming 0.33 percent of the castings we considered, but still an all-time high.”
Fashion Spot reported that “Additionally — and refreshingly — the fashion world’s emphasis on age-inclusiveness extended into Europe. For Spring 2018, every fashion capital saw at least 3 over-50 model castings. Yet again, New York came out on top with 10 mature model appearances, including Coco Mitchell at Tome, Susan Cianciolo at Eckhaus Latta, Sophia Lamar at Helmut Lang and Emme at Chromat. Next came Milan and Paris with 7 over-50 castings apiece.” And “Versace’s epic supermodel reunion featured one gold lamé-clad quinquagenarian, the inimitable Cindy Crawford.”
Seventy-two-year-old Constance Cooper said Zandwagon “has enormously boosted my sense of viability in an ageist environment.” Cooper holds a doctorate in music composition from Princeton University, which she received in middle age. She said she appreciates “Zandwagon’s ease and candor with elderly women—my category. It’s simple: My Zandwagon profile—anyone can click on it—tells you my age. This honesty is a non-negotiable anticipation and response to ageist thinking such as: She doesn’t look that old. She looks older than that. How does she dare put her real age out there? What kind of model would put her real age out there? They’re not supposed to be anywhere near that old. She doesn’t look anything like a model, she said. “My favorite approach is just to ignore what wrinkles look like to other people, and to utilize every bit of experience that has brought me those wrinkles.
Harald Schindel, 58, said times are changing, and companies would be wise to use older models in their advertising, as it is their generation that holds the most purchasing potential. “The perception in society of what it means to be old has changed in the last few years. Today fifty is the new forty. Women and men of my age are the ones who have the money and the buying power,” he said. “They are customers, and they want to be represented by people of their age and not by a teenager wearing a suit or a watch which they are thinking of buying. I am as young or old as I feel, and the number isn’t important. My style is independent of my age. Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter being yourself.”
With nearly 75 million baby boomers in the U.S. currently, it’s no surprise companies are looking to older adults to sell their products. “A huge boomer population coupled with the fact that individuals are living longer than ever before is extremely significant, especially when you think of those two variables within context of social media,” Spencer said. “We’re noticing more and more bold and inspiring older figures who are taking full advantage of what social media has to offer and garnering pretty large audiences.”
Spencer said Zandwagon signed Schindel after discovering him on Instagram. “We were immediately taken by his look and deeply inspired by what he stands for. Using older adults is consistent with what we’re all about and we certainly want to do as much as we can to make sure that this important demographic is not overlooked.”
Creative Director Debora Spencer said the inclusion of older adults across all media is a refreshing change. “I’ve always felt that there aren’t many role models for women my age. I’m 58. When I discovered Maye Musk and Idiosyncratic Fashionistas on Instagram, it was as if I found an oasis in a desert. Beautiful, vibrant women living their best life, embracing the world and staying curious. People that I can see as role models. These are people who are blazing a trail in uncharted territory.”
“>
“I’ll just say this: I aged gracefully.”
This from Robert Richards when asked about his age. He’s not kidding. His profile lists him as 5’11″, and his suit size “a perfect 36.” This reporter has it from reliable sources that he’s in his eighties, but he says it doesn’t matter anyway. His style is his own.
Richards is just one of the “senior” models represented by Zandwagon—a new model management and talent casting company who say they are showing the beauty in the unlikely and the non-traditional—in those who perhaps have been deemed too “this” or “that” to be beautiful.
Zandwagon’s mission is to represent and cast people who are breaking beauty standards in television, print, beauty, fashion and reality TV. Located on 5th Avenue in New York, and unmasking models they say have come “from the streets, subways, shared apartments and sweaty clubs, Zandwagon prides itself on “embracing unique people rather than people who imitate or act the part” and “guide everyday life individuals who are breaking beauty standards daily.” And that includes the over 50 crowd.
“We like to think we promote fierceness, and that has no limits or boundaries,” said Founder Kayvon Zand. “Zandwagon was a natural extension of what I was already doing locally for New York City nightlife: Bringing people from all walks of life together in celebration of self-expression.”
Zand describes himself as an Iranian American queer performance artist, nightlife personality and event curator. He said the agency that would end up featuring older people, was ironically birthed from his own experience from youth, when as a teen model, he said he was dropped by major modeling agencies because he was a male wearing makeup to castings and shoots. He said he started expressing himself as an artist at underground parties and art collectives after moving to New York, where later he went on to bring his look to such publications as Italian Vanity Fair, Vogue, Interview, Paper and French Glamour and to appear in television shows and commercials.
“One of the most heartening changes we notice in culture today is the freedom to express yourself however you want, and we’re celebrating that reality in the most authentic, constructive way we know how,” said Zandwagon Communications Director Steven Ramotar. “Our models are all across the board…but what they all have in common is a kind of grace, fierceness, fearlessness and boldness…what you wind up with are amazingly creative, striking individuals who just happen to not meet a traditional agency’s height, size, age, or some other predetermined requirement. But, as is often the case where beauty is concerned, what it is that makes someone striking cannot necessarily always be described in words – words just aren’t enough. Our models speak for themselves.”
Zand and his team are, simply put, recognizing the value of older models to the fashion, beauty and media industry and “the crucial role they are playing in supporting Zandwagon’s core mission of fighting against ageism, changing perceptions of what it means to age and promoting genuine inclusivity in our youth-obsessed society.”
Richards fits that bill. He lists his “special talent” as having a “good feel for what’s next.”
He might be surprised. According to Fashion Spot, in its article, “Diversity Report: Landmark Gains for Nonwhite, Transgender and Plus-Size Models on the Spring 2018 Runways,” “Women in their 50s, 60s and upward were the only group that didn’t experience a drastic bump in representation. Still, the category showed solid improvement. Last season, 21 models over the age of 50 walked the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. For Spring 2018, that figure rose to 27 — an underwhelming 0.33 percent of the castings we considered, but still an all-time high.”
Fashion Spot reported that “Additionally — and refreshingly — the fashion world’s emphasis on age-inclusiveness extended into Europe. For Spring 2018, every fashion capital saw at least 3 over-50 model castings. Yet again, New York came out on top with 10 mature model appearances, including Coco Mitchell at Tome, Susan Cianciolo at Eckhaus Latta, Sophia Lamar at Helmut Lang and Emme at Chromat. Next came Milan and Paris with 7 over-50 castings apiece.” And “Versace’s epic supermodel reunion featured one gold lamé-clad quinquagenarian, the inimitable Cindy Crawford.”
Seventy-two-year-old Constance Cooper said Zandwagon “has enormously boosted my sense of viability in an ageist environment.” Cooper holds a doctorate in music composition from Princeton University, which she received in middle age. She said she appreciates “Zandwagon’s ease and candor with elderly women—my category. It’s simple: My Zandwagon profile—anyone can click on it—tells you my age. This honesty is a non-negotiable anticipation and response to ageist thinking such as: She doesn’t look that old. She looks older than that. How does she dare put her real age out there? What kind of model would put her real age out there? They’re not supposed to be anywhere near that old. She doesn’t look anything like a model, she said. “My favorite approach is just to ignore what wrinkles look like to other people, and to utilize every bit of experience that has brought me those wrinkles.
Harald Schindel, 58, said times are changing, and companies would be wise to use older models in their advertising, as it is their generation that holds the most purchasing potential. “The perception in society of what it means to be old has changed in the last few years. Today fifty is the new forty. Women and men of my age are the ones who have the money and the buying power,” he said. “They are customers, and they want to be represented by people of their age and not by a teenager wearing a suit or a watch which they are thinking of buying. I am as young or old as I feel, and the number isn’t important. My style is independent of my age. Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter being yourself.”
With nearly 75 million baby boomers in the U.S. currently, it’s no surprise companies are looking to older adults to sell their products. “A huge boomer population coupled with the fact that individuals are living longer than ever before is extremely significant, especially when you think of those two variables within context of social media,” Spencer said. “We’re noticing more and more bold and inspiring older figures who are taking full advantage of what social media has to offer and garnering pretty large audiences.”
Spencer said Zandwagon signed Schindel after discovering him on Instagram. “We were immediately taken by his look and deeply inspired by what he stands for. Using older adults is consistent with what we’re all about and we certainly want to do as much as we can to make sure that this important demographic is not overlooked.”
Creative Director Debora Spencer said the inclusion of older adults across all media is a refreshing change. “I’ve always felt that there aren’t many role models for women my age. I’m 58. When I discovered Maye Musk and Idiosyncratic Fashionistas on Instagram, it was as if I found an oasis in a desert. Beautiful, vibrant women living their best life, embracing the world and staying curious. People that I can see as role models. These are people who are blazing a trail in uncharted territory.”
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