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The Most Inspiring Fashion Icons Over 50 Right Now

Behold the impeccably dressed women we hope to look like when we grow up
Photo 8/13
Iman, age 59
Her style: Glamorous, sumptuous, structured

Discovered by photographer Peter Beard at Nairobi University in Kenya, Somalia-raised fashion model Iman graced the pages of American Vogue in 1976 and soon became the muse for high-end designers from Gianni Versace to Yves Saint-Laurent. In addition to being one of the first-ever black supermodels, Iman is also the founder of the eponymous cosmetics line for women of color.

"When I was modeling, you have to wear whatever they ask you to," Iman told WWD. "When I stopped, I started wearing silhouettes that really work for me." Since then, Iman's style has been defined by luxurious fabrics and structured cuts, such as cashmere sweaters, tailored suits and palazzo pants (her favorite) -- never finished without a piece of statement-making jewelry.

Photograph courtesy of Net-A-Porter

Photo 9/13
Carine Roitfeld, age 60
Her style: Edgy, seductive, "porno-chic"

Though smoky-eyed former Vogue Paris Editor-in-Chief Carine Roitfield has been referred to as "the queen of porno-chic," she prefers "erotic-chic" or "rock and roll."

"Porno, you show everything," the fashion writer and stylist told the Observer. "Erotic, you are dreaming about something, about another world.... I try not to show everything." Semantics aside, Roitfield's ever-tousled hair, dark eye makeup and seductive black frocks -- from the sheer to the bodycon -- create an unmistakable aesthetic that proves women over 50 can be very erotic. (Of course, being French doesn't hurt). After all, only "the queen of erotic-chic" would dare to don black lace on the weekend.

Photograph courtesy of AOL Style

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Linda Rodin, age 67
Her style: Artistic, offbeat, collected

Linda Rodin, fashion stylist and creator of the eponymous skincare line, always looks chic -- in an eccentric, estate sale-meets-minimalist sort of way. The icon's brave mixtures of hard and soft details give her the cool, enegmatic vibe she's had for decades.

"I'm going to be 67, and I still wear the same jeans," she told New York Magazine. "I like to feel comfortable; I like to feel close to myself, and I think that's the way I've always dressed; I haven't really changed. And I love clothes; I love beautiful clothes; I love fashion, but it doesn't necessarily have to be on my body for me to appreciate it."

Rodin's first exposure to style was through her mother, who she describes as "really glamorous -- kooky." She says her mother never left the house without her lipstick, and Rodin has inherited that bright, signature pop of color, which, along with her statement frames and silver coif, has come to define her.

Photograph courtesy of MatchesFashion.com

Photo 11/13
Lauren Hutton, age 71
Her style: Crisp, American classic

An unsung icon in the style world, actress and model Lauren Hutton "mixes authentic classics at high-low price points" to create a look that's polished and all-American, says Mathieson. "I often see her in white sneakers, paired with unexpected slacks, a blazer and t-shirt ... and consistently a small cotton hat."

Timeless and clean, but with just the right touch of character, Hutton's flattering style is one that everyday women can aspire to. "She was never into fussy accessories or trendy 'it' bags," Mathieson continues. "She understood that a simple v-neck -- whether it was a t-shirt or blazer -- was her best neckline."

Photograph courtesy of J. Crew

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Iris Apfel, age 93
Her style: Vibrant, accessorized, humorous

"Style is attitude, attitude, attitude," said the lively, 93-year-old interior designer in a live New York Times interview last year. The Queens native and street style muse has lived a colorful near-century, down to her peacock aesthetic, which the Metropolitan Museum in New York exhibited in 2005, making Apfel a rarified celebrity at the age of 83.

Since then, the fashion world has been enamored with Apfel's humor-driven, vintage-inspired style. "I don't take myself seriously," she says. "I like to have fun. I think it's good to have a few, little mistakes. I think it was Diana Vreeland who said, 'You can suffer from too much good taste.'"

Apfel's taste is far too interesting to be simply "good," with a wardrobe consisting of layers of costume jewelry, colorful prints, feathers, fur and her trademark wide-rimmed glasses.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I was a flea market freak, and every time I saw an odd-ball frame, I bought them," she told People Magazine. "Sometimes, even if I didn't need to wear lenses, I'd put the frames on because I liked how they looked.... People would say to me, 'Why are they so large?' and I would say, because they are better to see you. And that would shut them up."

Photograph courtesy of S Moda

BY AMANDA MONTELL | JUL 15, 2015 | SHARES
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