The Cannes red carpet, long synonymous with glamour, has taken on a new dimension in 2026. The women generating the most buzz for their style are, for a change, aged over 70. Joan Collins, at 92, dazzled in a white sculptural strapless gown by Stephane Rolland. Jane Fonda, 88, shimmered in a floor-length sequined Gucci dress. Isabella Rossellini, 73, turned heads in a striking patterned two-piece, while Catherine Deneuve, 82, exuded chic elegance in forest-green satin and hoop earrings.
Celebrating Age Diversity on the Red Carpet
These women attended the festival to promote films or projects. Collins and Rossellini star in the Wallis Simpson biopic 'My Duchess,' while Fonda appeared at a L'Oreal event. Their presence is celebrated as evidence of broader age representation on the red carpet. Alyson Walsh, founder of That's Not My Age, a website focusing on style beyond midlife, said: 'I think it's fantastic that we are seeing much older women. Joan Collins looking super-glamorous, at the same age as my mum, that's pretty incredible.'
A Shift in Fashion and Culture
This trend has been building for some time, with female actors over 60 regularly walking red carpets in eye-catching outfits. Demi Moore, 63, is at Cannes this year in a fashion-forward wardrobe from brands like Jacquemus and Gucci. Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, also 63, wore a mega-frilled purple Saint Laurent dress previously endorsed by Beyonce. Deborah Jermyn, an associate professor in film and culture at Roehampton University, noted: 'The whole point of the red carpet is I want the spotlight on me. Look at me. We very rarely get to see women of that age in that space.'
Fashion Industry Embraces Older Models
Fashion, traditionally obsessed with youth, is increasingly featuring older women. Brands such as Chanel, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy have included notable numbers of models over 40 in recent shows. The 79-year-old artist Ming Smith walked for Carolina Herrera, the 78-year-old writer Joan Juliet Buck sat front row at Celine, and the late actor Maggie Smith starred in a Loewe campaign in 2023 at age 88. Rebi Merilion, co-founder of Mrs Robinson, a modelling agency for older models since 2013, said: 'Clients are becoming much more aware that older women are very influential and have spending power. Consumers respond positively to representation that feels believable and aspirational.'
The Growing Influence of the Grey Pound
An ageing population means older people will become increasingly influential. The grey pound was valued at 320 billion pounds in 2016. A House of Commons report from 2024 predicts that by 2072, 27% of people in the UK will be over 65, up from 19% in 2022. However, some argue that the older women on red carpets and catwalks are exceptional. Walsh noted: 'You're allowed to be old, as long as you don't look old.' Additionally, these women are predominantly white, thin, able-bodied, and gender-conforming. Jermyn commented: 'The red carpet is a microcosm for a lot of western culture. The marginalisation that we're seeing speaks to the marginalisation that's happening much more broadly.' Yet, she added that women like Viola Davis, 60, and Angela Bassett, 67, are maintaining careers that could see them in that space in 10 years.
Looking Ahead
Jermyn hopes an ageing population might lead to wider changes in attitudes. 'We've had this long history of thinking that reaching a certain age means retreating from the public space. We're pushing back on that in different ways. The red carpet, you might say, is an extension of that.'
