Dame Helen Mirren, at age 60, tops style icon poll in the UK and 64 year old designer, Diane Von Furstenberg, believes her most important career achievement is giving women confidence.
The fashionable actress, 66, claimed the accolade after clothing brand CC quizzed 1,000 women for the poll and they believe the results show that “age isn’t a barrier to style or confidence”. A spokesperson said: “These results show that age really isn’t a barrier to style or confidence. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. “It’s inspiring to see that many women over fifty are comfortable in their self, confident in their style and brave enough to explore new clothing options. “Dame Helen Mirren has as much style, grace and elegance off screen as she does on it and is a fitting icon for the women of her generation. “All too often we are bombarded with images of youth and temporary trends, so it’s great to see such a varied list filled with women of real class.” A host of famously fashionable veterans completed the top five including model Twiggy, 62, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ star Joanna Lumley, 65, 63-year-old singer Lulu and Dame Judi Dench, 77. Fashion designer Victoria Beckham, 37, was a surprising inclusion on the list, just outside the top five. The spokesperson added: “Victoria Beckham has proven she carries universal appeal and her image over the past few years has altered from high glamour to a more classic look which appeals to women of all ages. “The results show women in their fifties aren’t afraid to embrace younger styles when they’re done the right way.”
The 64-year-old designer – who is most famous for the wrap dress she designed in the 1970s, which enjoyed a revival over two decades later – is proud that people enjoy wearing her creations because they make them feel good about themselves, though she hopes she still has things to achieve. She said: “I am against anything that objectifies women, “My greatest achievement is that I have given confidence to women with my clothes. “The word ‘accomplished’ makes you think with a full stop. I hope I am accomplishing!” Diane believes that female designers make more appealing outfits because they are practical fashions, whereas she thinks her male counterparts prefer “costumes”. She said: “Women design clothes for women to wear. Men design costumes.” Diane admitted she felt “humiliated” when she was learned pregnant after getting engaged to Prince Egon of Furstenberg but was determined to forge a career and insisted on learning the basics of fashion before marrying at 23. She told the Guardian newspaper: “I was working in a clothing factory in Italy when I discovered I was pregnant. I was humiliated, worried people would think I’d done it to get the ‘best catch in Europe’. So I said to my boss: ‘I’m getting married and moving to America, but before I go, can I learn how to make clothes?’ And I stayed after work with the patternmaker, and that’s how I got into fashion.”
