Carmen Dell’Orefice Discusses Her Ageless Style In Interview

Jul 06, 2021

Aging is a necessary aspect of growing old, but despite beauty companies preying on women's insecurities, there is no secret to eternal physical youth. However, those who are older know that although we age externally, the trick is to stay young at heart on the inside.

One person who is lucky enough to embody both physical beauty and a young spirit is model Carmen Dell'Orefice, who at 90 years old, is the world's longest and oldest working model. Dell'Orefice has been modeling for an astonishing 75+ years. After being discovered at the age of 13 in her native New York, the model went on to have her first Vogue cover at the age of 15 and hasn't looked back since.

Over the years, she's modeled for well-known names like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and more recent brands like Sephora and H&M. She's also traveled all over the world, from Paris to Beijing. Most models retire once they reach middle age, but not Dell'Orefice. Alongside a bevy of beauty tips that keep her looking her best and still working in the industry, the stunning model knows that age is no limit to what she wants to achieve in life.

In a 2018 feature with Harper's Bazaar, Dell'Orefice opened up about her extraordinary life, revealing details of her trips to Paris with famed photographer Richard Avedon, as well as her work with other notable photographers such as Gleb Derujinsky. She also talked about an upcoming documentary about her life, which follows her around and doesn't hold back. Let's take a look at Dell'Orefice's gorgeous ageless style.

Discovered while riding a bus to ballet class at the tender age of 13, Carmen Dell'Orefice would begin her modeling career soon after, and by 15 she had landed her first magazine cover, which happened to be Vogue, no less. By the early 1950s, she had caught the eye of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who worked at Harper's Bazaar. Vreeland wanted Dell'Orefice to go to Paris to photograph with American photographer Richard Avedon. The fashion editor had to convince him to take her, but the resulting editorial for the magazine was a huge success. Dell'Orefice fondly remembers, as reported in Harper's Bazaar:

"We shot on the streets of Paris — a famous one is of me in midair under an umbrella — and at the Folies-Bergère."

She spoke of working with Avedon in his studio, where he'd play music from Cole Porter and other artists, dancing around as they captured gorgeous fashion images. Dell'Orefice also worked with pioneering female photographer Lillian Bassman, photographer Gleb Derujinsky, with whom she also traveled to Paris for work, and Melvin Sokolsky. 

She details an iconic photo of her that Sokolsky took, in which she appears to be floating. Nowadays, the same effect could be achieved through computer-generated imagery, but back in 1960, the magic came by way of a bike seat attached halfway up the wall and Dell'Orefice's incredible ability to balance on it while looking perfectly poised and elegant. 

Over 60 years later, Dell'Orefice is still working and has even managed to adapt to the modern fashion industry, working for major retail brands like Sephora and H&M, as well as closing an haute couture runway show for Chinese designer Guo Pei.

Dell'Orefice's longtime friend, fashion illustrator David Downton, instigated an upcoming documentary about the nonagenarian model. In it, her still extraordinary and stylish life is on full display with nothing to hide. From a trip to Beijing for work to the operating room for hip surgery, nothing was off-limits. Tim Peterson, the photographer behind the project called her life "a magic carpet ride" that included a "roller coaster of galas, hospitals, couture, first-class suites and drag queens."

Dell'Orefice's life has barely a dull moment, but when it comes to her beauty routine and how she stays looking so incredible, she always comes back to the basics. For one, she believes in maintaining a skincare routine to ensure that her skin doesn't lose its elasticity and natural glow. Her tip for glowing skin? Save the makeup for special occasions and always stay moisturized. Her favorite way to keep her skin hydrated is by using a moisturizing balm.

Furthermore, unlike most models, Dell'Orefice does not deprive herself of food, but she also doesn't overdo it. She doesn't need to follow a strict diet to maintain her shapely body because she feeds her body exactly what it needs. Her health tip is to include yogurt in your diet, which is rich in probiotics, and drink water with lemon in it each morning for a metabolism boost and detox. The key to a happy life is enjoying what you eat!

Finally, her last beauty tip is to always stay active! This doesn't mean that you have to spend hours in the gym. Her favorite way to stay in shape is simply walking. This activity allows her to spend time with her friends while getting some fresh air. Exercise is great for improving your circulation for radiant skin and maintaining a healthy weight. 

Did you know about the world's longest and oldest working model, Carmen Dell'Orefice? If you were inspired by her story, be sure to pass it on to those you know!