AGE is a Place to BE.

Carmen Dell’Orefice's first Vogue cover at the age of 15 is remarkable given the fact that at 80 she still models. 

Why the world’s oldest supermodel, 80, had to go back to work



By Maysa Rawi
10 November 2011 


With her first Vogue cover at age 15, a modelling career spanning over six decades and once posing for Salvador Dali, you wouldn't expect Carmen Dell' Orefice would have to work for a living.

But the 80-year-old has admitted she still needs the money - after depositing her life savings with Bernie Madoff.

Now the grey-haired beauty has to contend with problems not normally associated with a glamourous life of catwalks and photo shoots - including arthritis in her hips and a beard she has to 'pluck every day.'

The New York-born veteran model is currently the subject of an exhibition at The London College of Fashion after her friend and illustrator David Downton convinced her to dig out old pictures from under her bed.

The New York-born veteran model is currently the subject of an exhibition at The London College of Fashion after her friend and illustrator David Downton convinced her to dig out old pictures from under her bed.

The show, open to the public next week, features iconic images by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Norman Parkinson, Horst P Horst and Lillian Bassman.

And her secret to youth? Good bone-structure, self-discipline - and shots of silicone.

Her age-defying looks continue to earn her work, including a campaign with Rolex and catwalk appearances during last season's Fashion Week.
And it seems she needs the money, facing the prospect of being evicted from her home.

She told The Telegraph: 'The banks always want something.

'They're deciding now whether or not to shovel me out of my little apartment.'
Carmen, who reportedly lost her money in the stock market in the 1990's, invested what little she had left with Madoff, who swindled thousands out of an estimated $50bn with a Ponzi scheme.


She was introduced to the former Wall Street financial expert by her then-boyfriend Norman Levy.


She and Madoff were close friends until the scheme came to light in 2008.


At the time, she said: 'For the second time in my life, I’ve lost all of my life savings.'

But the model is still optimistic, despite celebrating her 80th birthday this year.



Carmen told The Telegraph: 'I'm a working woman of 80 trying to work out what the image I can project is.

'How I can do it with, you know, dignity.'

Luckily for Carmen, she has always adopted a frugal attitude and admits to making her own clothes in the past.

Despite retiring twice, Carmen, who married and divorced three times, can't seem to stay away from the fashion industry.

But she insists she is no feminist: 'I never wanted to be part of any kind of movement - and if you're over a certain age, you better keep your bra on because nothing's worse than saggy duds.

'Women have it harder than ever now because they've changed the dialogue, and men don't know what to do when they can't marry their mothers.'

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook 

CARMEN: A Life in Fashion opens at the Fashion Space Gallery: London College of Fashion, running between 16 November – 14 January 2012, 20 John Princes Street, W1G 0BJ, www.fashionspacegallery.com  

Carmen Dell’Orefice at 81 modeling Stephane Rolland Hautre.

Carmen dell Orefice, 81, took to the catwalk twice in one day at New York Fashion Week.

She was born June 3, 1931.