Shani Feldman photographed in Czechoslovakia for VOGUE.Gosia Turczynska/Supplied
A refreshing shift took over the Spring/Summer 2027 catwalks in Milan, Paris, New York and London as mature models were brought back into focus after years of taking a casting backseat. Models aged 45 and older made for a strong showing, representing a demographic that drives more than half of global luxury spending, according to a recent article by Fortune.
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Among the standout faces were Karen Elson, 47, walking at Alexander McQueen; Evelyn Effrim-Botchey, 59, at Moschino; 72-year-old Christie Brinkley who closed Dennis Basso; and 83-year-old Naty Abascal at Gucci. This was in addition to actor Olivia Colman, 52, at Miu Miu.
Chanel booked more than a half-dozen mature models. In that lineup was 47-year-old Canadian Shani Feldman, who, while enroute to a family road trip, got the call to fly to Paris. This big break was three decades in the making: Feldman started modelling in 1996, consistently working in editorials and catalogues, until a career pause in 2010 when she had her daughter.
Feldman wearing the Canadian label Golshaah.Garrett Naccarato/Supplied
Her decision to turn her car around after that call led to a tour de force return to fashion, as she ended up walking the runway for two pivotal fashion shows – Chanel and Matières Fécales. Back in Toronto, the model sat down to reflect about her sudden rise, her mentors and her thoughts about fashion’s future.
What kind of response have you gotten from women over 30 seeing you on the runway?
We come from a generation that told us that at a certain age, we would become disposable or invisible. Having friends, peers and strangers tell me that seeing me in campaigns makes them feel seen is incredible. To see mature models on the runway finally connects fantasy with reality. Not only are these the women who actually attend events and purchase these clothes but when you’re young, you haven’t laughed enough to create laugh lines and you haven’t cried enough to create crow’s feet – which, to me, is true beauty.
Feldman walks the runway for the Chanel Spring/Summer 2027 show.Chanel/Supplied
When walking the runway at Chanel, were you able to have a direct connection with the house’s creative director Matthieu Blazy?
Matthieu is calm. You’d expect someone under that kind of pressure to be stressed but I didn’t feel like I was with someone superior. When I tried on my outfit and walked for Matthieu and his team, the room broke out in applause. He is transforming Chanel into something modern and approachable and that warmth clearly comes from him.
What do you consider the biggest challenge you’ve faced, and what is the greatest feather in your cap?
The only real challenge I face right now is being a mom and being away from my family. The Chanel runways were a milestone. I cried when I booked my first Paris Fashion Week show on the official schedule last year for Vautrait – that felt like winning the lottery. After a 20-year gap, never having walked the runway in Europe and walking for amazing houses like Miu Miu, Agnès b. and now Chanel has been spectacular. I’m glad it happened to me at 47 because I can deal with it in ways I couldn’t when I was younger.
You walked for French-Canadian house Matières Fécales, what did you think about the politically charged message behind their collection – titled the Ninety-Nine Percent?
I didn’t realize the full magnitude until the end, when I was surrounded by people weeping because the show spoke so deeply to them. During fittings, you’re just wearing clothes as pieces of art that represent the designers’ stories, triumphs and hardships. Seeing the final public reaction makes you realize how important it is to have fashion like this makes people talk, think and feel.
How has your relationship with luxury and style evolved over the years?
In the era of celebrity-dominated fashion, I felt a bit disconnected from the whimsy. Now that we are back to celebrating models of all eras, that magic is back. In my everyday life, I live in jogging pants because I dress up for work. However, putting on fabulous pieces that contour your silhouette acts like a performance-enhancing drug. It connects me to a part of myself that gets lost in carpools and cleaning.
Who were the mentors and women who helped shape you?
Definitely my mom – she is a no-nonsense person with a compassionate heart. She taught me strength, humility and to always maintain a strong sense of self regardless of what room you walk into. That came in handy because in modelling, you encounter so much rejection. I also grew up watching Fashion Television with Jeanne Becker. My mom and Jeanne went to middle school together. I never imagining our paths would cross. Watching Jeanne – who is a trailblazer and an icon – cover the shows made fashion feel alive. She also did it with grace.
Looking ahead, how do you feel about the direction fashion is heading right now?
Fashion is best when it reflects the full spectrum of humanity – different ages, backgrounds, shapes and stories. Seeing mature models on the world’s biggest stages isn’t a trend; it’s a necessary evolution. It allows women to see themselves represented with dignity at every single phase of life.
Looking at the fashion industry today, how do you view the future amidst the rise of AI?
I hope we continue to celebrate art and artists rather than replacing them with Vogue World robots, holograms and AI-generated models. We need connection in our lives, not more tech. I’m hopeful that we don’t replace human designers and models – we need to marry creators with clothes in order to preserve what fashion is about: human expression.
This interview has been edited and condensed.