Wednesday, November 16, 2011

World’s oldest working model?

World’s oldest working model? 'Madoff stole my life savings': Why the world’s oldest supermodel, 80, had to go back to work,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 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.'
I love Carmen dell'Orefice, especially in its final stage, with their razor-sharp carded and features of Great Lady of ice. Although, of course, who can forget his years with Richard Avedon?-Who does not remember jumping with an umbrella?; Or staring from a Harper's Bazaar?. Vogue debuted in just 15 years, starred in hundreds of campaigns, countless covers of the best magazines and became the muse of Salvador Dali. A lifetime of glamor that exploded in 2008 ... A victim of one of the largest tax fraud in the U.S., conducted by Bernard Madoff (ending sentenced to 150 years in prison), Carmen dell'Orefice lost all its assets and had to return to work in 77 years. Now, after the 80, still sitting comfortably on the throne of the supermodel. And I, meanwhile, I am calling upon the devil every night to make a deal ...

















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