I was a military wife for 30 years, then my grey hair got me a modelling job

Labouchere no longer feels ‘invisible’, having pursued a successful modelling career in her 50s

At 61, model Caroline Labouchere is the happiest she has ever been, she shares via Zoom from her home in Dubai. She stepped into a modelling career at 54, discovering a renewed sense of fun along the way.

“I suddenly didn’t feel invisible anymore,” she reflects.

Labouchere now shares fashion, beauty and health ideas with her YouTube subscribers and 708,000 Instagram followers, including expert advice to encourage other women to feel excited about life.

“For those who think that going grey might be an indicator of decline, it is not. Life in your 50s is full of growth and opportunity, and could be the start of something even better,” she says.

“I was a school receptionist for six and a half years, and prior to that a military wife for 30 years. Although I’m a Leo, I was a follower. I’d never wanted to go into modelling.

“My daughter was working in London for a modelling agency which happened to be looking for a grey-haired model. She showed them a picture, they flew me to London, and I got the job.”

‘When people are nasty about my grey hair, I still hear it,’ says Dior model Caroline Labouchere

Labouchere continues: “It was the catalyst for a new chapter. I thought, ‘Hang on, I can do what I want now’. Prior to that, going through the menopause, I’d disappeared into myself. I was always something to somebody. I was a daughter, a wife, a mother.

“Now, above all, I’m me. I’m braver now.

“My daughter, Mimi, is 28, and my son, Max, is 30. My husband and I feel great about who we’ve become at this age. He’s an Ironman World Champion for his age group, and gets up at 4.30am every day to train.”

Embracing grey hair

Although Labouchere’s striking grey hair and obvious beauty has landed her highly coveted partnerships, it has taken her until now to feel confident. She still doesn’t always find it easy.

“It knocks me when people say, ‘You’d look 10 years younger if you weren’t grey, why do you look after your face and not your hair?’ I am looking after my hair. If I was colouring it, how often would I go to the hairdresser? And how good would that be for my hair?”

Labouchere has embraced her natural grey hair colour

She continues: “The truth is that I wouldn’t be modelling if I wasn’t grey. But if someone says something nasty, I still hear it. Women can be really hard on other women. My hair is an all-natural grey, although every now and then I go to the hairdresser and have a toner put through it.”

Healthy living

Labouchere shares: “When it comes to having a glint in your eye, sleep is the most important thing. If you’re too stressed to sleep, and if your hormones are out of whack, it’s a vicious circle.

“If you don’t sleep, there’s no point dieting, there’s no point going to the gym. None of that is going to work if your body doesn’t have the chance to restore during sleep.”

Labouchere has modelled for high-profile brands such as Dior

“For exercise, I use the Pilates By Bryony app. It’s easy to just throw the mat down. I know that I’ve got to start using my muscles and doing weights. I’ve got osteopenia [loss of bone density] in one arm, so I really do.

“This year. I’m going to start doing weights and to encourage other women to do the same. It’s easy to put it off, but I intend to live my best life in the time that I have left on this planet.

“I plan to die young as late as possible.”

Style lessons

Labouchere has become more assured in her sense of style as she has aged. “I’ll be wearing a black, elongating suit with my velvet Yves Saint Laurent boots – which I bought at Bicester Village – when I’m 70. I’ve learnt as I’ve got older that I don’t like to feel underdressed. Some people look casual and cool, but I feel so uncomfortable.

“I don’t feel I’m showing my appreciation enough if I’m not dressed for the occasion, although at home I live in Golden Goose or Serena Bute silk pyjamas. Style, for me, is less about being trendy than timelessness, but I do rely on my daughter to keep me up to date.”

Labouchere feels uncomfortable if she is ever underdressed

“I love Alameda Turquesa heels, and I can never have enough black or nude pairs. I won’t give up wearing heels.

“I don’t like to do anything that suggests I’m ‘of an age’. If my husband stands up from the sofa groaning, I say, ‘Stop doing that’. I had presbyopia, so I had my lenses replaced.

“I think it makes you look so much older if your mannerisms reflect that you’re short-sighted. If something makes you feel old, I think you can start acting old. Comfortable clothes are good, but I don’t want to do ‘old’ comfort.

Make-up tips

“Beauty routines can be a rollercoaster,” says Labouchere. “Now, teenagers see Drunk Elephant tutorials on TikTok, but I grew up seeing what my mother used, Clarins and Lancôme. Now, I’ve found myself embracing a whole new approach, and I use Augustinus Bader, which is the absolute pinnacle. What I love about skincare and make-up now is how it makes me feel.

“I always use the L’Oreal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer highlighting formula with shea butter. People always say to me, you’re glowing. And I am.

“I’m in love with the Dior Backstage Eyeliner Brush No24 eye pencil too – I always used to just put a line, but this has a brush. I’ve learnt to smudge and blend it for a softer look isn’t quite as try-hard.”

Labouchere continues: “I wear lip liner by Makeup Forever in Wherever Walnut. Emmanuelle Geoffrey, a make-up artist for Dior, told me that it suits everyone. I love learning from make-up artists. They tend to know what they’re talking about.

“At any age, SPF is so important. If I’m going out in the sun, I wear proper factor 50 sunscreen. The Australians know how to do sunscreen properly, and I use Mecca Cosmetica, an Australian brand.”

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