MODELS Magazine to feature women 40 and over

The models are the winners of a search contest.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The fresh faces that will appear in More magazine's November issue belong to Tina Kraft-Brickowski, 40, of Lake Oswego, Ore.; Linda Fischer, 50, Napa, Calif.; and Michele Smith, 46, of New York.
They are the winners of the More 40+ Model Search.
The final test for these women and the other finalists was a catwalk fashion show in New York wearing clothes from Donna Karan, Nicole Miller and Norma Kamali -- all 40-plus women themselves.
Kamali says her goal is to create flattering, functional and flexible clothes.
"To be honest, anytime I design anything, I'm not specifically thinking about a certain woman or age. Very often my focus is a concept, but because I am a woman of that age, I am inevitably thinking about what I want to wear," she explains.
One of Kamali's "multi-use" pieces that the More models wore also has a following with young women, according to the designer.
Convertible skirt
"My 'convertible skirt' can be worn 15 different ways. It's a skirt, dress, a top. ... And it adapts to bodies, ages and personal styles."
The jersey garment morphs into so many different things because of two long scarves attached to the waistband. The scarves can be a belt for a skirt, or a dress' halter or bandeau top.
The key to maintaining a flattering look over the years is to maintain a strong sense of self, according to Kamali.
"Playing up assets is something women always think about, whether you're a teenager or older. A pimple can make a teenager feel like a horrible-looking human being, then, after a baby, women are worried about losing weight, and as women get older, as the body changes, there are issues," she says.
"Women who have a great sense of self, though, can look extraordinarily beautiful even if it's not the youth beauty of a 19-year-old. A certain beauty comes with confidence and power."