“My eyewear, like my personality, is eclectic”

Seven years after his launch into modelling, Fitzgerald found himself wondering why he did not see more mature models of colour – and it was this thought that spurred him to launch the New Silver Generation.

The online platform for models of colour over 50 promotes age and ethnic diversity and inclusivity, seeking to change the way age and colour are seen in the fashion and beauty industries.

OT asked Fitzgerald about the platform, his eyewear style, and his top tips for finding the perfect frames.

How many pairs of spectacles or sunglasses do you own?

I have four pairs of spectacles and sunglasses.

What frame shapes, colours or styles do you usually go for?

I have a pair of dark framed spectacles for business wear. They are what I call: sensible glasses. But my taste in sunglasses is a bit more ‘out there.’ I don’t have a specific style in sunglasses, but they reflect my outgoing personality. The frame can be quite large, and I would say it is more about the shape than the colour or style.

Can you describe your favourite pair?

My favourite pair had a wooden frame that was painted with multiple colours. Sadly, they broke recently, so I am hoping to replace them with another pair that is equally funky.

How long have you worn spectacles for, and what prompted you to go for your first sight test?

I have worn spectacles for about 20 years. There was a time when I was getting headaches and my doctor thought I might have eyestrain. He suggested an eye test, which proved that I had very good sight. I decided to get my first pair of glasses for reading and watching TV, particularly at night. Since then, I realised that I have the early stages of cataracts and that wearing sunglasses was a good way to protect my eyes from harsh sunlight. 

What does vision and eye health mean to you?

Vision and eye health is important to living an active, independent life. I am 60 years old and the assumption is that my vision will be impaired, but my sight is remarkably good. My diet plays an important part in my eye health. I manage the amount of processed sugar that I eat to guard against diabetes, which can be damaging to eye health.

How important is eyewear to reflecting your personality?

My eyewear, like my personality, is eclectic. My eyewear style can be formal, serious and rational. On other occasions it can be larger than life, bold, in your face. It often does not respect age-appropriateness.

Can you describe your vision for New Silver Generation?

New Silver Generation is for models of colour who are 50 plus. During my time as a model, I have seen a lack of representation of older models of colour in fashion campaigns, magazines, and generally in the media. Our purpose is to change this so that there is no longer a need for New Silver Generation. My purpose is to make these models as prominent in the industry as they can possibly be. We want them to be iconic and a role model for young people.

Age inclusivity is everyone’s responsibility

Why do you feel it is particularly important to promote age inclusivity in the fashion industry?

Generally, the people who have the most money to spend are over 40. It doesn’t matter how old you are, as long as you are wearing what makes you happy. We need to stop using fashion to put people into boxes and allow people to be themselves. In the way that we use young people to sell products to older people, so we can use mature models to sell to younger people if the model has universal appeal. You can be ‘cool’ at any age. Age inclusivity is everyone’s responsibility. We want people of all ages represented in the media because younger people want good examples of what they could be from 50 up.