73 year-old Lauren Hutton proves her supermodel credentials are as strong as ever in Bottega Veneta's new campaign

Seventies supermodel Lauren Hutton is the new face of Bottega Veneta, starring in the Italian label???s spring/summer 2017 campaign and marking its 50th anniversary.

Hutton, who has graced 41 Vogue covers in her career and was one of the world???s highest paid models in the 1970s, appears alongside Joan Smalls, 28,and Vittoria Ceretti, 18,in the new campaign images and is shot by American photographer Todd Hido.She looks strikingly cool in a glossy red leather skirt and a luxe jersey polo shirt by the brand - an outfit that creative director Tomas Maier believes could be pulled off by any woman at any age.

Hutton made a modelling comeback on the brand???s runway back in September, when, then-72, she walked arm-in-arm with 21 year-old Insta-girl Gigi Hadid and confirmed creative director Tomas Maier???s statement that his clothes are ???for women, not 16 years olds.???Joined by Karen Elson, 37, and Eva Herzigova, 43, Hutton???s appearance drew applause from the typically stoic fashion crowd and the show was widely celebrated for its diverse model casting.

Lauren???s endorsement also prompted Maier to revive her American Gigolo character???s iconic look, first by dressing the star with her original Bottega Veneta "Intrecciato" bag and taupe trench coat on the catwalk back in September, and now by carrying the theme through into the brand???s spring offering, with a reissuing of her original woven clutch style from the film.

"This is the 50th anniversary of the brand, and we are celebrating by staying true to the essence of Bottega Veneta,???Tomas Maier tells us.???The true celebration in this 50th anniversary year is of the Bottega Veneta Atelier.All the bags of this collection showcase the extraordinary skills of our artisans.These include a re-edition of the famous red clutch carried by Lauren Hutton in the 1980???s movie American Gigolo.???

???I always like making things simple,??? he says of his design ethos, referring to Hutton"s deceptively pared-back styling.???If there is any inspiration, it is in sportswear.This is sportswear meaning clothes that make life easier for whoever is wearing them: polo-shirts, shirt dresses, windbreakers, fluid skirts.I always like a longer length.This collection has fluidity, a long line, ease of movement, pleasure in wearing.???

The former supermodel, who made most of her fortune with a lucrative cosmetics contract as the face of Revlon in the 1970s, proves that her signature gap-toothed beauty is as desirable (and likely bankable) today as it was the first time around and Maier???s backing of her for this second project surely shows that he is thinking beyond just a publicity stunt, and is indeed committed to showing women of all ages wearing his designs.

Hutton enjoyed something of a style moment before she took to the Bottega Veneta catwalk in September, attending a series of shows andparties at New York Fashion Week where she proved once again her mastery of ageless style, from the the sophisticated velvet top and pencil skirt combination she wore for Tom Ford"s show to the cool white shirt and wide-legged trousers she was seen in at a party for fashion label Tome.

Following Ashley Graham???s January Vogue cover,70 year-old Charlotte Rampling???s new campaign for Loeweand now Bottega Veneta"s partnership with Lauren Hutton, fashion"s continuing quest/ need to embraceallwomen is off to a promising start in 2017.