Editor’s Note: Simon Doonan, the creative director of Barney’s New York, is the author of Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You, just out in paperback from Simon & Schuster. His memoir, Beautiful People: My Family and Other Glamorous Varmints, was adapted for television by the BBC last fall, and it recently debuted stateside on the Logo network.

wOw: Simon, which celebrities today do you think will be the female icons of tomorrow?

Simon Doonan: There are so many celebrities now who are vying for the fashion crown. The ones who will be remembered for their style are the ones who take risks and who express their individuality. The ultimate fashion icon is Tilda Swinton. All the designers want to dress her. In the future there will be huge coffee-table books about her various lotoks and incarnations.

wOw: What fashion trend have we yet to see in the coming years?

SD: In the coming years I think there will be a trend toward modesty. Women have become so obsessed with looking busty and overtly sexual in the last few years that the pendulum is bound to swing back to a more mysterious allure. In the future, women will become more nuanced and less like cartoons of women, hopefully.

wOw: How will the Internet play in the fashion world, if at all?

SD: The Internet feeds people with an endless stream of images that fuel people’s need to emulate celebs. I think the whole thing has become insane and boring. If I were young I would rebel and disconnect from the Internet and reconnect with the reality around me. I cannot think of anything more pointless and tragic than twittering your life away. Go for a walk in the woods, daydream and dawdle and spend time with the leprechauns and fairies.

wOw: What designer is most "right" for the over-40 wOw woman?

SD: I hate rules. The most important thing for any women is to have her own look. Self-expression is so much more important than slavishly following trends and designers. However, if I were a woman over 40 I would wear Lanvin. If I could not afford it than I would shop vintage.

wOw: Any style tips for the wOw woman who wants to dress sexy without looking tawdry or immature?

SD: I think it is better to look alluring rather than sexy. "Sexy" is good if you are a hooker or a stripper. "Alluring" is more mysterious and magical and allows for more personal expression.

wOw: What’s the best lingerie for the over-40 woman?

SD: I think you cannnot go wrong with a well-designed black brassiere.

wOw: How can the wOw woman use fashion to accentuate her beauty?

SD: The wOw woman should use fashion to accentuate her personality. Not everyone has natural beauty and killer cheekbones, but everyone has a personality, which can be emphasized and expressed. Unleash it today!