For a woman, turning 40 is generally a big deal. Is this definitely the end of your youth? Women are used to being judged on their appearance first and foremost, and all the more so if they’re in the public eye. Whether you subscribe to the view that 40 is the new 30, or that life begins at 40, it’s important to accept yourself and where you are in life as you enter this important new decade.
A landmark birthday, of course, calls for a special celebration. You may decide to mark the occasion with a relaxed dinner among close friends and family, or with a glamorous, no-holds-barred party for everyone you know, or both. However you choose to celebrate, just make sure that your 40th birthday bash is every bit as fabulous as you are, just as these 5 iconic celebrity women know all too well how to do.
Kate Moss
When Kate Moss turned 40 in 2014, she didn’t just have a party. The legendary supermodel and then husband Jamie Hince (The Kills’ guitarist) went all out and organised a 4-day long festival event for 150 guests at their 10-bedroom luxury home in the Cotswolds.
The monster bash was psychedelic-chic, Glastonbury themed and allegedly cost over £100K to put together. Guests included fellow A-list celebrities Noel Gallagher, Florence Welsh, DJ Mark Ronson, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and broadcaster Nick Grimshaw, plus members of Primal Scream, classic 1980s band Soul II Soul, 1990s outfit Massive Attack.
With additional entertainment including fire breathers, a tarot reader, face painters, psychics, rave tents and four bands, each representing a decade of Kate’s life, it must have been a truly memorable event.
Victoria Beckham
Star studded celebrations were also the order of the day for Posh Spice’s 40th birthday do back in April 2014. Starting with a low key stateside dinner at renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu Malibu with family and friends including celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey and family, she then travelled to London for the UK leg of the milestone celebrations.
Hiring an exclusive Mayfair members only club, The Arts Club, the fashion designer and former pop star partied hard into the night, joined by a posse of famous friends film director Guy Richie, TV presenter Claudia Winkleman and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. According to the tabloid press, former Spice Girl pals Emma Bunton were seen ‘falling out of the club’ in the early hours.
Myleene Klaas
Having turned 40 just this April, Myleene Klaas recently celebrated her milestone birthday with a family trip abroad, followed by a lavish weekend bash at the luxury Soho Farmhouse private members club hotel in the Cotswolds.
The singer, model and broadcaster who first came to fame as a member of Hear’Say, invited a wealth of celebrity friends including Amanda Holden, Tamzin Outhwaite, Vanessa Feltz, Brian Dowling, Nicole Appleton, Kate Thornton, Lauren Laverne and Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps to join her for an opulent soiree in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside.
Myleene’s party boasted an Instagram floral wall, carousel ponies and an incredible leopard print inspired birthday cake.
Gwyneth Paltrow
The venue for Gwynnie’s 40th birthday party in September 2012 was a quiet Upper East Side Italian restaurant in New York City. It was a laid back, relaxed affair hosted by Elio’s, an old school authentic Italian eatery, with chocolate cake for dessert!
As expected, a host of Hollywood A listers attended the milestone celebration including Gwyneth’s mum Blythe Danner, Steven Spielberg, Kirsten Wiig, Jessica Seinfeld, Ethan Hawke, Jake Gyllenhall and Cameron Diaz, to mention a few. Gwyneth’s BFF Beyonce arrived fashionably late.
The birthday girl chose to spend her actual birthday (27th September) in the company of her family and close friends on a quiet luxury yacht in Italy, together with hubby Chris Martin and their kids Apple and Moses.
Naomi Campbell
Back in 2010, Naomi Campbell turned 40 and chose to celebrate the occasion with a super exclusive weekend event at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc at Cap d’Antibes on the French Riviera. The glittering party hosted by Naomi and Russian boyfriend Vladimir Doronin welcomed celebrities from the world of fashion and music including Marc Jacobs, Eva Herzigova, Eva Cavalli, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Jennifer Lopez and many more.
Naomi chose a black panther theme (her favourite animal) for her birthday bash and invited The Black Eyed Peas to do a 45-minute set for the fashionable in-crowd, many of whom arrived at the Cannes venue via boat on account of the tight security surrounding the event.