“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

September 14, 2010 9:18 PM

Advanced Style: 'Proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age.' Advanced Style is run by Ari Seth Cohen who in his own words: "Roams the streets looking for New York's most stylish and creative older folks. Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest." Debra Rapoport and Maayan Zilberman also collaborate on the site. Also worth checking out, Advanced Style Videos, a more in depth look into the lives of the wonderful people featured on the site. Made by Ari Seth Cohen and Lina Plioplyte these videos allow our wonderful friends to share their own voice and opinions about personal style: Tziporah Salamon, Thrifting with Debra, Going to the Movies with Debra, Debra's Hat, Design with Debra, Debra on the Importance of Colour, Hattitude!, Mary, Doris' Treasures.
posted by Fizz (34 comments total)

This is awesome and, personally, rather inspiring. I see and hear (and am saddened) by many people saying that it's great to "grow up" because that means you can just give up on fashion. My heart is warmed as its clear that the confidence in physical appearance that comes with maturity does not, in fact, necessarily lead to style-apathy but, on the other hand, an absolute freedom to be as daring as you damn well please, and fuck the haters. Some of the most fashion-forward friends of mine would never even try to pull off the outfits these people look absolutely amazing in.
posted by griphus at 9:29 PM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I forgot to add, if you head on over to CBC.ca to Q, you can listen to a podcast from earlier today.
posted by Fizz at 9:32 PM on September 14, 2010

A podcast of an interview with Ari Seth Cohen. Keep forgetting key information. Sorry.
posted by Fizz at 9:33 PM on September 14, 2010

I saw beyond the "fashion" aspect of this.

At 62 it feels like I'm continually trying to find my place in the world. If I'm not looking in a mirror, there are times that I picture myself as 40, or 20, or even younger. Then then reality strikes and there's this sense of "oh crap, I've got moments left to live my life before I friggin' die!". That's when I look to everyone I know who is older and has managed to remain creative, exciting, interesting, and engaged in things they love to find some inspiration.

Good for these folks! They have a sense of being, have acknowledged who they are, and are relishing it!

I'm going to buy a hat now...

Thanks for the post!
posted by HuronBob at 9:38 PM on September 14, 2010 [13 favorites]

The podcast on the Q addresses much of what you just said HuronBob. It's not simply about the fashion, but about the seniors who are making a statement that moves beyond the clothing, more concerned with 'LIVING' and letting the world know that just because you're older, does not mean that you have to stop being creative or energetic or passionate about life.
posted by Fizz at 9:40 PM on September 14, 2010

Wonderful. Hope I'm still having this much fun at their age.
posted by vorfeed at 9:43 PM on September 14, 2010

This is the revolutionary costume.
posted by hermitosis at 9:49 PM on September 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

wasn't this woman and her style in a movie?
posted by ennui.bz at 10:28 PM on September 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I think most of the older gentlemen pull off their style much more successfully than the ladies, but that might just because they are making more traditional (and timeless?) choices. To each his or her own, but some of the outfits on the ladies are frankly kind of revolting, but I'll grant them that they are original, for whatever that is worth.

My specific opinions aside, I think this is a pretty cool concept.
posted by dhammond at 10:29 PM on September 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

I have a good friend I go thrifting with, it's like our sport. I have agret time finding cool stuff and so does she. We wear very different stuff from each other, but we each have an idea what the other would like and just as important, what would be revolting to the other.
I think shopping with that kind of friend improves your luck.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:34 PM on September 14, 2010

My favorite fashionable old lady: Irene Williams: Queen of Lincoln Road! (I swear this film was an previously an FPP but I couldn't find it.)
posted by vespabelle at 10:39 PM on September 14, 2010

ha ha, Looks like Advanced Style did cover Irene! I guess that's where I saw it.
posted by vespabelle at 10:41 PM on September 14, 2010

I liked this.
posted by !Jim at 10:45 PM on September 14, 2010

Love it - and I'm insanely curious as to whether the bloke in the red pin stripe suit has carefully preserved it since the 30s or whether he managed to track down both the fabric and an absolute genius of a tailor!
posted by Ahab at 11:16 PM on September 14, 2010

Ahab: Since the 30's? I was thinking more like, since the 70's. There were some very nice things about 1974.

I think style on the aged can be awesome, but there is a risk of looking pathetic. Sometimes I see older women who just look like they are desperate, and therefore, trying too hard. Others look like they don't care, and look great.

Men have it easier. As dhammond said, the men have timeless fashions from which to choose. But that idea is strongly in support of my old-fashioned notion that men are supposed to dress that way. I think it's a great notion that saves me lots of trouble, and y'all can just get off my lawn.
posted by Goofyy at 12:09 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Satorialist has a good number of older men featured on their blog but hardly any older women. But I must say I don't follow it religiously and perhaps it's just my small sample, or maybe it's mainly meant to feature men. All I know is I saw this gentleman who they snapped on the steet in Milano, Italy, a couple months back and thought "I have never been that cool and never will be."

Nice post. I'm the antithesis of style but it's nice to see folks making an effort, and pulling it off.
posted by maxwelton at 1:12 AM on September 15, 2010

Fun to look at, so thanks, but I don't know, I'm not a fan. I'm creeping up in years and always on the lookout for great style in seniors. These folks look costumed and tricked out, like they're about to go on set, cast as quirky and colorful old folks. I'm much more impressed by the senior fashionistas that turn up The Sartorialist (as maxweldon mentioned) from time to time. And he's a much better photographer. (If you're unfamiliar with that site, scroll past the runway stuff to the street shoots!)
posted by thinkpiece at 4:05 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Age is a catastrophe. You'd better get ready for it. The sole amelioration is money. But only if you have your health. Don't burn bridges to the church or temple. And for heaven's sake, trim your nose hairs.
posted by Faze at 4:59 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

dhammond: "9I think most of the older gentlemen pull off their style much more successfully than the ladies, but that might just because they are making more traditional (and timeless?) choices. To each his or her own, but some of the outfits on the ladies are frankly kind of revolting, but I'll grant them that they are original, for whatever that is worth."

I found the "revolting" woman quite attractive-- I applaud her use of color. Better a colorful caftan then a polyester track suit or the T-shirt and mom jeans many older ladies wear. (Hi, Mom!)

I do think that older women have a problem with make-up. Make-up and hair style really have to evolve with age; what looks attractive and flattering on a young woman often looks grotesque on an older woman. Too much blush and lipstick applied heavily to make a dramatic statement or to mimic the rosy glow of youth often ends up looking like a clown mask. Very, very few older ladies can pull off long hair hanging down but short 'dos can also look frumpy and graceless. Most women after 60 look best with long hair done up in a chignon or French roll-- the hair up off the neck and with enough volume to give the head some gravitas.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:24 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Anyone else reminded of Ab Fab?
posted by es_de_bah at 5:47 AM on September 15, 2010

Coolhunting old people. Neat.

Personally, I'm planning on black tees and blue jeans till I die.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 6:10 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Better a colorful caftan then a polyester track suit or the T-shirt and mom jeans many older ladies wear.

Absolutely. You rock on, colorful lady.
posted by Fleebnork at 6:15 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

The dearth of older women was actually a reason I stopped following Sartorialist--that and I had a vague sense that just throwing a scarf on over something does not automatically make it stylish, no matter how many times you try to show me that it does.

On the other hand I've never really gotten into Advanced Style. It seems to focus a tad too much on the eccentric and not enough on the elegant. Since I could go either way in a few years, I'd kind of like to have inspiration for both.
posted by padraigin at 6:36 AM on September 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

I went the other way on this: The forced eclectic look, with an emphasis on hats and jewelry struck me as confused, in an early-90's Blossom sense.

I mean, it's sort of cute and endearing to see an elderly woman going thrifting (just like those in-style, what do you call them? Hepsters?), but also sort of sad-- meaning it speaks to someone who's still focused on presentation and externals.

Combine that with good new fashioned attention seeking (Advanced Style? Really?) and the total impact is gross. Look, a woman in her 60's-- presumably with a life of experience and acquired widsom-- pulling a teenaged youtube schtick.

Exactly as inspiring as a video of a 60 year old guy showing how to pop your collar and roll those bitches, yo.
posted by mrdaneri at 6:51 AM on September 15, 2010

Look at this fucking broken hip ster?
posted by nathancaswell at 7:12 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Some older people are interested in fashion! Some look good, others not so good. But, still, the remarkable truth is revealed: even when you are old, you still can have passion and verve! Your life isn't necessarily over! HOW AMAZING!
posted by Wordwoman at 7:44 AM on September 15, 2010

What fun. Thanks.

Casual looking older men.
posted by nickyskye at 8:00 AM on September 15, 2010

Fuckin' old people, how do they dress?
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 8:10 AM on September 15, 2010

I'm pretty sure my goal as an old woman in terms of dress will not be "stylish" but "intimidating." And that's really about attitude.
posted by emjaybee at 8:25 AM on September 15, 2010 [3 favorites]

Why the hell not?
posted by mippy at 9:09 AM on September 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm more of the Georgia O'Keefe/Doris Lessing style probable outcomes (if I live long enough), but for the time being the black t-shirt jeans thing works quite well, pirate-bartender-zombie-key.

Still I admire those who enjoy and express themselves with abandon regardless of age. My mother-in-law and her four sisters like/love to shop and coordinate their outfits. Their mother was a fashionplate to the end.

Call me frumpy or lazy, but the truth is I can't stand shopping. And I'm also too lazy for links to O'Keefe or Lessing, but I know you know what I mean. Thanks for the post!
posted by emhutchinson at 9:15 AM on September 15, 2010

I meant "monkey." Sorry.
posted by emhutchinson at 9:16 AM on September 15, 2010

I quite fancy turning into Zandra Rhodes or Anna Piaggi. White/grey hair must be far easier to KrazyKolor.
posted by mippy at 9:35 AM on September 15, 2010

My favorite so far is this lovely lady.
posted by of strange foe at 12:10 PM on September 15, 2010