ADVANCED STYLE: INSPIRING AND AMAZING

I discovered this fantastic blog called ADVANCED STYLE on my Flipboard (this is an app you MUST HAVE if you have an iPad - It's one of my very, very faves... you can purchase it here), and I stayed up way too late last night looking at every image and reading every story, all from the genius mind and talented eye of Ari Seth Cohen. 

BEATRIX OST

In the same manner of The Sartorialist, Ari hits the streets and captures stylish women with his lens, but what he's done for me is make me realize that fashion, style and spunk don't decline as you age... The difference is these women still have it, and they wear it even better than the young ones... because they have confidence and grace.

LADY FRANCESCA TODD  met Ari while sitting on the bus on a rainy New York nigh. He noticed her because of her statement ring - a large green frog. She told him that she collects Frogs, and that he was welcome to take her picture.

A stylish shopkeeper in Milan, Italy

RUTH, NYC

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS WOMAN IS 100 YEARS OLD?

Her name is Ruth, and when Ari met her, she was just leaving her Pilates class in the Upper West Side of NYC. Her best beauty advice is from Elizabeth Arden: "If you want to look this good when you are 40, start when you are 20." She should know....she is getting ready to go to Bermuda in a few days.... with her boyfriend.

GERMAN WRITER AND ARTIST, BEATRIX OST

BEATRIX OST, NYC
I think this Ms. Ost might be my new style muse? (THIS IS HOW I SEE MYSELF IN 30 YEARS)

... And I love her style tips she passed on to Ari:

"Age appropriate I would say is silly, but please look in the mirror. Do not populate airports, places of sightseeing, churches, any of such in foreign countries, wearing shorts like a teen.  Sexy is in the eye of the beholder -- be sparse with showing your flesh."

RITA HAMMER
"If you look in the mirror and it offends the eye, then don't do it. I don't think women of a certain age should wear hot-pants or miniskirts, but they can wear skirts an inch or two above the knee. That can look very elegant. It's up to the woman to know what she's doing and see if it feels right. It's personal taste."

CLAIRE, Battery Park, at age 80

LINDA FARGO & LYNN DELL (79 YEARS OLD)

MADISON AVENUE, NYC. It's all about the red lipstick and matching nails!

Another Madison Avenue woman, wearing red lipstick and matching nails, with a classic trench and triple-strand pearl necklace. So chic. 

PROOF THAT GRAY IS THE NEW BLONDE... 

is the title of one of Ari's posts, and the picture above and two pictures below are great examples that maybe he's on to something. As for me, I am not accepting the patch that is taking over my temple...

ALICE CAREY

New York City writer ALICE CAREY says she developed her sense of fashion by studying the ladies who lived off Park Avenue in the 1950's and 1960's. She also learned about style from her Irish mother, who shopped at Bergdorf's and wore Hattie Carnegie. Her own style philosophy that sets her apart from the rest is to "look as chic as you can, but your average person on the street would never wear [it]".

ALICE CAREY in her favorite designer, Bill Blass. She found this vintage Blass dress in a thrift shop.

ROSE, NYC

ROSE, NYC... AT AGE 98

"The other day I had the wonderful opportunity to interview an amazingly stylish 98 year old woman by the name of Rose . I met her a few weeks ago when I stopped to take her photo off of Madison Ave. She told me that she never allows anyone to take her picture, and she is not quite sure why she decided to say yes to me that fateful day. After appearing on Advanced Style, her grandchildren emailed me telling me that Rose loved her picture and that I could come by her place and ask a few questions about her life and style! Even more inspiring than Roses' fantastic fashion sense is positive outlook on life; Enjoy every moment and be happy with what you have.At 98, she has more vitality and spirit than most people half her age." (as told by Ari, creator of Advanced Style, October 26, 2010)

Rose's style tip #9

Here are her Top Ten Ways to Stay Stylish and Look Great at 98:

1. Find your perfect perfume, people will remember you by your scent. Rose is known for her Pauline Trigère fragrance. She tells her granddaughter "I'll give you anything in the world, but I won't give you my perfume".
2. Belts and Beads. Rose believes that a belt or unique strand of beads can really make an outfit and they don't have to cost a fortune.
3. Take care of your feet and wear good shoes, but when you are going out for a night on the town, "Fashion comes before comfort". At 98, Rose goes out every single night!
4. "Walking is a must, it's better than doctors or medicine."
5. No need to use expensive moisturizers, Rose swears by Oil of Olay which she has been using for decades.
6. "Inexpensive lipstick is as good as expensive, only better!" Rose has tried every brand from Chanel to Lauder and has recently been turned on to Revlon.
7. Be Unique: "If everyone is wearing it, then it is not for me".
8. "Be smart enough to know what you don't know".
9. If you have trouble reading the dinner menu, Lorgnettes are a fashionable and elegant alternative to reading glasses (see her own example above). [If you like this idea, we have a gorgeous pair in our store. Go here to see them!]
10. "Be happy, enjoy what you have at every moment!"

ROSE, NYC... AT AGE 99

And YES, that IS an Hermès studded belt she's wearing.

Another year older, and almost a century old, Rose has some more lifestyle tips, that she shared with Ari:

1. Stay Organized. "If you take a toothpick out, or a pair of pantyhose, or a hundred dollar bill, always put it back where you found it, because if you add up the time you spend looking for it later, that's a waste of time"
2. "Always tell the truth because if you don't you'll have to think of another lie."
3. "Be More, appear Less."
4. "Always take the phone off the hook when you are in the bath."
5. "Make friends with the Maître De."
6. "Never loan, Never borrow."
7. "Never keep anyone waiting. Always be 15 minutes early."
8. "Never look back, always look forward."
9. "Don't be afraid to tell your age, that's silly. Be proud of your age."
10. "Don't frequent a restaurant where they don't crumb the table."

[my take on this? I can relate, except for the pantyhose, misplacing hundred dollar bills, and eating at restaurants without 'crumby' waiters. Dives are the best restaurants, and I bet if I took Ruth to my faves, she'd love them.]

JOYCE, NYC... AGE 79

Joyce believes "To age is a privilege." I have to say, I've never thought of it that way before, but she's right.  She also believes in Fishnet stockings, Fiocco's, and that a good pair of gloves can make an outfit. To read hear style tips, go here.

IRENE, who met Ari on the NYC bus, told him that she once wrote a bio in 6 words: "My life threads weave wondrous tapestries".

A neoprene suit! Not traditional at all! And worn with those gloves and glasses... very chic and edgy.

Upper West Side, NYC. You can't go wrong with a scarf wrapped around your head, a chic alternative to a hat. And I like her bright pink lipstick, also a nice alternative to the red!

Ari snapped these photos of this woman leaving a cafe on the Upper East Side of NYC. Wow, does she know how to dress. The colour combinations, the textures of her coat and scarf and feathered hat, and then the modern jewelry on her wrists.

Looking at the picture above and below, you would never guess that it is the same woman! The hat is so prim and proper, and her jewelry is so edgy, yet they go together so well. Let me rephrase that: SHE puts it together so well.

LINDA ZAGARIA

LINDA ZAGARIA, NYC

WOMEN IN NYC -- LIKE LINDA ABOVE AND BELOW -- REALLY KNOW HOW TO DRESS... And I'm not even going to show you the picture of Linda where she is cinching her waist... It is depressing. Scarlett O'Hara, eat your heart out.

"When you are younger you tend to dress for other people, when you are older you dress for yourself."

NANCY OZELLI, NYC

GITTE LEE

My mom is a little camera shy, and I REALLY wanted to include her on this post as she is such an example of "Advanced Style", I am picking these pictures of the striking Danish  woman Gitte Lee instead, as this is the closest I have ever seen anyone else dressing JUST LIKE MY MOM. 

GITTE LEE, NYC...  AGE 76

 Gitte (short for Birgit) Lee is Danish, and has dark hair instead of the blonde that we usually think of the Danes having. So is the same with my mom. She is German, but not blonde. She has the same colour hair of Gitte's and brown eyes. My Oma, German also, even had an olive complexion, so my mom sometimes appears to look more like a Spaniard. My mom also loves to wear hats, and the outfit above is something straight out of her closet: She wears gold jewelry, brooches, red lipstick (well it's getting lighter, but I think you should bring out the red again mom), bracelets... everything except that fabulous purse that Gitte is carrying. I can't see my mom (or me either) justifying the expense of the Hermès bag... Although it looks SO DERN GOOD with her outfit, doesn't it?

Gitte is so elegant, proof that plastic surgery is not necessary to stay beautiful as women age. Although she WAS a famous model back over 50 years ago....

My mom has always said that when she wears hats while shopping, she gets treated SO differently ... I am thinking SO much better. This happened to her in New York City, over 20 years ago, at an art gallery. She was wearing what my dad describes as an "orphan annie hat". As soon as they walked in, they got escorted to this VIP back room. I am sure they thought that they had these 'big spenders' in town, because my mom looked as elegant as Gitte does above. 

They left later, without any canvases under their arm. I think my parents enjoyed the brief attention, and as an 18 year old girl, I took note of their story: Appearances matter - the way you are dressed - and people treat you different accordingly. There are shops here that I REFUSE to go into anymore, because when I am slumming it (like I do almost every day) in comfy sweats or t-shirts, they refuse to help me. And if I happen to pop in to the same store after a luncheon and am all dressed up, they are so fake and all over me. Just on principal alone, I won't go there anymore. And it's hard, because I have to pass those window displays all the time and they have the cutest clothes... but I've stuck to my guns for years now.

Gitte's outfits are the same for every season: a sweater, long coat, and pair of loose trousers [you could never get away with this in Texas. It is still 100℉ and almost October]. and she changes the fabrics of these according to season. She mixes it up with the changing of a hat or bag, and picks pieces that can be worn day or night. Her overcoats were all purchased in India, and she no longer feels the need to purchase new clothing. Her signature accessory is a big pair of black glasses, which protect her skin from the sun. I think she's brilliant!

ALL IMAGES ABOVE BY ARI SETH COHEN

VISIT COHEN'S BLOG ADVANCED STYLE FOR MORE STUNNING SENIOR DARLINGS!