Advancing the Style Envelope

Old is the NEW Awesome. Mainstream may have just gotten the memo.

2013 is having a senior moment. "Grampa style" is in, (just ask Macklemore) and recently,  a number of women "of a certain age" are  being celebrated for bold style and actively influencing the wardrobes of youngsters,  an unusual direction of fashion influence, seldom before seen in the fashion world. See Iris Apfel, see Linda Rodin, Tziporah Salomon, Madonna, Helen Mirren, etc, etc.

Advanced Awesome: Ari Seth Cohen poses with one of his subjects

One of the earliest chroniclers of this new "old" moment is an intrepid and mild mannered 30 something, Ari Seth Cohen. (You can read my 2012 interview of him here.) While others were chasing the fleeting fashion moments of a much younger crowd, Ari was quietly setting up shots of the often over-looked but snappily dressed "silver haired set." He showcased his images of "Advanced Style" presenting a color range of +50 year old ladies and gentlemen. And we seemed to have collectively sat up and taken notice.   Now there are ad campaigns featuring many of Ari's subjects and a few documentaries in the works (see Fabulous Fashionistas) including one of the Advanced Style ladies by Cohen and his film collaborator, Lina Plioplyte, scheduled to hit the film festival circuits any moment now.

In fact I wonder what's next for Ari and his Advanced Style ladies, now that there's a coffee table and Coloring Book already in his pocket and the documentary film in the works. And I wonder: what's next for us? Is this fabulous watershed of including and showcasing wonderful women (and men) over the age of 50 as sartorially inspiring and culturally relevant, a societal tipping point, or just a flash-in-the-pan? Are these silver style foxes here to stay in our collective consciouness or just a fashion fad? 

Advancing Style: Ari Seth Cohen's aims his lens ladies with Advanced Style. (Source)

For me, it was such breath of fresh air, to see an all-ages style hit the air waves, and to discover women bravely and brazenly putting themselves out there, style-wise. I think it adds depth and dimension to contemporary fashion, seeing its evolution begin to include what was formerly invisible and shoved to its sidelines. Here's hoping Advanced Style and its like are here to stay. 
May 2014 have many "senior" moments as well. 

BOOK GIVE-AWAY: I have a signed copy of the Advanced Style book to give-away to one lucky advanced style lover! The give-away is open to everybody (including international friends) who love Ari and his Advanced Style ladies as much as I do. To qualify, you must be a reader of this blog, and we request you leave a comment on this post- sharing YOUR Advanced Style inspirations. Winner gets announced Janurary 6, 2014. a Rafflecopter giveaway