I’ve been a big fan of Ari Seth Cohen’s “Advanced Style” blog since he began. Having had a great-aunt who was (and remains) one of my major style influencers, his work spoke to me immediately. Living in New York for over a decade, I loved seeing stylish older folks on the street. (I love seeing anyone who makes the effort to look good and defy traditional convention.) Now, Cohen and director Lina Plioplyte have released a documentary following seven of these extraordinary individuals. (I can’t imagine how they narrowed it down!)
Advanced Style is a documentary that examines the lives of seven unique New Yorkers aged 62 to 95 whose eclectic personal style and vital spirit have guided their approach to aging. Director Lina Plioplyte follows these fashionable ladies’ daily adventures of living in the city, capturing their most entertaining and poignant moments. From the instant that Cohen first meets these vibrant characters on the streets of New York, it is evident that they are destined for fame. From a glamorous 81-year-old dancer from the legendary Apollo theater, to an 80-year-old owner of a storied boutique on the Upper West Side with a penchant for over-the-top accessories, to a 93-year-old West Village artist known for her colorful ensembles and iconic red eyelashes crafted from her own hair, these ladies offer their own unique perspective on overcoming life’s obstacles with style and grace, proving that age is merely a state a mind. Advanced Style paints colorful and intimate portraits of independent, stylish women who are challenging conventional ideas about beauty, growing old, and Western culture’s increasing obsession with youth.
