you searched for age is the new black

What Are Your Winter Style Secrets?

on

We have had a pretty cold start to winter in New York City and it’s been a bit to difficult to find style inspiration in a sea of black and brown puffy coats. My friend Maureen braved the cold, puffy coat aside, to come visit me and show me her brand new pink do. After I snapped a quick portrait of her she got back into her coat and headed for the nearest cafe. Maureen’s gorgeous scarf and statement glasses are the perfect accessories to add some color and fun to her sensible winter coat. What are your winter style secrets?

Are You Afraid Of Wearing Color?

on
I often wonder why so many people are afraid to wear color. Walking around New York it’s a challenge to find brightly hued clothing in the crowds of people wearing all black. Yes black is safe and elegant and all that, but putting on a bit of color in the morning definitely brightens up my day. I love how the woman above plays with proportion and texture to make a stunning and bold fashion statement. If you are going to wear all black, why not wear it with pizazz? Are any of you out there afraid of wearing color?

Joy Venturini Bianchi: Fashion For A Cause

on
During this past week, I have been roaming around the Bay Area visiting friends and family. While in San Francisco, I knew I had to track down one of my favorite style icons, Joy Venturini Bianchi. Joy is not only an international taste maker but also a philanthropist who has made it her life’s work to help the developmentally disabled. 
Joy greeted me in an incredible Ralph Rucci jacket and her signature over sized black glasses. “I love your work,” she said to me with a smile, “but honestly, I still feel like I’m 15!” Before heading out on a tour of the incredible vintage designer shop she runs on Fulton Street, Joy shared a bit of her story. She has been working with people with disabilities from a young age, volunteering with nuns at her school for an organization called Helpers of the Holy Innocents. Joy later took over as director, where she worked to house people with developmental disabilities in three homes on Fulton Street over the last four decades. Now, she operates the Helpers House of Couture which is a boutique filled with incredible vintage and designer clothing and accessories. Proceeds from the sales go to Helpers, a registered non-profit supporting grants to groups which assist the mentally disabled.
If you are in San Francisco, you must stop by this amazing treasure trove of vintage and designer duds and hopefully meet Joy along the way. If you have any donations or would just like to come in and shop, make sure to make an appointment ahead of time by calling 415-387-3031. If you can’t make it into the shop in person check out some of their fantastic pieces on 1st Dibs HERE.
Helpers House of Couture
2626 Fulton Street
San Francisco, California 94118

The Spirit of Style

on

 I have been thinking a lot about what draws me to photograph certain people. Sometimes it’s the way they have fixed their hair or an amazing accessory, or a wonderful smile that catches my eye. More than style, I am trying to capture a sense of vitality and creative spirit in the people I photograph. The other day I was walking uptown when I noticed a woman wearing a large brown coat, black beanie, and a hint of a yellow printed dress. Even from across the street I could tell that the dress had to be vintage and thought that the woman must have been wearing it for years. I decided to approach her and ask if I could take her photograph.

 

Frances was standing with her son, near Lexington Avenue, when I stopped to talk to her. I told her that I appreciated what she was wearing and asked her how she felt about style. She replied, ” I don’t care about style, I make style. I want to try and look the best I can, depending on the weather and my mood.” I asked if she wouldn’t mind telling me her age and she smiled and pointed to her son and said, ” Guess how old I am if he is 75 years old.” She continued by telling me how her doorman is so interested in always talking about her age and that she has grown tired of talking about it. Her new trick is to ask him his age every time she sees him. She then asked me how old I was and when I told her, “31” she laughed and said, “I’ll be 103 next month if I make it. My clothes are probably older than you.” Frances and I talked and joked for a few minutes and she thanked me for taking her picture and asked me to send a copy to her apartment. Later that day I thought about how witty and full of life Frances was and realized why I was initially drawn to approach her.

Like Mother, Like Daughter, Like Son

on

 I can’t go to San Diego and not meet up with one  of my favorite ladies and stars of my book, Ljubica Bogic. I originally met Lubi while she was visiting her daughter, Ivana, in New York City and found out that she lived in my hometown of San Diego. I have since photographed her on almost every trip back to see my family. Lubi and Ivana have a wonderful bond and a shared passion for art and fashion. My mother and grandmother were a huge inspiration on my own style development. They allowed me the freedom to dress up and colorfully express myself at a young age. I asked Lubi to share a little  about how she has influenced her daughter’s style. Check out her response below and a photo of my mom and I wearing coordinating colors!

Fashion and design are not my profession, nor a part of my
formal education. As a scientist in molecular biology, with a specialization in
molecular medicine, my professional life and interest evolve around creative
work in the medical/scientific field, which has diverse and numerous limits/constraints.
The scientist is a creative explorer; however, there are set rules and even
stricter standards that must be followed—by the book. In fashion, as my hobby,
it is quite the opposite: I feel fully FREE, and I am never judged by the critics
in the field.  Nevertheless, my
best critics in fashion are my husband, daughter and my dog….Ha! Ha! Thus, my
interest in fashion as an art form allows my creative thinking to materialize into
full freedom, or at least the illusion of a full freedom. In my mind there is
no existing scale in fashion; at least not to the same extent as in science.
How would I define my own style: simplicity, comfort, a clear-cut silhouette,
monochromatic, colorful accessories and else!
     
 I guess my style has rubbed off on my daughter. I always
supported her own creative thinking, yet I probably did shape her style to some
extent.  She grew up into a sophisticated
young person with her own unique style…..but fashion still continues to be our
special bond that translates into the formation of an additional dimension of our
friendship. As we go different ways in style, our fashion interests bond us in
a distinctive way. We often exchange fashion opinions, build exceptional creative
dialogs, and review the art of fashion. My daughter lives in NYC, and I am in
San Diego. Very often she sends me a phone picture of a window display in the city,
or a fashion piece worth the attention. Then, we usually build a discussion
around our opinions and ideas of a piece. Often, she asks for my advice. If I
do not like something, it does not mean that she won’t get it. However, our
connection to fashion links us in an interesting way, and broadens our
friendship.

Did I influence my daughter’s style? I do not know. Maybe to
some extent I did. Most importantly, I encouraged her to develop her own
creative style. I am happy that two of us can play and dance through life together
at many different levels.As for my Borzoi…..Ha! Ha! I do include her in my most
recent fashion expressions. This is my new puppy that I refer to as “my black
and white design”………so I try to match her color patterns….. CRAZY? Maybe not,
because BORZOI – “They are truly living and breathing works of art” (Joseph B. Thomas).My freedom of
expression translates into my fashion style. At present, I take inspiration
from the elegant, yet simple markings of my Borzoi. CRAZY? Maybe not, because “Only
great minds can afford a simple style” (Stendhal).

[Mom and Me]