[Fashion Consultant Tziporah Salamon ]

Another great thing about Advanced Style ,besides the stories behind the clothes, is the freedom with which older people express their personal style. At a certain age there are no more rules to follow, no more dress codes beyond the ones set upon oneself. I have 80 year old ladies email me that they finally feel the freedom and permission to wear colorful socks. Where many might think of this as overly eccentric, I feel it’s a great expression of personality and independent spirit. Just because you are older doesn’t mean you can’t wear bright colors and patterns. When I ask people why they choose to dress in vibrant clothes or color their hair wild shades, the answer is pretty much always the same. It lifts their spirits and the spirits of others and they no longer have to dress to impress other people.

I was recently interviewed by the UK Telegraph about Advanced Style. Here is an excerpt from the piece:

Cohen moved to New York from Seattle and one day, he says, he saw a documentary about an actress called Mimi Weddell, who died last year. She was addicted to wearing hats, and her style credentials were so shimmering she even appeared in Sex and the City. “She was so stylish and elegant in her early nineties,” Cohen says. “She had a sense of personal style and freedom.” The word freedom, I sense, is the key. “Older people wear their clothes with confidence because they no longer have anyone to impress,” he says. “I see more beauty in them. These pictures are not just images. Each one tells a story.” I agree with him. No one, for me, looks more like a woman than an old woman.”One of the best examples of this sense of freedom is 90 year old Ilona Smithkin. She is a fearless lover of color and does things her own way. She has always dressed up, but with time she has learned to be confident in her artistic expression. Advanced Style is about personal style and living life to the fullest. No matter what your style choices are learn from these brave spirits who do it their own way.

Maayan and I had the extraordinary opportunity to meet with legendary Apollo Theater Dancer Jacquie Tajah Murdock. Jacquie is turning 80 this year but keeps her spirit young by continuing to dance and dress up.While speaking with her I was reminded of a quote by my friend Mimi Weddell that you must, “Dance your way through life”. Look for more about Jacquie’s’ wonderful history and some high fashion photos on Monday!

Advanced Style was recently featured in the fashion section of the UK Telegraph and one from Iceland! It makes me so proud to see that these advanced style fashion plates are getting the attention they deserve, for not only being stylish but for remaining vital, creative and energetic with age. Check out the article HERE. The photo above is of me and my great friend Mimi Weddell who passed away last year.

Here is a quick view of two of New York’s most stylish and innovative women, Tziporah and Debra.I have been an admirer of Tziporah Salamon’s for a long time and just recently found the perfect opportunity to meet with her. A few weeks ago Tziporah was sent a link to a post I had done on Debra and was immediately struck by her style and creativity. She emailed her right away and they have been in contact ever since. The other day I had the chance to get together with these two wonderful ladies to sit down and discuss the healing power of style and how fashion should be fun and expressive,as Mimi Weddell used to say, ” It lifts you up from this earth”.Debra and Tziporah dress up because it makes them feel good and they can express themselves and share their art and creativity with the world around them. These woman are the true fashion icons, truly original, strong in their identity and willing to share their gifts with others.

[Photos by Arturas Valiauga]

These awesome photos were taken by Lithuanian artist Arturas Valiauga from a series entitled, I Dropped in on Stepas House, We Talked about Life; Still Identity. I find the collections of photographs and clippings on the walls of this couple’s home very inspiring. A catalogue from a show where these photos were featured describes their environment as “Home becomes the map of the inside and outside world.” Many of the people I meet and talk to have collections of photos and scraps of papers they have saved over the years. Some collage them into artworks, others place them into scrapbooks hidden in cabinet drawers. I love the idea of filling one’s home with visual memories and inspiring words. Debra writes on her walls, Mimi Weddell’s refrigerator was full of her favorite quotes, like ” Rise Above It” and I have a drawer full of clippings that are just waiting to fill my walls! What better way to wallpaper?