Ari Seth Cohen is Editor of the blog “Advanced Style“, whereby he roams the streets of New York looking for the most stylish and creative older folks. He’s also my newest crush (“Hubba, Hubba!”). His self-admitted mantra is, “Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest.” Advanced Style offers proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age. Cohen recently sat down with NOWNESS for an interview and the following is an excerpt:
Why do you think so many younger people read your blog?
Walking around New York taking photographs, I noticed how many young girls are appropriating style from older women: leopard print, fur, turbans and hats. In general, the older women wear these things naturally, with more confidence. With the blog I not only want to show that older women are vital and creative, but also to show people [they need not be] afraid of aging—and personal style is a great way to showcase this.
What catches your eye on the street?
I am always on the lookout for silver hair! What is important to me is self-expression and what might inspire others. I want the portrait to be respectful—that is the most important thing. An outfit might be eccentric but it has to be put together well, with care, because I don’t want to reinforce any stereotypes about older people.
You can read the entire interview over at NOWNESS. And as a tribute to Cohen himself, NOWNESS also commissioned filmmaker Lina Plioplyte to create this terrific short which I’ve attached below. To understand how life gets better as you age, head over to AdvancedStyle. You can also follow AdvancedStyle on Twitter and Facebook.
SEE ALSO: Anna Wintour: “We ALL Get Dressed For Bill Cunningham”
