Date Archives December 2010

The Idiosyncratic Fashionistas

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I have been meaning to meet up with the Idiosyncratic Fashionistas ,Jean and Valerie. for some time now, so I was especially excited to meet them for brunch on Sunday We got to talking about how fashion should be fun and how there should be more older models representing brands. The girls told me that sometimes they’ll go places and people will ask them if they are “Ari’s Girls”. I am delighted to be associated with such wonderful and creative people.

These two fantastic ladies met about three years ago as Valerie was trying to get Jean to attend a textile show she was curating. Valerie told me, “ I can talk to anyone who is wearing a hat, because we are on the same wavelength“.

Irene’s Insights

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I meet amazing people everyday on the streets of New Yorke. One of the great things about older people is their willingness to share what they have learned, over the years,with others.I met Irene on the bus heading to Lincoln Center and asked if I could take her picture. She told me that she was in a hurry, so I took a quick photo, handed her a card with my email on it and we have been emailing and chatting on Facebook  ever since. Irene has a great website where she shares her “Images and Insights” . I asked her to share some of her inspiring and thoughtful bits of wisdom on Advanced Style. I hope you enjoy and I would love to hear some of your own favorite quotes and writings!

Irene’s Insights
1 – Women and men of a certain age can be role models for a youth-centered society, by paying attention to their ID:
“I” stands for INTELLIGENCE – which can increase with age – evolving into wisdom. Frequently what you see is what you get. 

“D” stands for DEMEANOR – or as Mother used to say “Pretty (handsome) is as pretty (handsome) does.”
 “WOW” is an acronym for “Woman Of Wisdom”!  How about “MOD” for Man Of Distinction”?
2 –  Here’s my favorite Dorothy Parker poem, “Indian Summer”:
In youth it was a way I had
To do my best to please,
And change with every passing lad,
To suit his theories.
But now I know the things I know,
And do the things I do:
And if you do not like me so,
To hell, my love, with you!
3 – From designer William Morris on your home, your haven, your castle:
“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
4 – On becoming less of a control freak – a modification of a familiar ditty:
Original:
Row, row, row, row your boat gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily,merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
But rowing is TOO MUCH WORK! :
FLOAT, FLOAT, FLOAT YOUR BOAT!
5 – Advice to women from a pro, Audrey Hepburn:
:
It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
It is important that a man makes you laugh.
It is important to find a man you can count on. And doesn’t lie to you.
It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
It is important that these four men don’t know each other.
These are Audrey’s “beauty tips” – read at her funeral:
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run its fingers through it.
For poise,walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, more that things, have to be restored, renewed,revived, reclaimed and redeemed.
Never throw out anyone.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that your two hands are: one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
6 – My obituary:
I Arrived Small and Weak
I Shall Leave Old and Bold

Happy Holidays From Advanced Style

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I have been playing with the design of Advanced Style for a few days and I hope it’s loading correctly for everyone.It has been pretty cold day in New York, so it’s nice to stay in the house and get some work done. Even on a freezing cold day the ladies of Advanced Style dressed up for a pre holiday lunch in SoHo.   Debra and Maryann had never met Ilona, so they were in for a real treat.  We all got along splendidly and they even braved the cold to let me snap a few shots of their stylish winter wear.

Maryann is wearing a Rodarte Jacket Leather leggings and a beautiful dress. She adds some sparkle to her outfit by adding two rhinestones to her hair, which match her gloves and amazing Miu Miu boot coverings. We are excited to check out the Rodarte sample sale tomorrow and hopefully Maryann will pick up some great bargains.

Ilona and I checked out the New Museum after bidding adieu to our other friends, a perfect end to a lovely day.

Flea Market Finds

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[Photo by MISTER MORT]
I grew up going to flea markets with my mom and grandmother. I have always appreciated the people who devote their lives to collecting and selling antiques and collectibles.Each stall is filled with magical relics and treasures which a seller uses to create a wondrous world of their own.
This weekend I went to my favorite flea market in New York. I bought an old rocking chair and a small sculpture of a woman’s lips, but I am really on the look out for awesome portraits of fancy ladies. Let me know if you see any!!! My buddy MISTER MORT also loves antique and flea markets. Photo hunting for stylish and eccentric bargain hunters is almost as fun as finding a perfect collectible. to take home. Mort took this great shot of a couple at a flea market in Sn Francisco. The colorful duo attend the market every other weekend looking for bargains. Check out MISTER MORT’s swell blog and some more photos of flea market fanatics from Mort and I below!