Advanced Style

I love going out photo hunting and it’s always a bonus when I can catch a stylish lady and her equally wonderful dog.

 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.

Yesterday I was walking along Lexington Avenue when I spotted the chicest woman having lunch through a cafe window. I stood outside for around thirty minutes waiting for her to come out, all the while debating whether or not I should enter the restaurant. I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt her meal, but at the same time I thought about all the times I let amazing subjects pass me by without asking them if I could take their photographs. I gathered up the courage to enter the cafe and politely tell her that I noticed her from across the street. She was having lunch with her son and thankfully very much appreciated the compliment. Sheila told me that she was so glad that I came into the cafe and that it’s always important to grab opportunities when you have the chance.

Sorry for the absence over the last few days. I have been attending to some personal affairs and have some great new street style shots to share this week. I just got back into town and couldn’t wait to rush over to Ilona’s apartment to see what she has been up to. She wanted to show me her new hat and tell me all about Dita Von Teese’s show which she attended last week. Ilona wanted me to give a big kiss and to say hello to all the Advanced Style readers out there. She loves reading all the comments on her posts and appreciate all your love and support.

I always look forward to meeting up with Alice Carey, hearing about her latest adventures, and of course seeing what she is wearing. Alice’s pieces are mostly thrifted and have such great stories attached to them. Here is a list of what Alice is wearing in the photos above. Make sure to check out her wonderful memoir HERE.
Messenger Jacket
Original label (stapled to pocket): METROPOLITAN POLICE Messenger
Date – London 1942
Owner’s name – William’s
Tailor – J. Compton & Webb Ltd. London (Derbyshire, England, since 1899 now dissolved).
Decorations:
Two gold crown insignia on collar representing ‘The Crown’
Two braided chevrons on sleeves

I bought this jacket last summer in an antique store going out of business, in Grey Abbey, Belfast, Ireland.
The owner said it had been there forever.  As usual it cost more to
tailor it, that to buy it. Cost around $25- Tailoring – $100-

Hat
HARRODS door man’s cap circa 1970’s
Patent leather visor, gold braded H

This hat belonged to memoir writer, Alfred O’Mahony, retired HARRODS doorman, whom I met on a train in Ireland last year.
Alfie’s memoir, ‘The Way We Were’ is about time his spent as an orphan in the Irish industrial schools of the ‘50’s