In Memory of Zelda Kaplan

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Yesterday 95 year old Zelda Kaplan passed away after collapsing, front row, at the Joanna Mastroianni Fashion Show. Zelda lived an amazing life.When we would get together she would always start by telling me how lucky she had been to have so many great opportunities. She traveled the world and collected hand woven fabrics and worked as an activist to bring the issue of female mutilation into discussion.

Zelda had a zest for life. She loved dancing and was a regular at New York’s hottest clubs where she could be spotted dancing the night away in her brightly colored suits and matching hats. When I met Zelda the first thing she asked me was if I liked to dance. When it came to style she told me, “If you look well, then you heighten the atmosphere of a place, but remember to always be yourself. You can’t turn marble into silk.” Zelda definitely heightened the atmosphere wherever she went. I was lucky to have known her, even for such a short amount a time. I will cherish the advice she gave to me and remember her wonderful spirit always.

Marc Jacobs Fall 2012 Inspired by Advanced Style

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I just found out that Advanced Style helped to inspire the Marc Jacobs Fall 2012 Collection! I am honored that my photos of these wonderful women and their expressions of personal style could be so influential in the work of a designer as important as Marc Jacobs. Check out these articles from French Vogue and WWD HERE and HERE , mentioning Advanced Style’s influence on collection!

Side Swept Style

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I first saw this woman in a grocery store on the Upper East Side. I admired her gorgeous hair and elegant style, but she left the store before I could ask her for a photo. The other day I was walking on Madison Avenue and I saw her again. I knew that I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by, so I ran up to her and asked if I could take her photograph. She was very gracious and I can’t wait until the next time I run into her. Doesn’t this make you a little less afraid of letting your hair go white?

100 Year Old Elise Relflects Upon a More Elegant Past

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I ran into Elise on Madison Avenue and was shocked when she told me that she was about to turn 100 years old. I asked her about her fashion philosophy and she replied, “I miss elegance. There was a time when everyone used to dress up.” I hear this sentiment a lot amongst the Advanced Style set. It makes me think of my  grandmother’s, and how we used to watch old Hollywood films, filled with the most glamorous people. As a young boy I was inspired by looking through grandma Bluma’s scrapbooks full of vintage photographs.Everyone in the pictures looked so elegant and well dressed.
This is one reason I am so drawn to people like Elise. After taking her photo, we exchanged phone numbers.I can’t wait to share some of her collection of over 83 hats with everyone!