Advanced Style

A while back, Kim Hastreiter of Paper Magazine told me that I had to meet her friend Henny Garfunkel. She knew that we shared a passion for photographing fabulous old ladies and thought we would hit it off. Henny and I emailed back and forth, but never had the chance to meet.

Yesterday while walking down Park Avenue I saw an amazing woman pass by and I had to ask her for a photo. I stopped to tell her that I photograph stylish and creative people over 50 and she instantly began to smile. She said,” I know who you are, my friend Kim wanted us to meet some time ago.” What a wonderful chance encounter, to meet someone whose work I so admire. Henny and I both photograph people that we encounter on the street, making this all this meeting all the more special. Her series of “Fab Old Ladies” can be found on her website: http://www.hennygarfunkel.com/ .

Check out this small clip of Henny applying her lipstick by film maker Eric Smith. Eric also made one of my favorite shorts, Irene Williams: Queen of Lincoln Road, which you can also check out below!

Personal style blogs aren’t just for the young, in fact their is a whole world of over 50 bloggers, proving that personal style really does advance with age. These women have the experience to know what they feel comfortable in the willingness to share their treasured style secrets withthe rest of the world. I asked Sacramento from mispapelicos.blogspot.com for her fashion and style tips. Check out our interview below:

How do you feel age affects fashion?
To me age is just a number, and shouldn’t´t affect your own style at all.

What is your style advice for older women stuck in a rut?
-Get rid of the comfy pants and t-shirt, they are a deadly trap…
-Look at yourself in the mirror, cherish the way you look, and build from there.
– Be daring rather than boring.-
-Every woman knows what suits her and what type of clothes makes her feel wonderful. Most of the time, they cannot be bothered.-
-It is never too late to find your own style. Look deep within and let it come out freely.

Can you share any of your style secrets?
I always dress for myself, and to inspire those who cross my path.

-I would like to think that my style is quirky rather than smart; with the knowledge to distinguish the thin line between quirky and clown.

Sacramento in her own words:
I am An English- Spanish teacher and Nutritionist who has been madly in love with fashion all her life.I see fashion as a means of self expression through clothes.
I have been keeping notes and cut-outs in notebooks, (that´s why the name of my blog: MIS PAPELICOS – my little papers or cut-outs) for as long as I can remember.
Last 7Th of April , I decided to go a step forward by starting my own blog.

[Senior Blogger Rita Marcus of Very Old Grandmother]

Hey There Bloggers ,
Are you a blogger over 50, then we want to post your thoughts and style advice on Advanced Style. If you have insight into how to stay vital, active and beautiful as you age send post submissions to Advancedstyleinfo@gmail.com. We will look through the submissions and post them on a regular basis with a link back to your blog. We want to share this valuable information with our readers and spread the word that style and creativity don’t end at a certain age, they ADVANCE.

Here are some great blogs for you to check out and please comment with more to add to the list
http://flashionista.com/
http://mispapelicos.blogspot.com/
http://www.fabulousafter40.com/
http://www.unefemme.net/
http://stylecrone.com/
http://www.veryoldgrandmother.com/
http://the-ogs.com/
http://www.aarp.org/entertainment/fashion-beauty/info-10-2010/hi_lo_fashions.html
http://www.retireinstyleblog.com/
http://thewomensroom.typepad.com/the_womens_room/
http://www.offbroadwayboutique.com/blog/
http://evadeutsch.blogspot.com/
http://ragsagainstthemachine.blogspot.com/
http://beautyofwisdom-robbiekaye.blogspot.com/
http://idiosyncraticfashionistas.blogspot.com/
http://dashingeccentric.blogspot.com
http://over50feeling40.blogspot.com/
http://citizenrosebud.com
http://fashionoverfifty.blogspot.com

Every Fall my color palette becomes inspired by the changing of the leaves. The women above must be taking a cue from Mother Nature as well with their autumnal browns, reds, and oranges. Do you dress according to the seasons?

Photos by Jenna Dublin

If you have been reading Advanced Style long enough you know that my grandmother Bluma was my best friend and greatest inspiration. She taught me how to be kind, compassionate, and always challenge myself. She was a wonderful teacher and it is because of her that I do what I do. Since moving to New York two and a half years ago, I have met so many amazing older ladies and gentleman who continue share their wisdom and inspire me everyday.

I was looking through some old photos and realized that I had never posted these shots of Mimi Weddell and me. She was a grand woman who taught me so much in the short time that I knew her. Here are ten of her most memorable quotes:

“There’s a lot more to be learned, and I’m going to learn all the way up to the stairway to the stars”

” You dance as you walk through life.If you don’t dance, for heaven’s sake, you cannot aspire. You do not lift up from this earth.”

“Rise Above It, it’s what one does. We’re not supposed to be happy happy happy and jumping for joy every second”

“Doesn’t time go really fast its moment by moment by moment, and you’ve got to grab it”

“I love Illusion”

“Like Piaf I have no regrets, Oh mercy you have to have the downers and the uppers to be a complete person”