Advanced Style Profile: Jenny Hirschowitz Inspired by Vintage Dior

[Photos and Text Ari Seth Cohen]

The first day I met Jenny at The New Museum she made a great impression on me. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met and has a grace about her that seems to be carried over from a more romantic era. A mix of vulnerability, strength, mystery, and charm, she is always a joy to be around.

Jenny, like many of the people featured on Advanced Style, takes style cues from the past but personalizes them with current trends by mixing high and low, vintage and new, and always staying true to “Jenny.” Her reference points are 1950s Dior , Madame Butterfly, her mother(a ballerina), and Tippi Hedren dressed by Edith Head–“The Ultimate” in style. Check out some of the photos I have taken of Jenny over the past few months mixed with some Vintage Dior and Hitchcock stills!

Debra: Day Into Night

[Photos: Ari Seth Cohen, Text: Maayan Zilberman]

One of the qualities we love most about our magnificent friend Debra is her ability to make casual garments look like evening wear and vice versa. We spent the day together recently, and since a day with Debra so easily turns into a multi-activity affair, it was important to dress suitably for “Day Into Night”.

Debra says she likes to layer a lot of “like fabrics” so the look is pulled together and not too bulky. For a morning walk by Gramercy Park, she pulled together this look with an anorak from H&M, a “gifted” ruffle-collar windbreaker from Victor & Rolf, and layered purple leather gloves.
Debra really stays true to her philosophy that if you don’t spend much on clothes, you can have more fun with them and not feel precious about mixing and matching.
Without the anorak, her afternoon outfit is perfect for sitting at ABC Carpet & Home (one of her favorite spots for tea). She loves the ruffled collars in these nylon fabrics, because they retain their shape while being suitable for the day’s drizzly rain. I love these kinds of fabrics too, nylons (or parachute fabrics) that are traditionally used for athletic wear, but here they are made to look luxurious.
Debra tells me one of her favorite pieces is this navy blue shirt dress that ties at the waist. It’s great because it gives the illusion of wearing either a skirt or a jacket, and can be worn like a shirt tied around the waist (see Proenza Schouler) or like a loose jacket (as per Rick Owens)…

As it got darker out we decided to sit in the beautifully renovated Rosebar at The Gramercy Park Hotel. The lighting was perfect for highlighting Debra’s many ruffled collars, which taken into an evening setting, looked glamorous and regal.

What I love most about Debra here is how consistently she takes her mix of “thrifted and gifted” and “wears it without it wearing her”.

“Gotta Go Babe”

This is one of the coolest guys I have ever run into not only because he of his amazing style but because he has the attitude and confidence to carry off his eccentric and classic look. He looks like a sailor just back from an adventure. This led me to ask him where he acquired the beautiful jewel around his neck and he replied, ” I just thought it was cool man.” Sometimes it takes the confidence that comes with age to be able to carry yourself with the humor and style this fellow exudes. After taking a few shots he remarked, “Gotta go babe,” with a big smile on his face.I only hope to be as cool as this guy someday!

Outfit Ideas You Can Steal From Your Grandma: Advanced Style on MSN and Glamour!



Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so for Mother’s Day, MSN.com and Glamour Magazine suggest that you give Grandma a sartorial shout-out: Steal her style.

MSN posted “Outfit Ideas To Steal from Your (Or Someone Else’s) Grandma” today, inspired by some of Advanced Style’s best snaps. We love their tips, like how to use the power of a great necklace, a cross-body bag, and monochrome outfits. Check out their article, and go take your Grandmother to brunch in your best copycat outfit.

(Post from Briana Rognlin, friend and former contributor to Advanced Style. I’m now deputy editor at Blisstree.com, an exciting new women’s health and wellness site, but watch for more of my stuff on Advanced Style!)