Whilst I've mostly been absent from the blogosphere this week, I have been busy discussing diversity and thinking about older style. Always thinking about older style. This lovely lady is called Helen Burns and she's the muse for one of the fashion design students (whose name I will tell you when I've done my research properly) at Edinburgh University - where I attended a Diversity Symposium, this week. Apologies for the wonky photo but it was taken on my phone as I was leaving the building to catch a train.
The journey back was like being in an episode of The Thick Of It, Nick Clegg and his entourage boarded at Newcastle and sat with me in the Quiet Carriage. I can confirm that the deputy prime minister buys his own tea but has to have someone with him when he visits the toilet. Several passengers asked for the Cleggster's photograph as he was getting off the train at King's Cross, I kept my head down and tried not to think about tuition fees.
That's Not Nick Clegg, that's Blanche Marvin. There was a really interesting feature on Older Style a few days ago on BBC Woman's Hour. A chat with Ari Seth Cohen on the streets of New York - and back in the studio a panel, including former fashion editor of The Observer Katherine Whitehorn (85), theatre critic Blanche Marvin (88), and fashion historian Amber Jane Butchart (33) talked about how we want to look as we get older. There's a great quote from Marvin who points out, 'Fashion today makes everyone look alike. It never used to be that way, there were individual people.'
You can listen to the podcast here. The bit about Older Style starts around 16 and a half minutes in.
You mean actually in the toilet with him, behind the locked door?!
ReplyDeleteMs. Burns looks fantastic, like an alien creature emerging from a brilliant cocoon!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm glad you pointed out that that's not Nick Clegg, somehow I don't he'll age that well ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove Advanced Style, such an inspirational blog. A couple of years ago I saw Gitte Lee in Greenwich Market and was absolutely struck by her fantastic style. I asked if I could take her picture and told her that I thought she looked amazing. She was really nice about it and told me about Advanced Style which I didn't know about until then!
Hope you're having a good weekend back in (mostly) sunny London xo
Just enjoyed the storytelling of this post! Clegg tale made me smile! Of course, I love the ladies of Advanced Style...I would really enjoy running into them in NYC!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with the statement that everyone seems to look alike these days. I see it as the J Crewing and Eileen Fishering of the world. And that's for the "stylish" ones. Boring, predictable, and lemming like.
ReplyDeleteBetter than Michael Portillo who was so up his own arse his secretary used to have to reply when asked what he wanted to drink. x
ReplyDeleteHaha I love this information!!
DeleteMs. Burns has the *most* gorgeous hair.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting parts of the podcast were when the 33 year old fashion journalist admitted that she had to ask older women where they got they clothes and the point of 80 plus Katherine Whitehorn who said that designers don’t make clothes for the shapes of older women. (I prefer to cover my armpits too.) She also made a point that in truth had not hit me before because I love unique style, that some older women don’t want to stand out like Blanche M and just want something that fits.
ReplyDeleteEllen - no, there's not enough room! His minder waited outside.
ReplyDeleteThe lady called Helen Burns...she is absolutely striking!
ReplyDeleteIf I live to be 88 (I'm a mere 65 years old), I want to be just like Blanche Marvin. What a role model for older women!
ReplyDeleteHelen Burns in yellow and grey is stunning!
ReplyDelete