I'd just started making notes for my talk on ageing, fashion and culture - with Ari Seth Cohen - at London College of Fashion later this month, when I saw this quote from Parisian designer Vanessa Bruno in the Telegraph:
'Focusing on age is boring. It's much more interesting to think about style.'
I've always believed that you don't have to have youth to have style, and would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter - let's call it research! Thank you.
I totally agree with Vanessa's statement. I recently interviewed women between the ages of 35 and 65 for my MA in fashion and sustainability at LCF, they all chose style over' trend' driven fashion when buying clothing. There is whole swathe of women out there that are looking for clothes that are age appropriate, good quality materials, well made and stylish. look foward to the lecture later in the month.
ReplyDeleteI think style over trend is a rule of thumb no matter what your age is. There is no "one size fits all" for fashion so whether you are stylish, not whether you are on trend, is a more appropriate guideline.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I recall seeing the photographer, Eve Arnold, at a book festival. She must have been about 80 then, dressed in a fabulous casual dark grey knit, with her silver hair in an elegant chignon, her (lined) face alive with intelligence and interest in life. I recall saying to my friend, 'She doesn't look young but hell, she looks good!'
ReplyDeleteWell said, Vanessa. I wish I could attend your lecture! Will it land on the internetz somewhere?
ReplyDeleteSo true, style is much for interesting.
ReplyDeletebue hue wonderland
Style Forever! Wish I could attend your lecture too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and have come to think that personality is a much more important factor in style than age. "Age appropriate" is an outdated term, IMO. Style works when it's personality- and lifestyle-appropriate.
ReplyDeleteStyle and Age are not separate entities. Style is what you have, you won or decide regardless of your age and often is a reflection of who you are. Style is like a good wine it improves with age because of knowledge and experience. Being creative, happy and loving what you wear is the driving force for me. The only impact is ones own views and limitations. I never say never and the last time I wore dungarees was when I was 17 - it is time I had a pair again, I feel the need.
ReplyDeleteI find it very hard to have style as most of the fashions these days look wrong on me. Maybe it's just me, but I'm constantly at a loss at what to buy. Good luck with the speech though!
ReplyDeleteFantastic quote! I think style wins over trend at any age.
ReplyDeleteI will only be in London next month but my daughter is studying at LCF, would you kindly let me know the date?
Annette | Lady of Style
Great quote!! Thank you for sharing and that picture of her is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jean in many ways. I'm 60+, petite and in good shape and while I CAN fit into some current fashions....they just look stupid on a woman my age. I struggle to find fashions in my size that are up to date yet appropriate for my age group. Someone once said to me, "If your daughter wears it, then you should not." and I totally agree!! Accessories really help with the basics...but many of those are over-sized as well. I don't mean to sound like I'm whining....just stating frustration. The game is in the search.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree will all previous comments. But style takes work at any age. Finding well made clothing that looks good, fits and isn't necessarily made for the teenage market can be VERY challenging. Especially in smaller cities and towns where, at least in Canada, most of the stores are clones of each other and most of the clothes are cheap, disposable fashion that won't fit anyone over a size 6. I love to "research" before I shop and don't mind having to hunt for what I want. But my sister, who has much less time for shopping than I do, is 62, loves to be stylish and is NOT a size 6...finds the process very painful.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, don't you just love Vanessa's deep blue lace top with the dark wash jeans?
I totally agree. I think style comes with age and experience, knowing yourself and what suits you. Very few IMHO have style at a young age unless they were raised in a very stylish environment.
ReplyDeleteI actually think real style takes time to develop.
ReplyDeleteStyle is independent of age. Our ability to provoke sexual desire, however, is not. And that's it. We always talk about "style," sometimes we mean the other. Euphemisms R us:). The human species.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if style actually comes with age? I see few younger women who look (in my humble opinion) "stylish". They may look fashionable or trendy but I see "style" more frequently in older women Style is an almost inherent quality not attained purely by wearing a particular outfit or garment. I think style starts within:)
ReplyDeleteI think the older you are, the more style you have. But only if you had style in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYou sort of "grow" into a stylish version of yourself. When you're younger, you are more concerned with what your friends think and what's the latest thing. With age, you know your body, your likes and dislikes and can adapt fashion to be your slave, not your master.
Cheers from Rosemary of
www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com
Ah, yes style. Who has it and who doesn't. I believe style is a head to toe package of being well put together. Most women mature into a more or less classic style with bits and pieces of artsy or edgy or trendy carefully added into the mix. I strongly believe that there is such a thing as age appropriate style. Youthful trends tend to look rather ageing, and nothing looks worse to my eye than looking two decades older in front than in back.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the quote and most of the comments. It does take time though, and being willing to make mistakes and corrections.
ReplyDeleteStyle has many characteristics. Of course, some are obvious such as an understanding of what is appropriate for occasion, personality and the aesthetics of 'making it all work' visually....colour, texture, proportion, flow etc. But it is the innate relationship we have with our body on any given day that dictates our clothes' message to the onlooker. Age, experience, money, education or beauty won't cut it alone. If you take that body and dress it like a precious and sacred object every day, regardless of how the world has been treating you, your own honest, uncontrived and instinctive style will be enough. Begin lovingly with the personal in all its flesh and form and just drape it until it feels done without trying too hard. Then leave the house with confidence that it is the one thing you absolutely own.
ReplyDeletePlease forgive the wordiness. Tried to reach you another way but didn't get through. Wanted to espouse and give you some food for thought.
ReplyDeleteLike so many things, style is wasted on the young. Let's face it, clothes look best on young, fit bodies, but that doesn't mean the young have style. The most stylishly dressed young people I see (and I see them every day) know how to interpret the trends well. They are not individualists. They are always looking to see what others are wearing (from young bloggers to celebrities) with the goal being to measure up. It's so rare to see someone young with an original and/or personal take on style. Rather sad, really.
It's always a surprise to hear someone tell me I have style. At age 71 I just keep on truckin'... I've always loved fashion; it's just part of me. The biggest challenge is to dress appropriately but still with style. That doesn't mean abandoning the love of fashion. It does mean returning those green velvet "jeggings".
As in another truism— you can't teach an old dog new tricks. If a woman has never had style, she's not going to find it in her 60s and 70s. It's far easier to "give up" at a younger age and go the rout of comfy pants and tunic tops. For one thing, they hide the tricks one's aging body is playing. I understand the theory of gravity now— I weigh the same but are things ever in different places!
Then there are women who dress nicely but are carbon copies of each other. Here in the states we have three "high street" stores (as you call them) who cater to an older customer: Talbot's, Chico's, and J Jill. There is nothing wrong with the clothes, but they are such a cliche. Check out the websites to see what I mean.
So what is style? My fear is getting all kooky-crazy. Much as I admire his interest in us, I think Ari Seth Cohen for the most part showcases the eccentric. Not that there isn't a place for her. How dull would society be without such delightful self-artists? But this isn't a realistic take on fashion for most women. I might go so far as to say his subjects might scare women off. Most of us don't want to stand out quite so much.
So mine is a constant balance between looking age and society-appropriate and expressing self. At this point I pretty much know what I am just too old to wear (see jeggings mentioned above), but I straddle the line between kooky and dull. It's a fine line for sure!
Nice and valuable post.
ReplyDeleteVANESSA BRUNO Designer
But of course!
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