In Western society, the majority of women represented within the media are young, thin, and of European descent. However it is important to recognize that this demographic, women age 18 to 30, only makes up a small minority female consumers, leaving many to feel that they don’t fit in with the mainstream standards of beauty. Yet Advanced Style creator Ari Seth Cohen believes something else entirely. Cohen insists that instead of aging out of fashion, women have the power to evolve their personal style over time into an art.
Since debuting his website in 2008, Cohen has broadened his brand to print and film; publishing two books, a coloring book, and a documentary directed by Lina Plioplyte. His second book, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser, was published in April 2016 and acts as a continuation of style to his first book. The book features models ages of 50 and up from around the globe, exemplifying senior street style in cities such as Tokyo, Los Angeles, Cape Town, Florence, Stockholm, and of course where it all began, New York. In addition to featuring fashionable women of senior status, the book collects some of the world’s most stylish older gentlemen and features 22 short essays from the models themselves. Through Advanced Style, Cohen uses his camera as a megaphone, amplifying the voices of women who have embraced the refinement and sophistication of aging and proves that there is no such thing as a woman being past her prime.
Many of the women featured on his site pull inspiration from past eras, utilizing vintage garments, accessories and beauty techniques that tell a story through a completed ensemble. Mara West, a model for Advanced Style, perfectly exemplifies the elegance of the 1950s and she shows viewers how to pay tribute to the rockabilly era with a Rosie the Riveter-inspired bandana tutorial. So throw on some red lipstick and dig up your favorite bandana, because this look is perfect women who want to look badass at any age.
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