christmas gift: September 2010

Peepers Reading Glasses Giveaway

I know that many of you are inspired by the glasses you see on the ladies and gentleman of Advanced Style.Advanced Style and Peepers Reading Glasses are offering a Giveaway to win 2 free pairs of reading glasses. All you have to do is send us a photo of you in your favorite glasses and a short explanation of why you love them. We will post entries HERE and the winning entry will win 2 free pairs of Peepers Reading Glasses.
Send all entries to Peepersgiveaway@gmail.comCheck more contest details to below:

EASY TO PARICIPATE!

1) Submit a photo of your favorite pair of glasses along with why you love them to Peepersgiveaway@gmail.com

2) Entries will be posted to our Peepers Giveaway Page

3) The most popular entry wins 2 FREE PAIRS OF PEEPERS READING GLASSES!

4)Contest runs from Oct 1-Oct 31 winner will be announced shortly thereafter!

5)Entries will be numbered, vote on your favorite one by emailingPeepersgiveaway@gmail.com with the number of your favorite entry!

* Winner will be determined by Advanced Style and Peepers

* Winner will be posted on Advanced Style.

* Winner will be contacted by Peepers directly so they can pick the pairs they want.

Fresh and Vintage

I saw this gentleman walking on the Upper West Side and asked if I could take his photo. He has a super cool look with his 70s style suit, aviator sunglasses, and paisley tie. It is guys like this, who still look great in items that they have had in their wardrobes for years, that really inspire me. His clothes may be old, but he looks fresh and hip!

Ralph Lauren Pink Pony: 100 Bloggers Unite Against Cancer Campaign

[Go to Stylelist for more bloggers' photos]

I am so honored to participate in the Ralph Lauren 100 Bloggers Unite Against Cancer
Campaign. The Pink Pony campaign is a global effort that has been dedicated to the fight against breast for over 20 years. Now extending to other forms of cancer, the mission of Pink Pony is to address the need of the medically underserved by bringingquality cancer care, access to cancer care, and earlydetection for those who need it most.

Join Polo Ralph Lauren’s worldwide initiative in the fight against cancer during
the month of October and celebrate 10 years of the Pink Pony campaign by texting
PINKPONY to 501501 to automatically donate $10.

Check out the link below to see the other bloggers included in the campaign, including our friends Refinery29 and Tavi The Style Rookie.

http://www.stylelist.com/2010/09/30/ralph-lauren-enlists-100-bloggers-to-model-for-pink-ponys-10th/ .

Click on this link
www.charitybuzz.com/RalphLauren for charity auction information.

Picking up the Toys - Kids Coloring Pages

Rainy Day Gear - Kids Coloring Pages

The OGS(Original Grandparents)

I found the most charming and amazing website today. The OGS (Original Grandparents) is a site full of stories and wisdom from Harry and Barbara Cooper, a couple married for 73 years.The Coopers' grandchildren share these stories through videos and stories posted on their blog. They write, "Barbara and Harry are a nice Jewish couple, married for 73 years, who've moved back to the old neighborhood, to L.A.'s first retirement community, Hollenbeck Palms. Of course, Boyle Heights has changed a bit since Barbara dubbed it "a Jewish Tijuana," circa 1930! Barbara is a social butterfly and problem solver, Harry is a self-taught Zen master with a yen for science and exploration. We've enjoyed the wit, wisdom and weirdness of our grandparents for our whole lives, and think it's high time the rest of the world got a chance. The OGs blog promises all Barbara and Harry, all the time. Tune in for a daily dose. (OGs stands for Original Grandparents.)

I feel very close to these two, as they remind me of my own grandparents Bluma and Jacob who were always so full of life and love. Bluma always laughed at Jacob's jokes and Jacob would never leave the room without giving his beautiful wife a big kiss. As they got older they became separated because they could no longer take care of themselves. My mom and I would bring Bluma to see Jacob in his nursing home and they would hold hands and smile at one another for hours. Barbara and Harry are so lucky to have found a place where they can live together and get the care that they need. Read about their move into a new retirement community HERE .

Their spirit and and the spirit of my grandparents reminded of a saying from one of Fanny Karsts dresses,"Let's Begin At the end." Growing older can bring new beginnings. Lets share the stories and wisdom of our elders and keep their spirit alive. If you have any great clips of your own very special grandparents and can upload them to YouTube, I'd love to share a few here. Email me links to Advancedstyleinfo@gmail.com !

Riding the Wave - Kids Coloring Pages

Kids Coloring Pages
Little boy catches a wave on his surf board.

The Right To Wear Bright Colors

[Photos and text Ari Seth Cohen]

While I was in London this summer,Fanny Karst creator of the brilliant Old Ladies Rebellion recommended that I meet Bridget Sojourner. At 72, Bridget is full of life and energy. She gets stopped all over the world for her fun and fashionable attire and she revealed, " As a young girl no one stopped me. I was quite like a lot of young girls. Now I'm unusual because I'm older.

Bridget had a long career as a health educator, but has always been interested in fashion. As a young girl she copied folios from Balenciaga and Schiaparelli and dreamed of being a designer, nun and actress. She fused these passions together as an educator, interested in peace and development. Her colorful wardrobe is almost a political statement. She says, " When people started stopping me about my clothes I thought, I've been through feminism, racism, all the prejudices. I'm an activist and Ageism is the last bastion." She thought about how to fight ageism and the idea that older people have to vanish in society by becoming a model in her 70s.

Many people believe that older people should act and dress a certain way. That they should step back and quiet their voices. Many people don't pay attention to older people at all. It is my belief that creativity, style, and spirit advance with age. We can learn so much from our elders. I salute Bridget for her creativity, vitality and will to change ideas and challenge stereotypes.

Dressing age appropriate.

[Photo By Richard Riddick thedpc.com]

"Swing High" Kids Coloring Pages

Little Boy is Dressed for Skating - Kids Coloring Pages

Child with Float is in the Water - Kids Coloring Pages

Advanced Style Exclusive: Mimi Weddell's Last Interview

Today is my 29th birthday. It is also the Anniversary of my great friend Mimi Weddell's passing. If you have been reading Advanced Style for a while now, you know that Mimi is a great inspiration to me. I met her a little more than two years ago, after moving to New York and seeing her documentary "Hats Off".

Mimi was so graceful,insightful and willing to work on projects that she enjoyed. She began modeling and acting in her 60s and appeared in print ads for companies LouisVuitton, Burberry, Juicy Couture, and Nike, to name a few; in photo spreads for Vanity Fair and Vogue; on TV series including Sex and the City and Law and Order; and in feature films such as: Across the Universe, Hitch, and The Purple Rose ofCairo.

I strive to live by this extraordinary woman's philosophy to "Rise Above It" in any difficult circumstance. Mimi never stopped learning and challenging herself, in fact she once said“There’s a lot to be learned, and I’m going to learn all the way to the stairway to the stars.” On my birthday I want to celebrate the life of this amazing woman and hope that my life will be as enriching and spectacular as her was!So remember, in the words of Mimi Weddell you must, "Dance through life" and enjoy every moment.

Check below for some wonderfully candid moments from Mimi's last interview with film maker Jyll Johnstone. Jyll filmed Mimi for over ten years to make the award winning documentary "Hats Off" . I hope you get the chance to see this wonderful film and enjoy the clips below!

Boy with Heart - Kids Coloring Pages

Baby Play - Kids Coloring Pages

Freedom of Expression

[Fashion Consultant Tziporah Salamon ]

Another great thing about Advanced Style ,besides the stories behind the clothes, is the freedom with which older people express their personal style. At a certain age there are no more rules to follow, no more dress codes beyond the ones set upon oneself. I have 80 year old ladies email me that they finally feel the freedom and permission to wear colorful socks. Where many might think of this as overly eccentric, I feel it's a great expression of personality and independent spirit. Just because you are older doesn't mean you can't wear bright colors and patterns. When I ask people why they choose to dress in vibrant clothes or color their hair wild shades, the answer is pretty much always the same. It lifts their spirits and the spirits of others and they no longer have to dress to impress other people.

I was recently interviewed by the UK Telegraph about Advanced Style. Here is an excerpt from the piece:

Cohen moved to New York from Seattle and one day, he says, he saw a documentary about an actress called Mimi Weddell, who died last year. She was addicted to wearing hats, and her style credentials were so shimmering she even appeared in Sex and the City. “She was so stylish and elegant in her early nineties,” Cohen says. “She had a sense of personal style and freedom.”

The word freedom, I sense, is the key. “Older people wear their clothes with confidence because they no longer have anyone to impress,” he says. “I see more beauty in them. These pictures are not just images. Each one tells a story.” I agree with him. No one, for me, looks more like a woman than an old woman."

One of the best examples of this sense of freedom is 90 year old Ilona Smithkin. She is a fearless lover of color and does things her own way. She has always dressed up, but with time she has learned to be confident in her artistic expression. Advanced Style is about personal style and living life to the fullest. No matter what your style choices are learn from these brave spirits who do it their own way.

Little Princess - Kids Coloring Pages

The Story Behind Style

There is something about seeing an elegant older man or woman that makes you want to know the story behind their clothes.I think that's one of the reasons I do what I do. I saw this beautiful woman walking on the Upper West Side the other day, but didn't have the time to chat with her.
The people I meet are great storytellers and they actually take the time to share their thoughts and experiences with me. As a 28 year old man, this wisdom is invaluable in a world full of texting,twitter,face book and email.

Every time I see a photo of an older man or woman I instantly begin to think about their life, who they have met, what they have done. This is especially interesting in New York where you have so many opportunities for enriching experiences and the chance to meet some many amazing people.

Asking someone about their coat or why they chose to wear a certain accessory can ignite an hour long conversation, a history of New York through the eyes of people who know it best.
My experience with the Steinberg Sisters, back in August 2008 is a great example of how this can work.

My friend Jill and I met the Steinberg sisters while walking around Brighton Beach. The sisters were more than happy to stop for some photos and share some stories with us as well. Both ladies attended FIT when they were younger. They wanted to follow in the footsteps of their father who came from Poland, studied in London and worked in the Garment Industry. They proudly announced that he could, " Whip up a winter coat in a half an hour."

We caught the sisters on the way back from a shopping adventure and a trip to the library where they were looking at fashion books. They told us about exciting encounters with several celebrities including Liberace, Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent, who they described as a "quiet man". When I told them how much I admired their style, they replied that their clothes don't cost much, but that they have many very pretty things.The Steinbergs, who live in the same apartment building a few floors apart, were thrilled to meet us, as they meet few people who they can share their stories with. Check out these wonderful ladies below.

"Hawaii Dancer" Kids Coloring Pages

Matching Accessories,Madison Avenue

One of things I admire most about the Advanced Style set is their expert accessorizing. Whether matching a scarf to a blazer or adding a pin and gloves to an outfit, these folks really know how to coordinate and have fun with their clothes. I saw this lady walking down Madison Ave and she reminded me of another lady I photographed, earlier this Summer, in London(see below). Both ladies look absolutely charming and elegant!

A Gentleman's View On Style

This man was sitting by the tents in Lincoln Center during Fashion Week. I asked him what he thought about fashion and if living in New York influenced him to dress up. He told me that in the morning he puts on whatever is lying around, but walking everywhere and riding the bus forces him to see a lot of inspiring things that inevitably influence him. Many of the older men I talk to tell me that they dress up , not necessarily to be fashionable, but because it is what they have done for years. They come from a time where men wore hats and suits to ride the subway. These traditions have remained and been adapted for today. For these stylish gentleman, dressing up is a reflection of character and pride in their appearance. I hope to one day be as be as dapper as these fellows.

Boy Kicking a Soccer Ball - Kids Coloring Pages

Kids Coloring Pages "In From the Rain"

"Just Me" Kids Coloring Pages

Mary's Shades

My friend Mary always has the best accessories. At 70, she doesn't let her age stop her from making a statement in these show stopping red sunglasses. She doesn't give advice about fashion,believing it to be personal expression, but she did tell me that you have to balance parts of an outfit.She says," If you are wearing something busy on top, then pair it with simple bottoms." Its always a pleasure to see Mary and her latest acquisitions. Below is one of the first videos I ever took, not great quality, but a great message.

Teamrocket Pokemon Coloring Pages

Advanced Style on German Television

The other day I was filmed for a German News program with the fantastic Lynn Dell. We had great fun talking about Advanced Style and all the wonderful people we come across in New York! I'm so happy that people appreciate what I do and that I have the opportunity to meet such amazing folks!

"Little Girl with a Kite" Kids Coloring Pages

Looking Great At 98

This stunning woman was walking down Madison Ave with her grandson when I asked if I could take her photo. She is a perfect mix of classic and trendy with her gray pantsuit and Hermes studded belt. I could barely believe when she told me that she was 98 years old.Doesn't she look simply marvelous!

Off Broadway Beauty

I met this gorgeous lady at Off Broadway Boutique, while filming a spot with Lynn Dell for a German news program. She is a jewelry designer who not only shops at Lynn's boutique but sells there as well. Stop by the store and say hi to all the lovely ladies there and say hello for me!

"A little girl with a big hat" Kids Coloring Pages

Lady In Red

This lady looks marvelous in her matching coat and skirt. Red is one of the season's hottest colors and the perfect way to make a splash in any situation.

"Frosty the Snow Man" Kids Coloring Pages

New York Fashion Week: Advanced Style

The Advanced Style set continues to delight spectators during New York Fashion Week with original and inspiring outfits. I have seen this fellow around town a few times, always dressed to the nines. He stood out against the fashion show crowds primarily dressed black, and proved that style can be fun at any age!