Fashion used to have an expiration date. Honestly, if you look back at magazines from twenty years ago, the "older woman" was a ghost or a caricature. She was expected to fade into a beige cardigan and disappear. Then came a guy with a camera and a genuine obsession with his grandmother's elegance. Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style didn't just capture photos; it blew the doors off the idea that style belongs to the young.
It started on the streets of New York.
Cohen moved to the city in 2008. He was grieving his grandmother, Bluma, who had been his best friend and style icon. While everyone else was chasing 19-year-old models in off-duty denim, Ari was looking for the women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who treated a walk to the grocery store like a high-fashion gala. We’re talking giant architectural glasses, vintage furs, and enough bakelite jewelry to sink a ship.
He didn't see "old people." He saw "advanced" humans.
The Accidental Revolution of Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style
You’ve probably seen the photos by now. They have a specific energy. There’s Ilona Royce Smithkin, who at 90-plus was still making her own eyelashes out of vibrant red hair. Or Joyce Carpati, who defines "elegant" in a way that makes most modern influencers look like they’re playing dress-up.
The blog took off because it filled a massive, aching void.
Modern culture treats aging like a disease that needs to be cured or hidden. Cohen flipped the script. By focusing on Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style, he proved that creativity doesn't peak at 25. In fact, for many of his subjects, their style only became truly radical once they stopped caring about the male gaze or societal expectations.
It's about "creative aging."
I think we often forget that these women—and men—lived through eras of incredible craftsmanship. They know how a coat should hang. They understand textiles. When Ari photographs them, he isn't just taking a picture of an outfit; he’s capturing a lifetime of curated taste.
Why It Hit the Mainstream
It wasn't long before the industry noticed. Lanvin used 82-year-old Jacquie "Tajah" Murdock in a campaign. Karen Walker hired the Advanced Style ladies to model eyewear. Suddenly, the "Silver Tsunami" wasn't just a demographic shift; it was a marketing powerhouse.
But here’s the thing: Cohen’s work isn't corporate.
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Even though he’s released multiple books and a 2014 documentary, the core remains personal. He’s often criticized by some for "fetishizing" the elderly or only showing the wealthy, but that misses the point. You don’t need a Chanel budget to have "Advanced Style." You just need the audacity to be seen.
Take a look at the streets today. You see 20-somethings dressing like "eclectic grandpas." That’s the Cohen effect. He made the vintage, maximalist, "more is more" aesthetic aspirational for every generation.
Beyond the Clothes: The Psychology of Visibility
Aging is lonely. Or at least, that's what we're told.
When you look at the stories behind Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style, you realize these women are using fashion as a tool against invisibility. There’s a psychological shift that happens when you put on a bright orange turban and three strands of pearls. You're telling the world you're still here. You're still participating.
Iris Apfel (who was a close friend and frequent flyer in this world) famously said, "I don't see what's so wrong with a wrinkle. It's kind of a badge of courage."
That’s the ethos.
The blog and subsequent movement changed how we view the elderly in public spaces. Instead of being people we walk past, they became the people we stop to ask for a photo. It changed the power dynamic.
The "Costume" Misconception
Some people think these women look like they're wearing costumes.
Maybe they are. But isn't all fashion a costume? Most people wear the "I want to fit in" costume. The subjects of Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style wear the "This is exactly who I am" costume.
There's a specific bravery in maximalism when your body is changing. It's a refusal to shrink.
I remember reading about Tziporah Salamon, one of Ari's most famous muses. She treats dressing like an art form, literally layering pieces over hours to create a "look." It’s not about "trends." Trends are for people who don't know who they are yet. Tziporah knows exactly who she is.
The Global Reach of the Advanced Style Movement
It's not just a New York thing anymore.
Ari has traveled to London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Rome. What he found is universal: older people everywhere are reclaiming their identities through aesthetics. In Japan, the "Advanced Style" vibe mixes traditional kimonos with high-end streetwear. In London, it’s often about eccentric tailoring and punk roots.
The common thread? Joy.
We’re so used to seeing aging portrayed as a series of losses—loss of mobility, loss of memory, loss of beauty. Cohen shows the gains. Gain of confidence. Gain of perspective. Gain of the freedom to look absolutely ridiculous and love every second of it.
Does it ignore the reality of aging?
This is a fair question.
If you only look at the photos, you might think aging is all tea parties and high fashion. It’s not. Many of the original women featured in the blog have passed away. Ari has been very open about the grief that comes with this work.
But that’s why the project matters. It captures the spark before it goes out. It documents a generation that is rapidly disappearing—a generation that dressed up to go to the theater, the grocery store, and the doctor.
How to Apply "Advanced Style" to Your Own Life
You don't have to be 80 to start thinking like this.
The "Advanced Style" mindset is basically a rejection of the idea that you should "dress your age." What does that even mean? It usually means "dress boring."
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If you want to channel the energy Ari Seth Cohen has spent decades documenting, you have to start with self-curiosity.
- Stop looking at trends. Most trends are designed to make you feel inadequate so you'll buy more. Instead, look at what colors actually make your skin feel like it's glowing.
- Value Craftsmanship. Look for pieces that have a story. Whether it’s a vintage brooch from a flea market or a handmade coat, these items have "soul."
- Accessorize Unapologetically. If one necklace is good, three might be better. This is the hallmark of the Advanced Style aesthetic.
- Embrace the "Clash." Color theory is great, but instinct is better. If you think leopard print goes with polka dots, it does.
The Legacy of Ari Seth Cohen
Ari didn't just change fashion; he changed the "lifestyle" category for every major publication.
Before him, "Senior Living" sections were about health insurance and walk-in tubs. Now, they're about travel, art, and personal expression. He gave a generation permission to be loud.
He’s currently working on more projects that focus on the wisdom of the elderly, moving beyond just clothes and into the philosophy of a life well-lived. But the photos remain the heart of it. That split second where a woman in her 90s looks into the lens and says, with her eyes, "I am still the main character."
It’s powerful.
Ultimately, Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style is a reminder that we are all aging. Every single one of us. We can either do it while trying to hide, or we can do it with a giant red hat and a smile that says we’ve seen it all and we’re still having a blast.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Wardrobe (And Life)
Start by auditing your closet. Get rid of anything you wear just because you think you "should."
Next time you go out, add one thing that feels "too much." A bright scarf. A chunky ring. A pair of shoes that aren't sensible. See how it changes your posture.
Connect with the older people in your life. Ask them about their favorite outfit from when they were twenty. Better yet, ask them what they’d wear today if they didn't care what the neighbors thought. You might be surprised by the answer.
Finally, follow the work. Cohen is still active on Instagram and his blog. Looking at those images daily is like a vitamin for the soul. It reframes your future from something to fear into something to curate.
Don't wait until you're 70 to start being interesting. The "Advanced Style" begins the moment you decide to stop being invisible.
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The real secret? Confidence is the only accessory that never goes out of style.
Go find your version of "Advanced." It’s waiting in the back of your closet, probably under a pile of beige sweaters you never really liked anyway.
Throw the sweaters away. Buy the sequins.
Wear them on a Tuesday.
That’s the Ari Seth Cohen way.
The impact of this movement continues to ripple through the 2020s, influencing everything from Gucci runways to the "Gran-Core" aesthetics on TikTok. It’s a permanent shift in the cultural zeitgeist. Aging is no longer the end of the story—it's the climax.
If you want to truly honor the spirit of the movement, stop saving your "best" clothes for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion.
Dress accordingly.
Practical Steps to Embrace Creative Aging:
- Document your style: Start taking "outfit of the day" photos for yourself. It helps you see your own evolution.
- Invest in "Forever" pieces: Skip the fast fashion. Look for high-quality natural fibers and unique silhouettes that age with you.
- Ignore the "rules": If a magazine says you can't wear something after 40, that's exactly what you should wear.
- Seek out "Advanced" mentors: Find people in your community who are aging vibrantly. Learn from their resilience and their closets.