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Everything Goes with Silver

Amy Spiezio

It's easy to forget, but the senior matron who walks into your dispensary may have been a fashion model or a titan of industry prior to her retirement. She might still be a reader of fashion magazines and committed to looking fantastic and stylish, even if it's not a look that's right off of today's runway.

Tracking beautiful, fashion-focused older men and women, Ari Seth Cohen is the author of the blog, Advanced Style (advancedstyle.blogspot.com) and the associated book, “Advanced Style,” (coming in April). Cohen grew up in San Diego best friends with his grandmother. Moving to the East Coast, his affinity for seniors continued. “When I got to New York, I saw so many people who were so active, well dressed, and creative.”

His site captures the fun fashionable choices made by seniors on the streets of New York and cities all over the world.

“Older people who don't feel that they have the right to stand out might take what they are given,” he says. “But then they realize that, ‘I can wear color and I can be me and I can wear what I want.’”

FRAME ME BEAUTIFUL

Seniors might be a better market for edgy, colorful eyewear than younger, “hipper” customers, he notes. “A lot of glasses were more extreme in the past than they are today. Sometimes their old glasses are really, really wonderful,” he says.

Senior women may even take more dramatic and stylized sunglass models and turn them into ophthalmic eyewear. “Older people are used to quality and great design, and they know what they want more than other people. They have a lifetime of experience of buying glasses. Even if you don't want to dress up to extreme, accessories are a great way to individualize personality into an outfit. Putting on a great pair of interesting glasses is a great way to add style to your outfit.”

When it comes to color, the naturally lighter palette of older women often works very well with vibrant colors. The tones such as yellow that many younger people can't pull off add a dramatic flair to seniors' style.

“Older women look great with red lipstick because it brings out their features. It's all about what is going to play up your features,” he says. “Older women know themselves so well and the way they use color is thoughtful—they really think about it.” EB

Senior (Style) Moments

When seniors arrive to buy their eyewear, it's a chance to push boundaries, not to simply direct them to the insurance frames. Recently, author Ari Seth Cohen was shopping for glasses and helped the optician connect with her client in a more color-focused way, asking, “Why not show her something colorful and fun?”

Some seniors adapt sunwear for Rx use

COLOR BY RIGHT: “Some women feel they don't have the right to be colorful any more. But some do realize that you always have the opportunity to work with color and texture to create an outfit,” Cohen says.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: “They're going to have strong opinions. I find the women I talk to and write about have stronger opinions about fashion than younger women," he adds.

TIMELESS BEAUTY: When working with seniors, Cohen suggests presenting pretty options. “A person selling can show them different options. You don't lose your longing for something beautiful. Just because you age doesn't mean you shouldn't be surrounded by something you love.”

FEELING GOOD: “Give them a compliment about what they're wearing. People do tend to ignore older people and this makes them feel good about what they're wearing.”