We’ve see the ladies of Advanced Style now it’s the men who are flaunted for another great look at the stylish gents of New York City.
Unless you’ve been living under a normcore-covered rock, you’ve very probably witnessed the ‘senior moment’ ignited by Ari Seth Cohen’s paean to chic older ladies, Advanced Style. The blog that became an eponymous book and Kickstarter-funded documentary has made stars of its arresting muses, who have subsequently become the faces of high-fashion ad campaigns (Linda Rodin) and the subjects of acclaimed documentaries (Iris Apfel).
“I used to steal grandpa Jack’s fishing caps and argyle socks to wear to elementary school”
Following this success, Cohen and Lina Plioplyte, his director and collaborator on the Advanced Style documentary, continually found themselves being asked, “What about the men?” – and so NOWNESS came calling. The resultant collaboration is Advanced Style: Men, a bespoke film celebrating five of the platform’s beloved older gents. “The pressure was on to find the perfect cast of dapper gentleman whose style was an integral part of their identity and their approach to aging,” says Cohen, who included, among others, his all-time fashion idol Derrill Osborn, a retired Neiman Marcus executive, and magician Mal Cross.
“I have always felt that women are judged way more harshly than men in terms of aging”
“The reason that I chose to focus primarily on women is not only due to the fact that my grandmother was my best friend, but I have always felt that women are judged way more harshly than men in terms of aging,” says San Diego native Cohen. “But I was also very close to my grandfathers, who were both very dapper men. I used to steal grandpa Jack’s fishing caps and argyle socks and Papa Hal’s Italian sports coats to wear to elementary school.”
While he lists his other sartorial inspirations to be Wanny Di Filippo, Quentin Crisp, Cary Grant and Liberace, Cohen won’t be diverting his attentions from the ladies anytime soon: next year sees the release of a style and travel book featuring words of wisdom from both sexes.
