Is it Really About Young Versus Old?
There was much internet “breaking” this week about older persons finally being recognized by the fashion world. First there was the amazing face of Joan Didion, a writer of substance, in a campaign for Céline. Next the songwriter and musician Joni Mitchell appears photographed by Hedi Slimane for the Yves St. Laurent’s Music Project, with a spread in V Magazine. For the last three years in the early days of the new year, Selfridges a London department store, has dedicated all of its windows to the newest stars of fashion and art, calling the exhibition “Bright Young Things”. The idea is to choose people that the store believes will influence fashion in the upcoming year. This year in a twist, the windows were turned over to a group called “Bright Old Things” a group of older people with previous careers who were now making their way in the worlds of fashion and art. For some beautiful photos of the windows and her always great commentary, see Susie Lau’s post and for an interesting take on fashion and age see this article in the New York Times.
For those who have been reading my blog you know that although I like black and white clothing, I really don’t like black and white thinking. I like to hold and play with those tensions that make life so delicious. I am both old and young. Although my body may be aging, I experience myself as a young person full of life on the inside. I still feel like the wild, crazy, adventurous (albeit wiser) hippy I was in the 1970’s. Everyday I meet and work with young people who are brilliant, cool, savvy about how to negotiate the world and inspire me in many ways. After some difficult challenges they tell me that at times they feel “old”. In fact it was young people who encouraged me to start a blog.
So for me this raises the question about the trend that broke the internet this week; is it really about fashion embracing older consumers or is it about valuing those individuals who have the capacity to adapt, remain relevant and who are comfortable with experimentation, reinvention and an interest in culture and the world they live in? Perhaps it’s really not about age but about feeling starved by superficiality and wanting a big helping of something or someone that will “stick to our bones”. Perhaps individuals who are able to close one door with great satisfaction and open another one with eager anticipation are simply more interesting.
And so I leave you with a quote and the reinvention story of my muse this week…Agnès b.
“I love history and I love memory but I have no nostalgia. The future is something you can always do something about. You can do nothing about the past.”
Since 1984, Agnès b. has pursued interests other than fashion, primarily art and filmmaking although she has been know to dabble in bakeries and flower shops too. Starting with opening an art gallery in Paris that showed young graffiti artists to founding a joint film concern with Harmony Korine she has used her success in fashion to explore her passion for art. She has subsequently opened another art gallery in Soho and more recently a production company for personal film projects called Love Streams. She also publishes a periodical on contemporary art, Point d’ironie. She is passionate about photography and has an extensive personal collection. For years she has enjoyed being a “catalyst” and has supported the careers of young filmmakers, photographers and artists always taking chances on the new and different. At the age of 71, the need to express herself in a different way than fashion led her to find the confidence to take a chance on herself and she wrote, directed and produced her first feature film released last year and shown at film festivals around the world. The film is the story of a 12-year old girl who runs away after being sexually abused by her father and in a kind of road movie seeks refuge with a truck driver who is recovering from a trauma of his own.
From January 27th until February 3rd, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City will show the film,“Je m’appelle Hmmm…” I plan to go on January 27th because there is the opportunity to meet the designer during a Q & A about the film. I know I will be inspired for days as I witness and experience first hand her reinvention story and of course my Agnès b. “essentials” will suit the occasion.
See my agnès b. picks on Pinterest
Do you have a reinvention story?
First off, your blog is great; it’s refreshing to follow an academic, a thinker, examine fashion, style, and design on a personal and cultural level.
Re: reinvention—I used to talk about my past as "two lives ago," "during the last life," "four lives ago" . . . There was the life of trying to become a French wife (I’m from Kentucky), followed by a graduate fellowship in art history, etc, etc. The most important reinvention came when living in Berlin, where I picked up a camera and dove into my first photography projects, presented a couple years later in a gallery show. That turned my life away from academic/art history, which wasn’t easy—I’d never held down a non-academic or creative job. This forced me to invent a creative business that supported my photography/design. And a personal aesthetic to go with both.
Best wishes, Aesthetic Alterations
Thanks so much, your story is very inspiring and love the idea we can go through one or several reinventions during one lifetime.
First off, your blog is great; it’s refreshing to follow an academic, a thinker, examine fashion, style, and design on a personal and cultural level.
Re: reinvention—I used to talk about my past as "two lives ago," "during the last life," "four lives ago" . . . There was the life of trying to become a French wife (I’m from Kentucky), followed by a graduate fellowship in art history, etc, etc. The most important reinvention came when living in Berlin, where I picked up a camera and dove into my first photography projects, presented a couple years later in a gallery show. That turned my life away from academic/art history, which wasn’t easy—I’d never held down a non-academic or creative job. This forced me to invent a creative business that supported my photography/design. And a personal aesthetic to go with both.
Best wishes, Aesthetic Alterations
Thanks so much, your story is very inspiring and love the idea we can go through one or several reinventions during one lifetime.
Well it’s about time. There certainly are a lot of us that are not slowing down one single bit. I’m turning 61 and I am fired up. By the way, you have me perusing the agnes b. website with my credit card at the ready. Agnes b. certainly owes you commission on this one.
Glad to hear it! There is some kind of new energy in this age that is delicious! Happy shopping.
Well it’s about time. There certainly are a lot of us that are not slowing down one single bit. I’m turning 61 and I am fired up. By the way, you have me perusing the agnes b. website with my credit card at the ready. Agnes b. certainly owes you commission on this one.
Glad to hear it! There is some kind of new energy in this age that is delicious! Happy shopping.
I believe true creativity … is a lot like love … it exists without age being a contributor. I have been reinventing myself for the past four years… as I have had my nest empty. In my adult life, I have gone from a business owner … to full time mother of three … and now well into my latest reinvention … as blog writer and designer once again.
I have come to realize creativity knows no age. When I attended my first blog conference … I had fears of finding myself irrelevant … in an arena that was driven by youth. But instead I found myself embraced by the young and old alike … and now know there is room for everyone at the table of creativity.
I do think there is a new appreciation … of those of us who are no longer young in years … but still vibrant in ideas. And for that everybody wins … the more fear we can dispel from the idea that only negative changes come with age … the more we will all win.
I am enamored with your style, thought and insight … no matter your age. I am so inspired to have found you.
In much affection,
Tamera Beardsley
I believe true creativity … is a lot like love … it exists without age being a contributor. I have been reinventing myself for the past four years… as I have had my nest empty. In my adult life, I have gone from a business owner … to full time mother of three … and now well into my latest reinvention … as blog writer and designer once again.
I have come to realize creativity knows no age. When I attended my first blog conference … I had fears of finding myself irrelevant … in an arena that was driven by youth. But instead I found myself embraced by the young and old alike … and now know there is room for everyone at the table of creativity.
I do think there is a new appreciation … of those of us who are no longer young in years … but still vibrant in ideas. And for that everybody wins … the more fear we can dispel from the idea that only negative changes come with age … the more we will all win.
I am enamored with your style, thought and insight … no matter your age. I am so inspired to have found you.
In much affection,
Tamera Beardsley
I find intergenerational relationships to be energy enhancing and personal reinvention mandatory for a vibrant life. Agnes b. has a life story that inspires!
Doesn’t she? Life is just full of so many possibilities.
I find intergenerational relationships to be energy enhancing and personal reinvention mandatory for a vibrant life. Agnes b. has a life story that inspires!
Doesn’t she? Life is just full of so many possibilities.
"is it about valuing those individuals who have the capacity to adapt, remain relevant and who are comfortable with experimentation, reinvention and an interest in culture and the world they live in?"
This might be my new motto. I’m at a different stage in my life than you, but nonetheless also one where I find myself bucking convention. You’ve really nailed how I feel about what I’m looking for in myself and in the people I surround myself with. Thank you.
Thank you for commenting, and that is exactly my point here it is not about age or life stage it is how you see yourself being in and living in the world.
"is it about valuing those individuals who have the capacity to adapt, remain relevant and who are comfortable with experimentation, reinvention and an interest in culture and the world they live in?"
This might be my new motto. I’m at a different stage in my life than you, but nonetheless also one where I find myself bucking convention. You’ve really nailed how I feel about what I’m looking for in myself and in the people I surround myself with. Thank you.
Thank you for commenting, and that is exactly my point here it is not about age or life stage it is how you see yourself being in and living in the world.
I’m so happy I found your blog today. Your writings are interesting, insightful and inspiring. One of my favorite things in life you describe so well; "close one door with great satisfaction and open another one with eager anticipation." This is exactly how we keep on living and enjoying life or we can get stuck. To me being "stuck" is aging.
You said that beautifully.
I’m so happy I found your blog today. Your writings are interesting, insightful and inspiring. One of my favorite things in life you describe so well; "close one door with great satisfaction and open another one with eager anticipation." This is exactly how we keep on living and enjoying life or we can get stuck. To me being "stuck" is aging.
You said that beautifully.
I just stumbled across your blog for the first time today and fell in LOVE! I even featured you on my eat.love.INSPIRE. post: http://buoybyb.com/2015/01/23/eat-love-inspire-25/
Keep shining!
Thank you so much! I really like your blog and will be stopping by in the future.
I just stumbled across your blog for the first time today and fell in LOVE! I even featured you on my eat.love.INSPIRE. post: http://buoybyb.com/2015/01/23/eat-love-inspire-25/
Keep shining!
Thank you so much! I really like your blog and will be stopping by in the future.