Debra Turns 70

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Happy 70th birthday to my dear friend Debra Rapoport. May this day bring you as much joy as you give to others.

Happy 4th of July

Wishing everyone a safe and fun filled 4th of July!

Summer in Sevilla

Summer White

Floral Peplum

A Summer Hat

Magda in one of her incredible handmade tubular head wraps.

Sevilla

Advanced Style x Paddle8

I have always been fascinated by collectors and their collections. Much of my childhood was spent going to antique sales and flea markets with my mother and grandmother. We would hunt for treasures, like vintage postcards, old perfume bottles, and any number of magical tchotchkes
that caught our eye. Since starting Advanced Style I have had the privilege of visiting the homes of so many incredibly creative and stylish men and women whose interior spaces are just as curated and lovely as their spectacular wardrobes. Joyce with her collection of Chanel handbags, Tziporah and her vintage clothes, and Mary's Victorian beaded bags, are all reflective of their exquisite taste and vibrant lifestyles.

I was thrilled when Paddle8, the auction house for the 21st century collector, asked me to partner with them on their latest "Uptown Accessories" auction. The extraordinary items in this sale perfectly align with brilliant taste of the Advanced Style set. Check out the auction featuring fine jewelry, handbags, and other gems from Fred Leighton, Hermes, Celine, and others starting today! I have included a preview of some of the objects below. For the full auction on through July 10th CLICK HERE.

Kobe Color

Outside Sogo Kobe

Hats On 5th Avenue

Ignacio and His Pups

Ignacio Quiles looking dapper on an afternoon stroll with adorable pups.

Neon Dream

People often ask me if I style the men and women I photograph. I should be so lucky to have that kind of talent. I am constantly impressed by the creativity and personal expression that I encounter everyday on the street. Like Lynn Dell always said, "You must dress for the theater of your life everyday."

Saramai

Artist Ilona Royce Smithkin in Her Provincetown Studio

I try to visit Ilona every year at her summer place in Provincetown. This time I was lucky to spend a whole week soaking in all of her wonderful wisdom and positivity. Ilona has been painting and drawing everyday and will be having a show of her portraits of famous Provincetown artist at the museum this summer. If you happen to be near Provincetown this summer stop by The Karilon gallery at  447 Commercial Street to see some of Ilona's work!

Style Twins

Truckin with Derrill

Plaid-itude

I met Connie at a recent screening of Advanced Style at the  Newbridge on the Charles campus of  Hebrew Senior Life. Debra Rapoport and I gave a talk at Newbridge over two years and I was thrilled to be invited back again to speak about the film at this wonderful senior living community

Confidence and Panache

A Trip to the Soda Fountain with Alice Carey

Boston Screening of Advanced Style at Hebrew Senior Life

I'm heading to the Boston area for a screening of Advanced Style at Hebrew Senior Life this Wednesday. The event is open to the public and I'll be around to answer any questions and talk about the making of the film. I hope to see some of you there!

Tickets to the screening and reception are available HERE.

Advanced Style Screening
Wednesday, June 10 from 2:00 to 4:00pm
Hebrew Senior Life
Newbridge on the Charles
5000 Great Meadow Road
Dedham, MA 02026

Maureen

Kobe Cool

I have been hearing how stylish Kobe is for the last week and it surely hasn't disappointed. This gorgeous couple looks as if they could have walked off the set of a Wes Anderson film.

In Memory of Lynn Dell, The Countess of Glamour

I moved to New York City in 2008, after my beloved grandmother Bluma passed away. She had always told me to move to New York if I wanted to be creative. I had no idea what to expect and had no plans for my future, but I knew that if I trusted in my grandmother's guidance everything would fall into place.

I started to walk the streets looking for inspiration. I was immediately  drawn to a vibrant and creative community of older men and women. One day I borrowed my roommate's camera and Advanced Style was born.

A few months into the project I was walking past Bryant Park when I noticed the most glamorous woman coming towards me. As a little boy, I used to draw pictures of my grandmother and her friends all dressed up in over the top get ups. Wrapped in an emerald green cape, matching turban and armloads of bangles was one of my drawings come to life. I was awe struck by the image of this 77-year-old Countess of Glamour making her way through the city with such force and pizzazz. I took her photo, she told me about her shop, and that was that.

Almost a year later I was walking past 72nd street when I noticed the most magnificent window display belonging to a store called Off Broadway Boutique. I had to take a look at what treasures lay inside. I was immediately greeted by the sounds of Barbara Streisand blaring from the speakers above. A voice echoed theatrically, "Welcome to Off Broadway." I immediately recognized the shop's owner as Lynn Dell, The Countess of Glamour that I had met a year before.

We became fast friends and Off Broadway became a second home to me and Lynn Dell another grandmother. She invited me over for the holidays and treated me like one of the family. Being with Lynn made every experience seem more grand. Her love of life was contagious and she inspired everyone around her with her incredible life force. We had many great adventures together, from hat parties and broadway shows, to television appearances, and last year's premiere of Advanced Style.
Our Countess was larger than life, always glamorous, never unnoticed and eternally optimistic.

Lynn, I will remember, celebrate and love you forever!

My love goes out to Lynn's wonderful husband Sandy, her children and grandchildren. Heaven just got a little more glamorous. 

Shizuka Komuro At The Tokyo Premiere of Advanced Style

My new friend, Shizuka Komuro, said that she was inspired by the ladies of Advanced Style when she picked out her outfit for the premiere of Lina and my film in Tokyo last week!

A Gentleman in Ginza

Near Ginza

I ran into this gorgeous woman on the way to the premiere of The Advanced Style Documentary in Tokyo today. I'm in Japan for the release of the film and an exhibition of my work which will be held, in Kobe, at Sogo department store June 4th. I'll be signing books and taking photos all day, so stop by and say hello if you are nearby. For more information on the exhibition CLICK HERE.

Walking on The Upper West Side

The Style Crone on The Upper West Side

Another one of my favorite bloggers, The Style Crone, was in town this week. Check out her delightful blog HERE.

Accidentally Iconic

Check out Lyn's wonderful blog, The Accidental Icon HERE.

Mary

The Katharine Hepburn Years

"These are the Katharine Hepburn years, you must keep everything wrapped up." Robert W. Richards

Dressing Up To Walk The Dog

When I saw this woman walking on the Upper West Side I was reminded of what my grandmother used to tell me. Everyday she would get up, comb her hair, put on some lipstick and tell us," You must always greet the world by looking your best. You never know who you will run into while walking the dog or fetching the mail."

Purely Patricia In Central Park

A Mission to Fight Ageism

"At a certain point you become a number instead of a name. Everyone treats you like you are already gone. I'm about to turn 90 and I'm on a mission to fight ageism." Bob Miller

Black and Red

More Is Never Enough