Style Never Retires: Beauty at Any Age

Abstract

Anyone who has cared for nursing home residents knows that many older women, even when cognitively impaired, still want to look good and feel attractive. And anyone who thinks that age and beauty can't go hand in hand need only look at the photos in author and photographer Ari Seth Cohen's newly published book “Advanced Style” (power-House Books, New York, 2012) to be convinced otherwise. Mr. Cohen, age 29, has photographed dozens of women, aged 65-100, who take great pride in their glamour and style. The photographer said in an interview that he has always appreciated the beauty of older women. Growing up in San Diego, he was close to both of his grandmothers and was impressed by the pride they took in their appearance, even if they were just going to the grocery store. As a young man just moved to New York, Mr. Cohen connected with Mimi Weddell, who was featured in a documentary he had seen. Widowed at age 65 and left with bills to pay, she pursued her dream of acting and modeling. Over the next 25 years, she appeared in numerous movies, television programs, magazine spreads, and ads. Mr. Cohen began photographing her and other older women. Ms. Weddell died in 2009, but she remains a shining example of the power and beauty of old age for women, Mr. Cohen said. Of his book of photographs, he said, “I wanted to show that a lot of women have gotten more beautiful as they age.” The women are shown looking elegant, playful, amused, defiant, joyous, thoughtful, and proud. Mr. Cohen admitted that not all older women are fortunate enough to have the health, means, and opportunities that some of his subjects have had. He said, however, “My message is that you don't have to look or act like these women, but you can feel beautiful and good about yourself. You don't have to feel invisible just because you're in a nursing home. You can share your stories, paint, draw, and have meaningful relationships with people of all ages.” He also claims that there is a lesson in his photographs for younger women, “There are some good things about getting older. There are possibilities to be excited about and opportunities to be had.” He said that he wants younger people not to ignore their elders but instead to celebrate them. “I would love to see more interaction between young and old,” Mr. Cohen said. “I have a program that brings together older and younger artists, and it's always a positive experience. My grandmother had a lot of younger friends. They helped keep her mind active, and they learned a lot from her.” Mr. Cohen's photographs are unusual but right for the times, said Pennsylvaniabased social gerontologist Glen Dunbar. Until recently, older women were almost never portrayed as beautiful. In fact, until about the 1920s, paintings and other art forms most often showed older women as “ugly hags or witches,” he said. Only young women were deemed attractive and worthy of attention. As women became more powerful in 20th-century arts, sciences, politics, and workforce, “we started to see more positive images of older women,” Mr. Dunbar said. “They were portrayed as being more than just motherly or grandmotherly.” At the same time, he said, “We increasingly began to hear that getting old is beautiful and that wrinkles are wonderful. We have seen growing efforts to recognize what comes with old age as being something beautiful.” “The desire to look one's best does not dissipate with age,” said Dr. Milta Little, assistant professor of medicine at St. Louis University and a multifacility medical director. “I always try to find something on which to compliment my patients when I see them. It's important to point out when they get their nails done, have new clothes, or recently visited the salon.” Those routine compliments from any long-term care practitioner can do much to help women residents feel good about themselves, Dr. Little said. “There is no scientific proof, but based on the smiles and hugs, I've gotten a lot of daily evidence that this positively impacts my residents.” Mr. Cohen said that he, conversely, gets emotional support from his subjects. “I've learned to let go of my own fears about aging. The ones who are the happiest about where they are in their lives have the best attitude.” Aging isn't easy, he stressed. “You have to work hard during the aging process. I know a 100-year-old woman who does pilates every day. She has pain, but she works through it. The most important thing I've learned is the value of attitude. The ones with the best attitude don't think about aging; they're young in their minds.” See more of Mr. Cohen's photos and read comments from his subjects at http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/.