Live Fashion Show & Exuberant Film Showcase Women’s Ageless Style

The collective of island designers dubbed the “Vashonistas” are banding together with Vashon Film Society on Friday, November 7 to co-produce an irrepressible First Friday event celebrating ageless style. If you’re uptown enjoying the Gallery Cruise art openings, you’ll surely notice some jubilant women distributing invitations to that evening’s Fashion Parade and “Advanced Style” film screening at 9:30 pm at the Vashon Theatre.

The term “Advanced Style” first came to life when New York-based photographer Ari Seth Cohen began posting his images of expressively dressed New York women well over the age 60. He called his photo blog of senior fashionistas “Advanced Style,” and Cohen’s web presence quickly led to a published volume of his photography, a coloring book, and now this year’s ebullient documentary film.

The documentary profiles seven New Yorkers between the ages of 62 and 95 who are, in filmmaker Ari Seth Cohen’s words, “Through personal style, demanding to be seen in a society that too often looks past them.” Cohen, who graduated from the University of Washington, headed to Manhattan to pursue his photography career and was influenced by his own grandmothers Bluma and Helen to seek out the enduring creativity and wisdom of older women.
When island designer Azula Christie Phillips saw “Advanced Style,” she was convinced that Vashon’s community of artists and iconoclasts would find it as fun and meaningful as she did. Phillips teamed with Vashon Film Society, the Vashon Theatre, and her sister Vashonistas to dream up a live First Friday fashion parade onstage at the movie theater followed by a screening of the celebratory movie.

The Vashonistas’ informal collective has been featuring island-crafted apparel and accessories in fashion shows since 2007. Designers Phillips, Sally Shivers, Patricia Toovey and Dorothy Dunnicliff plan to spotlight the creativity and “advanced style” of their neighbors during the pre-film festivities at 9:30 pm. All attendees are encouraged to join the fun by coming to the event dressed in apparel that expresses their own personality and style. Well-known local nonagenarian Heron will be showcased in a special onscreen interview before the 71 minute film.

All of the subjects of “Advanced Style” defy conventional ideas about youth and beauty. Red-haired Ilona Royce Smithkin is a vivacious 90-something who declares, “I think people expect too much of themselves, and that’s not for happy-making. In trying to be perfect you miss half of your life.” Fashionable grandmother Joyce Carpati agrees, saying, ”As a group I think we have a heck of a lot to offer.” Lynn Dell Cohen, another film subject, adds with a twinkle, “People are living longer, and we’re not going to hide in the bushes.”

All of this spoke to Vashon’s Azula Christie Phillips, who states, “We still are as a culture, visually pummelled into over-worshipping the cult of youth and beauty. We have the power to shift our perspective at any time. Ask yourself, ‘Who told me I couldn’t wear/do/be X, Y, Z?’”

Vashon Film Society presents special feature and documentary shows every month on First Friday Gallery Cruise nights following the art walk. Admission to November 7’s Fashion Parade and “Advanced Style” screening at the Vashon Theatre is $7.