Strength and Style - the Yugoslavian

 

Born in 1946, Marina Abramovic, "the most famous performance artist in the world", is being feted in the great cities of the world.  And that is to be admired yet I'm just as thrilled to see her being feted by the world of fashion as the new model for Givenchy.  Isn't it  refreshing to see a 66 year old woman looking so unabashedly wonderful and so completely herself? 

 

Here on the cover of the Slavic edition of Elle, she is reaching new and younger audiences with her uber coolness.

Add to this her new role with Givenchy (after modeling a PETA approved Givenchy designed snakeskin jacket) and Marina is totally hot in every way.  And that is hot without being silly.  Her style is modern, elegant and minimalist - she's not spending any time trying to look youthful.  Nor is there any attempt to be 'sexy at any age' .  I cannot abide that nonsense.

 

It does, however,  leave one wracking one's brain on how to translate the freedom to not be defined by age and gender into the daily grind we  mortals must endure.  Whether it's Marina here, or Charlotte Rampling there (see TNMA for a great post on Charlotte), the artists have it over the rest of us.

 Defying perception around age and gender is still a daily act of rebellion. 

 

 I like the idea of peaking round about the age of 66.

Here's what Marina has to say about her age and stage:

There was a time when Abramovic called herself “the grandmother of performance art.” But now it’s a sobriquet she’d like to ditch. “Can we change that into soldier? Or warrior? Because I’m more warrior right now than grandmother ... Yes, I am old but, you see, I have energy, lots of energy.”

I would be fine being a woman with no explanation required.
 

Bracing for icy blasts with Norma

I loved Norma Kamali in the '70s and love her still.  When I discovered that she was designing for Walmart in the U.S. I wrote scathing (and unanswered) emails to Walmart's head office bemoaning the fact that Norma was reserved for  their market and not available in mine.

Until I saw this coat, all I've ever wanted was a Norma Kamali swimsuit like this ...










 or this






Coverage, a little shaping, some camouflage - what's not to love?  The only thing holding me back was the price.  But no longer.

Thanks to KamaliKulture many of her classic '70s styles are available for U.S. $98 or less !!!  I just have to endure 3 months of solid cold followed by 3 months of solid coo,l and then I will be sporting a bathing suit absolutely perfect for l'age.

Which brings me back to the coat.  It is not $98.  In fact, most of her coats are sold out and I haven't a clue what the price was, but I suspect all are out of my price range.  And it is such a shame because her coats are so modern and would be such a liberation from my sleeping-bag-with-belt-coat.   I can only hope Norma expands her KamaliKulture line to include coats. 






 Psst, this one is on sale for $145!

Too cute!

The allure of coverage

The tall drink of water known as L'Wren Scott (born Luann) may be more famous as Mick Jagger's consort (eerily dark-haired version of that other famous consort, Jerry Hall) and I would normally have written her off as just another rock star's trophy girlfriend (cause that's the kind of snob I am), but I've had another look thanks to this NY Times article.

She does seem like a hardworking gal, and while I can't imagine having Mick as a boyfriend can be anything but good for your credit (even if she does fund her business herself - can you imagine a bank turning her down for an extended credit line?,) it all come down to taste, and I think she's got it.

Admitting that she's 44ish (and a little cagey about it), at least she's aligning herself with l'age and her clothes illustrate the allure of coverage.  I must admit to being worn out by the amount of cleavage I've witnessed in the last decade, and that's day and night.  It's no longer interesting, and Ms. Scott's clothes have that '30s elegance which is exactly what I would prefer to shoot for.

A few dresses now that peaked my fancy:

I could find a lot of excuses to wear this dress.  Nice with broach.  A rather slim skirt so possibly not fantastic for hopping on and off the old bicyclette.  A sacrifice I'm willing to endure.

Oh, a little red dress.  I love the sleeves.  Power shoulders without the pads.

 Pretty hem.  The armhole has Michelle Obama written all over it.  That reminds me, I need to do some pushups.

Yes, a summer dress in December.  But who could resist?  There's something very Italian Riviera about this dress, and certainly that's where I'd rather be.  I love the soft skirt.  I think this would be very forgiving figure-wise.

Finally a v-neck that spares the cleavage.  Now this is perfect for work:  Slim and feminine with a degree of no-nonsense about it.  Correct me if I'm wrong (and apparently this is true of her dresses) a woman with some decent hips would look luscious in this baby.


And now because I was so dazzled by her pattern mixing ...

I'm on record as not being a pencil skirt woman, but this could change my mind.  I love the blue waistband and of course the blouse/sweater combo.  Prim, pretty and fun.

Oh, and one more thing - the woman knows what's what in a handbag.  Look at this

Even an outside pocket for keys.  I would love to support a designing woman for l'age.  Sadly, I can't afford her.  But I'll see what I can muster on my own.  Big wink.