Old Babes

[purejuice]

The NYT design magazine had a feature this past Sunday on five Italian design divas -- all over 70, I'd say, with portraits.

Now as everyone knows, Italians eschew plastic surgery, uno, segundo, are obsessed with the presentation of la bella figura, and have the most beautiful clothes for people of all ages, not the coquettish shit or pretentious intellectual shit the French produce nor American MTV slut wear. It's gorgeous on young and old and depends not on flash but on the expression of beauty from the wearer. Taupe is Armani's best color because it's flattering not because it's eye catching.

Anyway, I was looking at the beautifully dressed, uncut, old design ladies and was impressed. I am deciding whether one wants the
old man's hair cut,


Gae Aulenti, 78

the spikes,


Maddalena de Padova, 78

or the soft chignon.

Eye makeup for sure, but not perhaps the clown effect.


Nanda Vigo, 69

I think the old man's haircut and the I. M. Pei glasses are an aged gamine's trope. I think we shall avoid it.

I think no jewelry but zipper tabs and cigarettes rocks. There's nothing creepier than an old woman covered with dirty diamonds and fur.


Cini Boeri, architect, 82

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/style/tmagazine/08tdivas.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Comments

[garrity.livejournal.com]

Her stripey tights make me very happy.

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

they're good, aren't they? i like them especially with the $2000 elf boots.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

the spikes! i think i'm in love.

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

they're good, aren't they? i wonder if the elegant schnozz comes with?

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

i'd hope so. she looks ferocious. bella!

Hell yes

[misslam2u.livejournal.com]

She's absolutely fierce.
I bet nobody ever tells her she can't smoke.
I do rather dig the hair on the clown effect old gal though.
The old man's haircut reminds me of my Grandmother. She was also fierce.
As usual, you make very good points about fashion. I think one exception is perhaps Alice Temperly, but she's English. Still, some of her clothes no matter how lovely,can end up wearing the girl, not the other way around. I think that happens when one is dressed by a stylist instead of coming from inside from an innate sense of what looks damn good and when looks damn ridiculous.
And the Italians also have the walk of shame that is Donatella Versace.

Re: Hell yes

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

i'm going to have to google temperly.
but not donatella. i think of her more as crack ho nation than italian, really. but there's an italian thing she's doing....the tan. the fish lips. the blonde....ugh.

Re: Hell yes

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

dolce and gabbana are also on the alternate fashion universe road that is rock star/show biz.

Re: Hell yes

[(Anonymous)]

Do a lot of Italian girls get the lip injections? I didn't know. I thought we had the market cornered on that one.
That squinks me baaaaad.
Gross.

Re: Hell yes

[misslam2u.livejournal.com]

Duh, that was me.
Howdy~

Re: Hell yes

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

they have a tradition of rilly nasty blondes. cicciolina, i think, pornstar who ran for parliament?

[angiereedgarner.livejournal.com]

I way dug the "clown effect". And her nails!

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

i like her hair, her face, her tude, her smile, and her clothes. the embellished right inner eyelid draping down over the false eyelash? not so much.

[angiereedgarner.livejournal.com]

I liked that especially. Fear no age. Refuse the pastels and the surgery. Work it like it matters even though people say you might as well be dead. You know where she stands.

[purejuice.livejournal.com]

i think it matters very much. which is why parody, or indicating that it's all a joke, is problematical to me. i neeed to look recognizably human. unkillable.