Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night…

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[One of the chicest women in the world: Iris Apfel, born 1921.]

Dylan Thomas wrote the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” about his desire for his ailing father to fight death – to give hope to a younger generation that no matter what, the human spirit will fight until the very end.

In Dylanesque form, there is a thrilling new trend in the world of fashion & style – the reverence of aging.  Yes, aging.

In a world where we are bombarded with messages of youth equalling beauty and success, a few vanguards are giving credit where it’s due, to the wisdom and freedom of aging.  An ode to those who ‘do not go gentle into that good night’, who do not fade into the background, who become more vivid, more alive with each passing day.

Paying particular tribute to this emerging ideal is the street-style blog of the moment “Advanced Style” by style blogger Ari Seth Cohen. Cohen photographs & interviews the chicest, most unique women [and men!] in the world; all of them over the age of 60.  It is a blog site I visit every day, for inspiration on how to find joie de vivre in each day, how to present oneself in every moment with care, passion and style, regardless of age.

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[Ari Seth Cohen & one of his doyennes of style. Photo: Advanced Style]

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[A pair of Ari’s dandy’s in Glasgow. Photo: Advanced Style]

Cohen’s blog also features video interviews with these divine creatures and he is currently raising money via aKickstarter page  for his first feature film documentary (with videographer Lina Plioplyte) of the same name.  While they have already reached their fundraising goal, the page is open for another 10 days and is still accepting funds.

To round out Ari’s media emergence, he has a gorgeous new coffee table book “Advanced Style” available in the UK now and tomorrow in North America.  You can pre-order a copy today here.

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[Cover of Ari Seth Cohen’s new book Advanced Style]

Also giving rise to “granny chic” is fashion blogger extraordinaire and fashion show front row mainstay, Tavi Gevinson.  At the age of  11, Tavi gained fast fame with her unique blog of fashion and style “The Style Rookie“.  Tavi’s unusual personal style, she has a penchant for grey hair and over-sized jackets she finds at thrift shops, makes Tavi a teen with a particularly different point of view.  Tavi considers herself a feminist and rails against the idea of a female’s worth being aligned with her sexuality and youth – her inability to find young, strong female role models was the reason she started her wildly popular online magazine for teen girls “RookieMag“.

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[Tavi Gevinson “The Style Rookie.”]

As Tavi says “…fashion just makes everything day to day, less mundane.”  We, at Different Is Cool, salute Tavi for her commitment to living her passion, being herself and making a societal contribution. For a teen who looks to the past for some of her inspiration, she has a tremendous forward vision.

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When one’s fashion is a true reflection of the person in that moment, a cerebral choice for oneself, not a trend, nor a need to impress others, nor a need to fit in, nor a quest for youth gone by, then indeed it makes everything less mundane.

And so, may none of us go gently into that good night….

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Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night ~ Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.