Generations collided last night in the Liberty Room of the AceHotel. Tavi Gevinson and Iris Apfel in the same room? Yeah, that happened.
Ari Seth Cohen, editor of Advanced Style -- the blog thatchronicles the eccentric street style of the 65+ set -- hosted the event thatcelebrated cross-generational style.
As the DJ spun standards that had the crowd, both old andyoung, bopping, I wandered around the packed space to take in the fabulousfashion. I quickly realized that "fabulous" was an understatement.
The elders in the room were fully made up and coiffed, andoutfitted in baubles the size of my head, fascinators that would make PrincessBeatrice weep, and thick framed glasses in flamboyant shapes and colors. (Noteto self: please dress like this in fifty years)
Cohen took the stage to wish two of these impossibly chic, livelyladies a happy 100th birthday, and then welcomed 91-year-old IlonaSmithkin to the mic for some cabaret. Smithkin, who sported long fake lashesand teal eye liner, wrapped a red boa around her neck and dramaticallydeclared, "Alright, I'm ready," before crooning "La Vie en Rose." She finishedher set with "Que Sera, Sera," to which the captivated crowd sang along.
Once the guests resumed mingling ("Learn something, theyhave a lot to teach you," Cohen urged the youngsters), I found Tavi in thecenter of a swarm of reporters, photographers, and giddy fans. With the clocknearing 10 p.m., the 15-year-old blogger must have been exhausted, but you wouldnever know it by her total composure.
Though we've seen Tavi sporting grey hair in the past, shechose to represent her own age group last night, donning a crown crafted frompink pipe cleaners that she made with her friends as a DIY project for her newwebsite, Rookie.
She told us that earlier in the night she got to chat "style, age,and all that good stuff" with the one and only Iris Apfel. But it wasn't onlyApfel who caught her eye. "They're all amazing...I'm blown away," she gushedbefore being whisked away by a group of friends.
I left the party (only slightly ashamed that the teens and century old revelers were still kicking), completely inspired andeager to go treasure hunting through my grandmother's closet.
