In a world full of unforgiving red circles of shame, painfully moulded, plastic images of women and unrealistic ideas of what beauty is and how it can be obtained, there comes a shining light. Advanced Style is a much needed breath of fresh air, confronting these ridiculous ideas of beauty head-on. It’s a documentary that’s certainly coming out at the right time; a time where these ideas are being questioned and feminism is no longer a quietly held opinion to be whispered about.
The co-writer of the film, Ari Cohen, runs a blog by the same name. He wonders around New York, taking photos of stylish older men and women who refuse to give in to blue rinses and sensible shoes. The film selects a few of his muses and delves in to their lives – what makes them happy, the adventures they’ve had, and where they get their inspiration from.
The most refreshing thing about the film that is instantly noticeable, is that we are following the stories of women who, for all of their eccentric appearance, are actually all ‘regular’ people who are completely relatable to. Cohen, along with director Lina Plioplyte doesn’t appear interested in any of the shallow, diva-like behaviour displayed so relentlessly through every other outlet that tries to discuss older women who have ‘lived a little’. At times it’s sad, but mostly it’s funny and moving, and really explores the relationship between a person’s outer appearance and who they are on the inside.
A particularly touching moment in the film sees a woman in her early 50s discussing how seeing these women, who are far older than her, being so content with who they are, that she has been directly inspired to change her appearance. Not because she feels she has to mimic them, but because she never really felt that she could express her personality before. The overall form of the film is relatively simple; a reality style documentary with talking heads that does totally rely on its subjects to drive the piece, but then it doesn’t need to be any more than that.
Advanced Style doesn’t simply challenge the outdated ideas of beauty, it totally disproves them. These women aren’t ‘looking great for their age’, they just look great. And beyond the outlandish headscarves and colourful hair that are of course striking and fill you with glee just to look at them, there’s also an examination of how these women feel. Their style is a reflection of their comfort within their own skin, and ultimately their happiness. The film isn’t attempting to force women to be extravagant or daring, it’s encouraging women not to see old age as an end of their ability to be beautiful, but to embrace it in whatever form she may consider beauty to be in.
[Rating:4/5]
