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Zandile Blay

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About Time: Fashion for the Seventy and Over Crowd

Posted: 09/04/2009 9:34 am

Who is Fannie Kirst and once it becomes legal across the land, can I marry her? Anyone who thinks up sassy, stylish and just plain smart fashion like this surely deserves my hand in marriage. I'm talking about Old Ladies Rebellion, a clothing line launched by the 24 year-old specifically for, well ... old ladies. In a total send up to the fashion industry's Lolita complex, by old, Karst means very mature. Specifically, she means sixty, seventy and older.

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To that end, her catwalk shows only feature the gray haired and gorgeous. Her elderly models (youngest is 60, oldest is 80) elegantly sashay down the runway in a series of knee length shift dresses. Karst keeps her signature silhouette interesting via bold graphics, quirky trompe-l'œil (patterns that give the illusion of accessories or items that aren't there) and ironic statements (my favorite? "Lets Begin With The End.") But perhaps the real irony here, is unlike the majority of collections modeled by young women and flattering only to young women, this mature clothing line looks good on all ages.

Karst counts older women, specifically her grandmother as muses. She cut her chops at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London and went on to gain experience on London's Saville Row and in Paris. Now, with buzz building and the collection available to view online (you must reach out directly to Karst for purchase) it's beyond clear that this is a rebellion worth joining.

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Learn more about Karst online.


[images via oldladiesrebellion.com]


Read more from Zandile on her daily blog, The Blay Report.

 

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PatA
Juan Martinez! Rock Star!
04:44 PM on 09/07/2009
I'm 66 and I might buy two of these.
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01:20 PM on 09/07/2009
omb (oh my buddha) wonderful, i love most of these clothes, i am not at that age, but i think its a wonderful thing to remember women over fifty still love fashion and over 70? wow.
great post and your a peach for bringing this info to us. i read your bio and hope to see more of your blogs here!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PhilipB
08:03 AM on 09/07/2009
Great post!
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quindy
If repubs don't drive you crazy you are not normal
07:54 AM on 09/07/2009
It's about time.
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jukesgrrl
Hands off SS, Medicare & Medicaid
06:19 PM on 09/06/2009
I currently live in Southern Arizona where there is a huge elderly demographic. And I can state, without reservation, they are already dressed wa-a-a-a-y better than people my age or my kids' age.
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Zuzette
03:52 PM on 09/04/2009
These outfits are great! It IS about time someone brought some zest to clothing for this demographic.