I love it..such a tiny lady in a big, beautiful coat, with such a lovely collar. I also love the tobacco colored leather purse, beautiful. Now, if only the young one has as much style and class.
What’s interesting here is, of course, the generational contrast.
Both dress their age and time. Nonna wishes to appear a correct lady–wool coat with fur collar, gloves, handbag in lap, sensible shoes, while her companion dresses for emancipated, desexulized “utility”–what she’s wearing could just as easily be worn by a guy.
The fact is, neither is particularly stylish, but both say volumes about fashion as a ritual of role-playing.
Absolutely LOVE this picture. It is a wonderful contrast between the “dolled up” lady and the relaxed youngster. The older ladies of Europe are so cute to watch they really keep their style up. I hope to keep my style and spirits up throughout life like they do! Bravo!
The visual comparison between the older and younger generation is striking. The elegant elderly woman is pulled together in a way that I hope hasn’t completely passed out of fashion altogether. Vintage style, for this reason, is my real inspiration.
funny I never thought of this as a compare and contrast I only left the young lady in the photo to give some scale to just how tiny the grandma is- I think she is just adorable!
another note on the contrast– both have their hands “folded” in their laps; but look at their legs. Nonna’s are crossed at the ankles- very proper. The young girl not only dresses like a boy, but she’s sitting like one, too.
Yea, as a biology guy I was going to say that the little lady may not have been so small for her generation and that the current generation is bigger in stature but also body fat.
ooh, a companion book to The Art of the Sart – older gents version, a Ladies of a Certain Age book! Please sell as a boxed set and autograph mine, thanks!
I’m hoping beyond hope that the pendulum will swing back to the frame of mind that one doesn’t leave the house without some measure of elegance. The consensus here seems to agree, for the most part: younger generation often (not always) hasn’t a real clue about how to take good care of themselves and/or clothe themselves with care. Many compliments for Nonna, very few for her young companion.
But times change and so do we, for better or worse. Still, I’ve fantacized about citizens’ citations for bad taste. Wouldn’t it be funny?
I’m surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of socioeconomic differences at play here. The young girl probably can’t afford a fur trimmed coat. That’s not saying the old lady is rich but still, they have different priorities in life.
Clothing is clothing. the woman on the right is dressed NORMALLY!!!! It’s unpretentious. It’s unaware. It’s FRESH! (And it makes the older woman look like a museum piece….a really fantastic one at that !)
Don’t know if you’re trying to be funny or not. There’s nothing fresh about being normal. Who wants to BE normal? Normal is the norm, the norm is average, and average is boring.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 1:17 pm
darling and elegant at the same time! what a capture of the beautiful details in the everyday mundane
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 1:49 pm
She’s so cute! Love her lipstick and big fur collar.
Girliegrl
January 11, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I love it..such a tiny lady in a big, beautiful coat, with such a lovely collar. I also love the tobacco colored leather purse, beautiful. Now, if only the young one has as much style and class.
Butch
January 11, 2007 at 2:12 pm
What’s interesting here is, of course, the generational contrast.
Both dress their age and time. Nonna wishes to appear a correct lady–wool coat with fur collar, gloves, handbag in lap, sensible shoes, while her companion dresses for emancipated, desexulized “utility”–what she’s wearing could just as easily be worn by a guy.
The fact is, neither is particularly stylish, but both say volumes about fashion as a ritual of role-playing.
Flavia
January 11, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Absolutely LOVE this picture. It is a wonderful contrast between the “dolled up” lady and the relaxed youngster. The older ladies of Europe are so cute to watch they really keep their style up. I hope to keep my style and spirits up throughout life like they do! Bravo!
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Sartorialist you’ve done it again! The nike shox, the obese figure and the hoodie!
Genius!
but seriously who doesn’t love old people, they are so cute and classy
Three Repute
January 11, 2007 at 3:09 pm
looks like the grandma from billy madison.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 3:13 pm
The visual comparison between the older and younger generation is striking. The elegant elderly woman is pulled together in a way that I hope hasn’t completely passed out of fashion altogether. Vintage style, for this reason, is my real inspiration.
xie
January 11, 2007 at 3:26 pm
wow. talk about compare and contrast…
The Sartorialist
January 11, 2007 at 3:32 pm
funny
I never thought of this as a compare and contrast
I only left the young lady in the photo to give some scale to just how tiny the grandma is- I think she is just adorable!
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 3:49 pm
another note on the contrast– both have their hands “folded” in their laps; but look at their legs. Nonna’s are crossed at the ankles- very proper. The young girl not only dresses like a boy, but she’s sitting like one, too.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I think so, too. The old lady is adorable. She actually reminds me of my Grandma who died long time ago…back in Germany.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 4:14 pm
the woman on the left is wonderful. i love her big fur collar, utilitarian shoes, and gaily-patterned fabric shopping bag. snazzy.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Yea, as a biology guy I was going to say that the little lady may not have been so small for her generation and that the current generation is bigger in stature but also body fat.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Ah she’s charming
the coat looks as if it might overwhelm her
but it works with the green peeking out from the collar
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 6:51 pm
She could pass for any granny I have seen in Queens or Staten Island.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Why is it that women of a certain age can do what none of us not at that age will never be able to? Oh, to have that grace and elegance…
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Wow. It looks like Florence, Italy meets Florence Ave. in Los Angeles.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Doesn’t look European to me. Could be a bus stop in Des Moines.
swampgrrl
January 11, 2007 at 8:34 pm
that tiny old lady is priceless.
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 8:44 pm
oh my gosh – Nonna is adorable!
what an outfit to catch a bus – I wonder where she was off to?
her shopping tote is cute too!
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 8:59 pm
The lady looks great. That’s indeed a beautiful coat.
D. Kay
January 11, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I don’t even see the clothes. I just see life.
lintmag
January 11, 2007 at 10:02 pm
ooh, a companion book to The Art of the Sart – older gents version, a Ladies of a Certain Age book! Please sell as a boxed set and autograph mine, thanks!
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 10:37 pm
She is absolutely adorable. Will I see the day when people dress like this again? Decked to the nines!
Anonymous
January 11, 2007 at 11:20 pm
wow, i LOVE this! would it be an infringement of copyright to get a print made?
xx
Beks
January 11, 2007 at 11:23 pm
That girl is not fat!
Anonymous
January 12, 2007 at 5:58 am
I want to be fabulous like her when i’m older.
Anonymous
January 12, 2007 at 7:36 am
I would have to agree with anon at 7:14, it is not particuarly European looking. The young girl is really like any American.
margherita
January 12, 2007 at 9:49 am
This is a thing I miss about Italy: elegant nonne with perfect hair and pride to be well dressed all the time!
Anonymous
January 12, 2007 at 11:01 am
Sart,
I’m hoping beyond hope that the pendulum will swing back to the frame of mind that one doesn’t leave the house without some measure of elegance. The consensus here seems to agree, for the most part: younger generation often (not always) hasn’t a real clue about how to take good care of themselves and/or clothe themselves with care. Many compliments for Nonna, very few for her young companion.
But times change and so do we, for better or worse. Still, I’ve fantacized about citizens’ citations for bad taste. Wouldn’t it be funny?
- JCH
savvylondon
January 12, 2007 at 11:45 am
priceless
Anonymous
January 12, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I agree with butch! I love the picture so great!
Dali
January 12, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Ya, she’s NOT fat!
Real women have curves!
[/sarcasm]
Anonymous
January 13, 2007 at 2:02 am
I’m surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of socioeconomic differences at play here. The young girl probably can’t afford a fur trimmed coat. That’s not saying the old lady is rich but still, they have different priorities in life.
Tongue in Cheek Antiques
January 13, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Precious and dainty,
sat by strong and sturdy
two women
two times
both sitting waiting
and hoping,
for the same bus of life.
Anonymous
January 15, 2007 at 4:58 am
She’s got style and look oh so elegant. This is what I called aging gracefully.
Anonymous
January 15, 2007 at 6:12 am
looks like they’ve been waiting for that bus for a while..
Anonymous
January 15, 2007 at 9:06 am
Clothing is clothing.
the woman on the right is dressed NORMALLY!!!!
It’s unpretentious.
It’s unaware.
It’s FRESH!
(And it makes the older woman look like a museum piece….a really fantastic one at that !)
dcinDC
April 8, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Don’t know if you’re trying to be funny or not. There’s nothing fresh about being normal. Who wants to BE normal? Normal is the norm, the norm is average, and average is boring.
JA Firebrand
January 17, 2007 at 9:56 pm
oh how I love, love it! Full on grace and she could be anywhere, but you know she is a-list, sweet
Anonymous
January 20, 2007 at 7:50 pm
pretty photo. beautiful lady!!;)
Anonymous
January 27, 2007 at 9:06 am
The old woman is absolutely adorable, but the girl next to her pisses me off.
markus
October 5, 2018 at 8:57 pm
lol
Anonymous
February 5, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Love this photo. Always nice to see an older woman, not your usual fashionable hip girl. Keep up the great work, Scott.
Anonymous
October 23, 2007 at 3:35 pm
What a contrast! Brilliant -
Anonymous
November 15, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I give props to grandma, well groomed and put together.
The young girl next to her looks as sad as the outfit she’s wearing. A lot of American girls dress like that and its ashame.
Cary Grand
September 12, 2014 at 11:17 am
Title: “Then and now” . . . !
markus
October 5, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Two generations apart, the glamorous and the rebel!!