Poppy Jacob on what we can learn from older women who make an art out of dressing...

I’ve been inspired by creative older women. Inspired by Advanced Style, a film by Ari Cohen about a collection of eclectic women aged 62 to 95 from New York who express themselves, brilliantly, through what they wear.  
These birds of paradise are adorned with bright fabrics, oversized costume jewellery, huge headpieces, thick-rimmed vintage spectacles and in the case of one 80-year-old, bright orange false eyelashes, made from and matching her sunset-colored hair. 
They are from a time before fast fashion, when loyalty to your belongings and the investment of time, money or both were prerequisites for building a wardrobe.  
One woman talks of devising outfits over years; experimenting with different colours and pieces, searching for the right pair of earrings to finish off an ensemble before it is finally ready to be seen.  
For them, their style is integral to their identity as well as an exercise in visibility - a way of asserting their existence in a world programmed to only zoom in on the young and beautiful. 
I think we could all take something from their sartorial attitude, whatever one’s age or taste. These women take only playfulness and creativity seriously, never themselves, and they remind us ageing can be liberating, a good excuse and even fun.
Just from looking at the outfits of these exuberant women, which are more like works of art, I’ve learnt the following about clothes and life from the advanced stylers: 
• Wear and play with colour
• Choose timeless, good quality pieces that you truly love because those pieces can inspire outfits and help anchor those outfits to what speaks to you
• Layer complimentary colours and patterns
• The more contrasting textures the better
• Casual feathers
•Good jewellery is more important than good trousers. 
Fashion is for everybody – don’t care what other people think.