FABULOUS: The Narrative The Stories

Y E U N G K AWA I

FA B U L O U S the narrative, the stories

/ the

beginning

/ listen:_ / therefore,

ARE YO U FABULO US?

fa b u l o u s t e a m

... actually Just me

editor-in-chief designer special features editorial design no assistant no intern (especially unpaid) curator photographer Janet Yeung

Copyright - YEUNG KAWAI Š2015; reproduction without permission prohibited.

thank you so much My superwoman mother, super supportive father, amazing family and existing brother, friends from all over the world, new friends I met for this project, such an inspiring couple of Carol M. and Richard C., knowit-all professors Fifi and Queen B, the great Chinatown ladies, always so cheerful Korean market ladies, the coffee shops baristas who gave me extra coffee for staying so long(sorry) and

Images from LISTEN:_ appear courtesy of and are owned by the respondents; illustrations from Listen To Your Seniors are my own illustrations drawn from videos by Ari and Stylikeu.

My fabulous grandmas.

fabulous journal #1 opening page

the beginning

Questions, questions, questions

What is aging?

What is your impression of aging?

Your definition of aging is?

What do you love-hate-enjoy-dislike of this process?

Why? What were the most obvious changes after you began ‘aging’?

If aging was a person, how would he/she think of fashion? Something formidable? Something kind?

Neglecting?

What is my perception of aging?

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2014.01.21 Interview with my grandma

the Conversation My casual conversation about aging with my grandmother - who is my muse, my idol, and my everything - sparked my interest in the broad field of Aging, “senile dementia”. She made me become incredibly aware of how precious the passed time and moments are, and the traces of history embedded on the body. Unlike my amusement towards the aging phenomenon, I received more negative viewpoints from the people around me. This contrast in perceptions became my trigger to explore and play with the idea of aging.

the Collection For my senior thesis collection, I wanted to redefine the perception of ‘senile dementia’ with my own interpretations of the idea of aging - to be part of the forgotten community. Just like how I feel towards my muse, my collection is to reflect the brighter and more exciting aspects of aging. Because to me, all those years and traces of wisdom and knowledge are so precious that, just like some of my tongue-incheek details, I refuse to hide those aged remarks. To enhance this positivity, there are colors, prints, and surprises! Whenever someone looks at my collection, it should be effortless to feel these fun elements, and know that it’s totally fine to age. The challenge I had with this collection is to make it a fashion platform for both young and the more mature ladies.

I wish women at any age - either at 21 or 60 - will be inspired and happy by looking and wearing my collection.

the narrative, the journal - my voice To continue with my research, I created this record (book, journal, notepad, as you wish to call it) that provides a venue for dialogue and exploration of my concept. The Narrative The Stories investigates the changes of minds as we get older, and how design in the society influences such changes. It is also incredibly amusing to learn how people from different countries (Eastern vs. Western values) have very different ways of approaching the consequences of aging.

Aging is an inevitable process to anyone and how do we feel about this? Or are people even aware of the aging process? I am now (“only”, as my grandmother says) a 21 year old college student and with my friends, we complain that we are now too old, feel too old, and talk about things that are very “nostalgic” to us.

There will be close and serious but not too serious examination of the overlooked processes of aging we all go through; with more personal touch in the observations, sketches, photos, documentations, and interactions with people. For the interactive part, I am collecting stories and new perspectives on ‘Aging’ from people with different background, different minds, and interesting philosophies (of life, design, lifestyle, anything!).

the journey - our journey Let’s face it. I get older, you get older, everyone gets older. More wrinkles, more freckles, more stories to tell... This narrative is not just about me, but is about all of us. I hope my observations and exploitation on aging will make you appreciate and feel happier with all the changes from the processes of aging.

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RESEARCH definition of aging 1. phenomenon of the physical function reversing or declining, along with the time and increasing age 2. Reduction of the speed and ability of the cells changing, reacting, reproducing as the time passes by, and inclination of substances piled within the body 3. Senility is a deterioration of body and mind associated with advanced again. Indications of old age vary in the time of their appearance

Aging is something very broad, personal, scientific, realistic, conceptual, and humane.

It happens to all of us but each of us think of it in a very different ways. The passing of time, the changes we experience as we age, losing that vulnerability of youth…

Looking up the definitions of old and aging was interesting to me, but quite expected at the same time. Many of the definitions gave negative connotations and the suggested synonyms from various Thesaurus sites were mainly pessimistic as well.

aging

Google search on ‘aging’ Merriam-Webster on ‘aging’ Thesaurus.com for synonyms of ‘aging’

old

Google search on ‘old’ Thesaurus.com for synonyms of ‘old’

Melissa: Grandmas, dying, black-white-grey, old

lady with grey hair and tied back in a portraiture , reminiscence

Yuen Yung: Elderly, wrinkles, parks Corinna: Time

Jennifer: Timeless, Wrinkles Anjali: History

Jon Goh: Elderly Nitzan: Death

Brandi: Wrinkly, wisdom

Leonid: Carmen dell’Orefice, fierce, majestic, inspiring, respect, knowledge, wisdom

David: Valuable, memory, story, hunched Steven: vintage

Heidi: cute, authority respect, generations Alex: fragility

Madeleine: wisdom Parigna: nostalgia

Jessica: wisdom, maturity William: metamorphosis Lucy: Grey hair, class Tina: experience

Phoebe: Lavender

Shi: old/ ancient castle, ancient (architectural), aging/ wrinkly old women, scare, insecure Carolina: Pink hair, adaptation Angela: birthday cake Nico: Unyielding love Damien: Wrinkles Sarah: sagging

Duke: Wine and cheese

Whitney: Historical, sage, experienced, elegant Serena: Tradition, food

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Fabulous grandma: sadness

Jane: wrinkles, white hair, kindness, wisdom

Yoon Mi (aunt 1): sadness, regret, death, red

Mom: White, relaxed, time, wrinkle, white hair Yeon Woo (aunt 2): memory, longing, time, sunset, achromatic color

Yoon Ja (aunt 3): doctor, acupuncture

After finding out how many associated old and aged with either a certain imagery (wrinkly, white haired) or negative connotations, I had to challenge that standardized perceptions. In my head, “old person” does not really mean grey-haired, wrinkled and hunched back person. To me, old people are the people who just lived longer than me, who are in the autumn of their life - or in their golden age. Not all “old people” are fragile and feeble; or may be they are, but those adjectives do not justify their identities. We should really not Image found in Stockimages. com and sent to me by Melissa Zheng

jump into the conclusion that “old” means weak and ill.

They are wiser, more experienced, more mature, and flourished, as some noted already. May be we should start regarding them as more mature people, or people in mellowage. Throughout the narrative, wherever possible, I tried to use these alternative ways of describing the ‘aged’ people.

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“AGE IS ONE OF THE MASTER IDENTITIES” Juila Twigg, professor at kent university

By words (at least on the dictionaries and common online thesaurus sites) many aspects of the more mature people are disregarded. Fashion is no exception. We know that fashion is youth-oriented.

Why? Are the aged community not considered as customers anymore? Fashion is a source of joy and inspiration for all, for everyone. How we look is linked with how we will be judged with no exception with age.

Society is incredibly anti-aging, as we often see the promotions aiming towards FOREVER YOUNG, LOOKING YOUNGER FOR BETTER, AGE RESISTANT features. This leads to how the older community in fashion is left untapped and unconcerned.

“In 2017, approaching half of the U.S. adult population will be 50 and older and they will control a full 70 percent of the disposable income. By 2050, there will be 161 million 50-plus consumers, a 63 percent increase over 2010.” (Nielson, 08-06-2012)

That’s a lot of buying power left untouched.

“ O l d w ome n i n a rt a re th e re to te rri fy us as a me me n to mori , j u x ta p os i n g a s s c a ry w i tc h e s , h a g s , ol d b a g s to th e s oft fu l l n e s s of th e on e mome n t o f fe ma l e d e s i ra b i l i ty: Y O UT H ” F as hion and A ge, by prof. Tw i g g

There is so much fear and resistance of getting old.

But if we don’t fear, if we don’t think of aging as something so negative, I am sure that we can enjoy the process much better. I think as fashion is becoming more and more prominent in defining our identity, we should question the relationship between how dresses - or designs in general affect our perspectives on aging.

People can understand how one thinks of oneself and age by how he or she is dressed. Is someone wearing clothing as a form of masquerade? Or like the magical cloak that makes you invisible? Or a loud speaker to make people listen to you?

Today, designers are cultural mediators and designs are the visual melting pot. As professor Twigg mentioned in her book Fashion and Age, “clothes lie on the interface between the physiological body and its cultural presentation”.

Th o u g h t s ?

In order to design a collection that can make people rethink the aging as a brighter, more enjoyable process for anyone at any age, I had to know what ‘aging’ really is, what comes with it, or does not, the affects of both mental and physical changes, and how fashion and our society influence people’s general perception of becoming old. Reading books and studying photographs of old people were my small beginning steps into what became a much deeper, longer journey.

“‘You are only officially old when you forget how to be young’” Callie Jensen, 21, Fashion Designer

YOUNG ADULTS

To me, aging is something that will help me gain more power and knowledge that will change my

What was very intriguing during my interviews with

perspective towards the world and everything.

people in different age about their perspective

After all, I definitely do not regard aging as

on aging, people from age 20 to 30 gave more

something bad.

positive responses than the ladies who are 60 or older. I realized that people who are still in their 20s have admirations and respects towards the old people, and have certain image (usually positive) of themselves being old. As they have not experienced the effects of ‘aging’ yet, it seems it is easier to imagine how aging would be for them.

But as quite expected, none of the ‘younger’ people wanted to age. They clearly know they are becoming older, but the term ‘old’ is still something

But I cannot really imagine myself old… yet. My desire to stay fit and young is stronger than my curiosity of being older. I do have a slight fear that I will become less active and be able to do all the activities I want to do even when I am old. This is what I think the typical ‘young’ people, younger than 30, feel towards aging.

How about for people who are experiencing the

surreal.

passage of time and the transformation stage

As a lucky girl who grew up with my (fabulous)

experience be from our transformations from a ‘kid’

grandma, my image towards ‘old person’ seems to

from an ‘adult’ to a ‘senior’? How different will this to a ‘teenager’ to a ‘grown-up’?

be quite different from many of my friends around me, and I do find more positive aspects of aging.

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illustration by myself; wearing same beanie, different feel

ADULTS, AND SENIORS For respondents who passed age 40 gave answers that reverberated a sense of ‘acceptance’. All of them expressed how they are not keen to age, but accepted aging as an inevitable process.

“I don’t have any choice anyway. If I didn’t want to get old I would just hurt myself for nothing. It is much easier to accept” Brigitte Conti, 62, Designer and Fashion Design Professor at Parsons

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Audrey Hepburn; Image from HuffingtonPost Women

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Research of I n e v i ta b l e C h a n g e s Starting from the most obvious: wrinkles, postures, and silhouettes of old people became my primary research interests. Looking at my own grandmother’s wrinkles and the other photos of advanced styles, each line of wrinkles create very distinctive feature on his or her face and body. They are to me storytellers and maps. People casually say that a person who smiles a lot has wrinkles the most around the eyes. Just like this example, wrinkles are marks of time engraved onto the body and denying or resisting them are against the nature.

“Danielle� by Anthony Cerniello Aging of Danielle in 5 Minutes

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Hunched backs, rounder shoulders, slouched pose, out-toed gait are some of the physical changes as our bodies age. With today’s improving technology, there are so many medicines and creams and other weird things to (almost) eliminate wrinkles but the postures are a lot harder to fix. It is quite sad to know this because physical changes are much more influential in a person’s daily routine than the wrinkles.

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One of the main reasons why people do not look forward to age is because of physical limitations. As we age, there are more and more limitations to the plasticity of the body and its capacity to perform youthfulness. Therefore we usually do not refer ‘high fashion’ with ‘old people’, because we do not see many older people wearing such fashionably restricting clothing. This suggests how in our society, youthful style does not tolerate aging body.

But we should never forget that the “old” community is still part of the society and fashion is still a source of uplift for everyone. So many people are just busy chasing after the titles YOUTH, YOUNG, POWER, ENERGY, and forget about the people beyond the youthful age (whatever that is). After all, we should never forget how the image the media portrays is idealized and unreal. And designers should be aware of older market either.

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I wasn’t happy with what I was creating.

It was… something that did not resonate the feeling I wanted to portray through my collection. That feeling of where people will look at my designs and smile; that joyful feeling both 80 year old and 25 year old lady can feel. I remember reading a book and there was a saying, “what you wear affects how you feel and to some degree, how you will behave.” Dress is a signal identity in terms of personal character or interests, and I realized that what I was attempting to do with design for this particular project was not what I should have been doing.

fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

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E x c u r s i o n Tr i p

香 港 、Hong Kong

한국 , Korea

After feeling less accomplished with what I have been creating, I decided to take my camera, wear my granny pants, and go outside in search for the people to better guide me in this project.

The most interesting part in taking (sneaky) photos of these ladies was seeing how they dressed and styled themselves in certain distinctive ways.

2014.12.29 Hung Hom Fruit Market

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C lot h i n g , B o dy, Identity Before diving into what I saw and took photos of from my ‘trip’, I gave myself more time to rethink about the whole older community from what I heard and read before. From either the online blog posts, books written by the professors or from conversations overheard in a cafe (I know it’s bad but… I do it anyway).

Clothing and accessory, especially handbags, can function as lens for understanding the owner’s identity, as they negotiate their memories, tastes, preferences, and privacy.

We use what we wear and what we possess as an item to represent our character and these material objects can help people, especially the old, to maintain connections to past social identities, which provide a sense of comfort and security.

If handbags can be described as “identity kit”, or a “snapshot of the owner”, a whole styling of a person to me is a much longer, deeper narrative of the wearer’s identity.

Studying the actual garments and items worn by more sophisticated people around me gave me much better understanding of their needs and perspective on their ‘fashion’.

How’s the fit? How about the comfort? The materials? The silhouettes? Why do they buy such style in such color? Is there a reason for having so many repetitive styles (i.e.: utility vest, elasticated lounge pants, overly-padded blazers)??

“Clothes are central to the expression of identity, both personal and social” Excerpt of Journal of Aging Studies, Christina Buse and Julia Twigg

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Is this too “inappropriate” for someone who is older than this model?

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Carol Markel & Richard Cramer Carol Markel is a millinery designer and an artist who still pursues her passion towards creativity, and dresses always fabulously. Richard Cramer is also an inspirational artist, and was an art teacher in The Tyler School of Art. He has done several exhibitions and is now working on a new series of large-scaled “Bird” drawings (In short, they are just really an awesome couple)… / On a sunny, but really cold day in January, I finally got to meet them in their colorful, cosy flat in Lower East Side. The interview was casually done, and one of the questions I asked was: Is there any brands or shops you usually go to buy clothes?

Carol: It is very difficult for us to shop… New York City is better with different thrift stores, but we

have to go to different stores to find clothes that really fit. Cannot be too short, or too tight… I am wearing Marimekko dress, and I like it, because

Carol and Richard in 1970s

it has a nice, loose fit that is comfortable, and doesn’t stick to my body and has bold prints!

Fom this particular response, I felt the need to really look the styling and fashion of women in their golden age, especially in Asia where I am from. With these notions of old age, with those funky mixes of colors and prints, I felt the eureka! moment.

What if I mix old people’s fashion with young people’s minds? What if I just add in all those elements of old people’s bodies to contemporary designs? Then the designs will be the perfect platform for me to experiment mixing the ingredients I brought from my inspiration ‘aging’ with the youthful energy I have.

But first, investigate what “mature fashion” is.

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‘ u g ly f i t ’ But not really.

And the real question is, how is it possible for my grandmother in Korea has very similiar wardrobe story as the ones in Hong Kong or in NYC? Then I realized that there was a cycle.

Inside my grandmother’s ‘Summer’ wardrobe, Some of the pieces are older than I am

01.

Very limited range of style for the people who often go to the shopping arenas like this (in or nearby farmer’s markets.

From Korean Traditional Market, my

grandma’s favorite shopping place

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Chinatown, NYC

02.

Because there aren’t so many apparel producers for “old people,� the same factories with the same patterns and the similar prints send off to all over the world. Hence unfortunately for these ladies, there are very little shopping options.

03.

Compare.

One from Korea One from New York.

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MY DEAR,

“I am more confident, because I know I am much wiser and more experienced of life.”

Jacquie T. Murdock, 83, Model and dancer

“Don’t hide. Flaunt - show flash!”

Debra Rapoport, 67, Costume and Millinery designer

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C o lo r s a n d P r i n t s s t u dy While sitting in a park, fish market, and on a bench across Hong Kong Supermarket, I noticed there was a sense of unity among the older people. The most interesting part was that because there was such a strong similarity in what they were wearing, I have probably walked pass them, easily not noticing that they were there. It was almost the whole group just faded into the background among the other people. That repetitive cuts and shapes worn by the ladies made

me wonder why the whole group of older women wore something so similar. It was almost as if they silently all agreed on wearing that specific length of trousers and padded blazers but to different locations. Especially their pastel, dark tonal clothing and lack of brightening facial features (not necessarily of no make up, but the overall darker skin tone of old people) felt as if they diluted themselves into the crowd and became invisible.

Where’s Wally?

Where are the aged?

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“I have always loved chic clothes that make a statement, whether it be by style or color… I almost never wear white or gray” Carol Markel, 71, Artist and designer

2015.01.03 Wan Po Public Park, 6AM

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the study of colors, prints, the boldness

But at the same time, there always was another group

there are specific styles or sizes they make to sell. For

of older people that stood out of everyone else. Those

example, Marks and Spencers is one of the brands

who refuse to efface and to cover up. Those who used

with a collection marketed towards higher age group

the lack of attention as a ‘freeing’ element and still

(ironically they use models who are way younger to

manage to be themselves.

promote), such as M&S Classic Collection. Most of

Even in the commercial clothing market, it is true that internationally there are limited number of brands that actually produce clothing that fit older people, and

the garments are conservative and feminine in pastel colors. Lots of knit fabrics or woven fabrics in a longer length with wider silhouette (signature silhouette is tunic).

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Back home in Hong Kong and Korea, I also saw the trend within their market.

Interestingly, there were dominantly more clothing with crazy (almost unidentifiable) prints with all sorts of colors, weird color combination, that would definitely make them easily identified within the crowd. The reason why I would have not noticed them in the crowd was because all the other ladies were wearing like that crazy, making it still hard to spot a one, specific grandmother out of all of them Now that I think about this, to them wearing such borderline combinations was their way of disguising their traces of passed time. It seemed to be their silent efforts (but with loud

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effects) to confuse other people and hide those ‘aged’ marks into their camouflage.

Still, I loved that craziness and awkward-yet-distinctive styling.

Even with the fit, there were always some sorts of unfitting feel with many of the old ladies. One lady would be wearing this super over-sized blazer when she is obviously much smaller than that blazer’s size. Is she wearing such structured blazer to cover up her slouchy pose? And one lady will be wearing an elasticated wide pants that she pulled all the way to… Above her used-to-be-waistline or on top of her fallen breasts (ptosis).

“Blacks are only for funerals!”

Chinatown lady I met

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From These

To These

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Playing with my own colors and prints

the narr ative, the stories

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ON FORMS To get more physical and hands-on, I took out some of my own vintage clothing (that fit both me and my grandmother!), went some vintage shopping at Chinatown, and started playing with them to see what silhouettes and shapes I could come up with.

Another dimension I gave to this project was through textile developments and fabric treatments. Just as how my grandmother would play around with her cooking, I took some fabric samples along with other materials from everywhere (such as hardware stores, common stores apart from garment stores my grandmother would go, and so on). Some of the fabrics include, but not limited to, DuPont’s tyvek, coated linen (commonly used as apron materials in Asian fish market), bumpy PVC materials used for shower curtains I found from $1 stores, fall-resistance mats…

With these collection of materials, I built up a new collection with added elements to the samples. Some with added coatings to strengthen the limp, draping structures (like how the connective tissues within the bodies change, becoming more rigid), the obvious features of wrinkles, the cover-ups with bright, gold colors, the cheap-tacky feel on fabrics (achieved by heat pressing my print on acrylic felt and ‘imperfect’ hand embroidery)…

Here are some glimpses of the fabrications and material treatments I have done.

research

gold!

gold+pull+wrinkle

p l ay i n g l ay e r s

print

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t h e “c o o l i yo - s �

One of the challenges I felt as a young designer working on this project was to truly understand the hardships and challenges the older people feel in the fashion market, and use what I discovered as the elements of the collection.

Elements meaning like the stress-releaser for younger people to feel easier about aging, and for people in more advanced age to have be fearless; be stylish and be themselves.

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C H I N AT O W N VOGUE

Alongside with my fabulous grandmother’s own wardrobe styling, visiting Chinatown market in Manhattan to observe and sketch real grandmas helped me to appreciate their styles. On that Sunday afternoon, I finally felt stabilized with the direction I should head and visualized how I can interpret the fresh information I gained that day with my own language.

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L i s t e n To Yo u r Seniors Why are we constantly amazed at the older people who are still so passionate about life and the things they do? Why are we so impressed with the “grey” community (to me, more like the golden community!) who keep up with all the news and continue on building up new skills?

> All Illustrations and Handwriting by myself.

I think it is mainly because, no matter how old we actually are, we all know it is challenging to keep up. We all know how difficult it is to always stay passionate about the things we love, to keep the motivation, to learn new things, to master them, and… to just do things.

That is why people are amused with more mature people with young and vital mentality, and at the same time, why people do not want to age.

Because there is that fear in losing the passion, the vitality, the eagerness to learn…

So by listening the mindsets of those inspiring, wiser ladies (who probably do not regard themselves as ‘old’ people at all!), I propose that everyone to also find how to face and embrace aging!

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“If you cannot hide from it, run away from it, stop it, ignore it, just embrace aging full with your heart”

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“ Th e A d va n c e d P h i l o s o p h i e s ”

Ja c q u i e Ta ja h M u r d o c k ,

83

J oyc e Ca r pat i ,

82

I lo n a R oyc e S m i t h k i n ,

95

Ca r m e n D e L ava l l a d e ,

83

Sue Kreitzman,

75

F r a n c e s K e u l i n g S to u t

“In some ways you should always be in love... and never say I can’t wear that because of my age!”

Beatrix Ost, Visual artist and writer, 75, Advanced Style

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o n o u r way b a c k h o m e

“Do I look fine?”

“I don’t look too old?”

“Should I do something?” (laughs) (walks further away from me) (stops and fixes hair) (walks again) (stops) (asks more)

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LISTEN :_ Not just me, but also them.

A huge part of this Narrative, Journal of my Aging project was interacting with people, asking their opinions

With this collection of stories from

about aging process and to see how

very different backgrounds, I was

they are similar and different from

also able to comprehend the aspect

my own. Most of all, ‘aging’ and

of aging from much wider angle. To

‘older community’ are the two topics

learn how a certain age group thinks

that were always in-the-air, or always

of Aging and I believe that this study

around our heads, but there was never

will aid me in my further studies and

really a time where they were the most

documentation of the process. With all

prominent topics.

these valuable resources, in the future I aim to be a designer of clothing,

Taking this project as my opportunity

lifestyle, and interactive designs that

(and thank you to my grandmother

will help in altering the minds towards

and everyone else who supported me),

aging and face it with much brighter,

I wish to truly bring up the concept

different attitude.

and to continue on. As my year-long project (hopefully to continue on lon-

So before revealing the garment and

ger), I definitely did not want to keep

accessory collection I created, I am

it just with myself. I want to tell the

using this space as my opportunity

stories, and share the journey.

to first share the stories from other people.

Here is a set of questions that I asked my family, friends, and muses:

lee jum soon, 83 What is your first impression or memory about your ‘aging’?

When I was 60, that’s when [I think] I started to age.

That’s when you guys were all born.

What were the first changes you felt - both physically and mentally?

I still hiked until I was 70-something years old. But from 60, my feet started to get numb frequently. In 10 years time, it became much harder for me to walk. then I started gaining weight all of a sudden that brought all sorts of other sickness.

Because of my sudden weight gain-loss routine, my skin started to lose tension, wrinkles started to form around the cheekbones a lot, then fingers, joints… then I think eventually my mental states started to get weakened.

So do you regard aging as predominantly a negative phenomenon?

Yeah… These body changes took away my health, only creating so many limits and hardships.

Any positive side at all?

It’s hard to think… May be those gained experiences, knowledge and know-hows.

What about in terms of fashion? How you dress, what you buy…

Obviously, I started buying more comfortable clothing.

Because of my frequent body changes, I look more for those stretchy pieces that can easily be worn. Like rubber band pants? (elasticated?) Yeh. I also started to buy bright colors, or something with very eye-catching patterns.

How was your fashion or way of dressing before?

Since I had to do lots of labor works, I usually wore very dark or muted clothing, so the dirt won’t be seen easily. Also, I often made my own garments.

I used similar patterns for different clothes and they were all basic and easy to make. I liked to dye my garments too, so the colors I wore became the colors I dyed with.

Do you agree with the phrase “wrinkles represent the life map engraved on your body?”

Yeah, I guess

(Then she went back to our backyard garden to pick the zucchinis…)

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‘s a l a d d ay s ’

- Dictionary.com

Callie Jensen, 21, Connecticut, New York Fashion Design student 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Growing older, and the side effects of getting older; ie. changing of appearance, hair color change, skin starts to wrinkle, bones start to become more fragile, arthritis, etc.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

Not at all (laughs).

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

My sister always says “you’re only officially old when you forget how to be young.”

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Yes. I used to love shopping. In fact I would spend a lot of time at the mall in my childhood. I never wanted to spend a lot of money though, I always looked for good “sales,” or “deals”.

Now, I barely find myself buying anything when I shop. If I do shop it’s for something I know I NEED, more often i’ll find something when I’m not expecting to buy anything.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

Their stories. They always have the best stories, about anything and everything.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Pizza and wine (laughs). Not together.

Carolina Grullon, 21, Queens, New York City Fashion Design student 1. What is your definition of Aging?

I believe aging is a beautiful part of life one will experience. It makes you wiser and fills you with great stories to tell. It is a process all of us goes through as part of the “circle of life.”

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

I think the older I get, the wiser in choices to make for myself. I believe it is a gift to be able to age and see how the world around me evolve with time. The question is do I want to age? I do want to age BUT as I age I’d like to maintain the energy of forever-youth rather than being sad, old and grumpy!

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

Maybe it is not the age. It can be someone realizing that they are old and giving themselves into the aging society. I think being old is a choice. Any “old person” can choose to still live the life of youth or they can sit alone in a nursing home. But the numeric age I consider as old is probably 65 and older. Still, knowing some people who appear much younger than they actually are, I think the number is not the important factor of aging. I think it is more on how that person carries themselves in their everyday life through health, activities, personal style and character.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Yes I’ve became more aware of not following “on trend” clothes. Nowadays I buy more classic pieces with classic colors for my everyday wear. I am currently working on finding my own uniform to wear - Jeans are definitely in that category!

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

Their STORIES! Although I do not have a grandpa who served a war to tell the wartime stories, any old person has a great story to tell, and the great part is that all of them are different. Old people are the lessons in life for us to learn through their stories and even laugh! And also I love the kind of old people who don’t let age age them. They continue with their bright energy and happiness. I think that’s what really makes them forever young when you can hold lasting happiness and even share humor (laughs).

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

My mom made this eggplant lasagna with no pasta just with eggplants, marinade sauce, cheese and ham. That is currently my favorite food right now! And drink I don’t really have a favorite drink but since we are in the season I’d I have to say the Belgian Chocolate at Croque Monsieur nearby school.

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fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

Parigna Desai, 21 Mumbai, India, New York City Fashion Design student 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Aging to me is definitely a more mental phenomenon than physical. To me it is when one gives up or disconnects from “life” and is just living with no purpose. You are young till you have the will to live.

Yes, what I fear the most about aging is losing control of my body and having restrictions to what I can do.

But with growing technology, I believe the challenges might be fewer.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

To me aging also brings a certain kind of maturity, which to me is appealing to an extent. But aging as whole is not something I’m looking forward to. I feel like there is a lot to do before I age, and intuitively youth is strongly connected to this.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

Post-55, I guess.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Yes, in what I wear and how I wear it. Of course, the style gets more mature in a way; a simple T-shirt and jeans would now be a last resort. More specifically, I tend to buy clothes that celebrates my body form.

When I was younger, my parents used to shop

Selma Zheng, 21, Shanghai, Queens Fashion Design student 1. What is your definition of Aging?

The process of maturing both physically and mentally.

clothes for me, with a lot of colors, prints, t-shirts with texts that make no sense. Now I dress more in monotones. Black, if that narrows it down any further.

It is just more appealing to me. To me it represents something like strength or confidence.

I am also more drawn to clothes that are simple. I also love clothing focused on comfort and with intricate or designed backs.

I believe that there are certain clothes that suit certain age. A child should dress like a child, which creates innocent image; a woman should dress like a woman, which makes her respectful. When you’re old, you can be fabulous ;) 5. What do you most admire of the old people?

I’ve seen old people smile more often than not (at least in my family).

My grandmother (my father’s mother) would be an example for me. She enjoys things, which is a contrast to my other grandmother who is… more bitter. I admire their everlasting love for family, and I think there is always something to learn from the years they have lived, their value for tradition. They also seemed to have made peace with solace. Being alone, not being in touch with what is new. Living and let others live. This I feel is something different to our generation that is constantly involved and busy, which is not always so beneficial.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Cake happens to be my favorite food group.

And as for drink- orange, juice, coconut water or a milkshake.

to your personality. I know a lot of people still buy from the children’s section because they are petit and because they are cheaper. As long as you can pull it off, props to you!

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

When I was young I wanted to grow older quickly. Now, I feel satisfied of my age so I don’t want to get older.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

I admire elderlies that live life as they wish and not how their age and society dictate they should live. I think so much of aging is within your mentality and it makes me sad when I hear old people rejecting certain things they want to do because they think they are too old.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

I used to think 50 was old, but now I consider 87+ to be old.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Favorite Drink: Earl Grey Favorite Food: Duck

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Yes, I think it is important to dress your age, BUT also have fun with it, and make sure it is true the na rr at ive, the stor i e s

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Stephanie Seow, 23, Malaysia, New York City Fashion Design student 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Aging to me is not just about getting older physically and but also experiencing more than the next person. I feel it’s a lot more about how you take all those things and become wiser about the world, and not necessarily becoming cynical but to be more aware of everything happening around you.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

Aging feels peaceful to me. I know I’m only 23 but I felt so uncomfortable and uncertain of myself during my teens that it seems so far away from the current me now, where I am much more accepting and happy with the way I am. I don’t think I mind aging, it’s just that it scares me sometimes when I realize how much time has passed and the world tells me I’ve been alive this long. I’ve accepted that moving forward also means getting closer to death (and I’m scared of dying) but I have a bigger drive to live out my life the best I can than to cower in my room. Yes, aging is inevitable so rather than lie to myself, I hope to face things headon as it comes. I just hope the the wrinkles will delay their arrival.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

Physically, I think the new ‘old’ age is 75 and above.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

The calmness of their lives? I know this doesn’t apply to every old person but I feel that if you lived your live to its fullest, that you’ve worked hard in your job and paid your dues, growing old in the care of your loved ones would be very calming. You’ve done it all and now you get to reap what you sow. The calmness and the patience that come with it, it’s a pretty beautiful thing and hopefully I get to a point in my life to just enjoy with the family I brought up.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Iced tea and nasi leak.

Kamy Yeung, 48, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Student Counselor and Advisor 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Aging- is a natural growing process after we are born and is something that is inevitable. Unlike before when I associated aging with physical changes only, I also consider the significance of the mental aspect in aging. It is because by now I have met people in various age with completely different perspective on their age; for instance, some people in their 80s still have passion and vitality in life despite their physical limitations whereas someone in 40s would consider them very ‘old’.

2. Would you consider yourself ‘old’?

I would consider myself as ‘old’ when I begin to experience the physical limitations and to view the same aspects of life differently than before. I especially feel I’m aging as I’m getting sick easily and becoming 74\

Yes, definitely. I mean, looks play such a big part in growing up. Dressing yourself and finding your ‘identity’ through clothing will undoubtedly happen.

Just like how you’re not the same person from 5 years ago, what you wear will change as you age.

I think as a teen, there is a need to show off more skin than necessary - almost as if to show the world you’ve finally grown into a young lady kind of thing. I definitely went through that phase and I gradually began to realize that it was not my style or personality at all. I am a person who wants to be noticed but never wants to be an exhibit. I think moderation in my clothing came as I gradually explored my style while designing. I believe that wearing something you are comfortable and confident in is much more attractive than trying to wear something for the sake of fitting in. Of course, I also became more familiar of and accepted my body type, and as such, I found styles of clothing that works for me. I think my current thing is to always look poised, cool and like I have my shit under control (laugh).

forgetful more often nowadays. I found older people wiser in their ways of seeing things and now I find myself beginning to think like them.

3. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

As I got older, it’s is easier to pick the garments of my choice with the theme of staying real!

4. What do you feel like you’ve gained the most as you aged?

I feel like that I’ve gained most with my passion about life, wisdom and relationship with people and God. I really enjoyed my life fully even in a very busy, bustling lifestyle. I am happier of knowing who I am and what I want to be.

5. What is your favorite drink and food now?

My favorite food and drinks ---still like chocolate; and delicious food and Chinese tea. fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

Alison Kuo, 29 Dellas Texas, New York City Founder of ‘Accidental Chinese Hipsters’ 1. What is your definition of Aging?

It is a physical reality of getting older, experiencing and accepting the physical changes. Aging is also a process where you build up life experiences and knowledge, which makes it not a negative thing. But it doesn’t mean aging is a process that someone would look forward to experience.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

Being close to people who are older than me and to know many of them who lived longer than I did, I do find more positive aspects of aging. They often have more interesting topics to talk about. Still, there is no need to rush to age.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

Around 70 and older.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

When I was younger, I would buy clothes that would help me fit into the crowd. Now I search for clothing that express my identity, to show more about myself. I am drawn towards the fun, unique designs that are also functional and comfortable to wear.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

The fact that old people being confident about themselves and their identity is very admirable. Especially those elderly who are always curious about everything and staying interested in different matters of life are inspiring.

6. How do you imagine yourself ‘old’?

When I am ‘old’, I know I won’t try too hard to look younger. I’d probably have grey-silver hair, no make up....

Will definitely wear garments that are comfortable, yet crazy! Staying in New York City strengthens this idea of keeping the younger mentality even when you age, because it feels like the old people in the city are more respected, and there are more older people who are still working.

7. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Beet, carrot, lemon, ginger juice! I am a food lover, but for now, favorite food is wild boar.

the na rr at ive, the stor i e s

Accidental Chinese Hipsters

accidentalchinesehipsters.tumblr.com

Sung Oh, Jung, 54, Korea, Korea Won Kwang University Chemist 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Reduction in flexibility, remembrance, and ability to move freely.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

No. It’s just inevitable. We just have to accept the process and the sooner we accept, the better we feel. What’s really important is to maintain the calmness in mind, understanding and caring for others. If you refuse to age, it only stresses you.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

Not sure for now, but may be from 80 and on.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Today I think more of comfort than design.

Colors and prints are important too, but I don’t like something too colorful. I rather find something in beige or softer tones - I tend to avoid something too colorful and eye-catching.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

Being able to teach humanity and knowledge of life. And to be able to explain that such knowledge is more valuable than being smart or multi-skilled.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

For food is anything related to vegetable.

Drink is water and Korean barley tea.

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Ari Seth Cohen, 33, San Diego, California, NYC Founder of ‘Advanced Style’

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

You are Old when you feel Old. It’s all about your mindset, staying active, vital and inspired.

1. What is your definition of Aging?

There are so many negative associations with the aging process, but I feel the total opposite. For me aging is about growth, advancing, becoming wiser, more creative, articulate, free and expressive.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

I just become more myself and care less what other people think.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

I love every stage of life. I’m in no rush to become old, nor do I fear it.

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5. What do you most admire of the old people?

Their life experience, stories (of youth) and confidence.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Always avocados.

fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

Riitta Ikonen, 33, Finland, New York Ccity, Artist and co-founder of project ’Eyes as Big as Plates’ 1. What is your definition of Aging?

It’s just a number.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

No problem. Do you ‘want’ to age? Absolutely.

Aging I don’t care so much about, I’d just like to stay healthy.

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

One is as old as one feels, who is counting anyway?

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Clothing myself seems to be a constant flux.

I used to wear a lot of uniforms, these days anything goes. I do like good work coveralls or one piece outfits.

They save time.

5 What do you most admire of the old people?

I wouldn’t say I admire older people over teenagers, middle-aged or young people. I think there are individuals who stand out as extraordinary regardless of age. I’ve enjoyed working with many older people for their stamina and honest and direct way of engaging with me and my work.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

I had a really lovely cold-lime-udon-bowl in Kochi once that I often dream of eating again. favourite drink could be coffee.

the na rr at ive, the stor i e s

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the dessert time of life; well.. because Shakespeare called youth ‘salad’, I wish to call the later time of life dessert!

“Loneliness” Yasuko Hoshikawa, 86, Grandmother of my friend Sarah

Yasuko Hoshikawa, 86, Japan Grandma of my friend, Sarah Hoshikawa

1. What is your definition of Aging?

Loneliness.

2. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

65.

3. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How? Yes. I think color changes as you age. I used to like to wear yellow, but as I got older I wear the color lavender.

4. What do you most admire of the old people?

I respect old people who still try to challenge something new in their life.

5. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Orange juice. Any rice dish!

Julia Twigg, 66, Canterbury, Kent Professor at Kent University and author of Fashion and Age. 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Ageing is both a biological and a cultural matter. It is closely linked to the life course, in that ageing is something that occurs throughout our lives. It is often used however to describe the processes and state of later years.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

Like most people I am not particularly keen to age. But there is no option in this. However my experience is that being older is actually fine. I am reasonably happy with my state; and certainly I do not experience it in the negative way that younger people looking from the outside do.

Yasuko Hoshikawa, 86, Japan.

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What is your definition of aging?

Loneliness.

From which age would consider as old?

3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

This is a moveable term. And it moves with your own ageing. When you are young, old starts early. Historically I also think it is the case that people moved into the category of old younger than now. Chronological age is not the most important factor. Health status is key. fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

Brigitte Conti, 62, France, Old Greenwich, CT Designer, Professor at Parsons The New School 1. What is your definition of Aging?

Aging is wearing glasses, loosing muscle tone, loosing your waistline, knowing how to put things into context, taking advantage of past experiences, having a better perception of ourselves.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you want to age?

No I don’t want more marks on my face and sagging skin but I love my new state of mind. Because I lived my vitality, I am not afraid to get old. To be afraid would mean that I didn’t do or don’t do what I should do in my life or I was not using my vitality. I don’t have any choice anyway. If I didn’t want to get old I would just hurt myself for nothing. It is much easier to accept.

3. From which age would you consider as “old”?

You could become old at 20 or at 80. Becoming old is loosing vitality and the love of life. If you are bored, you are an old person. Aging on the other hand is unavoidable. It starts when the body changes. This comes depending of your genes. At the same time, taking these changes with humor helps.

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older? How?

Clothes that used to look good on me gradually did not, and like most women I have adjusted what I wear in response to this. I avoid very young, frilly or girly dress. I wear more covered up styles than I would when I was young.

I like simple, elegant, romantic clothes, but then I always did.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

It varies, old people are as different from one another as young ones are. There is no typical old person. Having said that, I admire courage in the old. They need it.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

No different from in the past.

the na rr at ive, the stor i e s

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change, as you got older? How?

Yes, my choice for clothing definitely changed but not my way of styling. The clothing has always been an extension of my own self or the way I wish to be.

You just have to follow the change of your own body. The waist will not be marked. I tend also to wear more comfortable clothing. I favored knit jersey more for this reason. When I was young I dressed to adapt myself to the society. Then, getting older, I dress more following my moods to feel comfortable.

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

The perfect senior is a funny, generous, stylish person with an interior beauty.

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Gin Tonic with lemon peel. French-fries because I don’t eat them often. We must have a discipline, excess is not allowed or you really look terrible…

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Ahma, Mrs. Yeung, 91, Xin Hui County, China, Hong Kong My another fabulous grandmother 1. What is your definition of Aging?

A process of becoming less capable of doing things (eating, studying, grocery shopping) by yourself. And I would consider officially old from 80 years old 2. Would you consider yourself ‘old’?

I’m not old. I just cannot see as well as the others, but I don’t feel old 3. Have your styling and/or buying choices for garments changed as you got older? How?

Not much difference, especially when I cannot really see the clothes... So I just avoid buying thick or heavy clothes that will make it even harder for me to move. Then during cold days, I’d rather wear layers of thinner clothes.

4. What do you feel like you’ve gained the most as you aged?

As I’m getting older, I feel more respected from the people 5. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Not too much meat, I like vegetable dishes. Simple food will be good. And I love one bottle of Yakult!

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“Becoming old is loosing vitality and the love of life. If you are bored, you are an old person.�

- Brigitte Conti

“I admire older people who are trend setters and defy the conventions of age.”

What is your definition of Aging?

For me, aging is getting older, but hopefully, wiser, from experience and not worrying about what others think. And it’s also about being able to do everything you want, because now you have time, financial freedom. Do what you love.

How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

I do not like getting older, and I do not want to age. It is depressing to regard oneself as old. Youth was so beautiful. But age allows me the time to do anything I want, since I do not have to go to a job anymore.

While flipping through pages of Ari’s Advanced Style, I saw this mesmerizing image of Carol and Richard wearing all-colors-eye-catching garments. After reading more posts about this artistic couple online, I sent Carol an email for interview and, lucky me, she invited me to their fully customized flat (which is as colorful and characteristic as they are).

Carol wearing her own designed necklace with Marimekko dress matched with burgundy tights.

Richard in one of typical colorful shirts with dark navy trousers Illustrations by Carol, shelved along a lovely photo of the couple

From what age would you consider as ‘old’?

I consider age 90 and above old. That way, I can feel that I am not old yet, since I am 71. It’s important to say that I feel young.

Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older?

Buying clothes changes as your body changes. You want to flatter your body. So you can cover up the parts that are not as attractive as they could be. Like legs. Also, you may have put on a few extra pounds, so more flowing, forgiving shapes work better.

I have always loved chic clothes that make a statement, whether it be by style or color. I hate pastels and boring shades of beige. I almost never wear white or gray. For me, color is everything. And as I got older, I started to know what I really love, and began to push towards what I really love.

Shoes are an important area for older people (and young ones too). I do not wear heels. Comfort is important because I love to walk and it keeps you young.

Color, as in a scarf, is always good around the face. Also a wonderful red lipstick gives life and interest to a face. Flamboyant - but flashy, is a style I like. And I love turning heads around when I walk; attention is great!

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What do you most admire of the old people?

I admire a positive attitude in older people. I admire older people who do not think or dress like old people. I admire older people who are trend setters and defy the conventions of age.

What do you feel like you’ve gained the most as you aged?

Time. And being able to do what I want, to spend a whole day on projects, and designing what I want. This makes me much happier and more confident. I don’t care what other people think.

Richard: I still feel much alive with all the exhibitions I can see in NYC.. I am still young! I don’t age What is your favorite drink and food now?

Carol: Guinness Stout and chocolate cake.

Richard: Pinot noir (red wine) and oysters.

I mean, I would like to eat 144 oysters in a day before I die, like Casanova!

Carol’s amazing Millinery creations

(“We had a party last night, so there are some wine leftover...”)

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the narr ative, the stories

Janet Yeung, 21, Korea-Hong Kong, New York Design student, editor-of-all of FABULOUS 1. What is your definition of Aging?

It is when you start “gaining” time and the chance to do whatever you want to do without being too concerned of what other people would think of you. It is THE time for you to truly be yourself and do things you wanna do.

2. How do you feel about becoming older? Do you ‘want’ to age?

Every year, I do complain ‘oooh now we’re older, we cannot do certain (usually something foolish) things anymore’ or ‘oh god I feel so old.’

As much as I want to experience how it is to be the person who lived longer than anyone else in the room, or to be wise enough to give life advice to the people, I still want to retain this youth I have right now.

From all these interviews and research, one most common advice given from my muses was to really use your time and ‘salad days’ wisely, don’t waste it; but don’t fear losing it. Everything comes in place naturally, and we should accept it.

I was never too critical about aging but especially after this project, my viewpoint towards it is much more positive and I am excited to age (really)! I cannot wait to experience more things (hopefully there’ll be more good ones than... bad ones), to meet more people, to see more things, to eat and enjoy more...

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3. From which age would you consider as ‘old’?

No age. No number. You’re old when you don’t feel like doing anything else!

2013.04.13

With Mel (left) in Brooklyn Photo Credit: Yuen Yung

4. Did your buying choices for clothing and ways of styling change as you got older?

How?

...Yes. Seriously, whenever I look at my older photos, I cannot stop but laught at myself... I’d wear burgundy-magenta stripe shirt with olive cargo pants and blue socks matched with Adidas sneakers. I really didn’t care how I’d look like and comfort was always the key thing for me. My grandma told me:“you already wore like how I would wear since you were really little.....”

So with the styling, I couldn’t care less.

But my grandma would always check how I looked and made sure at least I got the colors right. Thanks to her, I feel I have gotten some color sense (and many other!).

Now, I pay much more attention to details, the fit on my body, and of course the comfort. I try to style myself to reflect my personality as much as possible and I love to play with clothing from very different ‘vibes’!

For example, now I like to mix my Rag&Bone pants with grandma shirt underneath the Chinese-style puffed jacket+grandma cardigan from a vintage store! (left photo)

5. What do you most admire of the old people?

Their composure and patience. Their strong-will and strong sense of responsibility (to raise children, to stand up for their beliefs for so long, and so on).

6. What is your favorite drink and food now?

Food: anything my grandma cooks, but her Kimchi pancake is... the best.

Drink: black coffee.

2014.12.13

Yeessssss. Grandma cooking red bean porridge

the narr ative, the stories

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THEREFO R E Throughout this whole project, the things I learned and felt were overwhelming. In a very good way.

There were times I wished I could stay in my 20s forever (such as when I might have to pull an allnighter during Finals) but now I realized there are also so many more exciting things to experience.

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What I could have done more

For LISTEN:_, I could have gotten more responses from people outside design field. I did get the general picture of what the people might say from reading books (medical books, personal journal posts written on a blog, and YouTube videos to name a few sources). But it could have been more ‘real’ by personally interviewing them myself.

I have realized that being in an artistic side or being in a more managerial field influence how a person thinks greatly. I should have taken this in a bigger consideration.

However I do not regret for not doing it for this project and putting the responses onto this Narrative journal. Because I know I will continue this research beyond the publication of the book.

Hopefully,

I can send the messages I received from my research to many other people through this book. I do not know who exactly will read through or even get the book but dear reader, I wish you also felt something different about aging and feel inspired from the words of the muses, the wise!

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FO R YO U R I N F O R M AT I O N , Continuous research, lots of trials-and-errors, constant processes of deconstructing and reconstructing, reformatting the layouts, the colors and the styling... I placed around the bits and pieces from my research and experiemental studies, combining or mixing some elements to create collections of apparel, eyewear, shoes, bags and small accessories.

With my intention to let my collection be a platform fo both the young and the wise, the apparel collection consists of several garment pieces that can be worn with a wider age range (less wider range being 18-25, for example).Some specifically for younger ladies, and many with the forms and silhouettes inspired by the olderladies.

The following pages are the snapshots of the almost-there outcome of this year-long journey.

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on my process journals notes, images, doodles, sketches, collages, prints, fabric swatches, words, tapes, colors, details, annotations...

All of them to assist me to create these collections of... everything! Even within my journals, I tried to keep my very distinctive way of organizing all those overflowing information.

Key words I had in mind include: “fun, tongue in cheek, young and agile, comfortable with colors... And surprises!

Playfulness from unexpected designs.”

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(From Top Left to clockwise direction) Paiz, Fab, Zucc, Hyb, Hoi, Halma

(From Top Left to clockwise direction) Tuk Tuk, Hangin-there, Visor, Guardian, Bodywrapper

Semi-Final Prototype,

by Andrea Melis

(From Top Left to clockwise direction) Fabz, Hmmm, Play-chini, Lifty, Pro-chi, Grasp, Boon

the more polished works FABULOUS 2015 FAB SHOES COLLECTION FAB BAG COLLECTION FAB EYEWEAR COLLECTION FABULOUS MINI ACCESSORY

the na rr at ive, the stor i e s

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“Just remember that you are always fabulous. Always.

Then you will be.” 니가 최고 멋쟁인것만 알믄 되는것이여. 알간?

-

Grandma, my muse, my idol, my inspiration, my chef, my teacher, my everything

the narr ative, the stories

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FA B U L O U S the narrative, the stories

To be honest, in the beginning I did not expect choosing ‘aging’ as main inspirations for my graudation collection will take me this far. I thought it will just be another fun fashion and accessory collection I have been doing (and will do after I graduate). But instead, FABULOUS gave me the amazing opportunity to explore so much more and challenge myself as a ‘designer’ - not just within ‘fashion’ and ‘apparel’ field. It made me realize how much I love to design and create. It also led me to interact with so many new people with great minds, or to discover something different from the people I previously knew. Everything was just so fabulous.

And if you want to know more about me or this project:

email

27yeungk2@gmail.com

instagram yeunk839

linkedin yeung-ka-wai

website

http://www.yeung-kawai.com/

Y E U N G K AWA I

감사합니다, 谢谢，

T H A N K YO U.

again, special thanks to

My superwoman mother, super supportive father, amazing family and existing brother, friends from all over the world, new friends I met for this project, such an inspiring couple of Carol M. and Richard C., know-itall professors Fifi and Queen B, the great Chinatown ladies, always so cheerful Korean market ladies, the coffee shops baristas who gave me extra coffee for staying so long(sorry) and My fabulous grandmas.

what is happening now

Some real time sources that really, really, inspired me, helped me, and surprised me (in many different ways).

Advanced Style Femme et Fleur Clothing & Age

http://www.clothingandage.org/

i-D Magazine: What’s fuelling the stylish senior revolution?

NY TImes: Ari Seth Cohen’s Portraits of Older Women Senior Planet: Ari Cohen on the Ladies of Advanced Style

WE fa b u l o u s ’ 1 5

ARE the narr ative, the stories