Reimagine Virtual Candlelight Vigil with Judith Boyd and Ari Seth Cohen
Reimagine has been hosting candlelight vigils throughout the pandemic in order to break down taboos and hold space for all that we've lost. Tonight's program will include an intergenerational conversation between Judith Boyd, a former psychiatric nurse and current fashion influencer, and writer, photographer, and blogger Ari Seth Cohen. Our other featured guest is Tlazoltiani Jessica Zamarripa, co-director & co-founder of the Institute of Chicana/o/x Psychology.
Ari Seth Cohen
Ari Seth Cohen is the creator of Advanced Style, a project devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.” He says, “I feature people who live full creative lives. They live life to the fullest, age gracefully and continue to grow and challenge themselves.”
Ari has a longtime interest in clothing and style and a lifelong affinity for his elders. When he was growing up, his late grandmother Bluma (a librarian) was his best friend; her “energy and attitude towards life” continue to inspire him. As a result, he couldn’t help but question the absence of mature faces in the lifestyle and fashion media. “I noticed a lack of older people in fashion campaigns and street style sites,” he says. “I wanted to show that you can be stylish, creative and vital at any age.”
At 41, Ari is far from being eligible for a featured spot in Advanced Style. Still, he does have a decade’s worth of professional accomplishments. His first book published in 2012 has sold over 190,000 copies worldwide and was quickly followed up by a Coloring Book on the same subject and a second coffee table book Advanced Style Older and Wiser in 2016. In addition to developing a blog that’s been touted by the New York Times, the New Yorker, Vogue, and Forbes, Cohen's photographic work includes the 2013 Summer Eyewear campaign for Karen Walker, H&M, a digital campaign for Coach, and fashion editorials for Vogue Australia, IO Donna, Grey Magazine, and German Rollingstone. Cohen recently brought his colorful subject’s to the big screen in the critically acclaimed Advanced Style Documentary. In 2015 New York Times fashion director, Vanessa Friedman, credited Cohen with creating a movement which has led to more age diversity and increased visibility for older models in popular cultural, fashion and advertising. Ari and his cadre of fabulous subjects have appeared on the Today Show, The Ricki Lake Show, and a host of other international news and entertainment programs. Before becoming a blogger, he spent years working in fashion production and retail management. Ari lives in Seattle, WA and works in New York City. He is currently working on his latest book Advanced Pets, a follow up to 2018’s Advanced Love. @advancedstyle
Judith Boyd
Judith Boyd is the creator of Style Crone, a project dedicated to the older woman in her most creative, outrageous, powerful, and proud era. Her career as a psychiatric nurse transitioned to style blogger in the year 2010. Fashion has always been a passion for her. She owned a Denver hat shop in the 1980s and sold vintage in an antique mall and on consignment through the 1990s while simultaneously working in healthcare.
Style Crone, the blog, was launched during the last nine months of her husband Nelson’s life. As her photographer, the blog became a lifeline the two of them shared. Blogging unfolded as her medium to process loss and express herself creatively, writing about cancer caregiving, death, grief, and personal reinvention. Composing outfits including a hat, comprised of sustainable and recycled pieces or garments created by artisans, became her art form. It also introduced her to a community of creatives across the globe, including the Advanced Style Movement created by Ari Seth Cohen. This movement inspired her to launch her own blog and has influenced the perception and reduced the fear of aging in our culture.
Over the years Judith has been featured in numerous media outlets and publications, including two of the Advanced Style Books, The NY Times, Refinery 29, Huffington Post, Buzz Feed, Elle, CNN, The Daily Mail, Wall Street Journal, Look UK, Who What Wear, multiple Denver magazines, as well as several TV networks (including the Today Show with Ari Seth Cohen).
Judith began modeling in her 70s. Her photo shoot in NYC for the Neiman Marcus 2021 Holiday Catalog demonstrates the importance of the inclusion and representation of older people in fashion. Several year ago she modeled for a designer during New York Fashion week.
Judith’s social media platforms provide her the opportunity to promote awareness around aging, ageism, mindfulness and health, climate change, and social justice, reflecting her values. At the age of 80 she lives with purpose and passion wearing a hat as an exclamation point. Nelson’s inspirational spirit is with her always as she moves forward. @stylecrone
Tlazoltiani Jessica Zamarripa is co-director & co-founder of the Institute of Chicana/o/x Psychology. Tlazoltiani is a Cultural Educator, Mental Health Advocate, & Keeper of our ancestral wisdom. She is a long time Austin, TX mami activist and community organizer working toward social justice within the Chicanx and Latinx community. She was an organizer for the collective, Latina Mami, for more than 15 years. Her community home is Kalpulli Teokalli Teoyolotl. The preservation of her culture and community is a driving force in her life. Jessica is a founding member of Academia Cuauhtli, a local Austin language and cultural revitalization school program for Spanish speaking Mexican American elementary students. She is also a past council member of Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change and a Danzante de La Luna and danzante with Danza Mexica Xochipilli. Her writing, dancing and community work is medicine toward the liberation, healing, and flourishing of her children and her people. @xicanpsych
About Reimagine
Reimagine is a nonprofit organization catalyzing a uniquely powerful community–people of different backgrounds, ages, races, and faiths (and no faith) coming together in the hopes of healing ourselves and the world. We specifically support each other in facing adversity, loss, and mortality and – at our own pace – actively channeling life's biggest challenges into meaningful action and growth.
