There is something about going gray that can give ladies a certain “carte blanche” to do whatever the heck they want. I’ve always had a serious soft spot for batty old women with too many cats and creepy mink stoles that still have their original heads and feet…I’ve already informed my boyfriend that he is required to die before me so I can lose my marbles living in my one bedroom apartment alone with my dachshund (yes my dog will live to be as old as me….) and dye my hair pink to match my collection of homemade feather boas….

Every winter my obsession with stylish old ladies and the air they carry themselves with, comes back stronger than the year before. Maybe a part of me feels like I’m already there with those nutty silver haired gals, especially since my favourite thing to do on a Saturday night is knit with my dog by my side and listen to creepy old elevator music from the 20s and 30s….Or perhaps I’m just inspired by their effortless but charming winter looks. Either way, most of my coats these days are frumpy wool ones with fur trims that are too big for me and smell permanently like moth balls. When I wear them with a floppy hat and some fur trimmed boots (instead of feeling like an abominable snow-beast) I feel graceful and a little bit wiser.

I think this admiration for older ladies is heightened in winter because of how angry I used to get at fashion magazines that would feature winter editorials with summer outfits. Girls in pretty little open coats and shoes with tights pranced around — meanwhile I was stuck with chunky boots and triple layered wool stockings on my legs! It only felt natural to turn to the generation focused on cozy comfort for more relevant cold weather inspiration!

The inspiration has definitely turned into an infatuation, and I think it’s safe to say I have absolutely no fear of getting older. The marble-losing process has already begun and my different collections are starting to grow out of control… soon I’ll be singing the alphabet backwards to my friends at the bingo hall and inviting my friends over for shortbread and sherry….

Images courtesy of the amazing Advanced Street Style Blog

- Meaghan Kelly