They say that everything old becomes new again, and for myself, Lynn Dell, this moment in fashion is just that: new again. With fashion finally referencing the bygone days of ubiquitous glamour and endless sophistication, I have compiled my fashionable tastes into my shop, Off Broadway Boutique. As a result of creating a playground of style for women over 40, I have managed to maintain a high fashion profile for over 40 years. I live my life in the fascinating world most of us only see from afar - for it is my eye for originality that makes me an unduplicated fashion icon for baby boomers!
Come visit my glamorous store on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 139 West 72st New York, NY 10023
Hello, darlings! I had the pleasure of collaborating with the famed eyewear designer, Karen Walker, by modeling in her latest fashion collection. Having long been a fan of her bold and beautiful designs, I was bowled over when my good friend, Ari Seth Cohen, asked me to be a part of this project in conjunction with Advanced Style. Never being one to pass up a glamour shot or two, I immediately said yes.
Arriving at my apartment on a lovely day, Ari immediately snapped away with his camera as I wore sunglasses from Ms. Walker’s 31-piece collection. Complementing my wardrobe changes, each pair of specs made a lovely contrast to the wallpapered background in my home. Judging by the fantastic way that these turquoise sunglasses flattered my aqua outfit and silvertone jewelry – all from Off Broadway Boutique, along with the other wardrobe and jewelry pieces that I’ve worn in other shots – I’d say that the experience was a rousing success!
Not only am I honored to be featured among timelessly fashionable femmes such as Joyce Carpati, Ilona Royce Smithkin, and Linda Rodin, I am thrilled that the Karen Walker campaign is being featured online by VOGUE Australia and the Daily Mail. It’s quite a wonderful way to start the New Year – a new year that I hope is filled with the promise of the future and the excitement for the moment that Ms. Walker appreciates in each of us.
I certainly hope that you enjoy these photos as much as I loved modeling for this fabulous eyewear collection.
Hello, everyone! I hope that you rang in the New Year with plenty of style, as there’s plenty to look forward to in 2013. My year started out as quite a pleasant surprise when I saw myself on The Insider on New Year’s evening.
Part of a segment on Advanced Style, I had the privilege of shining alongside some of the most stylish older ladies around. Even better, everyone in the free world got to see one of my finest Off Broadway Boutique ensembles on the show – an ensemble that captured the vibrant dreams that I have for the New Year.
If my guest spot on The Insider was any indication, the best is yet to come. At the eve of my 80th birthday, it is wonderful validation to be showcased for being my one true self.
Hello, everyone! I’ve never made a secret that my motto to living a fulfilling and fabulous life is all about dressing for the theatre of one’s life. This saying plays a strong role in every single piece that I have hand-picked for Off Broadway Boutique’s collection for over 40 years! Sometimes, fabulous fashion gets discovered in our shop when I least expect it, as this was the case when our newest fashion consultant, Tracy, came across a purple fox fur and wool hooded neckpiece that she had seen in our vintage and consignment department yesterday.
Having decided to dress in a gorgeous purple ensemble, I certainly wasn’t expecting to find another complementary piece to add to my wardrobe.Yet, Tracy insisted that I try on the hooded neckpiece, as she was convinced that it would make a wonderful complement to my look.After slipping it on and spying my reflection in the mirror, I immediately fell in love with its luxurious look and comfortable feel.What’s more, the end result was absolutely magical!To say that Tracy’s fashion-forward intuition was correct is an understatement, as it exceeded my expectations on the stunning looks that one can put together from our lovely vintage and consignment department!
Looking back, it certainly isn’t surprising that Tracy convinced me to purchase the purple neckpiece.In addition to being quite the savvy salesperson, she recognized a style-defining look and made it her business to ensure that I left the shop looking absolutely fabulous.Originally $110, she sold it to me for a 20% discount that brought my purchase down to $83 plus tax.Though I’m usually the one that is doing the selling to our wonderfully loyal customers, I was beyond thrilled to snag such a sensational piece from Off Broadway Boutique’s reruns and consignment department.
Hello, darlings! Although I had returned from my fabulous European vacation last Monday, I hadn’t been able to arrive home until the following day due to my beloved Sandy becoming while we traveled back to New York. Completely exhausted after I had spent the night at the hospital with him, I wasn’t going to answer the ringing phone that greeted me as I stepped into our apartment. Yet, something told me to grab it and that something led me to one of the most exciting experiences of my life!
It all began with my good friend, Ari Seth Cohen, mentioned over the phone that we were both invited to participate a segment on The Today Showthat coming Thursday morning. Scheduled to appear during the Kathie Lee & Hoda segment at 9:15, I was about to prepare for the big day when I received a call 10 minutes later that informed me that we were bumped up to the Matt Lauer segment at 7:45. To say that I was over to moon to hear this new is an understatement, as being a guest on this show is akin to being invited to the Academy Awards!
The next day and a half was a blur as I prepared for my upcoming debut on The Today Show, while marveling over the fact that this was yet another blessing that was brought to me by my involvement in Ari’s blog and subsequent best-selling book, Advanced Style. After all, had it not been for both, I wouldn’t have ever gotten the opportunity to enjoy the whirlwind experience that was my second talk show appearance in less than a month! From the minute that I set out to begin my Thursday, excitement greeted me as everything happened in an instant. As soon as I was dressed and out the door, a limo picked me up from my apartment to take me over to the studio. From there, I was whisked over to the makeup room to get ready for my appearance. Upon introducing myself as the owner of Off Broadway Boutique, the makeup girls mentioned that they were fans of the shop and had shopped there before. What’s more, they did a splendid job with my makeup while giving me the great eyelashes that I had requested. By the time I was done, I looked and felt as glamorous as a movie star!
Joining Ari onstage in the studio, I had the pleasure of sharing the spotlight with my fellow Advanced Style icons, Iris Apfel and Ilona Smithkin. While I am the spring chicken of the three at 79-years-old, 91-year-old Iris proudly introduced herself to the world as a “geriatric starlet” as 92-year-old artist, Ilona, shared her passion for her cabaret singing and her famous homemade eyelashes. As Matt Lauer asked us each a question, we eagerly responded with our typical joie-de-vivre as Ari divulged the inspiration behind the success of Advanced Style. Iris, in particular, chimed in by pointing out the underrepresentation of women over 50 in fashion, thus driving home the need and reason why the blog and book has been such a success. A highlight of the interview was Matt Lauer loving my signature line – “I dress for the theatre of my life!” – as I delivered it with a wink and a smile!
After taping wrapped up, we stayed onstage to chat with Matt, who was a very charming fellow. Feeling like the A-listers that visit The Today Show on a regular basis, I was thrilled to spend time backstage with the rest of the guests on that morning’s program. A highlight of mine was meeting the fabulous Cee-Lo from the hit talent show, The Voice. Although I hadn’t known who the young man at first, he quickly won me over by agreeing to take a photo with me. Needless to say, we made quite a wonderful pair!
From there, I left the studio in another limousine as it drove me over to the hospital where Sandy was recuperating. After arriving there, Sandy informed me that everyone on his floor came into his room – even the nurses – to see me on television. What’s more, my beloved son, Keith, watched the show from his Citarella store in East Hampton, inviting both employees and customers to watch his mother be interviewed as if she were a Hollywood star. Eventually returning home to my building, I stepped out of the limo only to be greeted by a lady who expressed that she hadn’t known that I lived here – let alone owned a shop. Her sincere congratulations touched me as I thanked her from the bottom of my heart. After entering my apartment, I received an astounding 15 telephone calls and voicemail messages offering congratulations. To say that the wonderful wishes were overwhelming is an understatement, as I hadn’t had the time to even tell anyone that I was going to be on The Today Show that morning. Nevertheless, I basked in everything as I marveled at yet another once-in-a-lifetime experience that I achieved simply by being true to myself.
Although both Sandy and I ended up with the flu that was eventually passed on to his caregiver, Moody, while I am nursing a broken toe in bed, I am on cloud nine and it is all thanks to the excitement over this past week. The fact that I am glowing over this success means one thing and one thing only – all the pandemonium was absolutely worth it!
I am seated by the gorgeous Debra Rapoport and the divine Joyce Carpati
Hello, darlings! Though I had mentioned that I recently traveled to Los Angeles for the very first time a with my good friends, Ari Seth Cohen, Debra Rapoport, and Joyce Carpati, I left out one major detail – our star turns on The Ricki Lake Show this past Tuesday. Having discovered us on Ari’s fabulous blog and subsequent best-selling book, Advanced Style, the producers reached out to invite us to film a show segment that was entitled The Grand Dames of Fashion. As you can see from Joyce’s star turn on Ricki’s catwalk, being on the show was such a blast!
Needless to say, it was such an honor to meet Ricki and a pleasure to work with her staff. In addition to going above and beyond to make sure that our flair for the fabulous was put on full display onstage, they made sure to convey the very credo that I live by every day – sensational style is an ageless quality. One of our highlights of our trip to Tinseltown, it was such a pleasure to see how enthusiastic the studio audience to see us as a trio of senior stylistas.
In turn, this was an unforgettable experience that I will definitely cherish, as I got to fulfill my lifelong dream of visiting Los Angeles. What’s more, I had the privilege of being a part of The Ricki Lake Show while showing a wide variety of people that sensational style doesn’t stop when you become of senior age. If I, along with Debra, Joyce, and Ari, have succeeded in letting the world know this, then I truly believe that we’ve succeeded in changing perceptions on what it means to have advanced style!
Hello, everyone! A few weeks ago, I was blessed to have made one of my oldest dreams come true in heading to Hollywood. As a starry-eyed 17-year-old, I’d wanted to make my mark in Tinseltown by becoming the next Rita Hayworth – yet hadn’t gotten the chance until my wonderful friend, Ari Seth Cohen, invited me on a trip. Needless to say, it was so gratifying that I finally made it to the City of Dreams at 79 years young!
As I arrived at the airport, I was greeted by Ari and two of his stunning Advanced Style muses. Bringing along his camera, he captured the excitement in the air as I anticipated arriving in a city that I’d never been in my life. As you can see in this video snapshot, Ari went above and beyond being a wonderful chaperone by guaranteeing us a wonderful time.
The best way to describe the few days that I spent in the Golden State is as a whirlwind experience that I will surely never forget. Not only did I get to meet Ari’s lovely family – along with his brother, Mikey, who was enamored enough to take photos of me. In the middle of living it up with these five lovely people, we spent time dishing on our style and beauty secrets.
My time in Los Angeles is a perfect example of what happens when you never give up on your hopes and dreams. It may have taken me over sixty years to get to Tinseltown, but I arrived through the sheer will of my personality and fulfilled all of my dreams by being no one other than myself. It’s a credo that everyone should welcome into their hearts in order to live their life to the fullest!
On another note, I invite you all to tune into The Ricki Lake next Tuesday, October 9th for a wonderful surprise. Do check your local listings to see when you can catch it in your area: http://therickilakeshow.com/
(All photos republished with permission from Ari Seth Cohen of Advanced Style.)
Hello, everyone! As I’ve mentioned before, my good friends, Ari Seth Cohen and Lina Plioplyte have been collaborating together on a documentary that is based on Ari’s fabulous blog, Advanced Style. While the making of the movie is still underway, they were both lovely enough to provide us with this still from a scene that includes yours truly along with two equally fabulous women.
Words cannot express how excited I am about my being a part of this documentary, as it captures the very credo that I live by – dressing for the theatre of one’s life. After all, everyone is their own special creation and I believe that the Advanced Style film will definitely shine a light on what it means to be fashionable and fabulous at every age.
Stay tuned, everyone, as I’ll definitely be keeping you in the loop on when Ari and Lina’s documentary will debut.
Hello, darlings! Being the muse of Ari Seth Cohen has brought forth so many wonderful opportunities – from being a part of his best-selling book, Advanced Style, to meeting plenty of great people who have seen me on his blog. Nevertheless, it was such a pleasure to hear that I was in this month’s issue of Marie Claire Italy as one of the fashionable femmes.
Even better, I was featured alongside my good friend, Tziporah Salamon – a fantastic honor, considering that she is one of the chicest women that I know. Yet, most of all, I am thrilled that Ari has successfully spread the message worldwide that having sensational style isn’t defined by age. After all, I’ve always believed that every woman owes it to herself to dress for the theatre of her life – a theatre that will garner plenty of admirers.
Hello, darlings! As everyone knows, I have been working closely with my good friend, Ari Seth Cohen, on his spectacular book, Advanced Style, as well as the exactly-named blog that inspired the bestseller. The unforgettable experience in working on both has inspired him to launch a wonderful project that he has put his blood, sweat, and tears in bringing into fruition over the past three years – his Advanced Style documentary. With over 150 hours of footage that includes yours truly, I cannot wait to see the finished result. Although, if this excellent extended trailer is any indication, I am certain that there will be rave reviews from the 2013 film festival circuit that Ari will be pitching to.
In addition, the high profile that I’ve gotten from being featured in the Advanced Style book and the Advanced Style blog has provided me with the opportunity to meet up with some of the most fabulous people. Iris Apfel is one of these fabulous people and it was such a pleasure to run into her a few days ago at the gift show that I had attended. Not only is the glamorous textile mogul a sartorial inspiration, she has also been a motivator in living my life by my famous credo – I am my own special creation. Iris embodies that very spirit effortlessly, which is why I was thrilled when Ari suggested that we take a photograph together. As you can see by the smiles on our faces, we had such a wonderful time in being a part of the Advanced Style family.
Hello, darlings! As is always the case when it comes to finding fashion inspiration, this week has been one wonderful whirlwind of excitement. In the throes of the magnificent Moda Manhattan trade show at the Jacob Javits center, I received a call from my good friend, Ari Seth Cohen, who wanted me to participate in a music project of his. Although it was the last day of the three-day-long fashion convention, I simply dropped everything that I was doing and agreed to work with him. After all, it is always a pleasure to be in his company and I wanted to help him out in any way that I could.
Since I wasn’t quite able to film away from the Javits center – after all, I was still reviewing stunning fashion and jewelry to add to our collection – I arranged for Ari and his wonderful colleague, Lina Plioplyte, to meet us there at 1PM that afternoon. Meanwhile, my wonderful fashion assistant, Brianna, was thrilled to take part in what would be yet another amazing adventure and offered to photograph our meeting – as you can see from these stunning photos that she had taken.
Fresh off the plane from San Diego where they were shooting the Advanced Style film, both Ari and Lina looked San Diego sensational with their colorfully mismatched outfits. They were such a lovely sight because they were doing their own thing and brought their own flavor to the Jacob Javits center. Overjoyed to see Ari after a few months of not seeing him, I immediately decided to get the show on the road and start conveying the idea of happiness for his music project as Lina started taping.
Although the passing buses, loud construction, and scorching heat were challenging to get through, we persevered by continuing on with the filming at the Javits center. We were quite a sight as we managed to catch the eye of the vendors and buyers who were otherwise busy. In spite of them having seen it all, it tickled me to see these accomplished fashion industry people become so excited to see us taping our project. If I hadn’t known better, I’d think that this was a Hollywood project by the way that we all captured their attention.
Soon after, I received a pleasant surprise in the form of an old and dear friend, Teri Venture, who decided to stop on by after spotting the hubbub that our production was causing. Having loved her for years, I was delighted to see that she was at Moda Manhattan to promote one out of the many fashion lines that she represents. After I introduced her to Ari, Lina, and Brianna, she mentioned that I stood apart as one of her special clients – a sentiment that echoes my thoughts of her as my special vendor. Inspired by our camaraderie, Ari decided to interview her as we all shared the best of laughs in front of the camera.
As much fun as I had in filming with Ari and Lina, I was completely exhausted from the three days that Brianna and I spent at Moda Manhattan. After thanking both for a delightful afternoon, I bid Brianna adieu and headed straight to the nail salon for a much-needed manicure and pedicure. As I relaxed in the comfortable seat, I mused on how lucky I was to have such a full life that presents plenty of opportunities to have wonderful days like the one that I just spent with Ari Seth Cohen.
Hello, everyone! One of the reasons that we at Off Broadway Boutique have been blessed with success for over forty years is because of our beloved customers. Whether they’ve traveled from across the pond or strolled around the corner to take a peek at our glamorous fashions and stunning jewelry, we are especially proud to provide them with our unique brand of style consulting and quality customer service.
Yesterday certainly was a banner day at our shop, as a smorgasbord of shoppers stopped in to see our latest merchandise. The afternoon began with my dear friend, Debra Rapoport, popping in to say hello to our wonderful staff. Featured in Ari Seth Cohen’s best-selling book, Advanced Style – which we currently sell at our shop – she felt right at home with the fashionable pieces that represented my motto of living life glamorously.
As I was chatting with Deborah, two of New York’s bravest stopped in to the shop for a friendly visit. After paying every woman in the store the best compliments, John and Chris insisted on taking a photo with me. Needless to say, I was flattered to be photographed with our handsome neighborhood firefighters!
Soon after Deborah, John, and Chris left, we were pleased to welcome three charming young ladies to the shop. While the bubbly Devon Smiley tried on some of our pieces along with her friend, Stacey Rodsater, Sarah Tudor took photos around the floor. As the young ladies complimented the effervescent appeal of our shop, I marveled at their innate sense of style. As Devon introduced herself as being in fashion PR while Stacey expressed her dream of growing up to be just as confident as the ladies of Off Broadway Boutique, graphic design enthusiast, Sarah, vowed to return to our shop the next time that she was in town from her native Charlotte, North Carolina.
After they had left, we were treated to a blast from the past in the form of Karriemah Harrison, who shopped at our boutique fifteen years ago. While the Gia Wellness proprietress stopped in to see the recent additions to our fashion collection, I immediately noticed the fabulous floral jacket that she was wearing as the very one that we carried in our store when she had first shopped with us. Originally made in Mexico and boasting quality craftsmanship, Karriemah chose it after our superstar fashion consultant, Pat, recommended it to her. Over a decade later, it has held up well as one of our original classic wardrobe pieces.
From there, we were blessed to have sold one of our genuine classic jewelry pieces from the legendary designer, Erté, in our reruns department.A true epitome of a renaissance man with many talents, Erté utilized his diverse talents as an artist and designer to create fashion and jewelry masterpieces, as well as graphic arts and set designs that have completely changed the face of how we see art and design.In addition to having been a dear friend of Lynn’s husband, Sandy Cohen, we both are privileged to have a one of a kind lithograph of his creation in our home – all the more reason why we at Off Broadway Boutiquewere blessed to have carried a spectacular pair of onyx and diamond gold earrings with his tell-tale signature on them.
When our customer visited our reruns department, she immediately fell in love with them, as she knew that they were one of a kind pieces that worth every penny of the $1500 that they were originally worth.Always on hand to help a fellow fan of wearable art, our vintage fashion expert, Blanche, provided her input of the long and storied history behind those earrings while pointing out how much of a deal our customer would be getting in paying $500 for them.Upon recognizing the cultural value of owning pieces that were created by the very man who was at the forefront of the Art Deco movement, she decided to purchase them to add to her jewelry collection.What’s more, the statuesque Art Deco style earrings looked absolutely fabulous on her – making it a sale that we are absolutely proud to make.
With summer in full bloom in New York City, it is a wonderful time to stop by our shop to see what clients such as Karriemah, Devon, Stacey, Sarah, Deborah, John, and Chris are raving about.What’s more; we offer the one of a kind fashions and exotic jewelry that will entice every woman to embrace their glamorous side.As I always say, “Dress fabulously for the theatre of your life, as you only get one chance to live it!”
Hello, everyone! It’s been such a thrill to be a part of our good friend, Ari Seth Cohen’s, success with Advanced Style, which is why I was so excited to be featured in this month’s issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. In addition to mentioning our shop, Off Broadway Boutique, the article chronicles the fantastic style of the over 50 women that Ari was kind enough to include me as a part of.
On newsstands right now, the O, The Oprah Magazine feature provides a glimpse into the glamour of women over 50 – all the more reason why you should run and grab a copy before it flies off the shelves!
Hello, everyone!Ari Seth Cohen’s book signing party for his tome to glamorous fashion, Advanced Style, was such a can’t-miss event that some of media’s greatest luminaries were present.Among the guests at the fabulous New Museum was Paper Magazine’s Rebecca Smeyne, who snapped some gorgeous photos of yours truly.Needless to say, it was a thrill to see myself included as an example of amazing style and mature appeal.
Hello, everyone! This past Tuesday, we were privileged to be a part of our good friend, Ari Seth Cohen’s, latest signing party for his best-selling book, Advanced Style. A beautiful and perfect day to travel to the country, I, along with Off Broadway Boutique superstars, Pat and Brianna, were over the moon with excitement for the special event at The Club at Briarcliff Manor. I stepped out in a gorgeous cream outfit with a delightful It’s a Rae Rae hat with caramel colored features as I beamed with excitement. Pat was equally in her glamorous element in a sharp black and white peplum jacket that was complemented by her trademark red lips. Brianna rounded out the threesome with a whimsically stylish hat that captured the spirit of the fashionable event.
A luxury van arrived to pick us up as we were introduced to some of the other fabulous women that were featured in the pages of Advanced Style. The theme of the charming and incredibly colorful conversation was gratitude for their personal style being appreciated by all walks of life. Through warm laughter and heartfelt chats, every woman in the van expressed just how much they enjoyed the newfound visibility by reclaiming their right to their personal style and their own lives. As we arrived at The Club at Briarcliff Manor, we were greeted by the lovely Sherry. After enjoying a delicious lunch, Pat, Brianna, and I met with Ari, who looked quite sharp in a shocking pink blazer. The man of the hour had already arrived to ensure that everything was in tip top shape for what was sure to be a successful fête.
This book signing party certainly lived up to our expectations as we enjoyed the company of the fashionable ladies who stopped by our set-up to see our chic Off Broadway Boutique merchandise. While I made it my business to interact with everyone by the booth and the enthusiastic crowd at the main house, Pat won everyone over with her effortless class and charisma. Afterwards, we were treated to a preview of the Advanced Style documentary that was helmed by the fantastic videographer, Lina Plioplyte. It earned unanimous raves as everyone clapped and cheered wildly, confirming that both Ari Seth Cohen and the esteemed group of fashionable women were a huge hit. Needless to say, our afternoon truly epitomized what the great Audrey Hepburn once said – the most beautiful women are the happiest. Being surrounded by undeniably stylish women showcased that there was plenty to be happy about that day.
After toasting the documentary preview, we were disappointed to see that our time at The Club at Briarcliff Manor had come to an end. Gearing up to return to the city that we loved so much, we said our goodbyes as we bid the country adieu. Although we were rather exhausted at the end of the day, we were pleased that we found so much inspiration in the fashionable women that Ari featured in Advanced Style. Suffice to say, our wonderful afternoon provided new meaning to the saying – I can’t wait until I grow up.
Hello, everyone! Sales of our good friend, Ari Seth Cohen’s, Advanced Style, have gone through the roof since its release a month ago. In addition being sold out at Off Broadway Boutique, it has been selling out at many stores around the world. It is quite a success story for a book that was borne from being inspired by my style, which explains how a few international visitors became our newest customers.
Our first round of international customers stopped by our shop a week before to meet me, along with Blanche, as they had first come across us on our blog. While I had missed them that day, three London-based tourists stuck around to see the fabulous fashions that inspired Advanced Style. Although the book was sold out in their hometown, they had taken advantage of their trip to New York City by snagging a copy to bring back home with them.
A pair of women from Amsterdam followed a few days later when they decided to visit the store after seeing me in the book. While one was visiting from Mississippi and had heard about the book through a featured article in her local newspaper, another flew in directly from Amsterdam after buying the last copy of Advanced Style at a book signing party. After meeting up in New York while on vacation, they decided to stop by our shop to meet me. Although, I wasn’t there that day, either, they did find plenty of fashionable treasures in our regular merchandise and reruns consignment departments.
We at Off Broadway Boutiqueare on our third reorder of Ari Seth Cohen’s book, Advanced Style, and will update you on Twitter when we receive more in stock. In addition, you can definitely stop by our store to purchase your copy, as yours truly will be on hand to sign it for you.
