I want to introduce you to a truly original style icon…Tziporah Salamon who has graciously agreed to answer my nenasnotes questionnaire. Her look is unique and I know you will be mesmerized by her story.

But first I wanted you to know about a very special upcoming event…below is the information about the exciting event the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum is presenting to kick off its 50th Anniversary. The Costume Council supports the outstanding world class costume collection at the Museum and has underwritten its extraordinary exhibitions and events. I have been involved with the Costume Council for most of those 50 years. I hope you can support this event and all the upcoming Anniversary excitement!

TUESDAY, JUNE 11th at the Chicago History Museum

“Join the Costume Council for a special presentation featuring style icon Tziporah Salamon, in the above photo, The Art of Dressing author profiles the chicest and most celebrated older women of today, showcasing their wardrobes and revealing the contents of their closets, while imparting practical tips on how to put together beautiful outfits.
Schedule…
5:30 p.m. – Costume Council Annual Meeting (Costume Council members only)
6:00 p.m. – Presentation by Tziporah Salamon
7:30 p.m. – Reception with drinks and light bites
Questions? Contact Nell McKeown, development events manager, at mckeown@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2112.”

This is going to be a long post so settle back with your drink of choice (you by now know mine is either a glass of red wine or a coupe of bubbles!), you will be fascinated by her incredible story….here we go…

“My parents wedding – right after the war – In Czechoslovakia- she made her dress out of a sheet – he made his suit”

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB

First job ever was in high school as a receptionist at a shipping company.  I worked after school a few times a week while a senior in high school for extra money.  I loved the responsibility of showing up and I actually loved it. I have always loved work – no matter the job!

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR MOST RECENT OCCUPATION 

My recent occupation: I teach a Masterclass called THE ART OF DRESSING in which I actually use my vast collection mainly  of antique clothes and accessories to teach the elements of style. I am also the author of a book by the same name, published by Rizzoli.

I am also a model – which I also love. I became a model at age 62, when I was photographed by Steven Meisel in the Lanvin 2012 fall winter collection.

“My first modeling gig – Steven Meisel, Alber Elbas and Pat McGrath – I was 62”

WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR TALENT

I always knew I dressed well.  What I didn’t know was that not everyone did.

That was a huge revelation for me.  I first noticed it was when I was getting a PhD in psychology and I noticed that even though I had a limited budget being a high school teacher at the time, I was better dressed than my wealthy professors who were successful therapists.  

WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU HAD “MADE IT” EXPLAIN

I am not sure I feel like I made it.  I am always growing and evolving. But being recognized and adored and appreciated by Bill Cunningham was the ultimate compliment to me. No one’s word or taste or appreciation meant more.

“Bill and me on 5th Ave – we did not know our photo was being taken. A friend found it on the internet. My favorite photo!”

Except my father’s.  And I got that one morning when he was in his 90’s and I was leaving to go to work from his apt one Monday morning, wearing a pair of pants that he altered for me,  he looked at me with so much love that I said, “I look good today, don’t I?” And he answered, “you look good everyday!”

HOW DID YOUR ORIGINAL PASSION BRING YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW  

I always loved clothes.  As a baby, I would go to sleep and wake up to more clothes – lovingly made for me by both my parents.  My mother, a gifted dressmaker,  could sew, knit, crochet and embroider and made all my sweaters, dresses, blouses and skirts, while my father, a master tailor , made the coats, pants and jackets.  I was equally comfortable dressed as a little girl or a little boy.  And as if that wasn’t enough, my aunt in America, after Auschwitz, ended up in NY where over one weekend there was a Jewish dance which she attended as well as a Jewish Texan whom she ended up marrying. He happened to be the vice president of Neiman Marcus so when she found out her favorite brother, my father, was alive, living in Israel  and had two little girls she went shopping and did not look at price tags.  So from day one, I had on my back the best clothes that hands could make – custom made for me at all ages and sizes – and the best clothes that money could buy.  And when we got one of these packages from America – – my mother would invite all the relatives and I eagerly showed off all my new clothes. So here were the seeds for my ART OF DRESSING MASTERCLASS.

Photo by Robbie Quinn

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR ALTERNATE CHOICE AS A CAREER….WAS THERE ONE

I wanted to be a teacher from first day of school and pursued that goal – getting a Masters Degree in education.  Then I wanted to be a therapist and pursued that goal by finishing two out of three years towards a PhD in psychology.  Now, I am pursuing an acting career.  

TALK A BIT ABOUT YOUR BOOK AND ADVANCED STYLE…THE BOOK AND FILM 

Advanced Style, the book, shows photos of women advanced in years and advanced in style – all of us over 60.  Advance Style Documentary focuses on 7of us NY women all over the age of 60.  I was the youngest at age 62 and the oldest was age 82. The filmmaker, Lina Plioplyte , followed each of us separately and together for 3 years and then she and Ari Seth Cohen, the producer and writer of the books made this film.

ADVANCED STYLE THE BOOK AND THE FILM

My book, THE ART OF DRESSING, published by Rizzoli, is a how to book with beautiful photos of me and 10 other women all over the age of 60 in which I break down each woman’s personal style and why it works.  The book, with beautiful illustrations as well as photographs goes over the elements of style – color, texture, proportion, silhouette, rhythm; story and how to incorporate them in your dressing. 

YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, MOVIE, LIST THE FOLLOWING,IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE…THEATER (LEGIT, MUSICALS), BALLET, OPERA, SYMPHONY…TYPE OF MUSIC YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO…FAVORITE RESTAURANT

Favorite book: 

I loved so many…War & Peace; The Fountainhead; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: Middlemarch

Favorite movie:

Splendor in the Grass; Doctor Zhivago; Reds; Flowers of Shanghai; Auntie Mame

In order of preferences:

Theatre , especially musicals

Opera

Ballet 

Symphony

Type of music – all music – from opera to rock’n’roll – country western, waltzes 

Perry Como, Bruce Springsteen; the Mavericks; Shlomo Carlebach; Hebrew music; Arabic music; Irish ballads; Enya; Bach

HOBBIES….

Playing with clothes

Biking and blasting my favorite music

HOME….MODERN, TRADITIONAL, ANTIQUES (WHAT ERA) ECLECTIC… DESCRIBE

Home is definitely antiques and eclectic.  Lots of color – shawls, bags, hats, shoes, fringe artfully displayed throughout the apt

WHO WOULD YOU HAVE AT YOUR FANTASY DINNER (LIVING OR DEAD AND BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOURSELF!) AND WHAT WOULD YOU SERVE (10-12 GUESTS)

Charlie Chaplin; Paul Newman; Myrna Loy; Marlena Dietrich; Clark Gable; Einstein; Golda Meir; Ziva Sirkis, one of the women in my book and my second “mother”; Shakespeare; Emily Dickinson; Cecil B DeMille and myself

Dinner would be spreads of all kinds on crackers and bread for starters 

Cheese and fruit laid out 

Bowls of fresh salads, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados,

Roasted potatoes

Roasted brussel sprouts

Roasted beets 

Grilled cauliflower 

Wild salmon 

Pea soup 

Fresh cherries 

Fresh figs

Fresh grapes 

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT VISITED AND/OR ON YOUR GO TO LIST

I loved Jamaica when I visited but I also love Paris and Italy and Greece and, of course, my homeland, my beloved Israel 

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING MOST IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Going for bike rides

Exploring the city 

Going to museums 

Playing with clothes 

Going to the movies – especially at the Film Forum and Lincoln Center 

FAVORITE WORK OF PUBLIC ART 

I loved Christo’s and Jeanne Claude’s THE GATES. It had a profane affect on my as my father had just passed on Feb 20, 2005 and I sat Shiva for him in Brooklyn, in Brighton Beach where he lived and died.  After a week of sitting, came back to my neighborhood on the upper west side and went for a walk in Central Park, towards Bergdorf’s, where my father had been a tailor from age 77-85. Seeing the gates – that bright orange fabric blowing in the wind and surviving the snow and chill and elements brought me back to life. They were like sentient beings welcoming me home.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED

As someone who lived fully, loved fully and was authentically herself!

FAVORITE LINKS YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE

Love the following people on Instagram and follow regularly:

@magay_45

@thehatshopnyc

@marie_clare

@mashaarcher

@9thstvintage

@noatishby

@normanfried