A few years ago I discovered Ilona Royce Smithkin, and was immediately struck by her energy and her zest for life. In 2010 the photographer Ari Seth Cohen, who created a blog, Advanced Style, which was devoted to the style of women over 60, came across Ilona. He visited her studio many times.
I just heard that Ilona has passed away at the age of 101. Here is a short film, an interview from a year ago.
Ilona had many talents, an art teacher, cabaret singer, and fashion model. Here is an extract from her obituary in the New York Times.
Mr Cohen started visiting Ms. Smithkin’s fourth-floor West Village walk-up, a tiny studio so crammed with fabrics, handbags, paintings, magazines and hats that the door could not fully open. Ms. Smithkin served coffee or vodka — “the only two things I know how to make,” she explained — and described how she fabricated her own caftans and turned objects like letter organizers and typewriter springs into jewelry.
Sleep well dear lady, your legacy will live on.
Time for breakfast. Catch ya later. ilona
I could see you living till 101 like this lady ilona.here is wishing you many more walks talks camping and many more years just being youx
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this Ilona before. Thank you so much for sharing. Arilx
ReplyDeleteWhat a girl and what a loss to the planet.
ReplyDeleteRip feel strange typing ilona💔 as i think of YOU meanqueen..
ReplyDeleteI HAVE seen this lady before on YouTube or television
YOU HAVE jogged my memory of her
Rip dear LADY ilona🌹💔🙏✨ 101 years young what an AMAZING life she's HAD❤❤❤
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We have our very own younger version if you read through her blogs I think you will see a similarity but from a frugal charity shop way of living.
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