Are you ready for a fashion blog with a difference? If so, we think you’ll like this one. Ali, a super-stylish octogenarian from Berlin, has been taking the blogosphere by storm.
The Huffington Post reports that over the last nine months, Zoe Spawton, a photographer, has snapped pictures of the 83-year-old for the Tumblr.com blog What Ali Wore.
Zoe’s pictures of Ali have gone viral and the unusual fashion blog now has more than 24,000 followers. Not bad for a man who doesn’t even really know what Tumblr is, huh?
Zoe says that the blog began when she started spotting Ali walking past the cafe that she works in every morning at 9am.
Image via Zoe Spawton
“His outfits were so put together and he obviously took great pride in his appearance,” said Zoe, speaking to CNN.
“Also, it was the way he walked. He obviously had a bit of swagger,” she added.
Zoe, who is originally from Australia, couldn’t speak fluent German but she managed to strike up a friendship with Ali by smiling and nodding at him every morning as he walked past. Eventually she asked him if he would allow her to take his picture.
Image via Zoe Spawton
“He always wears such great clothes. I don’t speak much German and he speaks a little bit of English, but I managed to ask if I could take his photo. He gladly accepted,” said Zoe.
Zoe soon learned that Ali was originally from Turkey and immigrated to Germany over forty years ago. He used to be a doctor but currently works as a tailor in order to provide for his wife and his 18 children. Zoe also discovered that Ali regularly makes his clothes himself.
Image via Zoe Spawton
As for his new status as an internet celebrity, Ali is reportedly taking it all in his stride.
“He thought it was funny at first. And I think he did feel a bit proud. Now he’s the one giving me instructions and showing me where he wants to pose,” said Zoe.
“He doesn’t allow it every day. Sometimes he just doesn’t feel good, or is in a bad mood or sick. He will also refuse a photo if he feels like he’s not perfectly attired, or if he thinks I’ve already photographed a certain outfit,” she added.
