AofA's Hot To Trot Talking Points
Every Friday
Join us to discuss and revel in all the eclectic stuff that is happening out there. Hurrah.
Delighted to see the Loud Women Festival at Rich Mix in Shoreditch on Sept 5th from 1pm.
LOUD WOMEN is at Rich Mix London. ·
‘ LOUD WOMEN FEST LONDON 2026 LINEUP IS HERE
“LOUD WOMEN are creating a seismic shift in how marginalised artists are supported in their early careers” - Kerrang!
11 years in and this one is bigger, louder and more international than ever. Saturday 5 September at Rich Mix. Tickets on sale now.
Bill Ricky (Canada)
Bullshit Boy (Germany)
Diva Cup (USA)
Folkulaka (Ukraine)
French Toast
Izzy T
Lady Lazarus (International)
MADELINE (Canada)
Muddy Summers & the Dirty Fieldwhores
Second Idol (Australia)
SheBeat
Shiv and the Carvers (Canada)
Skint Knees
The NaNaz (Wales)
THWACK!
WREX
Bands coming in from across the world. Different scenes, different sounds, all colliding across one full day of music.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about each of them.
Tickets are on sale now ‘
The Guardian ran a piece on the kindness of strangers and I invited members to share their stories. Wonderful to hear what bountifulness there is out there. From hitchhiking and getting generous drivers to someone whose partner was in hospital in New Zealand - they were on holiday - and another patient offered them a place to stay after the hospital.
On Brand magazine reveal that Age is now a Status Symbol. Not that we’ve noticed at AofA, although we have agreed for ages that it should be. Well, not a status symbol necessarily, but something to be included everywhere and given respect.
‘While this is definitely a revenue-driven decision from big fashion houses and ad agencies, there is definitely a tide shifting in how we perceive older women.
Let’s hope is not as short lived as the body positivity movement of late 2010s / early 2020s.
Credit:
@nytimes article about the rise of older women in fashion
@refybeauty launched one of the most beautiful campaigns of 2025 celebrating older women
The NYC icon on second to last slide is @lizfriedman2 by @confidenceheist’
We love Martin Parr and in this case, his Black Country Stories.
‘Martin Parr on Black Country Stories - ‘I feel I know Britain quite well. I have either visited or photographed in most major cities, from Plymouth to Wick in the far north of Scotland. I do have my blind spots and one was the Black Country, despite driving past this on the M6 on my journeys North on many occasions.
So when Emma Chetcuti from Multistory contacted me to ask if I might be interested in doing a photographic commission, in the borough of Sandwell, I could not say yes fast enough.
With its famous industrial past, there was going to be an inevitable sense of decline in the area, but what I had not counted on was the revitalisation that the many immigrant groups had brought to the area. There are active communities from many parts of the world: India, Pakistan of course, and the inevitable recent influx of Poles but also Somalis, West Indians and many others.
It is this vital mix that we decided to focus on and, at the same time, looking for examples of traditional Black Country life that were in good health. As the lid was slowly eased open, we realised the power of the material that we were unearthing.’ - Martin Parr
Photos from Black Country Stories © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos
Cathi Rae who was our key note speaker at the Advantages of Age Awards 2025, is also a sustainable fashion as we get older advocate and older woman influences on Insta. ‘Cathi Rae's mother is in her 90s and here she talks about going shopping with her mum and that the shop assistants all acted as though she wasn't there and addressed her daughter. Cathi suggests we talk about that pernicious invisibility and we agree...
If you happen to be in Vienna on May 27th 2026, this is for you. Dirty Old Women.
‘They look like your favourite aunties.
They do not behave like them.
…or maybe they do—and you’ve just never really known what they get up to.
Or dared to know…
Having been a hit at @brightonfringe and celebrating sold-out Vienna shows, DIRTY OLD WOMEN is back – May 27th.
Starring: @kathyzaramaud Kathy Tanner @jennysimanowitz Jenny Simanowitz
Where?
@theatercenterforum
Porzellangasse 50, 1090 Vienna
Tel: +43 1 310 46 46
Funny. Fearless. Unfiltered.
And definitely not past their prime.
If you think you know what this is… you don’t. Because stereotypes are so last season…and life actually begins at 70…
This hilarious comedy is in English.
Book before it disappears. Again.
#DirtyOldWomen #TheatreLife #LiveTheatre #ViennaTheatre
@godwinseidl @english_lovers_impro poster Gernot Ottowitz