It’s not every day that a 63-year-old gets fashion compliments from teenagers. However, Lisa Corbo recently found herself being called “tres chic” by teens on the streets of Paris, which was “the dream,” she said.
Corbo, who turns 64 next month, is a former fashion buyer/retailer and textile designer. She has been a full-time content creator for the past two years, sharing her fashion inspirations on TikTok (@lisa_corbo) and Instagram (@lisacorbo).
Corbo loves wearing mini-skirts and shorts even if her “knees are wrinkly” and she “might not wear a bra,” but “so be it,” she told Newsweek. She refuses to let age determine her fashion style and has learned the “secret to remaining timeless.”
In one of her recent TikTok videos, she is pictured in an elegant long cream gown, chic black sunglasses and a matching black handbag while walking down Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. The video, shot by Sam Bolianatz, who works closely with Corbo, has amassed over 976,000 views since it was posted on May 9.
In the clip, a man on the street is heard saying, “Best outfit on the block,” as Corbo passes by. Another person chimes in, simply saying, “Met Gala,” as she struts past, referring to the annual fashion event known for showcasing dramatic outfits on the red carpet.
“I often get compliments from strangers, especially in New York City. There is an energy here that I feel allows me to fully express myself through my clothing and my most pure point of view,” Corbo told Newsweek. “The most memorable comment as of late was actually in Paris. I was deemed ‘tres chic’ by a bunch of teenagers—the dream. Being noticed during fashion week made my day, especially being a woman of a certain age.”
The TikToker believes women are a lot more critical of themselves and others, which she says is “their first mistake because as you age, there is no winning formula.”
“It’s been my experience that a lot of women do feel defeated and overwhelmed by getting dressed as they age,” she said.
However, Corbo doesn’t wake up every morning telling herself, “Buongiorno Lisa, you are 63 and 9 months old today,” she explained. “Naturally, I recognize I am older, but it will never dictate my style or love of fashion.”
Growing up in an Italian household in Melbourne, Australia, Corbo’s biggest fashion influence has always been her mother. The TikToker was a “very opinionated” child who “loved to dress up, never, ever down,” she said, and was “always obsessed with color.”
This led her to a degree in textile design and, eventually, a career in fashion design, merchandising and retail.
Describing herself as a chameleon when it comes to fashion, Corbo said, “I absorb the world of ‘moda’ (the Italian and Spanish word for fashion) and since I have been around the block a few times, I realize what goes around, comes around.”
Corbo’s personal style follows the “reverse of the general consensus of dressing,” generally beginning with an accessory or “a mood,” she said. “I can be inspired by a lipstick, a shoe, or a piece of art. From there, I build my outfit around it.”
Her motto has always been “Make the effort with your appearance.”
“Consistency is key, not for vanity but for self-esteem. If you look your best, you will feel your best,” she said.
“The secret to remaining timeless in your image is to realize that you will look back and think ‘what was l thinking,’” Corbo noted. “Remember life is no dress rehearsal, your secret is to be you. Today is your best day.”
Corbo accepts that “not all will agree” with her fashion choices, but “this is my journey and my aesthetic and all the aesthetics that surround me—home, food, travel.”
Noting the opportunity she’s had “to have lived in so many continents,” she said, “all my experiences define me today.”
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