Hearing Aids and Fashion

In the world of fashion, it is hard not to notice that women over 60 are having a bit of a “moment”. Stylish seniors have entered the spotlight in a big way! Models over age 60 are being featured in fashion campaigns for brands such as Celine, Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Kate Spade.

Gorgeous older women such as Catherine Deneuve, Joni Mitchell, Jessica Lange, Charlotte Rampling, Helen Mirren, and others are gracing the covers and pages of fashion magazines and online fashion media, depicted wearing great clothes and doing fabulous things well into their 80s and 90s.

While putting stylish older women at the forefront of fashion may be trendy at the moment, at its core is a mission by Ari Seth Cohen, a mission to erase the stigma associated with getting older, and to see aging in a new light. As founder of Advanced Style, Cohen’s New York-based Advanced Style blog, book and documentary all depict women aging with grace and a keen sense of design.

Drawing from his experience with his grandmother, Cohen reports giving much thought to hearing aids, thinking that if they were more attractive, they could be considered to be more of an accessory to a fashionable wardrobe, rather than the perceived stigma associated with their use.

With this in mind, Cohen’s Advanced Style recently collaborated with a hearing aid retailer to create a limited edition line of removable adhesives for hearing aids in bright patterns and vivid colors. This collection of interchangeable designs includes pink sparkles, leopard print, silver hologram, and black-and-white polka dots.

Makers of hearing aids for the last several years have also responded to the desire to destigmatize the wearing of hearing aids. They have developed aids that are sleek, tiny, and elegant, in a choice of colors and styles to suit any wearer. No longer are people with hearing loss stuck with big, clunky beige chunks of plastic hardware.

For example, Siemens makes a model called “Vibe”, with a hip, racy leopard design that sits in the crest of the ear. It resembles not so much an in-ear hearing device as a new style of ear piercing.

Siemens also offers their “Life” hearing aids, which are soft and flexible, with an ultra-thin tube and tip that practically disappears. These come with 12 exchangeable “skins”, in subtle colors and patterns.

Many other makers, such as Oticon, Phonak, Resound, and Starkey also offer stylish and elegant hearing aid options.

For a long time, invisibility was the focus for making hearing aids more acceptable. But along with sophisticated designs, colorful and fashionable new options are causing people to say “flaunt it”!

Young and old alike want options that are fun and fashionable, less utilitarian-looking. To this end, there are actually quite a few options for jazzing up your hearing aids.
A quick browse through crafty websites (such as Pinterest) will reward you with many creative ideas for having a little fun with your hearing aids in a fashion-forward way.

There are companies that offer stick-on interchangeable “skins” in a variety of patterns and colors, that do not interfere with the functions of your aids.

Other sites feature jewelry options that you can affix to your hearing aid…..dangly crystals, metals, and inlaid stones, all designed specifically for hearing aid embellishment.

Whatever your personal style, your hearing aid, while vastly improving the quality of your hearing experiences, should not be a source of embarrassment….wear it with pride. Put on your jewelry, your lipstick, your hearing aid, and your sunglasses, and step out in style!