How to Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon

A personal memoir in which septuagenarian Lyn Slater, better known by her Instagram handle the Accidental Icon, brings her characteristic optimism, forward thinking, and “rules are meant to be broken” philosophy to the question of how to be old in a youth obsessed world.

When Lyn Slater started her fashion blog Accidental Icon at age 61, she discovered that followers were flocking to her account for more than just her A-list style. As Lyn flaunted grey hair, wrinkles, and a mega dose of self-acceptance, they found in her an alternative model of older life: someone who defied the stereotypes, refused to become invisible, and showed that all women have the opportunity to be relevant and do something new at any stage of their life.

Covering topics such as attitude, acceptance, natural aging, where to live, fashion, relationships, work, and social life, How To Be Old goes beyond personal acceptance of aging or posting a photo on Instagram. It’s about rewriting the narrative completely. The way the media portrays it, there are two ways to be old. The first suggests you’ll be frail, lonely, invisible and depressed. The second way, expensive and inaccessible, is if you eat the right food, invest in the right products or treatments, and take a plethora of nutritional supplements you can keep aging at bay. How To Be Old takes a different approach, one that shows readers that while you can't control everything, what you can control is the way you think about old age, the way you prepare in your youth for a long life ahead, and the creative ways you respond to the changes in your mind and body as they happen.

In this paradigm shifting memoir, Lyn offers the possibility that, even with its unique challenges, being old is just like any other new beginning in your life. She encourages us to think of aging as a set of creative challenges and exemplifies that when done successfully, getting older can be the best and most fun of any of life’s phases.

About the Author

Lyn Slater is a cultural influencer, model, writer, content creator and former professor. She started Accidental Icon in September of 2014 and has since garnered a loyal fan base of almost a million followers across platforms.

Author Residence: Hudson, New York