85-Year-Old Farmer Given Makeover by Grandson and Is Transformed into Fashion Icon

Dressing with impeccable style is timeless. Although fashion tends to skew towards the younger population, a photographer and his grandfather prove that looking great can come at any age–even when you're 85. The young creative, who goes by the name XiaoYeJieXi on Weibo, dressed the octogenarian in fashionable pieces like colorful three-piece suits, felted hats, and tailored denim. XiaoYeJieXi then photographed his grandfather among a vibrant cityscape, resulting in series that looks like it's on the pages of a glossy magazine.

Despite the polished look of these images, XiaoYeJieXi's intention wasn't for commercial fame. He simply wanted to give his grandfather a makeover and take him for a tour around the city. It's in contrast to the elderly man's regular life in the rural Fujian Province, where he gardens and farms vegetables.

When the photographer posted this endearing series on Weibo, he was met with a flood of positive feedback. From it, the greatest impact was its ability to make us reflect on our own relationships with our grandparents. XiaoYeJieXi's project encourages us to spend more time with our loved ones and cherish the special moments.

Here's how the grandfather dressed pre-makeover:

Jesse Xiaoye: Weibo
via [CCTV News]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content