Dress for the theatre of your life at Off Broadway

Off Broadway is a women’s boutique, but it could be an off-Broadway theatre production.

The shop is owned by Lynn Dell, one of seven super stylish New York ladies of a certain age — 62 to 95 — starring in the documentary Advanced Style, who believe that dressing flamboyantly is the best revenge. These intrepid fashionistas challenge conventional ideas about beauty and the North American obsession with youth.

Dell, 81, has been in business for more than 51 years. Her mantra: "dress for the theatre of your life."

She sashays in decked head to toe in leopard, including armloads of Lucite leopard cuffs, channelling Nancy Cunard, legendary Cunard shipping heiress.

"When the window is leopard, I wear leopard," Dell explains, holding court at an antique desk at the front, staged with a vase of roses and tea service.

The shop comprises 1,500 square feet, with consignment/vintage down the stairs at the back; new stock sourced worldwide at the front. Merchandise ranges from accessories to gowns and furs. Sizing runs from small to double XL.

Ah-ha! I have found my spiritual home. It’s all so big, bold and exotic, I feel overstimulated: The shock of colour; the embroidered tunics; the bedazzling costume jewels. I lust after a head-turning pair of red resin earrings by Italian designer Angela Caputi.

Old standards like "Embraceable You" provide the soundtrack. Three young theatre/dance students are soaking up the drama. "It’s a museum to shop in," remarks one, trying on a top hat worthy of Fred Astaire.

I head to the vintage/consignment area and am gobsmacked by a piano shawl priced at $255 that’s so large, you could picnic on it.

The price points are not outrageous, just the merchandise. How about a magnificent Sherlock Holmes cape to which Burberry could only aspire? Or a grey tweed coat with fur hem and cuff that’s very Audrey Hepburn and only $350?

I try on a sublime handmade rust tweed sweater with ragged hem and fringe and quilted lining of Deco flappers. Alas, it is too tight across the shoulders.

"What I do is cut off the sleeves, wear it as a vest and make headbands of the sleeves," Dell suggests.

Yeah, right. I’ll be doing that.

Making my way to the front of the shop, I pick through racks of capes, glorious capes, until I’m sidetracked by a drop-dead gorgeous black lace gown with sheer netting below the knee.

"I am overwhelmed by all the fun in here," says a shopper who is rocking a Jackie Kennedy-esque mink pillbox.

I am hopelessly smitten with an asymmetrical navy sequined sweater with sweet bows on the back ($97) perfect for the holidays, as is a red satin caftan that is so Liza Minnelli.

Dell’s business card describes her quintessential customer:

"You love a little edgy glamour.

You think every age is a triumph.

You crave caviar before noon.

And you get a kick out of making an entrance."

So c’mon down. And fasten your seatbelt.

Off Broadway

139 West 72nd St., New York.

Intimidation factor: Mind-blowing. It’s like getting lost in the wardrobe department of an old Hollywood studio.

Number of salespeople on floor: Four, including owner Lynn Dell and Blanche, "Re-runs director," a.k.a. manager of the vintage/consignment area.

Response time: One minute. At the jewelry counter at the front of the store, staffer Bernadette gives me carte blanche to fondle the bijoux.

Vibe: Gallery of Wearable Art meets Jean Harlow’s boudoir.

Price range: From $7 for a diamanté bobby pin to $1,200 for a fur coat.

Rating: Four feathered rhinestone headbands out of four.

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