Secret to Life-Long Youth Invented in Saigon

Note the elegant driving gloves (Gan Tai), the almost invisible face masks, and for some, the old sock-and-slipper combo. It's not just rumor: these techniques do keep age away.

On the left, we have a 93-year-old lady who has only recently stopped wearing her ankle stockings, and her feet look very young indeed. Her green sweater makes Saigon's sweltering heat feel like Hell, but it does keep the sun and muck off of her entirety, including hair. It's hard to tell if her gloves go all the way up, or end at the wrists, but who cares. Her face mask, although small, does keep her nostrils youthful. We give her a 9.0 out of 1o. Although she risks adding a few years below the knees, she is wearing heals and riding a motorbike. Truly seasoned.

Believe it or not, the lady to the left, is 101, and is still able to pick up recyclables, ride a bike and maintain her own style. Note the durable Cone hat, the Red arm-length Revlon gloves, and the sock-n-sandal combo. Odds are she will live to 150 and still look seventeen. We like how she covers and color-matches her gloves with her neck and chin guards, but points deducted for the obvious lack of eyes-ears-nose-and upper lip covering. What would her ENT think? We could have overlooked that, perhaps, if it was not for the clear disregard for the color-combo scheme: white socks instead of red. Overall, pretty sharp: 8.7

Impressive for several reasons, this lady is covered from head to toe, we suspect, except for the eyes. Her socks, arm-length gloves and face mask all appear to match, along with the cone hat and shirt. Her long black pants effortlessly compliment her long black hair. Style 10.0. And the fact that she is actually sewing in her gloves on the street deserves an extra 1.0. She is 99 years old and looks a mere 20. Obviously, she would win our little contest hands down if she were doing all of this on a motorbike. But she is not. Minus 2.0. Reward: 9.0. Nice try, but...

We call this the 'Burka of Saigon' for obvious reasons. Clearly, not a spec of sunlight could find its way through to her. And she is on a motorbike. Her arm gloves extend to their maximum and appear to be made of silk. She has ditched the traditional face mask, for what we can only guess is a T-shirt. This photo was taken before helmets were imposed on the population, but we are sure she would have chosen wisely. Hard to tell, but she does seem to be wearing flip-flops, thus exposing an ankle or two. Overall score 9.5. Well done I say. Well done.  

Our online catalogue will soon sell these youth coverings for a fraction of what they would cost in the US or Europe.