Documenting a Grandmother’s Timeless Style
Egyptian photographer and curator Farida Mahdy was inspired to capture her grandmother’s distinctive fashion after discovering a collection of her photographs. The image featured is a portrait of Farida and her grandmother, Ehsan Ouf, taken in her Cairo flat. This portrait is part of a project initiated in 2024. Farida lived with Ehsan for four years while studying photography, during which they spent considerable time conversing and watching television together on the couch.
The dress Farida wears in the portrait is her grandmother’s engagement dress from 1971, one of the few garments Ehsan still possesses from her youth. The fur coat Ehsan wears was a gift from Farida’s late grandfather. Farida convinced her grandmother not to sell the coat, which partly motivated her to begin this project: to document how stylish Ehsan was. In the 1970s and 1980s, Ehsan dressed like a celebrity, donning brands such as Chanel and Dior. She owned a collection of wigs and even coordinated the color of her cigarettes with her outfits.
Sometimes she tries to convince me to wear a wig when I go out. I think she secretly doesn’t like my curly hair.
Family Photographs and Legacy
While living with her grandmother, Farida began sorting through boxes of old photographs. One of her favorites is a black and white photo taken on the day Ehsan got engaged. Many of these photographs were taken by Farida’s late grandfather, who loved photographing Ehsan. Farida never met him, as he passed away in 2000, two months after she was born, but they share a mutual passion for photography. Since no one had photographed Ehsan since her husband’s death, Farida wanted to continue his legacy and create something meaningful for her grandmother.
During her grandfather’s lifetime, Ehsan and he often hosted family and friends in their flat. However, after his death, visitors became rare. Now, Ehsan’s days are quiet and sometimes lonely. This photographic series serves not only as a tribute to her fashionable youth but also reflects on the passage of time and the changes life brings. Farida has also begun a second project titled "Ehsan," named after her grandmother, which focuses more on who she is today: a 78-year-old woman aging gracefully.
About Farida Mahdy
Farida Mahdy is a photographer, assistant curator, and visual artist from Egypt. Her work explores personal and familial histories through a visual lens.
