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Taiwanese couple in their 80s take Instagram by storm modelling old laundry

August 03, 2020 09:05 IST

They will be the cutest couple you shall see!

IMAGE: Hsu Sho-Er, 84, and her husband, Chang Wan Ji, 83 pose in the clothes left behind by their customers at their laundromat in Taiwan. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

The year 2020 has been full of surprises -- most of them being truly awful -- but Instagram has unearthed a legitimate delight, and it's called "Want Show As Young."

The account documents the objectively killer style of a Taiwanese octogenarian couple, and while it only has a handful of posts, the pair has amassed almost half a million followers. And, let's be honest, countless smiles.

 

IMAGE: The couple pose in vintage-style garments, which they accessorize with hats and sunglasses. They also opted for more youthful looks -- one image sees the pair sporting Adidas tops and bucket hats. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

Having spent decades running a laundromat in Taiwan's coastal city of Taichung, Hsu Sho-Er, 84, and her husband, Chang Wan Ji, 83, are now proving a hit on Instagram after their grandson Reef Chang -- and stylist -- set up an account for them in June. Any items left at the laundromat for over a year are considered fair game.

The couple pose in vintage-style garments, which they accessorise with hats and sunglasses. They also opted for more youthful looks -- one image sees the pair sporting Adidas tops and bucket hats.

IMAGE: The couple's grandson styles them and then shoots photos of them in their laundromat. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

But Reef Chang says he wasn't aiming to make his grandparents famous, he simply wanted to help them fight boredom as they grew old in Houli, a sleepy district of around 50,000 people.

"Their business is not always busy. They would doze off in the shop and their spirits weren't high. So I thought since our family has these clothes, I can remind people to pick up their clothes, and remind my grandparents their life can still be great even in old age," he was quoted as telling the BBC.

They initially felt awkward putting on customers' clothes -- a no no in their line of business -- but their grandson convinced them to reinterpret fashion, let everyone know that age is not a barrier to having fun with clothing, and that even old clothes can be transformed into trendy outfits.

IMAGE: That's style! The couple's style quotient is quite high and we wish we had it too! Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

And they have gathered quite a following. Netizens have been commenting on the couple, praising them for their chic style and their chutzpah.

“They dress more hip than i do,” wrote one Facebook user.

“Living their best life in their 80s!! Now THAT’S #couplegoals” wrote another.

IMAGE: Just a month after joining Instagram, the couple have amassed almost 500,000 followers. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

"Wan-ji and Hsiu-e's love make me think it's not so scary to grow old," another fan wrote.

What makes the couple happiest is inspiring others to think that age is no obstacle to looking trendy and having fun.

IMAGE: The couple says that inspiring others to think that age is no obstacle to looking trendy and having fun is the most important thing to them. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

"Many people are not really old, it's just their heart is old. They say they don't have any energy and they rest and rest till their health declines," said Hsiu-e.

Neither she nor her husband plan to retire.

IMAGE: The couple's grandson says that the outfits mark something of a departure from the pair's usual style. Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

Wan-ji is instead thinking about what to do with the many suits left behind.

He says he'd like to do a "winter season collection" on Instagram next.

IMAGE: The couple don't plan on retiring any time soon and that's the best news we have heard in this year! Photograph: @wantshowasyoung/Instagram

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