This 84-Year-Old Woman Has Worn Only Green for 25 Years, and It’s Iconic.
For more than two decades, Elizabeth Sweetheart has stepped out in the same color every single day. Green dresses, green coats, green shoes, even green glasses. At some point, her hair followed. People in her Brooklyn neighborhood noticed before the internet did, and soon she became someone everyone recognized, even if they did not know her name.
What began as a simple wardrobe choice slowly turned into a defining part of who she was. Now 84, Sweetheart has worn only green for roughly 25 years, a decision so steady and personal that it still makes people pause and ask the same thing. Why green, and why commit to it for life?
How A Color Became A Lifestyle
Elizabeth Sweetheart was born in Nova Scotia and built her life around art long before green took over her closet. She lives in New York City, working in the design world, where she creates patterns and textiles that demand a sharp eye for detail. Her daily palette once spanned the entire spectrum. That changed in the 1990s during a trip to see her father in Florida. She noticed green everywhere in the landscape and kept returning to its brightness. She brought that fascination home, and little by little, green became part of both her work and her wardrobe.
But the shift didn’t happen overnight. She added small pieces at first. Clothing, art, and home decor. Then she experimented with the shade until it matched the energy she wanted to carry each day. By her own account, it felt positive, steady, and warm. When she finally committed to dressing in green full-time, she didn’t expect the world outside her door to react.
The Green Lady Of Brooklyn
Once locals attached a name to her look, it never left. The Green Lady became known for her braided green hair, self-dyed overalls, rounded glasses, and an ability to create a monochrome outfit without it becoming a gimmick. Colossal highlighted that her collecting streak has lasted more than twenty years. Great Big Story featured her in a short film and showed how her home reflects the same commitment as her wardrobe.
Elizabeth says she enjoys the lift it gives people around her. In crowded cities, someone who carries a consistent look for decades becomes part of the local scenery, and she embraces the attention with humor and calm.
What Keeps Her Dedicated
The longevity surprises many people. More than 20 years of green clothing requires creativity, planning, and a willingness to seek out pieces that fit her narrow palette. She dyes items herself when she can’t find the right shade. She repairs older pieces instead of letting them go. Her home, studio supplies, and even small personal items continue the theme. The choice also links back to her belief that color carries mood. Green feels positive about her, so she sticks with it.
Elizabeth’s look signals consistency in a city that changes every day. She found a shade that made life brighter and stayed with it longer than most people hold careers. The commitment feels bold, but the intention stays simple. She likes green. It brings her joy. It helps others smile. That alone keeps her iconic.