At 94 years old Andrés García-Carro, widely known as ‘The Spanish King,’ gets exclusive with Dolce on the No. 1 rule when it comes to style — confidence takes precedence.
Andrés García-Carro has had a unique life. He inherited land in Argentina when he was young and became a kind of gaucho — an Argentinian cowboy. Then he moved to Buenos Aires, where he represented a major publishing house and met incredible Latin American writers, many of whom later won Nobel Prizes.
After that, he opened a restaurant in Punta del Este, Uruguay, called The Old Man and the Sea, after Hemingway’s novel. Later on, the restaurant closed and he returned to Spain with his wife and four children. He then entered into real estate and became very successful selling apartments to high-society figures, artists, and creatives in Madrid.
Then one day, his granddaughter Céline — a photographer first by passion and now by profession — created an Instagram account for him. That’s when everything changed.
Mind you, García-Carro was no stranger to the camera. Throughout his life, he had been photographed by family and friends. But it wasn’t until his 90s that Céline crowned him “The Spanish King,” as his modelling career catapulted to unexpected heights and the most acclaimed fashion brands in the world called him.
Q: You’ve said that “age is in your head”— how has that philosophy shaped the way you move through the world at 94?
A: Age is in your head. If you think you are old, you become old. But I don’t think like that. I stay active, I meet people, I stay curious. I like to feel present. I don’t want to sit at home watching life go by — I want to live it.
Q: Do you feel more energized now in this chapter of your life than in previous ones? What changed?
A: Yes, in a different way. Before, life was work and responsibility. Now, it feels like a new life. Modelling gave me energy again. I meet young people, I learn new things, and I feel active. It wakes you up.
Q: Your image challenges traditional ideas of aging — how much of your style comes from confidence versus aesthetics?
A: Confidence is everything. Style comes after. I’ve always liked dressing well, even when I was young — long coats, sunglasses — but if you don’t feel it, it doesn’t work. You have to believe it.
Q: What advice would you give someone who feels limited by their age when it comes to self-expression?
A: There are no rules. Age is not a limit. If you want to dress in a certain way, do it. If you want to try something new, do it. Life is very short — you shouldn’t waste it worrying about what others think.
Q: From rancher to restaurateur to model — what are the most important lessons you’ve carried with you?
A: To adapt. Life changes all the time. I’ve lived in Argentina, Paris, London, Uruguay, Spain… I’ve had many jobs. You have to stay open, and not be afraid of change. And also — take care of your mind. Feeling good inside is very important.
