Style Diary: Stephanie Kaufman, Young Couture Muse

Street Style: Stephanie Kaufman captured during Paris Couture Week
in Miu Miu suit for the New York Times (photo NY Times)

 

By David Pedroza, Editor in Chief

 

Now in her mid-twenties, Stephanie Kaufman represents the new generation of young, modern haute couture clients. As one of the youngs clients from the U.S., Stephanie Kaufman supports the fresh, new names of nouveau couture, favoring the visions of Alexis Mabille and Alexandre Vauthier. Stepahnie recently launched, The Collecte, along with business partner, Maria DeLisi-Minichiello. The site is a platform for new designers from all over the globe. Her passion for fashion has led to the building of an impressive wardrobe (which includes rare, vintage couture pieces from Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent), and the acolate of having great style, at such a young age.

The Young Client Front Row (Far Right) Stephanie Kaufman at
Stephane Rolland Couture Fall 2012 (Photo LA Society News)

MTAOS: How would you describe your personal style, and has your style evolved?

SK: Feminine, ladylike, clean lines with a bit of edge. My style is constantly evolving but I’m slowly learning what works for me. When you’re young I think it’s important to experiment with your style, it’s the only way it will evolve and become something that truly represents you.

MTAOS: Who inspires your personal style?

SK: There’s no one person in particular. It could be a vintage photo of a nameless face or a stylish girl in a blog. I love reading street style blogs. If I’m in a rut it will refresh my mind and inspire me to experiment in new ways.

MTAOS:  What was the very first thing that interested you about fashion and made you pursue a career in this industry?

SK: When I left Catholic school I finally had the freedom to choose my outfits.  I went crazy! Experimenting with wild colors combinations, piling on every necklace I owned. I cringe at some of the things I used to wear but it was all part of my process of discovering fashion. I became obsessed long before I even knew it was possible to study design. When I learned that there were amazing programs out there I knew I found what I should be doing.

 Kaufman front row at Julien Fournie Couture

MTAOS: How did you come about in creating The Collecte along with your Co-founder, Maria DeLisi-Minichiello?

SK: We always wanted to work together and create something unique.  We were bouncing back ideas for years and finally came up with a combination of all of our passions. We recognized a lack of opportunity for new designers and wanted to offer a platform for all kinds of designers and artisans.

MTAOS: Do you believe fashion plays an important role in society and culture?

SK: Yes, very much. Fashion can completely change the way you look and feel about yourself and that in turn changes the way you act and how people treat you.

The Red Stunner: Kaufman's first couture purchase
from Alexandre Vauthier  Fall 2011

MTAOS: What was your first haute couture purchase and has haute couture change the way you buy clothes?

My first haute couture purchase was a red knit dress from Alexandre Vauthier’s red collection.  Becoming involved with couture has given me a newfound appreciating for workmanship. It’s really incredible the amount of work and detail that go into these garments. I have to say it has spoiled me.

MTAOS: Is craftsmanship and fit the fore most important thing you look for when you buy clothes?

SK: Fit is so important to me. If it doesn’t fit properly you’ll never feel completely comfortable. The older I get the more I look for and appreciate fine craftsmanship. I’ve started investing in pieces that are classic and well made. I want to build a collection of pieces that I can save and have for years. Although craftsmanship and fit are of utmost importance it won’t completely limit me. If I find a piece that I love then I love! Fashion shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

Fitting Time: Kaufman tries on her share of the Alexandre Vauthier
Spring 2012 couture, at the designers' atelier.

MTAOS: You are becoming a familiar face in the haute couture scene, and also the youngest American couture client; has it become important to you to support the art of couture or is it important for a new generation of clients to become supporters of haute couture?

SK: I consider it is a privilege to be supporting couture in any way. It’s such an incredible art form and often misunderstood or underestimated by the general public. They think how on earth could a dress be worth this amount but they don’t realize the amount of work, time and talent that goes into these pieces. I think it’s very important for the next generation to learn about, appreciate and support couture. Without continued support there’s no way couture will continue.

MTAOS: Any beauty tips for young ladies in their 20’s?

SK: Keep your product use to a minimum. Learn what works and stick to it. Also always be sure to wash your face before bed.

Captured Moment: Stephanie Kaufman, as she leaves the Fall 2011,
Dior Haute Couture show. (Photo New York Times)

 

One of a Kind: RARE VIntage

Rare Vintage Founder and Owner, Juliana Cairone

In New York City you can find the latest of anything, from the Chanel's new Lame Lace overalls at Bergdorf Goodman, to Dior's Spring 2012 chiffon frocks, available through a trunk shows at Saks Fifth Avenue. There is a point when you had enough of the latest "it" items or have a desire to be different, so vintage has become a must have in many wardrobes. When it comes to vintage the BEST place to go in New York City is RARE VINTAGE. Rare Vintage like a candy store, once your in, you go gaga over the haute couture gowns, vintage finds from every designer you can imagine, and those anonymous pieces that have a history more alluring than any designer label. The owner her self, Juliana Cairone, is just as fabulous as her showroom, and has a eye for finding rare and beautiful pieces that not only become must haves, but collectible. This stylish fashionista shares with us the history and concept of Rare Vintage......

David Pedroza: What inspired you about vintage couture, and how did it lead to opening Rare Vintage?
Juliana Cairone: RARE vintage came about accidentally because of my husband, my mother-in-law and a head cold.
We have an apartment here in the city and a house on Centre Island and my clothes had been slowly creeping out of the closets for years in both places until it got to the point my husband and my mother-in-law ganged up on me and said I had to do something about it. As I was going through things I realized I had a lot of vintage, looked on line saw and that there was a vintage show in a couple of weeks. The woman running the show was kind enough to let me participate even though I was not a dealer. Shortly afterwards I had a terrible head cold and was in bed for a week. I had enjoyed doing the vintage show and started writing a business plan for the store and I found the space on 57th Street that same week.

DP: What is your first vintage purchase?

JC: When I was a little girl, dressing up in my grandmothers dresses from the 1950s and 1960s was a serious hobby. And then when I was in college I wore a lot of sheer floral print dresses that I use to buy in a barn. They were literally a couple of dollars each! But my first serious vintage purchase was a Valentino haute couture gown from the 1970s that I found in Italy for a couple of hundred dollars. It fit like it was made for me. I wore it to the Met Gala for opening of the show Goddess. There were three women that evening wearing exactly the same current season white Valentino gown and I think that was the moment when I understood I did not want to have a dress anyone else would have and wearing vintage is wearing something special. I later loaned my Valentino dress to Calista Flockhart and she wore it to the Academy Awards.

Calista Flockhart in Juliana's Valentino Haute Couture, Circa 1970's

DP: Who is your favorite designer, and does his or her style influence the vintage you acquire?
JC: I have designers I love: Balenciaga, Madame Gres, Yves Saint Laurent but truthfully I love a little bit of everyone. I love a little Courreges dress from the 1960s, I love Marc Jacobs' grunge collection for Perry Ellis, I love Capucci, I love Chanel from Coco Chanel to Karl Lagerfeld, I even love this extraordinary Bob Mackie bolero I bought recently and I certainly did not think that I could love Bob Mackie until I saw that particular piece.


DP: Do you share the same taste in vintage as your clients?
JC: I only buy pieces for the store that I personally love or find interesting. I bought a spectacular Issey Miyake coat that is not at all my personal taste but as an object, I knew that is was an incredible collector's item and it sold immediately. In fact, I had clients and a museum fighting for it.

DP: Who is the Rare Vintage customer, and what does she want out of her vintage clothes?
JC: I don't think we have a typical RARE vintage client. We have very young girls who are building a collection (everyone has become much more aware of the value and uniqueness of vintage), we have clients who are very social and are out in the evening often and they don't want to be wearing the same dress as someone else, we have people who are just collectors and people who collect and wear.


DP: The workmanship in vintage and contemporary haute couture is so spectacular; has it changed the way you see quality in ready-to-wear or fashion in general in today’s market?
JC: I love the word 'petersham'. Petersham is the little interior grosgrain ribbon belt that is inside many vintage couture pieces. It holds the dress to the body and makes an enormous difference in fit. Valentino Couture dresses have a petersham and a little ribbon that is almost like a bodysuit so you have to step into the dress. Brilliant, a little complicated to get into but when you sit down and your dress does not bunch around the shoulders you understand completely. When I go into Bergdorfs and look at dresses which cost thousands of dollars, none of them have a petersham.

DP: How did you come about the Valentino Haute Couture Sale?
JC: It is funny but I have found that one month we may get calls with almost exclusively Saint Laurent or Chanel to sell. So it happened that when I was in Italy (I do quite a bit of buying for the store in France and Italy), I happened to come across Valentino Couture pieces. They were not from one person and the years ranged from very rare and early 1960s pieces to the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. We thought it would be great to have a capsule sale of the collection on 1stdibs.

Selection of vintage Valentino Haute Couture From Rare Vintage: (Left) Pink Gazar gown, Circa 1962, price upon request, (Center Left) Beaded Leopard organza dress, price upon request, (Center Right) Black Velvet and Gazar Dress, $2,400, (Right) Silk organza and Lace pin tuck gown, circa 1978, $3,000. Available at www.1stdibs.com

DP: Do you think vintage clothes, or vintage couture in particular, has become very important in today’s world?
JC: I think vintage has become very important in todays world. For one thing, designers source from us for inspiration for future collections and because shopping has become depressingly global - you can find a Prada store anywhere, all carrying the same merchandise - so what is the point of going to Milan and buying Prada when you can buy the same thing here in New York. And with the internet everything is so saturated. We have all seen the new Valentino collection on the internet and then we will see it on actresses who will borrow it and then finally it will be in the stores and by then you are already a little tired of it. But with vintage, even though it is something old, it is actually in a way something new and something which has not been seen.

DP: What are your 3 favorite pieces currently at your showroom?
JC: One of my favorite new pieces is a slinky rust colored jersey Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche evening dress with a plunging back and gold leather straps. It is so Saint Laurent and to me when I see it, I can also see Saint Laurent with LouLou de la Falaise, Betty Catroux, Marina Schiano all hanging out together laughing in a restaurant in Paris. It takes me to a different place and I love that transformative, dreamy quality in vintage. My other favorite pieces are not in the store yet but will be soon: it is a collection of Chanel couture runway jewelry. I have never seen anything like it for sale and the pieces are just incredible. It is all from the late late 80 and very early 90s.

DP: What are Rare Vintage’s 3 must haves for fall 2011?
JC: I f I were to choose three pieces that are must haves for the fall from RARE vintage I would choose a whimsical animal print sweater from Krizia (Givenchy and Balenciaga were definitely inspired by Krizia's original animal print sweaters), An incredibly beautiful couture heavy silk and velvet gown from Givenchy Couture that I am madly in love with. And a fun cropped vintage fur.

Animated Sweater, T Rex by Krizia, $650 at Rare Vintage NYC

Velvet Sheath with Leather and gold sequin appliques, Givenchy Haute Couture, price upon request at Rare Vintage NYC

Fox Fur stole, 1950's Jean Patou Haute Couture, price upon request at Rare Vintage NYC

All Items are available at Rare Vintage NYC, 24 West 57 street, Suite 501. Visit the site at www.rarevintage.com

Style Diary: The Glamorous Angie Barrett

Angie Barrett shining in Nameen Khan

by David Pedroza, Editor in Chief

Angie Barrett is one of the most glamorous women in Texas. She is a respected philanthropist, art patron, and TV personalities, who has become a social fixture in Dallas with a grand sense of style. Not only does she have a high voltage style, but a personality that is kind and welcoming; She supports several charities and serves on the board of directors for Genesis Women’s Shelter, Children's Cancer Fund, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Foundation for AIDS Research (Am FAR), along with other organizations. Angie’s style extends into her Art collection and home in Dallas’s Arts District, which has been featured in magazines for its unique and modern sophistication. Angie shares with us the treasures in her closet and what makes her style so special….

DP: Who is Angie Barrett today?

AB: I am, and always will be, first and foremost a mom to my daughters, Alana and Whitney. That is a constant. Other than that I feel that I am ever evolving, inventing and re-inventing myself. Depending on my mood or what is needed on any given day I am a film editor, Dear Abby, art collector, dog walker, fashion aficionado, ballroom dancer, mediator…But at the end of the day, I’m the same girl from a small East Texas town who used to spend hours in my closet telling my grandmother I needed to “visit” my clothes. A quote from the Duchess of Windsor describes me best, “A woman’s life can really be a succession of lives, each revolving around some emotionally compelling situation or challenge, and each marked off by some intense experience.”

DP: Most woman in Dallas are ruled by conservatism, you seem to have broken away from that train of thought… what inspires you to dress at the beat of your own drum?
AB: I gain inspiration from people, surroundings, travel, books, art, observing and keeping my mind open to receive the imprint. Also, I believe the way you share relationships with the people around you forms your character, personality and self confidence. I have through the years developed a keen sense of personal style that is very empowering. As time passes I feel more confident and happy, more at ease with who I am. I think it is fabulous to be a woman and celebrate our femininity by dressing up.
I am also influenced by the style icons of past decades who had a strong sense of self, represent the importance of personal style rather than temporary trends and enough confidence to break fashion rules rather than follow them. The common thread that runs through each of their lives is that they were groundbreaking in their style and attitude and changed the face of fashion forever, paving the way for others A perfect example is Millicent Rogers ( muse of Charles James) for being the first woman to collaborate with designers James, Mainbocher and Schiaparelli to invent unique pieces exactly as she wanted them…(LOVE that) and for pairing evening gowns by James with Navajo bracelets and gold jewelry or a white tailored blouse and black skirt by Valentina Schlee with pounds of turquoise and silver jewelry. Mona von Bismarck for being the first to be named the “best dressed woman in the world” by Jeanne Lanvin, Coco Chanel, Edward Molyneux, Madeleine Vionnet, and Lucien Lelong (for whom Christian Dior then worked), for oozing glamour and for being fiercely loyal to her favorite designers.(It is said that when Cristobal Balenciaga closed his design house in 1968, she spent three days in bed crying). Marisa Berenson (muse of Halston) for being the first to showcase a Pucci handbag by casually tossing three of them over her shoulder in a shoot for VOGUE, wore a Yves Saint Laurent tunic as a mini dress paired with flat suede boots, layers of cuff bracelets and a gold medallion necklace. Ines de la Fressange (Karl Lagerfeld’s muse until their falling out in 1990) for causing what ELLE magazine called the “French revolution” by pairing Levi’s 501 jeans with Chanel jackets, admitting to “jellybean binges” and for being the first model to engage the crowd. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy for her minimalist style, understated elegance and runway model’s poise. I love the fact that she wore her hair in a ponytail on her wedding day with her simple Narciso Rodriguez gown and showed such style. Kate Moss for wearing what she wants, mixing vintage with other styles of clothing and for breaking the fashion rules.

Angie Barrett making a grand appearance in Atelier Versace Haute Couture Leather and Taffeta Gown

DP: You are a celebrated Art collector… does art influence what you wear?
AB: Definitely. Clothing is an art form like other art forms. It is art that I wear. There are great and unequalled culturally and historically relevant pieces in major museums all over the world. I purchased a beautiful golden Galanos from the show GLAMOUR at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The entire collection was photographed and published under the same title as the show. Throughout history there have been collaborations between artists (or their estates) and designers: Basquiat and Valentino, Warhol and Halston, Schiaparelli and Dali, Takashi Murakami and Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Julian Schnabel and Rei Kawakubo. During NewYork Fashion Week this September there was a distinct melding of art and fashion. Nicholas Ghesquiere, creative director of Balenciaga, hosted the U.S. debut of “Cindy Sherman: Untitled” a series of six images featuring the artist dressed in head-to-toe Balenciaga. Ghesquiere’s runway collection included printed shirts and dresses with quotes from Sherman’s interviews and reviews. Thakoon Panichgul and Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte even held their shows at major New York galleries. I use the same gauge for buying clothing that I do for buying art. I ask the same questions and use the same criterion. It’s the message, not the medium, that counts.

DP: Who are your favorite Artists?
AB: My favorite artists consist of the artists whose works I own and also the works I hope to own in the future. They are Dan Flavin, Andreas Gursky, Glenn Brown, Ed Ruscha, Juergen Teller, Lucian Freud, Jonah Freeman, Jack Pierson, Mark Rothko, Thomas Struth, Cindy Sherman, Gregory Crewdson, Justin Lowe, Teresita Fernandez, Michal Rovner, Adam McEwen, Stephen Rhodes, Shirazeh Houshiary, Matt Conners, Rivane Neuenschwander, Amanda Ross-Ho, Sol Lewitt and Ellsworth Kelly.

DP: Which designers create clothes that you find your self most comfortable wearing?

AB: My staple go-to designers for comfort and chic are The Row, vince., Carvan, Rick Owen Lillies, A.L.C. by Rodarte, Theory by OlivierTheyskens, Erdem, Matthew Ames, Marni underpinnings (wear them year round), and Yohji Yamomoto.

DP: You have received praise for your extravagant evening choices, such as the leather Atelier Versace gown and other haute couture pieces…What was your first haute couture purchase and what lead you to buy haute couture?
AB: My first piece of haute couture was the “Shipwrecked” gown by Alexander McQueen. I saw it in BAZAAR and was totally spellbound by the sheer beauty and obvious craftsmanship of this garment. I asked Todd Okerstrom (Couture Buyer for downtown Neiman’s) if he could ask Alexander to make the gown for me. He spoke with Alexander who said he would be delighted. When the gown arrived and I tried it on for the first time, I was officially hooked for life. (Do you think there’s couture re-hab)? I wore it to The Art Ball and had the best time and felt… I can’t think of a word to adequately describe the feeling. I have had many couture gowns since, but that will always stand out in my memory. It will be hard to top that experience.

Angie in her bespoke Alexander McQueen Gown, one of the many gems in her wardrobe

DP: Are you specific with what you want in your wardrobe?
AB: Very specific. It has everything to do with how I see myself and is always a reflection of my taste. Clothes are like ideas and opinions that are expressly ours. I try to buy, collect and own pieces that are unique and individual…pieces that others do not have. I NEVER shop with girlfriends and I don’t buy labels so much as looks…more obsessed with the artistic line rather than the bottom line. I do not use a personal shopper because I feel that doing so is tantamount to paying someone to buy their courage. I feel that confidence is very important and it is essential to look and feel at ease with your choices. I edit my closet rather brutally as I re-create and change my style and taste. I am of the same opinion as C.Z. Guest who said, “It’s important to not have too many clothes. Keep it simple. There’s only so much you can wear.” I have always told my daughters and their friends that you really only need to own six things to look chic on any budget. A black cashmere sweater, great fitting jeans, black boots and the best watch, sunglasses and handbag you can afford. (For summer the sweater would be replaced by a long-sleeved white tee and the boots by sandals or ballet flats).

DP: What are your favorite shopping destinations?
AB: Collette, Suite 114 and L’Eclaireur in Paris, Lily et Cie and Maxfield’s in L.A., Dover Street Market and Liberty in London, Bergdorf’s and Takashimaya in New York, Forty Five Ten and Barneys in Dallas

DP: What is the one piece you cannot live without?
AB: The Row leggings in every color they make.

DP: What is the best beauty advice you have?
AB: I’m going to run through what’s in my handbag in answer to this: Deborah Lippmann nail color in Just Walk Away Renee, Weleda Everon lip balm, Le Labo fragrances in Bergamote 22, Iris 39, Fleur d’ Orange 27 and Labdanum 18 (gel instead of the liquid version so you can throw them in your bag). You can layer a couple of them to create your own unique scent., Anthelios sunscreen, Anastasia Brow Gel in Clear, Mason Pearson Popular Mix hairbrush, Cle’ de Peau Beaute concealer in Ivory, Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Stain (makes your lips look like you just ate a cherry popsicle), Gypsy Water by Byredo Parfums, Marvis Jasmine Mint toothpaste, La Bella Donna Enriched Lash Enhancement, John Master Sea Mist (for back from the beach hair), Tarte Ten Natural Cheek Stain, Beauty is Life lipstick in Heavy Pink, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (great for chapped lips), Clinique High Length mascara and the new fragrance Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. Of course, the basics of drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep, exercise and wear sunscreen!

Angie's Closet. Photo by Paper City Dallas

Style Diary: The Muse, Christine Suppes

Christine Suppes in Vivienne Westwood Couture, Photographed by Frederic Aranda

Founder of FashionLines.com/ Haute Couture Parton

by David Pedroza, Editor-in-Chief
Christine Suppes is the innovator and pioneer to introduce the first editorial fashion E-magazine on the Internet. In 1999, Christine launched FashionLines.com, a site that reported fashion week coverage from all over the world, interviewed fashion's most interesting designers, and covered life style and cultural stories. The site closed in 2007, but made way for new fashion Internet editorials and inspired fashion bloggers abroad. Christine Suppes is not only a respected journalist (she is also our fellow Editor at large), but a great patron of the arts as well (she was the major patron of the Yves Saint Laurent retrosoective at the de Young Fine Arts Museum of San Fransisco in 2008, and will also be patron for the Balenciaga exhibition at the de Young in March 2011). Christine is also a celebrated Haute Couture collector and has been noted to support new talent, such as Rodarte when they first appeared on the fashion radar. This beautiful, inspiring and intriguing woman shares with us her unique personal style and why she loves haute couture....

DP: Has it been an easy or difficult to become one of society’s arbiters of fashion?
CS: Being a style arbiter was nothing I ever thought about. I realized early on when purchasing the clothes I loved that I would rather know more about each garment, and be able to write about it, than just to be known as a fashion consumer.

DP: Does your mood reflect what you wear?
CS: My mood is affected by what I wear. Rodarte brings out the California girl in me, Chanel brings serenity (correctness has its place!), Westwood brings joy, Lacroix Haute Couture brings majesty. And on and on….

DP: Who are your favorite designer(s)?
CS: Karl Lagerfeld of course, On Aura Tout Vu who are my dearest friends, Kate and Laura Mulleavy who I adore, and of course, Vivienne Westwood, that wonderful madcap genius.

DP: How did you gain this passion for collecting haute couture?
CS: By going to so many shows. I broke down one afternoon at a Lacroix show and started to cry because I wanted to look like the angel on the runway. I had already been buying dozens of on aura tout vu gowns and accessories, but they were still “invited members”, not flat out Haute Couture.

DP: What was your first HC purchase and did this purchase change the way you view clothes? The quality, shelf life, purpose of clothes….
CS: Again, it was the angelic Lacroix apricot organza coat with beige embroidered pearl lace and a matching dress. I have always taken care of my clothes, even when I wore GAP jeans. This time, with couture, I turned the lights off and covered the garments with “shrouds”. The purpose of clothes, after a certain level, means the wearer is taking responsibility for the look of a generation.

Striking a pose in Vivienne Westwood, photograph by Frederic Aranda

DP: Do you think your clothes well demonstrate your personality or who you are?
CS: They demonstrate something, but perhaps it’s too bold for me to say they demonstrate me.

DP: Are your accessories an extension of your ensembles, or do they stand out as their own objects?
CS: In the case of Chanel or Westwood, they belong as an ensemble. In the case of on aura tout vu, the accessories may stand alone because they are absolute works of cutting edge art.

DP: What are your favorite pieces in your closet?
CS: The latest thing I own…The pieces I love most are what I have recently acquired. There are exceptions, my Westwood corsets, my on aura tout vu accessories and their famous Map Coat from their second collection, and Lacroix’s goat hair and silver bell ethnic coat from his 2006 autumn collection.

DP: Do you believe being Editor in Chief of Fashionlines.com help your own personal style evolve by being exposed to more designers and their visions?
CS: Of course! Without question. At one point I was covering between 8-10 shows or related functions per day in Paris on my own. Experience like that matches no other.

DP: What would be your immediate reaction if you were sitting next to a woman wearing the exact dress as the one you where wearing?
CS: If I were wearing Haute Couture, I would find the directrice of the house and make a complaint. But prêt-a-porter is just that-----ready to wear. One can’t complain too much about what is more readily available. However, having said that, the prices of Chanel demi-couture are so high now that the saleswoman should bear in mind not to sell the same garment to frenemies or even friends in the same social group!

Extravagant in Vivienne Westwood Couture, which was custom made for Christine. Photograph by Frederic Aranda

Style Diary: The Irresistible Heidi Dillon

Founder of The Fashionistas by David Pedroza

For some women, the older they get, the better they look. They take better care of them selves and know exactly what looks great on them. This is true in the case of Heidi Dillon, a woman who has become a style expert when it comes to dressing her self. Heidi, who resides in Dallas, is the founder and Executive Director of The Fashionistas, a non-profit organization. The Fashionistas raise funds for scholarships for fashion design students. Heidi is truly one of a kind, especially in Texas, were the train of thought is always… less is more and conservatism rules supreme. Heidi, who is over 50, commits every right move in keeping her self looking great. She knows which designers to got to, and what silhouettes work for her body. Heidi shares her personal (and witty) wisdom on how she stays so irresistibly chic…

DP: How would you define your personal style and what influenced you?

HD: I am 56, so I have had to do a lot of soul searching about the evolution of my style. While I stay in great shape and look "young" for my age, there are so many things that I no longer feel comfortable wearing. As you grow older you should reveal skin very judiciously. I still love to wear a skin-tight Herve Leger dress, but it needs to be one that is longer and doesn't cause back fat bulge. Skinny straps are a no-no unless you throw a shrug on top. But I digress. My assistant just told me that my style is very well edited. That makes me feel good. I like to look a bit intimidating, so I wear very high heels whenever possible and stick to a lot of black, architectural clothes. I love doing a somewhat softened biker chick look but try not to be to cliché about it. I have a M.F.A. so most of the things I buy are on the "artsy" side.

DP: Which store is your favorite to shop?

HD: I consider myself a Barney's girl. I also do quite a bit of damage at Alexander McQueen, Prada, Jil Sander and Donna Karan. There is a store in Dallas that I love called FortyFiveTen.

DP: Which designers dominate in your wardrobe?

HD: McQueen, Prada, Jil Sander, Balenciaga, Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto, Ann Demeulemeester, Givenchy, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein.

DP: Who is your favorite designer?

HD: Alexander McQueen

DP: What is your Daily uniform?

HD: My daily uniform changes with the seasons, but this fall I have been wearing black, skinny J Brand jeans, a James Purse t-shirt, tons of bracelets, Chanel motorcycle boots, a brightly colored Hermes scarf and a cashmere or fur coat or jacket. We'll see what happens this spring.

DP: What perfume do you wear? Do you think a perfume can say a lot about a woman?

HD: I wear Rue Faubourg by Hermes, usually in the evening, and Allure by Chanel during the day. I have worn those two scents for years. They seem to describe me on an olfactory level - mature, definitely not "girly", a bit sensual, but that's another conversation!

DP: Have you ever bought Haute Couture? If so, what was your first purchase?

HD: Why do you torment me with this question? It is my dream to buy Haute Couture. I go to the shows in Paris and feel transformed. One day.....

DP: What are your must have pieces for spring 2010?

HD: As always, I am going to go for the "less is more" look. I think that Phoebe Philo at Celine has done an incredible job of emphasizing the importance of minimalism. That, however is not to say that I am not going to go for some more billowy looks. There is something about being on the beach in a flowing dress.

DP: What is your view on shoes?

HD: If I could, I would sleep in 5" heels and wake up every day 5'10". The taller my 12 year old son gets, the higher my shoes get. Flats are an evil necessity.

DP: What are your must have accessories?

HD: I am, of course, obsessed with Birkin and Kelly bags, I also love bracelets which I like to pile all the way up my arm. Recently I have been enjoying wearing my scarves. Maybe because I spend so much time out in LA/Malibu and that's the look there or maybe because they cover up my aging neck! Shoes - see above!

DP: If you could raid some one’s closet, whose closet would it be?

HD: I am so intrigued by Rick Owen’s partner Michele Lamy. She certainly stands out in a crowd with her gold teeth and incredible style. I would be happy wearing Rick and Gareth Pugh.

DP: Do you have any tips on keeping a well organized closet?

HD: I have two closets, one of which I share with my husband and both of which are woefully small (by fashionista standards, that is). Consequently, I have a very difficult time keeping things organized - especially since my wardrobe is predominantly black! Every spring and fall I take a couple of days to edit out the deadwood. You have to be careful when editing because once you get into a closet cleaning frenzy, you may wind up letting go of some things that you will regret later. I organize my closet by designer because that's how I think about each piece - the Jil Sander cape or the Prada evening coat. That way I can go right to the piece rather than wading through a mishmash of black.

Heidi Dillon in her signature Black.