Monday, May 26, 2008

A Little About Me & Fashion (for those interested)

I stole these questions from The Sartorialist, and thought, 'I never post anything about myself, so why not?'. Feel free to copy and post on your blog (about yourself of course, not me! Ha!).

Job?
My technical title at Alltech is "Corporate Legal Assistant to Tom Stephens", haha, what a title, right? I love my job. I am working on the Alltech Festival (a concert series beginning this summer and lasting until 2010 when we are sponsoring the World Equestrian Games), where basically I research, work on offers for artists, and plan, plan, plan! I also do the liquor licensing (Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Kentucky Silk, Lyons Reserve) for all of Alltech. I have an absolute blast. Of course, I do my true love, photography, on the side (website to come soon), so if you need a photographer, you know who to call!

Style Icons
I have so many! Audrey Hepburn (of course), is a big one. As for someone more modern? Blair Waldorf of 'Gossip Girl'. I know she is just a character on a show, but her style completely embodies mine (even the crazy stuff she wears).

Describe your personal style
I would say I am more classic than most. I like simplistic and modest pieces usually. If anything, I think I might be "too covered-up" from time to time. I love big, floaty, comfortable, yet flattering pieces. Truly, I love a variety of styles. I pick and choose what is "me" and combine it to make it my own style.

I build my daily look around
What is on my plate that day (example: big meeting with music manager = suit). Comfort plays a big role, as well as what makes me feel good and confident. That is really important to me.

Personal Style quirk
Oversized clothes and funky accessories. 

Favorite designers
This is a hard question. There are of course designers that I wholeheartedly admire, but most of those I could never afford. Therefore, I will break down into 2 groups Affordable and Not Affordable.

Affordable: Michael Stars, j crew (several designers, I know, but I love most everything in there), Salvatore Ferragamo (only have one pair of shoes, but LOVE them), Phillip Lim, and the list goes on and on

Not Affordable: Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Lanvin,(not one person, but wonderful items), Burberry (again, a house, not one designer), Christian Louboutin, Versace, and many many many more.

***I am a very eclectic dresser, so I like to get vintage pieces, or just pieces from all over and mix and match them!

Most cherished item
My Ferragamo pumps.

I feel best wearing?
Anything loose or black.

I always break this fashion rule
Mixing patterns/textures.

I never break this fashion rule
Wear it with confidence.

Never caught wearing?
Crocs.

Most underrated item in womenswear?
Black t-shirt, or just any black shirt (adds instant class to any outfit).

Dress to impress who?
Myself. I am confident when I like what I am wearing.

Shine your own shoes?
I don't believe I have ever had my shoes shined. Although, there is a shoe shiner/repairer that comes to our office every couple weeks. I should really take advantage of that.

Favorite stores?
Vintage. I love love loved the outdoor market in Florence, Italy, but I don't exactly get to shop there often... And of course, j crew.

Your next, "must have" purchase?
Brown dress shoes for work.

I only buy _____ in Europe.
Well, I have only been to Europe once (going to France, and maybe Ireland this fall! yay!) and the majority of my time was in Italy (all over Italy). My goal there? Leather goods: leather jacket, pumps, gloves, etc. I got them all!!

I skimp when buying...
Super trendy pieces or accessories.

I splurge on...
Classic pieces. Black dresses, leather pumps, etc.

Favorite item of clothing?
Right now? Summer, pretty, girly, fun, dresses.

Guilty pleasures?
Facials. Although, I agree with the post I am basing mine off of: There is "No guilt in pleasures".

Cologne, skincare?

Most stylish city (Milan, Paris, London, New York, other)?
I have been to Milan and New York, but I would say the most stylish would probably be Rome.

When I was in high school I wore?
Pretty much what everyone else wore at that age and time: American Eagle and Abercrombie. There wasn't a lot of room for creativity.

Sports?
Soccer and football. I like a lot of outdoor events (don't like baseball, but like going to baseball games...). I would love to see a cricket match, and rugby too!!

Favorite fashion magazine?
WWD & Elle & Vogue.

Favorite vacation spot?
If I had already been to the places that I plan to go, my answer might be different. Seeing as there is still a lot of traveling left for me to do, my answer for now is Italy.

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Really like restaurants that aren't chains, but of the chains: PF Changs & Olive Garden. Not chains: Alfalfas, Saul Good, 3 Suns Bistro, & The Coffee Pub (all WONDERFUL).


3 comments:

Emily said...

I enjoyed reading this!

Unknown said...

Dear Mandy-

Based on your description of your fashion tastes I think you and your readers might be interested in a new company. Christa Taylor is a 20 year old designer dedicated to producing high quality chic and trendy clothing that allows women to be fashionable without being suggestive. She resounding rejects the notion that modesty must be frumpy and has set out to disprove that notion through her clothing line. Christa operates her business as a family enterprise involving two brothers, her father and two sisters. She is also committed to donating at least 5% of her sales to the poor and towards advancing social justice around the world. You can find her site at http://www.christa-taylor.com. We would love for you to check us out and possibly list us a resource on your site. Thanks for your time and consideration.


Stephen Taylor
www.christa-taylor.com

Jenni said...

Since if I get into blogging this evil computer will probably die tonight, I decided to respond as a comment! Hmmm, we'll see how this works out!


Job?
Not much to say there, but I do some weddings and random bouts of photography and freelance writing... This situation must improve soon. Like when it gets warm. heh.


Style Icons
Oh! You know, the only consistent one has been my mother, which is funny because she is older now and just dresses in jackets or whatever, but she from a very early age instilled frills, pastels, dresses and that 1950s asthestic in me. I also love the Gossip Girls--I'd say I'm a mix of Blair's frills and Serena's WTF mix of nonsensical pairings.


Describe your personal style
I'm definitely romantic--I love flowers, ruffles, gauzy fabrics, that kind of thing, but what I really want is for everything to be dramatic. Oversized collars, ornate beading, crazy-huge skirts--the more structurally unusual, the better. And if it happens to be white, well, then, we are in business! Unfortunately, most things aren't really as runway crazy as I'd like, so I usually just look sort of strangely put-together. ha.


I build my daily look around
How I feel, as in if I'm the kind of sick that makes me a certain temperature, or achy or whatever. That will determine my base, like a grey t-shirt and tights, if I'm cold, or pants if I'm just plain worn out, and then, I'll add on the rest of the nonsense. ha. In summer, I just can put on a dress, and then a vest or something. Much easier.

Personal Style quirk
No pants unless I have to, because they bother my waist, and lots of necklaces piled up. Also, I don't wear much color. I don't wear it well, so I tend to stick to neutrals.


Favorite designers
I'm going with Mandy on affordable and not-affordable, but I'll say just the stores for designers who are affordable, since they have a big range.


Affordable: Target, Forever 21, seriously... That's where I do most of my shopping... Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters for shoes, Victoria's Secret


Not Affordable: Marchesa, Balenciaga, YSL (for accessories), Sass & Bide, Rebecca Taylor, Valentino, Givenchy


Most cherished item
as far as purchased items, Yves Saint Laurent bag from PARIS... the memories it will carry forever ensure that.


I feel best wearing?
a white fluffy dress in summertime


I always break this fashion rule
Not to look too costume-y


I never break this fashion rule
Taking off an accessory before I leave if I'm wearing a lot as usual (and I still end up breaking the costume-y rule! ha)


Never caught wearing?
Puffy vests, crocs and real fur


Most underrated item in womenswear?
the dress... I don't understand why no one thinks they are comfortable. I rue the invention of pants!


Dress to impress who?
Me! I mean, it's cool when other people like what I have on, but it doesn't matter when they don't. Because I truly enjoy coming up with outfits. Clothing is such a pleasure to me that I want to make myself happy with them.


Shine your own shoes?
No, but I've taken them to the shoe repair store.


Favorite stores?
All the big names. I love, love, love that feeling that everything stops once you walk in those heavy glass doors; you just enter a whole other world. Bergdorf Goodman in NYC and the YSL in Paris are my two favorite stores I've ever been in. But in everyday life, I adore Target and Forever 21! They are lifesavers, and I'd be naked without them.


Your next, "must have" purchase?
These beige suede ankle boots that have a low vamp that I saw in Lucky mag. Beige suede and I don't seem to mix, but I'm smitten...


I only buy _____ in Europe.
Leather jackets, like Mandy? Ha. I never was the leather jacket type, though my mother was a leather jacket pusher, because the "bomber" shape was popular when she was young, and anyway, now I'm absolutely head over heels for the one I bought in France. It's so soft and BA at the same time. If I had a black one, I could REALLY be Little J. HA!


I skimp when buying...
Anything basic.


I splurge on...
Crazy stuff you won't see anywhere else, and dresses.


Favorite item of clothing?
In general, of course, white and beige floaty dresses. In particular, of mine? This gauzy beige beaded contraption I've never had anywhere to wear because it's way too fancy/special.


Guilty pleasures?
Everything in Forever 21.


Cologne, skincare?
It's funny because I have a new perfume coming for Christmas... I normally am just NOT a perfume person; I prefer men's cologne and don't like how women smell, but after Mandy's perfume (which I'd noticed before but not for so many days I'd remember to tell mom, since fragrance isn't a big deal to me usually) in Paris, I'm getting Burberry. Skincare is doctor-mandated.


Most stylish city (Milan, Paris, London, New York, other)?
Hmm. I've been to two of those. Paris and NYC, and I loved them both, and I'd have to say Paris. Everyone I worked with in NY dressed up, but there were so many tourists the style was kinda disappointing. In Paris I saw a lot of BA styles like the bomber jackets with opaque (very opaque) tights and no pants. They can pull it off!


When I was in high school I wore?
Skirts, dresses, and so many bright colors... I was so colorful, it's ridiculous. I still wore lots of white and beige, but I was also into hot pink and teal and stuff that looked better on a younger person, I guess. I was too matchy-matchy but I did have some great shoes in high school, I'll say, since that was before any feet problems!


Sports?
Baseball--I watched it all one summer, but I don't really keep up with anything besides the faux football games on Friday Night Lights now.


Favorite fashion magazine?
Lucky, Marie Claire, Allure. Glamour's not just for fashion, but it's my favorite magazine of all.


Favorite vacation spot?
As in, a go-to spot you can just head to? Realistically, Fort Lauderdale, which I love. But I want to go to Santorini next!!! As far as places I've been, I have been happiest exploring Paris, Nice and NYC! I love big cities and beaches.

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
Neighborhood is really impossible. But my favorite food is Mexican, so I am happy with any of our local such restaurants.