StyleLikeU » Milan

Tamu McPherson

Ramona_Canino — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:12:50 +0000

As a veteran fashion stylist, I often feel that those behind the camera are as interesting a subject as the ones typically in front. Like Tamu, those in the background can often be the ones who have not spent a lifetime prepping to be in the limelight, and, as a result, have an unrehearsed charm and natural self expression that is so much more intoxicating than something staged. It isn’t the mint cable sweater and royal skinny jean that makes Tamu, it is Tamu that makes the clean and colorful sweater and jeans right. We don’t need corporations to tell us what is “in,” when inspiring and independent minded people like Tamu are so in touch with making clothing and trends their own. I take notice of her innovative white shirt buttoned to the collar with a floral, slit pencil skirt, yellow socks and her favorite kitten heel, pointy sling backs, as much as the fact that she has a law and business degree, a son, a successful street style blog (one of my absolute favorites), and has also moved to Italy, learned the language, and is now the Editor in Chief job at Grazia in Milan. Let’s just say, while Tamu has a crush on the styles of her unique street subjects, I have a crush on hers– it’s a win win for the new, fluid and creative way fashion is being consumed.

Visit Tamu’s blog, All The Pretty Birds.

If you love Tamu, you may also like Rashida Robinson, Gloria Baume and Alesssandra Calabi.

Betony Vernon

Ramona_Canino — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:47:48 +0000

In a mountaintop refuge on the Appalachian trail, Betony grew up free from pop culture and television, often free from adult surveillance and control, and always free from the “pleasure and body taboos,” which she says gave her the bravery to do what she does today. Her then-favorite childhood red leather shiny slicker is a direct edgy ancestor to her latest, a custom-designed black patent leather trenchcoat. With her high-end jewelry she seeks to break down the fear and repression surrounding sex, and to “help people know, understand, accept, and explore their bodies… to share in what is the most incredible bond, and the most profound expression of the human spirit.”

Her fiery stand-out red mane, cut in the blunt style of her favored Japanese aesthetic, not only matches Betony’s love for the archetypal kimono but echoes her willingness to stand on her own despite the misconceptions and judgments that go along with human sexuality, a subject in which she is currently getting a PhD. In keeping with the independent character of her pioneer parents, Betony embraces “shapely” and swears by Vivienne Westwood, one of the few designers she can wear-off-the-rack. Otherwise, she creates eighty percent of the clothes that she wears. Betony’s dad, originally from Martha’s Vineyard, is a low-flying pilot who built helicopters in their Victorian library. While her mom, descended from King Edward VII and in 1960 joined what are known today as the Greensboro Four in what was then called the “Sit Down” at a “whites-only” counter that helped spark America’s civil rights revolution. “She’s definitely got something to do with my spirit of fighting for what I believe in,” Betony states.

Educated on two continents in art history, goldsmithing, and industrial design, Betony’s “sado-chic” creations are born from a deep intelligence and sophistication. They have grown only bolder since the early days, when her jewelry could literally stun buyers into a shy silence. Whether in a black lace dress designed by Emilio Pucci’s Peter Dundas over a Mr. Pearl corset or donning her irrepressible, Paradise Found rings — which, when inverted, double as massage rings — Betony is immune to the twisted hypocrisy of society. “My mission is a mission of sexual well-being,” and for empowering people, she feels, “The jewelry is just a bridge to that.”

Click here for Betony’s website.

If you love Betony, you may also like Bliss Lau, Drue Kataoka and Virginie Sommet.

Maripol

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:01:25 +0000

Soft spoken, modest and one of the most powerful cultural influencers of our time, Maripol is an icon without knowing or seeming to care. Of the visually explosive texture, color and craftsmanship of her native Morocco, she says “How could I not be affected?” – as if inhaling and creating culture like she has done all her life is a given. On hitting the streets of New York in ’76 at nineteen and becoming a trailblazer of the ’70s and ’80s underground, Maripol says humbly, “I think when you are new to a country, you are a pioneer and everything becomes a highlight.”

So unaffected and relaxed in herself, Maripol shops at Beacons Closet, gets her cashmere at Uniqlo and is responsible for much of the styling of Madonna, including Like a Virgin, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Cher and Elton John. She was also the Creative Director of Fiorucci, is a notable Polaroid artist photographer, has directed documentaries like “Crack is Whack” with Keith Haring and was a stylist, muse and actress for Jean Paul Goude. Underneath and despite her success, Maripol says she identifies with Little Red Riding Hood – at six, her mom designed a costume which won a Best Costume award – so much so that the vulnerability of the character inspired the title of her second book. Her beauty is understated in a simple tunic and wedge boots and the tougher biker chick from her early days is visible in leopard and vinyl leggings, while the two parts make whole in a vintage Prada-like dress and neon Sylvia Heisel bolero. Then in angora and lamé, today in a classic v-neck, this profound impresario who had the gift to do everything from booking the post beat generation bands to originating the outfits for the opening of Studio 54 with Antonio Lopez deserves to be center stage.

If you love Maripol, you may also like Rebecca Weinberg, Virginie Sommet and Sam Quartin.

Valerj Pobega

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:52:14 +0000

For Valerj, dressing is such an extension of her moods that she morphs from season to season into the influences of her clothing designs for that moment. When I was with her, she was submerged in dark visions of Asian silhouettes, like a kimono with ropey bondage detail and a twisted take on a ’20s Poiret silk cocoon covered in dramatic dripping colors, reflecting the impact of her artist parents. The glamorous Italian in her finds comfort in her flaming orange hair and blunt asymmetrical cut, despite short forays into hot pink mohawks. Though a hint of punk remains in Valerj’s patent Dr. Martens and a studded hip belt, she wears the latter with an elegant floor-length dress that is influenced by David Bowie’s ’95 Mansfield tour. Mystical Sardinian nuances are evident in the Christian iconography that line her shelves and the skulls that are present everywhere, including her wedding band. The American flag draped over a leather chair is not an indication that Valerj would be caught dead in a tracksuit, no matter what the occasion, air travel included. You’re more likely to see her on a Sunset Boulevard stroll in West Hollywood in a bewitching Dries Van Noten ankle duster, Westwood pumps with hearts and a vintage cloche with netting. It is more about the art of fashion and the immersion into eras for Valerj and as she says, “There is no excuse not to look good.”

If you love Valerj, you may also enjoy Fatima Al Qadiri, Celia Ingesson and Liza Thorn.

Miao Ran

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:23:31 +0000

I found myself feeling on Halloween yesterday that some of what people see as costumes are really an excuse for them to look interesting and extraordinary. While I see the fun of the holiday, why wait for a certain day to let it go and express yourself? Miao’s favorite thing about fashion is anything “over the top,” and he doesn’t need an occasion. Miao does “more is more” so tastefully. The plaid kilt, worn over jeans with wing tip shoes, a plaid fedora, and a blazer is very Westwood’s Edwardian punk meets Marc Jacobs’s preppy twist on grunge (take out your high school uniform kilts and try throwing them over pants). The long poodle fur vest layered over python pants with classic smoking shoes is quintessential McQueen meets Tom Ford’s eclectic genius (grab your dad’s velvet slippers, they make everything chic). We are all still gasping here over Miao’s leopard YSL moccasins, which may be the some of the best shoes we have seen thus far on SLU. They are a twist on a hippie classic that make everything in your wardrobe more exciting. So the next time you buy a bag of feathers for a special occassion, try attaching them to the lapel of an old blazer, like Miao did on his Gucci one, and wear it everyday with everything!

If you like Miao, you may also enjoy Gregory Alexander, Ludwig Kuttner and Sophia Lamar.

Michela Gattermayer

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:36:05 +0000

Michela is too humble to believe that she is an arbitor of taste, but in my opinion she is. When I first met her at New York Fashion week in February 2010, I was arrested by her presence. Michela stood out like like a glamorous Pocahontas in a tribal knit cap, red boyish cardigan, khaki military pant, the prototypical Rolling Stones tee, tan suede bucks and a fur jacket that I can imagine Daniel Boone would have worn. It is hard for me to understand, but Michela says that she is sometimes referred to as a “fashionista,” but insists that she is not. It was beyond obvious to me that she was as individual as it comes when I first spotted her in her unique, earthy and eclectic layering of the classics among a sea of black platform ankle boots. Michela’s arsenal of crisply pressed white button down shirts, that serve as the basis for her wardrobe, belies anything close to trendy. In fact, it seems as though she has an obsession with the fundamentals and her cabinets are filled to the brim with them. Some examples of what she feels you can’t have enough of: all things military, including camouflage and khaki, leather and suede pants, and indigo and white jeans (which she so accurately claims are good for winter too). However, for me, Michela’s long pin straight hair to her waste and absence of any makeup, a la Georgia O’Keefe, puts her in the category of iconic. Though she would not accept this title, take a look at her aura while sitting Indian style, barefoot, on her Zebra carpet in her indigenous, floral pants.

If you like Michela, you may also enjoy Christine de Lassus and Lexie Smith

This feature’s video interview was done by Angela Grossi in Milan. The photography was done by Daniele Fragale.

Lesa Amoore

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:43:28 +0000

Lesa is a mom with a successful modeling career under her belt, including Vogue covers, world travels, and that “less is more” style that comes from experience. When you’ve been around enough of the new season’s runway boots, you develop an eye for the eternally perfect ones that take you everywhere and go with everything, like her buttery leather Margiela ones that have a nail for a heel. As she says, “they are just rock and roll enough, without being over-the-top or losing any classic perks.” It’s hard to deny their classic, edgy power when worn with anything from a clean black dress to leggings to jeans. Lesa’s penchant for the understated brought on an interesting dilemma when iconic hairdresser Oribe convinced her to play with the color of her natural blonde locks. She discovered that when she was a redhead and dressed just a hint provocatively in garders and stockings, she would attract just the right kind of guy. However, as a platinum blonde in a similarly suggestive outfit, all of the “wrong” heads turned in the room. When Lesa gets a little frilly, it’s a state-of-the-art Martine Sitbon vintage blouse – the designer herself, like Lesa, is minimal and modern.

If you like Lesa, you might also enjoy Camille Rushanaedy or Celia Ingesson.

Greta Arienti

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:37:07 +0000

Of the many currents that I can see emerging after interviewing about four hundred people for SLU is the lack of the importance of the “trend of the moment” and the blur between seasons that is starting to emerge in terms of how we dress and consume clothes. Not only does wearing the opposite thing in the opposite temperature look fresh, but in the world of SLU muses, having to own something that is most au courant is pretty much nonexistant. For example, one of Greta’s favorite pieces was bought at a flea market two years ago and she uses it as a skirt, dress, scarf, or t-shirt. It’s not about whether this particular piece has the stamp of approval by a fashion magazine or designer, but only that it speaks to her. Greta attributes her strong sense of her style to her mother, who had closets of beautiful things. In fact, many people on this site attribute their strong identity to an older relative and many, like Greta, commemorate something meaningful on them in the form of a tattoo. In Greta’s case, however, her tattoo is an actual memorial to her mom.

If you like Greta, you might also enjoy Haley Wollens, Marka Kiley, or Carolyne Cass.

Sara Cavalletto

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:13:31 +0000

Clothes are such a significant part of Sara’s life that her car is filled with a menage of shoes, tights, and garments, all potential outfits, in case the moment arises when she needs to throw on something amazing at a moment’s notice. Her style is a storybook of her life, literally. Sara is so attached to the motorcycle boots that she has had since she was sixteen, that it took twenty heel and fifteen sole replacements to finally put them to rest, though she still walks the dog in them for old times sake. And I must say, I felt her sadness when she shows the new ones, not quite the same, after all that life was molded into the orignals. One of her “winner” outfits for this winter was born out of a Saturday night out in Padua with her friends. On that Sunday morning, immersed in the flea markets, appeared an oversized plaid blanket-jacket (she is forever grunge-obssessed) that she belts and now wears frequently with her little boy’s ankle socks, Miu Miu spectator brogues, and a beret from her “tower of hats.” Then there is the narrative of how she often moves from day to night. A lace Dolce and Gabbana dress goes from cozy (when worn with a granny cardigan and wooly over-the-knee tights) to risque with bare legs, heels, and a Lanvin necklace (that are awaiting the moment for when she pulls them out of her car closet at the end of the day). Despite the serious sense of detail with her outfits (she is more than obssessed with the fact that her 1950′s Levi’s jean jacket is so original that it has the capital E that was only produced during that time period), she has fun with them all at the same time. The jacket’s name is “Biggy,” and she holds it rocking it back and forth like a baby, glowing with pride that it was the first of its kind. Sarah’s post came at the perfect moment for me, with it’s refreshing absence of drapery and black, bring on the denim and mixing lace with marine stripes and having fun with your clothes!

If you like Sara, you might also enjoy Lux Leekley and Ruqaiyah Johnson.

Cristina Cucca

'Funminitemi Oluwadare — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:23:53 +0000

Angela, our Milan correspondant, said that Cristina’s love of the clean and linear comes from her experience of living in Berlin, which has been the capital of “rational aesthetics” since Walter Gropius of the Bauhaus. In fact, her love of shapes can be seen in her designs, where she creates conceptually conceived geometric pieces that allow a person’s personality to form the garment, rather than the garment forming them. For Cristina, it’s all about discovery, whether it’s finding fifteen different ways to drape a rectangle or digging through a pile of clothes at a psychiatric hospital, one of her favorite places to hunt (at one point in her video, Cristina points out how this institution uses the exercise of uncovering old clothes as a way of escaping their reality). I love how Cristina rolls up a pencil skirt and belts it, and the way she takes a man’s tie and throws it around her neck. In keeping with her Sardinian heritage, she loves black, but will venture out to white, navy, gray, and brown, always with the underlying minimal line. There are not many moments where I am tempted to leave my layers, Victorian bustles, and chunky rings behind, but after seeing Cristina, now is one of those times.

If you like Cristina, you might also enjoy Lauren Boyle, Fatima Al-Qadiri, or Crayon Lee.