DORÉ

My friend Laura Ferrara is probably one of my main life inspirations right now – you probably remember the photos I took at Westwind Orchard, her upstate farm, last summer. She divides her time between farming upstate and being one of my favorite stylists in the city. One day, I would love to have the same type of lifestyle…

Her style also completely resonates with me. It’s timeless, elegant and cool at the same time.

T-shirt by Westwind Orchard.

1. Describe your style in three words.?

Classic, menswear-inspired, utilitarian, vintage-inspired, with a dash of bohemian

2. Where do you like to shop?

I shop when I travel to different countries and it’s not all clothing — I love design, home goods, food…  so I will look for the artist and designers, flea markets and small independent stores wherever I go. In NYC – for clothing – there are so many great places to shop from Barney’s, Warm, The Line… the Lower East Side and Brooklyn.

3. Does your style vary between your time in the city and at the farm?

On the farm, I’m planting, picking, and tending to our chickens and making jam, so there is natural variation in my wardrobe between the city and upstate. But my attire on the farm is still based on the principles of my city style, especially in its utilitarianism. I wear Filson, Levi’s overalls and Carhartt mixed with Chloé and Stella, Zara and my favorite comfy sweater from a local upstate designer Ryan Roche— I do love my shearling lined clogs that I wear in the city and upstate made at the  No. 6  store on centre market place.

4. Your two jobs are pretty physical, how do you stay chic in every occasion?

I dress for comfort. When you’re comfortable, you’re confident – and I think that’s chic. Sometimes I am delivering our farm products like maple syrup and honey to Barney’s and eggs to restaurants like Buvette & Il Buco before going to a celebrity cover shoot — that’s just a normal day in the city!

5. How does being a stylist influence your personal wardrobe??

Styling others on a daily basis and being able to see and feel and appreciate so many beautiful pieces of clothing leads me to focus less on styling myself, so I guess my work has influenced me to be minimal with my wardrobe staples – I know what works for me and what I like, and so I stick with it. I like more understated easy pieces

6. Any secrets that you take from the shoot and use in your everyday life??

Shoots are a beautiful fantasy; it’s not real life – there is lighting, hair, makeup and everyone working as a team to produce a great picture. I think the secret is to know how to be happy in your everyday life and not live like you’re in a fashion shoot.

7. You always see the latest styles, but what are the items that you’ve held onto for years?

My 10 year old Levi’s and my original Helmut Lang jeans that are perfectly worn in, my Stan Smiths that I’ve had for ages, and my Protagonist cashmere sweater.

8. What is your favorite outfit of the moment??

I wouldn’t say I have a favorite outfit, but I do have favorite pieces that I always like to revisit. For example I love  jumpsuits – they are easy to wear from denim to tailored evening, and I have like 10 of them. My Maria Cornejo one is my favorite. Also my black curly lamb Céline coat and a vintage military coat that’s a staple every winter.

9. Do you emphasize clothes or accessories more?

Clothes. I’m very minimal with accessories and only wear a handful of truly treasured pieces that I’ve had for many years.

10. Do you have a style icon??

For me, icons are brave strong women from politics to music… Gloria Steinem, Mother Teresa, Coretta Scott King, Joni Mitchell, Alice Waters, Patti Smith, Lauren Hutton, Diane Keaton, Monica Vitti, Francoise Hardy and, of course, Jane Birkin.

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